Marvel Dips in September 2019 as DC and Image Gain Ground
Spawn #300 took the top spot as the best-selling comics in September 2019 as Marvel lost ground in unit and dollar sales while DC and Image gained it. Diamond Comic Distributors released the sales data for the month showing the top selling products through them.
Overall, comics did better in September 2019 than August 2019. Comics gained in both dollars and units while graphic novels gained in dollars. Together comics and graphic novels made gains in both dollars and units. Toys saw a dip in the double digits after having a previously bullish month.
Compared to September 2018, it was mixed results Comics saw gains in dollars in double digits while units increased as well. Graphic novels took a double digit dive in both dollars and units. Together, comics and graphic novels saw gains. Toys had a mixed month with an increase in dollars but decrease in units.
Compared to the same point last year, comics are up 2.05% in dollars though down 3.29% in units. Graphic Novels are down 4.26% in dollars and 10.04% units. Comics and graphic novels are up 0.25% in dollars and down 3.79% in units. Toys have seen massive gains with a 22.69% increase in dollars and 25.47% in units.
The third quarter in 2019 is up across the board compared to the second this year and the results are mixed though generally positive compared to the third quarter of 2018.
Marvel Comics remained the top publisher in September, taking 38.81% of dollars (-7.34) and 45.51% (-4.45) of units shipped. In second place was DC with a market share of 27.80% (+2.94) and 29.15% (+3.19), respectively. Image Comics ranked third, breaking over ten-percent market share thanks to Spawn and other creator owner projects with a 11.01% dollar share (+4.69) and a 8.32% unit share (+2.06). The top three were followed by Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Dynamite Entertainment, and BOOM! Studios, respectively.
Marvel Comics had six of the month’s top ten best-selling comic books. DC had three titles in the top ten. Image had the top selling comic for the month for their one in the top ten.
Among the premier publishers, IDW Publishing’s top book for September was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #98 at #44; BOOM! Studios’ Something Is Killing the Children #1 ranked #57; Dynamite Entertainment’s Vampirella/Red Sonja #1 ranked #101, and Dark Horse Comics’ Black Hammer/Justice League #3 ranked #114.
DC dominated the graphic novel charts with six best-selling titles. Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba’s Umbrella Academy #3: Hotel Oblivion TP from Dark Horse Comics charted at #2. Image Comics also placed two volumes on the graphic novel chart with Paper Girls Volume 6 TP and Monstress Volume 4 TP.
Diamond Select Toys’ Marvel Gallery: Avengers Endgame: Iron Man MK85 PVC Figure, was September’s best-selling figure, with DST charting two other best-sellers, the Marvel Select: Captain Marvel Figure at #5 and the John Wick Select Figure at #10. Mattel’s DC Multiverse 6-Inch Figures: Lobo Wave was the #2 selling toy for the month, while Mezco’s One-12 Collective: Marvel Netflix: The Punisher Figure punched in at #3. DC Collectibles had three toys in the top ten: Batman Black and White by Marc Silvestri Statue (#4), Dark Nights Metal: Batman the Devastator Statue (#7), and DC Essentials: Red Hood Action Figure (#8). Rounding out the top ten at #9 was Funko’s POP! Marvel: Spider-Punk Vinyl Figure, a PREVIEWS Exclusive.
Prime Books’ The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2019 Edition was September’s best-selling book, featuring a collection of top stories from renowned Sci-fi/Fantasy authors.
Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder Core Rulebook (2nd Edition) was September’s best-selling game product and one of Paizo’s eight products among the top ten.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 38.81% | 45.51% |
| DC | 27.80% | 29.15% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 11.01% | 8.32% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.26% | 2.27% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 3.08% | 2.92% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.70% | 2.02% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.48% | 2.53% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.57% | 0.62% |
| ONI PRESS | 0.76% | 0.63% |
| ARCHIE COMICS | 0.65% | 0.63% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 7.87% | 5.42% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| SEPTEMBER 2019 VS. AUGUST 2019 | ||
| COMICS | 5.20% | 9.97% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 2.90% | -1.98% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 4.60% | 9.12% |
| TOYS | -14.00% | -33.26% |
| SEPTEMBER 2019 VS. SEPTEMBER 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 10.87% | 5.25% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -11.54% | -20.44% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 4.09% | 3.13% |
| TOYS | 9.99% | -17.90% |
| YEAR TO DATE 2019 VS. YEAR TO DATE 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 2.05% | -3.29% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -4.26% | -10.04% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 0.25% | -3.79% |
| TOYS | 22.69% | 25.47% |
| QUARTER 3 2019 VS. QUARTER 2 2019 | ||
| COMICS | 13.25% | 8.20% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 1.68% | 3.50% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 10.01% | 7.88% |
| TOYS | 29.24% | 26.14% |
| QUARTER 3 2019 VS. QUARTER 3 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 5.41% | 0.01% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -7.95% | -15.17% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 1.59% | -1.16% |
| TOYS | 19.23% | 22.45% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTALSHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 99 | 43 | 0 | 142 |
| DC | 83 | 26 | 0 | 109 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 42 | 19 | 0 | 61 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 19 | 21 | 0 | 40 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 25 | 15 | 0 | 40 |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 18 | 14 | 0 | 32 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 15 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| ARCHIE COMICS | 11 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
| ONI PRESS | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 127 | 186 | 19 | 332 |
| TOTAL | 443 | 369 | 19 | 831 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | SPAWN #300 | $7.99 | JUN190014-M | IMA |
| 2 | SPIDER-MAN #1 | $4.99 | JUL190833-M | MAR |
| 3 | HOUSE OF X #5 | $4.99 | JUL190857-M | MAR |
| 4 | POWERS OF X #5 | $4.99 | JUL190873-M | MAR |
| 5 | POWERS OF X #4 | $4.99 | JUL190865-M | MAR |
| 6 | HOUSE OF X #4 | $4.99 | JUL190849-M | MAR |
| 7 | DOOMSDAY CLOCK #11 | $4.99 | MAR190507-M | DC |
| 8 | ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #3 | $4.99 | JUL190885-M | MAR |
| 9 | DCEASED: A GOOD DAY TO DIE #1 | $4.99 | JUL190514-M | DC |
| 10 | HARLEEN #1 (MR) | $7.99 | JUL190510-M | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | SPAWN #300 | $7.99 | JUN190014-M | IMA |
| 2 | SPIDER-MAN #1 | $4.99 | JUL190833-M | MAR |
| 3 | HOUSE OF X #5 | $4.99 | JUL190857-M | MAR |
| 4 | HARLEEN #1 (MR) | $7.99 | JUL190510-M | DC |
| 5 | POWERS OF X #5 | $4.99 | JUL190873-M | MAR |
| 6 | POWERS OF X #4 | $4.99 | JUL190865-M | MAR |
| 7 | HOUSE OF X #4 | $4.99 | JUL190849-M | MAR |
| 8 | DOOMSDAY CLOCK #11 | $4.99 | MAR190507-M | DC |
| 9 | ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #3 | $4.99 | JUL190885-M | MAR |
| 10 | DCEASED: A GOOD DAY TO DIE #1 | $4.99 | JUL190514-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BATMAN: DAMNED HC (MR) | $29.99 | MAR190571 | DC |
| 2 | UMBRELLA ACADEMY VOL. 3: HOTEL OBLIVION TP | $19.99 | MAR190279 | DAR |
| 3 | PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 6 TP | $14.99 | JUL190107 | IMA |
| 4 | MONSTRESS VOLUME 4 TP (MR) | $16.99 | JUL190105-M | IMA |
| 5 | IMMORTAL HULK VOL. 4: ABOMINATION TP | $15.99 | JUN191051 | MAR |
| 6 | HEROES IN CRISIS HC | $29.99 | JUN190600 | DC |
| 7 | BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE HC | $17.99 | JUN190574 | DC |
| 8 | BATMAN VOL, 10: KNIGHTMARES TP | $17.99 | JUN190562 | DC |
| 9 | BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL | $16.99 | MAY190358 | DC |
| 10 | THE JOKER: HIS GREATEST JOKES TP | $19.99 | JUN190604 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BATMAN: DAMNED HC (MR) | $29.99 | MAR190571 | DC |
| 2 | UMBRELLA ACADEMY VOL. 3: HOTEL OBLIVION TP | $19.99 | MAR190279 | DAR |
| 3 | MONSTRESS VOLUME 4 TP (MR) | $16.99 | JUL190105-M | IMA |
| 4 | MARVEL HORROR OMNIBUS HC | $150.00 | MAR190992 | MAR |
| 5 | HEROES IN CRISIS HC | $29.99 | JUN190600 | DC |
| 6 | PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 6 TP | $14.99 | JUL190107 | IMA |
| 7 | TIMELY’S GREATEST: GOLDEN AGE SUB-MARINER BY EVERETT HC | $150.00 | MAR190993-M | MAR |
| 8 | UMBRELLA ACADEMY LIBRARY EDITION VOL. 1 HC | $39.99 | JUN190309 | DAR |
| 9 | BATMAN ETERNAL OMNIBUS HC | $125.00 | JAN190658 | DC |
| 10 | SPIDER-MAN BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS HC | $125.00 | MAR191002 | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY 2019 EDITION | $19.95 | NOV188362 | PRI |
| 2 | FREE S$$T: THE CHARLES BURNS ZINE COLLECTION HC | $19.99 | JUL191904 | FAN |
| 3 | THE DARK CRYSTAL LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | JUL191956 | GOL |
| 4 | GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK VOL. 1 SC | $12.99 | OCT151871 | ZEN |
| 5 | FRANK CHO: BALLPOINT BEAUTIES SC | $19.95 | JUN191759 | FLE |
| 6 | BLOODBORNE OFFICIAL ARTWORKS SC | $44.99 | MAR172148 | UDO |
| 7 | THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL. 144 SC | $14.95 | MAY191887 | SAN |
| 8 | MY LITTLE PONY: BEST GIFT EVER PERFECT PINKIE PRESENT LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | JUL191958 | GOL |
| 9 | CATS OF THE LOUVRE MANGA HC | $29.99 | JUL192406 | VIZ |
| 10 | DOCTOR WHO: RESURRECTION OF THE DALEKS HC | $16.99 | JUL191682 | BBC |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS ENDGAME: IRON MAN MK85 PVC FIGURE | FEB198521 | DST |
| 2 | DC MULTIVERSE 6-INCH FIGURES: LOBO WAVE | NOV188888 | MAT |
| 3 | ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL NETFLIX: THE PUNISHER FIGURE | MAR188817 | MEZ |
| 4 | BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE BY MARC SILVESTRI STATUE | FEB190627 | DC |
| 5 | MARVEL SELECT: CAPTAIN MARVEL MOVIE FIGURE | JAN192554 | DST |
| 6 | DC COMICS CATWOMAN RETURNS BISHOUJO STATUE | JAN198158 | KOT |
| 7 | DARK NIGHTS METAL: BATMAN THE DEVASTATOR STATUE | FEB190623 | DC |
| 8 | DC ESSENTIALS: RED HOOD ACTION FIGURE | FEB190631 | DC |
| 9 | POP! MARVEL: SPIDER-PUNK VINYL FIGURE | SEP188215 | FUN |
| 10 | JOHN WICK SELECT FIGURE | SEP182329 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | PATHFINDER CORE RULEBOOK HC (P2) | MAY193227 | PAI |
| 2 | PATHFINDER: LOST OMENS WORLD GUIDE HC (P2) | MAY193231 | PAI |
| 3 | STARFINDER RPG: ALIEN ARCHIVE 3 HC | JUN193098 | PAI |
| 4 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: X-MEN ANIMATED SERIES DARK PHOENIX BOOSTER BRICK | MAY193279 | NEC |
| 5 | PATHFINDER BESTIARY HC (P2) | MAY193229 | PAI |
| 6 | CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
| 7 | PATHFINDER: CORE RULEBOOK HC SPECIAL EDITION (P2) | MAY193228 | PAI |
| 8 | PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK POCKET EDITION | APR168770 | PAI |
| 9 | PATHFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: AGE OF ASHES PART 2 (P2) | MAY198358 | PAI |
| 10 | PATHFINDER GM SCREEN (P2) | MAY193238 | PAI |
