Diamond Comic Distributors has released their list of best selling comics for September 2018 as well as market shares for publishers. The month was mixed seeing comics, graphic novels, and toys decrease in dollars and units compared to the previous month but were generally up compared to the same time last year. The third quarter of 2018 has shown vast improvement compared to the second quarter of 2018 with dollars and units up across the board other than comics and units which is down slightly. Compared to last year, there’s also improvement with only comics in units and total comics/graphic novels in units down. The year to date is still rough compared to 2017 with comic dollar sales up 1.25% compared to the previous year but everything else down across the board.

Marvel Comics was September’s top publisher with a 39.86% dollar share (-1.01) and a 43.24% unit share (+0.12). DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 29.06% dollar share (+1.55) and a 32.76% unit share (+1.74). Image Comics was third with a 10.13% dollar share (+1.23) and a 8.74% unit share (-0.34). In fourth was Dark Horse Comics with a 3.62% dollar (+0.57) share and a 2.91% unit share (+0.54), followed by IDW Publishing with a 3.14% dollar share (-1.29) and a 2.84% unit share (-0.97), BOOM! Studios with a 2.12% dollar share (-0.46) and a 1.65% unit share (-0.65), and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.55% dollar share (-0.23) and a 1.38% unit share (-0.26).

Marvel Comics had five titles in the top ten with Return of Wolverine #1 topping charts. DC Entertainment had five titles in the top ten with Heroes in Crisis #1 ranked #2. Among the premier publishers, Image Comics’ The Walking Dead #183 ranked #19; Dark Horse Comics’ Stranger Things #1, based on the Netflix series, ranked #20; BOOM! Studios’ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #31 ranked #111; IDW Publishing’s Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons #2, a co-publication with Oni Press, ranked #118; and Dynamite Entertainment’s Vampirella/Dejah Thoris #1 ranked #129.

Ending with a death that forever changes the series, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ Saga Volume 9 from Image Comics was September’s best-selling graphic novel and one of the five Image titles among the top ten. DC Entertainment had three titles in the top ten, led by Tom King, David Finch, Joelle Jones, and Mikel Janin’s Batman & Catwoman: The Wedding Album at #5. Marvel Comics had two titles in the top ten; their top book, Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Smuerak’s Franklin Richards: A Fantastic Year, ranked #6.

Yen On’s light novel Overlord Volume 8 was September’s best-selling book. Also in the top ten, BOOM! Studios’Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Shortcuts ranked #4 for the month and the softcover edition of Gemstone Publishing’sOverstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 48 ranked #7.

Josh Brolin’s performance as Thanos was brought to life by Diamond Select Toys for the Marvel Gallery: Avengers Infinity War: Thanos PVC Figure, the best-selling toy product of September, and one of the four Diamond Select Toys products in the top ten. DC Collectibles had three products in the top ten, led by the DC TV: The Flash Season 3 Action Figure at #6.

Paizo’s Creature Codex, a sourcebook for the Pathfinder role-playing game and other 5E systems, was September’s best-selling game product and one of the eight Paizo products in the top ten.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER	DOLLAR SHARE	UNIT SHARE
MARVEL COMICS	39.86%	43.24%
DC ENTERTAINMENT	29.06%	32.76%
IMAGE COMICS	10.13%	8.74%
DARK HORSE COMICS	3.62%	2.91%
IDW PUBLISHING	3.14%	2.84%
BOOM! STUDIOS	2.12%	1.65%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT	1.55%	1.38%
VIZ MEDIA	1.11%	0.43%
ONI PRESS	0.99%	0.69%
TITAN COMICS	0.80%	0.47%
OTHER NON-TOP 10	7.63%	4.88%

 COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

	DOLLARS	UNITS
SEPTEMBER 2018 VS. AUGUST 2018
COMICS	-4.51%	-0.16%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	-7.07%	-3.86%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	-5.30%	-0.48%
TOYS	-29.36%	-9.02%
SEPTEMBER 2018 VS. SEPTEMBER 2017
COMICS	0.75%	-6.58%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	11.74%	15.36%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	3.84%	-5.09%
TOYS	-1.58%	11.95%
THIRD QUARTER 2018 VS. SECOND QUARTER 2018
COMICS	0.23%	-0.05%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	0.83%	1.89%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	0.40%	0.10%
TOYS	41.66%	28.44%
THIRD QUARTER 2018 VS. THIRD QUARTER 2017
COMICS	7.44%	-0.82%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	1.95%	3.85%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	5.81%	-0.47%
TOYS	9.23%	6.96%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017
COMICS	1.25%	-6.78%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	-4.80%	-6.37%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	-0.55%	-6.75%
TOYS	-4.74%	-6.11%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER	COMICS SHIPPED	GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED	MAGAZINES SHIPPED	TOTAL SHIPPED
MARVEL COMICS	99	44	0	143
DC ENTERTAINMENT	66	35	0	101
IMAGE COMICS	66	27	0	93
DARK HORSE COMICS	25	21	0	46
IDW PUBLISHING	29	10	0	39
BOOM! STUDIOS	25	10	0	35
TITAN COMICS	11	7	3	21
VIZ MEDIA	0	21	0	21
ONI PRESS	9	7	0	16
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT	12	3	0	15
OTHER NON-TOP 10	135	202	14	351
TOTAL	477	387	17	881

 

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	RETURN OF WOLVERINE #1	$4.99	JUL180952-M	MAR
2	HEROES IN CRISIS #1	$3.99	JUL180592-M	DC
3	DOOMSDAY CLOCK #7	$4.99	JUL180604-M	DC
4	BATMAN #55	$3.99	JUL180626-M	DC
5	BATMAN: DAMNED #1 (MR)	$6.99	JUL180597-M	DC
6	BATMAN #54	$3.99	JUL180624-M	DC
7	THANOS LEGACY #1	$4.99	JUL180975-M	MAR
8	FANTASTIC FOUR #2	$3.99	JUL180969-M	MAR
9	AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #6	$3.99	JUL181041-M	MAR
10	AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #5	$3.99	JUL181038-M	MAR

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	RETURN OF WOLVERINE #1	$4.99	JUL180952-M	MAR
2	BATMAN: DAMNED #1 (MR)	$6.99	JUL180597-M	DC
3	DOOMSDAY CLOCK #7	$4.99	JUL180604-M	DC
4	HEROES IN CRISIS #1	$3.99	JUL180592-M	DC
5	THANOS LEGACY #1	$4.99	JUL180975-M	MAR
6	BATMAN #55	$3.99	JUL180626-M	DC
7	SPIDER-GEDDON #0	$4.99	JUL180991-M	MAR
8	BATMAN #54	$3.99	JUL180624-M	DC
9	AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #6	$3.99	JUL181041-M	MAR
10	AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1	$4.99	JUL181035-M	MAR

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	SAGA VOLUME 9 TP (MR)	$14.99	JUL180297	IMA
2	THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 30: NEW WORLD ORDER TP (MR)	$16.99	JUL180335	IMA
3	MONSTRESS VOLUME 3 TP (MR)	$16.99	JUL180261-M	IMA
4	OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI VOL. 1 TP (MR)	$9.99	JUL180159	IMA
5	BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE WEDDING ALBUM HC	$17.99	JUN180572	DC
6	FRANKLIN RICHARDS: A FANTASTIC YEAR #1	$7.99	JUL180973	MAR
7	DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: THE SEARCH FOR ATLANTIS TP	$9.99	JUN180439	DC
8	DESCENDER VOLUME 6: WAR MACHINE TP	$16.99	JUL180209	IMA
9	STAR WARS: DARTH VADER VOLUME 3: BURNING SEAS TP	$19.99	JUN180982	MAR
10	ACTION COMICS #1000: THE DELUXE EDITION HC	$19.99	JUN180558	DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	SAGA VOLUME 9 TP (MR)	$14.99	JUL180297	IMA
2	THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 30: NEW WORLD ORDER TP (MR)	$16.99	JUL180335	IMA
3	MONSTRESS VOLUME 3 TP (MR)	$16.99	JUL180261-M	IMA
4	BATMAN BY JEPH LOEB AND TIM SALE OMNIBUS HC	$125.00	MAR180338	DC
5	SPIDER-MAN VS. VENOM OMNIBUS HC	$125.00	MAR180976	MAR
6	ABSOLUTE BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE HC	$49.99	JAN180393	DC
7	EARTH X TRILOGY OMNIBUS ALPHA HC	$125.00	MAR180975	MAR
8	BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE WEDDING ALBUM HC	$17.99	JUN180572	DC
9	DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE TP	$24.99	JUN180575	DC
10	MARVEL MASTERWORKS: KILLRAVEN VOLUME 1 HC	$100.00	MAR180981-M	MAR

TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	OVERLORD LIGHT NOVEL VOLUME 8 HC	$20.00	JUL182378	YEN
2	DISNEY/PIXAR: THE INCREDIBLES LIITLE GOLDEN BOOK	$4.99	JUL181942	GOL
3	BLACK PANTHER: WARRIORS OF WAKANDA LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK	$4.99	JUL181940	GOL
4	JIM HENSON’S LABYRINTH: SHORTCUTS HC	$24.99	MAY181211	BOO
5	GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK 1	$12.99	OCT151871	ZEN
6	DC SUPER FRIENDS: AQUAMAN LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC	$4.99	JUL181941	GOL
7	OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 48 SC	$29.95	APR181580-M	GEM
8	GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK” THE LITTLE MERMAID	$12.99	JUN182128	ZEN
9	DOG MAN VOLUME 5: LORD OF THE FLEAS GN	$9.99	JUN181814	GRA
10	THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK	$4.99	JUL181943	GOL

TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK	DESCRIPTION	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: THANOS PVC FIGURE	APR182161	DST
2	MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: CAPTAIN AMERICA PVC FIGURE	APR182158	DST
3	DEADPOOL LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES	JUL178752	HAS
4	MARVEL SELECT: BEAST COMIC ACTION FIGURE	MAR182431	DST
5	AVENGERS LEGENDS GEAR: INFINITY GAUNTLET	JUL178729	HAS
6	DC TV THE FLASH SEASON 3 ACTION FIGURE	AUG170365	DC
7	FINAL FANTASY: BAHAMUT CREATURES BRING ARTS FIGURE	DEC178373	SQU
8	DC CORE: BATMAN PVC STATUE	MAR180390	DC
9	DC DESIGNER SERIES: THE JOKER BY BRIAN BOLLAND MINI STATUE	MAR180389	DC
10	MARVEL PREMIERE: VENOM STATUE	JUL172797	DST

 

TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK	DESCRIPTION	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	CREATURE CODEX HC	JUL183073	PAI
2	STARFINDER RPG: ARMORY HC	MAY182931	PAI
3	PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT: BASIC TERRAIN MULTI-PACK	JUN132387	PAI
4	THE TOME OF BEASTS HC	JUN168476	PAI
5	STARFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: THE AEON THRONE PART 1	JUN182907	PAI
6	PATHFINDER FLIP TILES: FOREST STARTER SET	JUN182906	PAI
7	MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: COMMANDER 2018	APR182621	ALL
8	STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC	JUN173371	PAI
9	PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK	JUN091729	PAI
10	MODERN AGE RPG: BASIC RULEBOOK HC	MAR182714	GRE