Comic Sales Continue to Make Gains in November According to Diamond Comic Distributors
Things remained relatively steady when it comes to market share for publishers while comics as a whole continue to make gains on the year according to data released by Diamond Comic Distributors today.
Compared to the previous month, comics, graphic novels, and toys were down in both dollars and units with almost all dropping double digits.
Compared to the same time the previous year, things look much better. Comics and graphic novels both saw gains combining for a 4.3% increase in dollars and 2.98% in units. Individually they also saw gains. Toys were a bit mixed seeing a decrease of 1.3% in dollars but an increase in 15.09% in units compared to the previous year.
When it comes year to date, comics are up 4.1% in dollars but down 1.42% in units. Graphic novels are still down, 3.21% in dollars and 8.65% in units. The two combined are up 2.02% in dollars and down 1.96% in units. Toys are still seeing major gains up 19.15% in dollars and down 21.54% in units.
Marvel Comics was November’s top publisher, taking a 37.41% dollar market share (-2.10) and a 42.68% unit share (-2.52) DC was second, with a 30.72% dollar share (-0.95) and a 32.41% unit share (+0.39). Image Comics placed third with 7.90% in dollars (+0.31) and 7.87% in units (+0.69), followed by BOOM! Studios, IDW Publishing, Dark Horse Comics, and Dynamite Entertainment.
Marvel Comics had eight of November’s ten best-selling comics including the top selling comic, New Mutants #1. They had the top five comics for the month. Image Comics’ Undiscovered Country #1, the new series from Scott Snyder, Charles Soule, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Daniele Orlandini, ranked #8. DC was also in the top ten; the “Year of the Villain” acetate cover edition of Tom King and Mikel Janin’s Batman #82 ranked #9.
Among the premier publishers’ top books for November, Matt Kindt and Matt Smith’s Folklords #1 from BOOM! Studios’ ranked #94; Dynamite Entertainment’s Vampirella #5 ranked #105; Hazel & Cha Cha Save Christmas: Tales from The Umbrella Academy, a spin-off from Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s The Umbrella Academy, from Dark Horse ranked #110; and IDW Publishing’s Sonic the Hedgehog #23 ranked #189.
The heroes of the DC universe wage a desperate war against a world corrupted by the Anti-Life Equation in Tom Taylor and Trevor Hairsine’s DCeased, November’s best-selling graphic novel, collecting the best-selling mini-series from DC and one of the publisher’s two books in the top ten, along with Frank Miller and John Romita, Jr.’s Superman: Year One at #5. BOOM! Studios’ Firefly: The Sting, an original graphic novel based on the television series, ranked #2. Marvel Comics had four titles in the top ten; The Immortal Hulk Volume 5: Breaker of Worlds, was the top book at #3. Image Comics’ November Volume 1 ranked #4. Dark Horse Comics had two titles in the top, led by The Legend of Korra Part 2: Ruins of Empire at #6.
Gemstone Publishing’s The Overstreet Price Guide to Batman, a guide to eighty years of comics and collectibles focused on the Dark Knight, was November’s best-selling book. Also of note, Dynamite Entertainment’s Vampirella: 50th Anniversary Poster Collection ranked #3 and Titan Comics’ The Philosophy of Deadpool ranked #4.
Mezco Toys’ One:12 Collective: Marvel Comics: Classic Cyclops Action Figure, a PREVIEWS exclusive, was November’s best-selling toy product. Diamond Select Toys had five products in the top ten, led by the Castlevania Gallery: Trevor Belmont PVC Figure, based on the Netflix animated series. DC Collectibles had three products in the top ten; the Dark Nights Metal: The Batman Who Laughs & Robins Deluxe Statue was their best-selling product at #6.
Paizo Publishing’s Starfinder RPG: Character Operations Manual, a sourcebook for the science-fiction role-playing game, was November’s best-selling game product and one of the seven Paizo products among the top ten.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 37.41% | 42.68% |
| DC | 30.72% | 32.41% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 7.90% | 7.87% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 3.46% | 3.07% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 3.42% | 3.04% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.38% | 2.37% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.03% | 1.45% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.48% | 0.56% |
| TITAN COMICS | 0.70% | 0.50% |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 0.57% | 0.46% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.93% | 5.59% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| NOVEMBER 2019 VS. OCTOBER 2019 | ||
| COMICS | -28.87% | -24.86% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -12.33% | -14.39% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -24.86% | -24.19% |
| TOYS | -8.72% | -13.86% |
| NOVEMBER 2019 VS. NOVEMBER 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 3.12% | 2.91% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 7.43% | 3.94% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 4.30% | 2.98% |
| TOYS | -1.30% | 15.09% |
| YEAR TO DATE 2019 VS. YEAR TO DATE 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 4.10% | -1.42% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -3.21% | -8.65% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.02% | -1.96% |
| TOYS | 19.15% | 21.54% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTALSHIPPED |
| DC COMICS | 96 | 31 | 0 | 127 |
| MARVEL COMICS | 84 | 36 | 0 | 120 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 40 | 15 | 0 | 55 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 36 | 14 | 0 | 50 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 22 | 22 | 0 | 44 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 19 | 15 | 0 | 34 |
| VIZ MEDIA LLC | 0 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| DYNAMITE | 14 | 9 | 0 | 23 |
| TITAN COMICS | 8 | 7 | 1 | 16 |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 152 | 200 | 24 | 376 |
| TOTAL | 474 | 380 | 25 | 879 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | NEW MUTANTS #1 | $4.99 | SEP190749-M | MAR |
| 2 | X-MEN #2 | $3.99 | SEP190778-M | MAR |
| 3 | ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #5 | $4.99 | SEP190790-M | MAR |
| 4 | X-FORCE #1 | $4.99 | SEP190760-M | MAR |
| 5 | FALLEN ANGELS #1 | $4.99 | SEP190769-M | MAR |
| 6 | DEADPOOL #1 | $4.99 | SEP190835-M | MAR |
| 7 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #33 | $3.99 | SEP190814-M | MAR |
| 8 | UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #1 (MR) [*] | $3.99 | SEP190027-M | IMA |
| 9 | BATMAN #82 ACETATE COVER | $3.99 | AUG190599 | DC |
| 10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #34 | $3.99 | SEP190818-M | MAR |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | NEW MUTANTS #1 | $4.99 | SEP190749-M | MAR |
| 2 | ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #5 | $4.99 | SEP190790-M | MAR |
| 3 | X-FORCE #1 | $4.99 | SEP190760-M | MAR |
| 4 | X-MEN #2 | $3.99 | SEP190778-M | MAR |
| 5 | DEADPOOL #1 | $4.99 | SEP190835-M | MAR |
| 6 | FALLEN ANGELS #1 | $4.99 | SEP190769-M | MAR |
| 7 | UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #1 (MR) [*] | $3.99 | SEP190027-M | IMA |
| 8 | BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT PRESENTS: VON FREEZE #1 | $5.99 | SEP190437-M | DC |
| 9 | SCREAM: CURSE OF CARNAGE #1 | $4.99 | SEP190805-M | MAR |
| 10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #33 | $3.99 | SEP190814-M | MAR |
TOP 10 TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DCEASED HC | $29.99 | AUG190650 | DC |
| 2 | FIREFLY: THE STING HC | $19.99 | JUL191306 | BOO |
| 3 | IMMORTAL HULK VOL. 5: BREAKER OF WORLDS TP | $15.99 | AUG191149 | MAR |
| 4 | NOVEMBER VOL. 1 HC (MR) | $16.99 | JUL190077 | IMA |
| 5 | SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE HC | $29.99 | AUG190687 | DC |
| 6 | LEGEND OF KORRA PART 2: RUINS OF EMPIRE TP | $10.99 | JUN190359 | DAR |
| 7 | JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER: ALLEGIANCE TP | $15.99 | SEP190991-M | MAR |
| 8 | LEAGUE OF LEGENDS: LUX TP | $15.99 | JUL191064 | MAR |
| 9 | SAVAGE AVENGERS VOL. 1: CITY OF SICKLES TP | $15.99 | AUG191148 | MAR |
| 10 | STRANGER THINGS: SIX TP | $17.99 | JUL190353 | DAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC | $125.00 | MAY190943-M | MAR |
| 2 | CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS BOX SET HC | $500.00 | APR190537 | DC |
| 3 | ABSOLUTE SWAMP THING BY ALAN MOORE VOL. 1 HC | $99.99 | MAR190601 | DC |
| 4 | DCEASED HC | $29.99 | AUG190650 | DC |
| 5 | DOOM PATROL: THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS HC | $125.00 | APR190538 | DC |
| 6 | SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE HC | $29.99 | AUG190687 | DC |
| 7 | FIREFLY: THE STING HC | $19.99 | JUL191306 | BOO |
| 8 | BATMAN BY SNYDER & CAPULLO OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC | $125.00 | APR190526 | DC |
| 9 | NEW TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS VOL. 4 HC | $99.00 | APR190560 | DC |
| 10 | MARVEL MASTERWORKS: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 31 HC | $75.00 | MAY190945-M | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE OVERSTREET PRICE GUIDE TO BATMAN SC | $30.00 | SEP191814 | GEM |
| 2 | DRAGON BALL VISUAL HISTORY: THE ART OF AKIRA TORIYAMA HC | $34.99 | AUG192435 | VIZ |
| 3 | VAMPIRELLA 50TH ANNIVERSARY POSTER COLLECTION SC | $24.99 | AUG191226 | DE |
| 4 | THE PHILOSOPHY OF DEADPOOL HC (MR) | $14.99 | MAR192035 | TTN |
| 5 | OVERLORD LIGHT NOVEL VOLUME 11 HC | $20.00 | JUL192435 | YEN |
| 6 | SHIGENORI SOEJIMA & P-STUDIO ART UNIT ART WORKS 2 TP | $39.99 | AUG192423 | UDO |
| 7 | THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 146 SC | $14.95 | SEP191953 | SAN |
| 8 | TRANSFORMERS VISUAL HISTORY HC | $49.99 | SEP192219 | VIZ |
| 9 | DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: WINNER TAKES ALL SC | $6.99 | SEP191935 | RAN |
| 10 | DRAGONS CROWN: OFFICIAL ARTWORKS HC | $49.99 | JUL192399 | UDO |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL: CLASSIC CYCLOPS FIGURE | SEP188229 | MEZ |
| 2 | CASTLEVANIA GALLERY: TREVOR BELMONT PVC FIGURE | JAN192540 | DST |
| 3 | POP! DC HEROES: HARLEY QUINN WITH BOOMBOX VINYL FIGURE | AUG188545 | FUN |
| 4 | MARVEL SELECT: CARNAGE FIGURE | NOV142179 | DST |
| 5 | KINGDOM HEARTS 3 GALLERY: MALEFICENT PVC STATUE | MAY189403 | DST |
| 6 | DARK NIGHTS METAL: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS & ROBINS DELUXE STATUE | MAY190542 | DC |
| 7 | DARK KNIGHTS METAL: BATMAN THE RED DEATH STATUE | APR190588 | DC |
| 8 | DC PRIME: BATMAN ACTION FIGURE | MAR190627 | DC |
| 9 | DC GALLERY: HARLEY QUINN REBIRTH PVC FIGURE | JUN192385 | DST |
| 10 | MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS ENDGAME CAPTAIN AMERICA PVC FIGURE | JUL192669 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | STARFINDER RPG: CHARACTER OPERATIONS MANUAL HC | SEP193078 | PAI |
| 2 | STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
| 3 | CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
| 4 | PATHFINDER: LOST OMENS CHARACTER GUIDE HC (P2) | AUG193363 | PAI |
| 5 | PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT: BASIC NEW EDITION | MAR138328 | PAI |
| 6 | PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK POCKET EDITION | APR168770 | PAI |
| 7 | PATHFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: AGE OF ASHES PART 5 | SEP193076 | PAI |
| 8 | MY HERO ACADEMIA: THE CARD GAME | JUL183082 | S7 |
| 9 | POP! FUNKOVERSE STRATEGY GAME: THE GOLDEN GIRLS 100 EXPANDALONE BOARD GAME | JUN198704 | FUN |
| 10 | TOME OF BEASTS HC | JUN168476 | PAI |
