At the Diamond Retailer Summit taking place before this year’s C2E2 Diamond Founder, President & CEO Steve Geppi talks about “The Past, Present and Future of the Comics Industry” during his keynote address. You can watch the full address here.
Marvel held the top spot for units share and dollar share for the month of March as Diamond Comic Distributors has released that month’s data. It wasn’t all Marvel as DC Comics held five of the top ten comics sold with Dark Nights: Metal #6 coming in first.
Comics and graphic novels were up compared to February and toys were up in dollars and down in units. Compared to 2017, things aren’t as good with everything down double digits. Comics and graphic novels are down 15.96% and 13.35% compared to March 2017. That month was riding high from Amazing Spider-Man #25 that sold 113,934 copies despite its $9.99 cover price and Dark Knight III Master Race #8 which sold 107,892 at $5.99. The year to date continues to show a negative trend.
Marvel Comics was March’s top publisher with a 35.92% dollar share (+1.06) and a 38.38% unit share (+1.44). DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 31.06% dollar share (-0.73) and a 35.10% unit share (-1.51). Image Comics was third with a 10.98% dollar share (-0.49) and a 10.43% unit share (-0.39). In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 3.96% dollar share (-0.38) and a 3.28% unit share (+0.65), followed by BOOM! Studios with a 2.40% dollar share (+0.03) and a 2.13% unit share (+0.01), Dark Horse Comics with a 2.38% dollar share (-0.47) and a 1.58% unit share (-0.1), and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.83% dollar share (-0.57) and a 1.61% unit share (-0.68).
DC Entertainment had five titles among March’s top ten comics. Marvel Comics had four titles in the top ten. Image Comics’ Oblivion Song by Kirkman and De Felici #1 ranked #9. Among the premier publishers and their top-selling books, BOOM! Studios’ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #25, kicking off the “Shattered Grid” storyline, ranked #70; Dark Horse Comics’ Neil Gaiman’s American Gods: My Ainsel #1 ranked #114; Dynamite Entertainment’s The Shadow/Batman #6, the final chapter of their coproduction with DC Entertainment, ranked #121; and the milestone G.I. Joe #250 from IDW Publishing ranked #149 for the month.
Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead Volume 29: Lines We Cross from Image Comics was March’s best-selling graphic novel, and one of Image Comics’ six titles in the top ten. DC Entertainment had four titles in the top ten.
Dark Horse Comics’ World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume 3, an art book based on the best-selling Blizzard Entertainment role-playing game, was March’s best-selling book. Also in the top ten for Dark Horse Comics was the Overwatch Anthology Volume 1 at 9. Insight Editions’ DC Comics Variant Covers: The Complete Visual History, a hardcover artbook featuring a cover by Frank Cho, ranked #3 for the month.
Mezco’s One:12 Collection: Marvel Comics: X-Force Wolverine Action Figure, a PREVIEWS Exclusive, was March’s best-selling toy product. Another PREVIEWS Exclusive product from Mezco, the One:12 Collection: DC Comics: Stealth Deathstroke Action Figure, ranked #2. Diamond Select Toys had two products in the top ten: the Marvel Gallery: Thor Ragnarok: Thor PVC Figure, based on 2017’s Marvel Studios film, ranked #3, and theMarvel Select: Venom Action Figure ranked #5. Another PREVIEWS Exclusive, Funko’s POP! Saga: Bloody Lying Cat Vinyl Figure, a special release for Free Comic Book Day 2018, ranked #4. DC Collectibles had three products in the top ten: the DC Cover Girls: Harley Quinn by Joëlle Jones ranked #7, the DC Gallery: Superman vs. The Flash Racing Statue ranked #8, and the Batman Animated: The Joker Expressions Pack ranked #9
NECA/WizKids’ Dungeons & Dragons: Icons of the Realm: Menagerie 3 Booster Brick, a collection of miniatures for the tabletop game, was March’s best-selling game product. IDW Games had three products in the top ten: The Legend of Korra: Pro Bending Arena Game at #2, the Atari: Missile Command Game at #4, and The Legend of Korra: Pro Bending Arena: Amon’s Invasion Game at #5.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
|
PUBLISHER |
DOLLAR SHARE |
UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS |
35.92% |
38.38% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT |
31.06% |
35.10% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
10.98% |
10.43% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
3.96% |
3.28% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
2.40% |
2.13% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
2.38% |
1.58% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
1.83% |
1.61% |
| VIZ MEDIA |
1.23% |
0.46% |
| ONI PRESS INC. |
1.16% |
0.80% |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC |
0.93% |
0.99% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
8.15% |
5.25% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
|
|
DOLLARS |
UNITS |
|
MARCH 2018 VS. FEBRUARY 2018 |
||
| COMICS |
2.92% |
4.04% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
10.36% |
3.69% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
4.95% |
4.02% |
| TOYS |
5.32% |
-1.93% |
|
MARCH 2018 VS. MARCH 2017 |
||
| COMICS |
-13.20% |
-12.28% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-22.12% |
-25.63% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-15.96% |
-13.35% |
| TOYS |
-29.83% |
-38.04% |
|
YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017 (FIRST QUARTER 2018 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2017) |
||
| COMICS |
-7.09% |
-14.52% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-13.17% |
-12.28% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-8.92% |
-14.37% |
| TOYS |
-9.81% |
-12.36% |
|
FIRST QUARTER 2018 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2017 |
||
| COMICS |
-8.44% |
-7.25% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS |
-21.69% |
-20.85% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN |
-12.67% |
-8.38% |
| TOYS |
-14.91% |
-11.81% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
|
PUBLISHER |
COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT |
84 |
35 |
0 |
119 |
| MARVEL COMICS |
81 |
33 |
0 |
114 |
| IMAGE COMICS |
57 |
13 |
0 |
70 |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
40 |
18 |
0 |
58 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
25 |
9 |
0 |
34 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
12 |
14 |
0 |
26 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
15 |
8 |
0 |
23 |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT |
7 |
3 |
0 |
10 |
| VIZ MEDIA |
0 |
9 |
0 |
9 |
| ONI PRESS |
4 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
113 |
135 |
11 |
259 |
| TOTAL |
438 |
281 |
11 |
730 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DARK NIGHTS: METAL #6 |
$4.99 |
DEC170230-M | DC |
|
2 |
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #4 |
$4.99 |
DEC170234-M | DC |
|
3 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #797 |
$3.99 |
JAN180892-M | MAR |
|
4 |
WEAPON H #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN180920-M | MAR |
|
5 |
BATMAN #42 |
$2.99 |
JAN180260-M | DC |
|
6 |
THE MIGHTY THOR #705 |
$3.99 |
JAN180888-M | MAR |
|
7 |
INFINITY COUNTDOWN #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN180879-M | MAR |
|
8 |
BATMAN #43 |
$2.99 |
JAN180262-M | DC |
|
9 |
OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #1 |
$3.99 |
JAN180587 | IMA |
|
10 |
BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT #6 |
$3.99 |
JAN180268-M | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
DARK NIGHTS: METAL #6 |
$4.99 |
DEC170230-M | DC |
|
2 |
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #4 |
$4.99 |
DEC170234-M | DC |
|
3 |
WEAPON H #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN180920-M | MAR |
|
4 |
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #797 |
$3.99 |
JAN180892-M | MAR |
|
5 |
INFINITY COUNTDOWN #1 |
$4.99 |
JAN180879-M | MAR |
|
6 |
DAREDEVIL #600 |
$5.99 |
JAN180911-M | MAR |
|
7 |
THE MIGHTY THOR #705 |
$3.99 |
JAN180888-M | MAR |
|
8 |
THE WALKING DEAD #177 |
$3.99 |
JAN180843-M | IMA |
|
9 |
BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT #6 |
$3.99 |
JAN180268-M | DC |
|
10 |
OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #1 |
$3.99 |
JAN180587 | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 29: LINES WE CROSS TP |
$16.99 |
JAN180844 | IMA |
|
2 |
GREEN LANTERN: EARTH ONE VOLUME 1 HC |
$24.99 |
DEC170239 | DC |
|
3 |
THE FLASH VOLUME 5: NEGATIVE TP |
$14.99 |
DEC170377 | DC |
|
4 |
SUPER SONS VOLUME 2: PLANET OF THE CAPES TP |
$14.99 |
DEC170381 | DC |
|
5 |
REALM VOLUME 1 TP (MR) |
$9.99 |
JAN180692-M | IMA |
|
6 |
BLACK SCIENCE VOL. 7: EXTINCTION IS THE RULE TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
DEC170675 | IMA |
|
7 |
INVINCIBLE VOL. 25: THE END OF ALL THINGS PART 2 TP (MR) |
$16.99 |
JAN180762 | IMA |
|
8 |
BATMAN & HARLEY QUINN HC |
$24.99 |
DEC170385 | DC |
|
9 |
PORT OF EARTH VOLUME 1 TP |
$9.99 |
JAN180689 | IMA |
|
10 |
SAGA VOLUME 8 TP (MR) |
$14.99 |
OCT170715 | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 29: LINES WE CROSS TP |
$16.99 |
JAN180844 | IMA |
|
2 |
INFINITY GAUNTLET BOX HC SLIPCASE SET |
$500.00 |
SEP170982 | MAR |
|
3 |
GREEN LANTERN: EARTH ONE VOLUME 1 HC |
$24.99 |
DEC170239 | DC |
|
4 |
AVENGERS OMNIBUS VOLUME 3 HC |
$100.00 |
SEP170986-M | MAR |
|
5 |
KAMANDI BY JACK KIRBY OMNIBUS HC |
$125.00 |
SEP170419 | DC |
|
6 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS VOLUME 2 HC |
$125.00 |
SEP170417 | DC |
|
7 |
DAREDEVIL BY WAID & SAMNEE OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC |
$100.00 |
SEP170983 | MAR |
|
8 |
ABSOLUTE WILDC.A.T.S. BY JIM LEE HC |
$125.00 |
JUL170485 | DC |
|
9 |
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: MARVEL TWO IN ONE VOL. 3 HC |
$75.00 |
AUG171012-M | MAR |
|
10 |
BATMAN & HARLEY QUINN HC |
$24.99 |
DEC170385 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
WORLD OF WARCRAFT CHRONICLE VOLUME 3 HC |
$39.99 |
NOV170046 | DAR |
|
2 |
THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 127 |
$14.95 |
DEC172080 | SAN |
|
3 |
DC COMICS VARIANT COVERS: THE COMPLETE VISUAL HISTORY HC |
$45.00 |
JUL178304 | INS |
|
4 |
SONIC & TALES OF DECEPTION SC |
$6.99 |
JAN182151 | RAN |
|
5 |
JUSTICE LEAGUE CLASSIC: RACE TO SAVE THE DAY SC |
$3.99 |
JAN182149 | HAR |
|
6 |
MARVEL SUPERHERO ADVENTURES: SAND TRAP SC |
$4.99 |
JAN182150 | MAR |
|
7 |
OVERWATCH ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 1 HC |
$19.99 |
JUN170080 | DAR |
|
8 |
UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL: 2 FUZZY 2 FURIOUS HC |
$13.99 |
JAN182154 | HAC |
|
9 |
STAR WARS: FORCES OF DESTINY: REY CHRONICLES CHAPTERBOOK |
$5.99 |
JAN182174 | DIS |
|
10 |
NEW GAME VOLUME 1 GN |
$13.99 |
DEC171780 | SEV |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL: X-FORCE WOLVERINE ACTION FIGURE | MAR178670 | MEZ |
|
2 |
ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC: STEALTH DEATHSTROKE ACTION FIGURE | MAR178824 | MEZ |
|
3 |
MARVEL GALLERY: THOR RAGNAROK: THOR PVC FIGURE | SEP172483 | DST |
|
4 |
POP! SAGA: BLOODY LYING CAT FCBD 2018 VINYL FIGURE | OCT170013 | FUN |
|
5 |
MARVEL SELECT: VENOM ACTION FIGURE | OCT172354 | DST |
|
6 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD: LINK RAH FIGURE | MAR178289 | MED |
|
7 |
DC COVER GIRLS: HARLEY QUINN BY JOËLLE JONES STATUE | SEP170453 | DC |
|
8 |
DC GALLERY: SUPERMAN VS THE FLASH RACING STATUE | SEP170450 | DC |
|
9 |
BATMAN ANIMATED: THE JOKER EXPRESSIONS PACK | SEP170451 | DC |
|
10 |
DC SUPER POWERS COLLECTION: HARLEY QUINN MAQUETTE | APR178791 | TWE |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
D&D ICONS OF THE REALM: MONSTER MENAGERIE 3 BOOSTER BRICK | DEC172933 | NEC |
|
2 |
LEGEND OF KORRA: PRO BENDING ARENA GAME | AUG170532 | IDW |
|
3 |
THE DARK CRYSTAL BOARD GAME | NOV173124 | ALC |
|
4 |
ATARI: MISSILE COMMAND GAME | JAN180574 | IDW |
|
5 |
LEGEND OF KORRA: PRO BENDING ARENA: AMON’S INVASION GAME | DEC170558 | IDW |
|
6 |
DC HEROCLIX: HARLEY QUINN AND THE GOTHAM GIRLS BOOSTER BRICK | JUN173406 | NEC |
|
7 |
BATMAN: GOTHAM CITY 4D MINI PUZZLE | SEP178722 | 4D |
|
8 |
FALLOUT COLLECTOR’S CHESS SET | FEB182826 | USA |
|
9 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD EXPANDED EDITION HC | DEC178223 | POC |
|
10 |
SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS 4D MINI PUZZLE | SEP178723 | 4D |
Every summer, the city of San Diego becomes a destination for comics and pop culture fans as they flock to Comic-Con. The event attracts attendees from all over the world and tickets have become quite difficult to acquire. Then there’s the pricey cost of accommodations and airfare on top of the tickets… Well, Diamond Comic Distributors is looking to solve all those problems for two lucky pop culture fans!
Diamond is providing the opportunity of a lifetime with The San Diego Comic-Con Total Prize Pack! Diamond will give one grand prize winner and a friend roundtrip airfare, a five-night hotel stay, and four-day passes to Comic-Con in San Diego, the biggest comics and pop culture convention in the world!
Diamond will give the winner and their guest four-day passes, which includes admission to Preview Night on Wednesday so you can get a jump on shopping for comics, collectibles, and other goodies! You’ll stay at the four-star, waterfront Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego, which is located right next to the San Diego Convention Center. And the winner will receive a Comic-Con exclusive item courtesy of Diamond Select Toys!
So how do you enter this amazing contest? We’re glad you asked! Head over to Diamond’s Gleam Campaign, and fill out the required entry information. From there, you can increase the number of times your name is entered in the drawing by engaging with Diamond’s social media and e-newsletters. In other words, following Diamond’s many pop-culture Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube platforms, as well as subscribing to e-newsletters will enter your name into the drawing pool between five to ten more times per interaction.
Get your name in there as many times as you can and you could be going on the pop-culture trip of a lifetime! Learn more about the contest and enter by APRIL 30 to win here!
Diamond Comic Distributors has announced the annual Dave Hawksworth Memorial Comic Shop Improvement Award. Named after Dave Hawksworth, Diamond’s late Outside Sales Manager, the award grants $5,000 to a local comic shop owner to be used for improvements to their business.
An Ohio native, and a longtime resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, Hawksworth joined Diamond in 1996, following the company’s acquisition of Capital City Distribution. Dave served as an Outside Sale Manager, visiting thousands of comic book shops during his 20-plus years at Diamond, befriending each retailer and helping them to grow their business. Now, an annual award in his name will honor that legacy, financially helping comic shop owners to make improvements to their stores.
Comic shop owners interested in applying for the award should submit a statement completing the sentence:
“If I received a $5,000 award to improve my business, I would…”
The award is open to brick-&-mortar stores worldwide. Retailers are encouraged to provide further details, such as a full explanation, pictures, videos, or any other media that would showcase how they would improve their store. All entry materials are due to Diamond by June 15, and should be sent to Diamond’s Retailer Marketing Manager, Andrea Purcell at Diamond’s Home Office or emailed to her at pandrea@diamondcomics.com.
A panel of Diamond and industry professionals will review the entries and select a winner. The winner will be awarded and announced each year at the Diamond Retailer Appreciation Event Lunch at San Diego Comic-Con.
Something that’s long past overdue is finally here as Diamond Comic Distributors has announced Pullbox, cloud-based softwarethat allows comic shop customers to preorder titles and products from their local comic shop. The software fills a gab and attempts to help solve something that has plagued the direct market, the difficulty in ordering products.
Developed from the ground up to help customers place orders with their local comic shop, Pullbox handles monthly comic subscriptions, preorders for upcoming titles and products, and special orders all from Diamond’s consumer pop-culture website, PREVIEWSworld.com, while also providing comic shop retailers with the back-end tools necessary to manage their pull-and-hold customer base.
The new cloud-based software is part of a broader strategy by Diamond to create an easy way to funnel orders to local comic book shops and make the preorder process a much more viable and vital process for the entire comics industry.
Pullbox has a variety of included features to help customers order and purchase from comic book shops:
Manage Preorders. Add titles to your monthly pull-and-hold list, order additional titles and products from that month’s PREVIEWS preorder catalog.
Synch with Your Participating Local Comic Shop. Powered by comicshoplocator.com, customers can choose a local participating comic shop and synch with them to send their monthly preorders, special orders, and more.
Place Special Orders or Keep a Wishlist. Forgot to order a title or saw something new coming in to comic shops that you want to purchase? Customers can use PULLBOX to place a special order with their comic book shop to purchase. They can also keep a Wishlist of other items and then send it to their retailer to see if they have any items in their store.
Enhanced Search and Ordering. Customers will be able to access a more advanced search at PREVIEWSworld.com that allows them to search the complete database of items offered by Diamond and place orders with their local comic shop.
Track Your Weekly Purchases. Customers will get additional tools to track which titles and products they ordered are releasing that week to stores, see future week’s orders, and more.
Retail Functions. Retailers will be get a full suite of functions available from the Diamond Retailer Services website: Back-end approval of new PullboxCustomers, Alerts to new orders, Set ordering dates, and Upload your own ordering requirements and guidelines. Retailers can synch orders with their initial orders online, or export orders into ComicSuite or other POS software.
Comic-Suite Integration. Seamlessly integrate PULLBOX Pull List, Subscription and Special Orders directly into ComicSuite for approval and ordering, manage new pull-and hold customers, synch customer data and individual orders.
Pullbox is slated for release later this Spring, and will be available for free from PREVIEWSworld.com to comic shop customers. Retailer pricing and additional retailer information will be released in the coming months.
Diamond Comic Distributors has released their reported dollar and unit sales for January 2018. The month was split with Marvel taking the top dollars and DC Entertainment taking top units. This was the opposite of December which saw DC taking the top dollar and Marvel being first in units.
Comics were up 6.08% in dollars and 7.60% in units compared to December 2017 but down 4.29% and 11.40% from January 2017. Graphic novels were down 6.09% in dollars and 11.86% in units compared to December 2017. They were up 3.96% and 6.09% compared to January 2017. Both together were up in both dollars and units compared to December 2017 but down compared to January 2017.
Marvel was January’s top publisher in dollars with a 34.30% retailer dollar share (up 0.50) and a 36.69% unit share (down 2.12). DC Entertainment was the month’s top publisher in units shipped with a 38.94% unit share (up 1.29) and a 33.80% retailer dollar share (down 0.74). Image Comics was third with a 9.48% dollar share (up 0.79) and an 8.23% unit share (up 1.03). In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 4.42% dollar share (up 0.50) and a 3.51% unit share (up 0.59), followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 2.50% dollar share (down 0.19) and a 1.27% unit share (down 0.79).
DC Entertainment had six comics in January’s top ten with Doomsday Clock #3 taking the top spot for the month. Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s The Walking Dead #175 from Image Comics, the first chapter of “New World Order,” ranked #5. Marvel Comics had three titles in the top ten with Avengers #675 being the best at #6. Among the premier publishers, IDW Publishing’s top book, Star Wars Adventures: Forces of Destiny: Leia, ranked #135, and Dark Horse Comics’ Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil #4 was their top book for January at #179.
The adventures of Korra from Nickelodeon’s acclaimed animated series The Legend of Korra continue in Dark Horse Comics’ The Legend of Korra Volume 2: Turf Wars Part 2 by Michael Dante DiMartino and Irene Koh, the best-selling graphic novel of January. Image Comics had five titles in the top ten, DC Entertainment had two titles in the top ten, and Marvel Comics had two titles in the top ten.
The Black Panther Little Golden Book from Random House Books for Young Readers was January’s best-selling book. Also in the top ten from Random House Books for Young Readers were DC Super Hero Girls: Harley Quinn at Super Hero High at #2 and DC Super Friends: The Flash Little Golden Book at #3. Capstone Press had five titles in the top ten, led by the Wonder Woman Is Respectful Picture Book at #4. Marvel Press’ Night Night, Groot Board Book ranked #5.
Bandai America’s Dragonball Super Dragon Stars Action Figures were the best-selling toy product of January and one of the Bandai’s three products among the month’s top ten. Mezco’s One:12 Collective: Marvel: X-Force Deadpool Action Figure, a Diamond exclusive, ranked #2 for the month. Diamond Select Toys had two products among the top ten: the Marvel Select: Thor Ragnarok: Gladiator Hulk Action Figure, based on Marvel Studios’ blockbuster film, ranked #5, the Marvel Select: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Drax and Baby Groot Figure ranked #7, and the Marvel Select: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon Figure ranked #10. Funko’s POP! Dragonball Super: Gotenks Vinyl Figure, also a Diamond exclusive, ranked #6 for the month.
Dynamite Entertainment’s Vampirella Tarot Cards Set was January’s best-selling game product. Also of note, IDW Games’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shadows of the Past Board Game ranked #7 for the month.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR
SHARE |
UNIT
SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 34.30% | 36.69% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 33.80% | 38.94% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 948% | 823% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 442% | 351% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 250% | 127% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 213% | 174% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 161% | 225% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 129% | 044% |
| TITAN COMICS | 096% | 074% |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 089% | 048% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 863% | 571% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| JANUARY 2018 VS. DECEMBER 2017 | ||
| COMICS | 6.08% | 7.60% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -6.09% | -11.86% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.13% | 5.79% |
| TOYS | 5.72% | 12.29% |
| JANUARY 2018 VS. JANUARY 2017 | ||
| COMICS | -4.29% | -11.40% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 3.96% | 6.09% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -1.97% | -10.26% |
| TOYS | 24.19% | 17.66% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTAL
SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 86 | 41 | 0 | 127 |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 89 | 28 | 0 | 117 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 62 | 18 | 0 | 80 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 43 | 25 | 0 | 68 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 24 | 12 | 0 | 36 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 13 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| ONI PRESS | 5 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 139 | 130 | 25 | 294 |
| TOTAL | 392 | 255 | 25 | 672 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DOOMSDAY CLOCK #3 | $4.99 | NOV170212-M | DC |
| 2 | DARK NIGHTS METAL #5 | $3.99 | OCT170206-M | DC |
| 3 | BATMAN #38 | $2.99 | NOV170231-M | DC |
| 4 | BATMAN #39 | $2.99 | NOV170233-M | DC |
| 5 | THE WALKING DEAD #175 (MR) | $3.99 | NOV170604-M | IMA |
| 6 | AVENGERS #675 | $4.99 | OCT170809-M | MAR |
| 7 | BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT #4 | $3.99 | NOV170239-M | DC |
| 8 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN/VENOM: VENOM INC. OMEGA #1 | $4.99 | NOV170955-M | MAR |
| 9 | BATMAN AND THE SIGNAL #1 | $3.99 | NOV170210-M | DC |
| 10 | OLD MAN HAWKEYE #1 | $3.99 | NOV170921-M | MAR |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DOOMSDAY CLOCK #3 | $4.99 | NOV170212-M | DC |
| 2 | DARK NIGHTS METAL #5 | $3.99 | OCT170206-M | DC |
| 3 | AVENGERS #675 | $4.99 | OCT170809-M | MAR |
| 4 | THE WALKING DEAD #175 (MR) | $3.99 | NOV170604-M | IMA |
| 5 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN/VENOM: VENOM INC. OMEGA #1 | $4.99 | NOV170955-M | MAR |
| 6 | BATMAN #38 | $2.99 | NOV170231-M | DC |
| 7 | BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT #4 | $3.99 | NOV170239-M | DC |
| 8 | BATMAN #39 | $2.99 | NOV170233-M | DC |
| 9 | BATMAN AND THE SIGNAL #1 | $3.99 | NOV170210-M | DC |
| 10 | OLD MAN HAWKEYE #1 | $3.99 | NOV170921-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | LEGEND OF KORRA VOLUME 2: TURF WARS PT 2 TP | $10.99 | SEP170087 | DAR |
| 2 | THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOLUME 6: IMPERIAL PHASE PART 2 TP (MR) | $16.99 | NOV170862 | IMA |
| 3 | DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: DATE WITH DISASTER TP | $9.99 | NOV170216 | DC |
| 4 | DESCENDER VOLUME 5: RISE OF THE ROBOTS TP | $16.99 | NOV170741 | IMA |
| 5 | KILL OR BE KILLED VOLUME 3 TP (MR) | $16.99 | NOV170691-M | IMA |
| 6 | SAGA VOLUME 8 TP (MR) | $14.99 | OCT170715 | IMA |
| 7 | WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN VOL. 6: DAYS OF ANGER TP | $17.99 | NOV171057-M | MAR |
| 8 | VISION HC | $39.99 | OCT170993 | MAR |
| 9 | SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | AUG120491 | IMA |
| 10 | HARLEY QUINN VOLUME 4: SURPRISE, SURPRISE TP | $16.99 | OCT170360 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | VISION HC | $39.99 | OCT170993 | MAR |
| 2 | THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOLUME 6: IMPERIAL PHASE PART 2 TP (MR) | $16.99 | NOV170862 | IMA |
| 3 | GENE COLAN’S TOMB OF DRACULA ARTIST EDITION HC | $125.00 | AUG170497 | IDW |
| 4 | SUPERMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS VOLUME 5 HC | $125.00 | AUG170343 | DC |
| 5 | MARVEL MASTERWORKS: DAREDEVIL VOLUME 12 HC | $75.00 | JUL171204-M | MAR |
| 6 | MARVEL MASTERWORKS: SUB-MARINER VOLUME 8 HC | $75.00 | JUL171206-M | MAR |
| 7 | LEGEND OF KORRA VOLUME 2: TURF WARS PT 2 TP | $10.99 | SEP170087 | DAR |
| 8 | DESCENDER VOLUME 5: RISE OF THE ROBOTS TP | $16.99 | NOV170741 | IMA |
| 9 | KILL OR BE KILLED VOLUME 3 TP (MR) | $16.99 | NOV170691-M | IMA |
| 10 | DEADPOOL & CO. OMNIBUS HC | $125.00 | JUL171192 | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BLACK PANTHER LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | NOV172179 | RAN |
| 2 | DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: HARLEY QUINN AT SUPER HERO HIGH | $13.99 | NOV172187 | RAN |
| 3 | DC SUPER FRIENDS: THE FLASH LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | NOV172183 | RAN |
| 4 | WONDER WOMAN IS RESPECTFUL PICTURE BOOK | $4.95 | NOV172176 | CAP |
| 5 | NIGHT, NIGHT GROOT BOARD BOOK | $7.99 | NOV172194 | HAC |
| 6 | BATMAN IS TRUSTWORTHY PICTURE BOOK | $4.95 | NOV172171 | CAP |
| 7 | THE FLASH IS CARING PICTURE BOOK | $4.95 | NOV172172 | CAP |
| 8 | SUPERMAN IS A GOOD CITIZEN PICTURE BOOK | $4.95 | NOV172174 | CAP |
| 9 | JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE JOKER & HARLEY QUINNS JLA JAILHOUSE SC | $5.95 | NOV172192 | CAP |
| 10 | THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 125 SC | $14.95 | OCT172091 | SAN |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DRAGONBALL SUPER DRAGON STARS ACTION FIGURES | DEC168933 | BAN |
| 2 | ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL: X-FORCE DEADPOOL ACTION FIGURE | FEB178707 | MEZ |
| 3 | OVERWATCH: D.VA 20-INCH STATUE | AUG178473 | BLI |
| 4 | BORUTO -NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS: NARUTO FIGURE | MAY178022 | BAN |
| 5 | MARVEL SELECT: THOR RAGNAROK: GLADIATOR HULK FIGURE | JUL172803 | DST |
| 6 | POP! DRAGON BALL SUPER: GOTENKS VINYL FIGURE | AUG178958 | FUN |
| 7 | MARVEL SELECT: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: DRAX & BABY GROOT ACTION FIGURE | JAN172662 | DST |
| 8 | DRAGONBALL Z MANGA DIMENSIONS: VEGITO FIGURE | JAN178995 | BAN |
| 9 | OVERWATCH: TRACER FIGMA | MAY178050 | GOO |
| 10 | MARVEL SELECT: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: STAR-LORD & ROCKET FIGURE | JAN172663 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | VAMPIRELLA TAROT CARDS SET | AUG171626 | DE |
| 2 | RICK AND MORTY MONOPOLY | DEC172927 | USA |
| 3 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: HOUR OF DEVASTATION BOOSTER PACKS | APR173295 | WIZ |
| 4 | MARVEL DICE MASTERS: MIGHTY THOR 90 GRAVITY FEED PACKS | JUN173411 | NEC |
| 5 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: IXALAN BOOSTER PACKS | JUN173398 | WIZ |
| 6 | DC DICE MASTERS: BATMAN GRAVITY FEED PACKS | SEP168742 | NEC |
| 7 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: SHADOWS OF THE PAST BOARD GAME | APR160482 | IDW |
| 8 | FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES STARTER | OCT178573 | ASM |
| 9 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: HOUR OF DEVASTATION BUNDLE PACK | APR173296 | WIZ |
| 10 | DROPMIX MUSIC GAMING SYSTEM | JUL178809 | HAS |
Shinobi 7 has announced an exclusive distribution deal with Diamond/Alliance for all sales channels. Under this agreement, Diamond/Alliance will distribute all upcoming Shinobi 7 products to the hobby gaming market, specialty comic shops, bookstores, and mass market. Current products already released by Shinobi 7 will soon be relisted with Diamond/Alliance.
In conjunction with the deal, Seven Seas Entertainment has acquired the complete ownership interest in Shinobi 7, which was initially formed as a joint venture between Seven Seas Entertainment and Ninja Division Publishing. Shinobi 7 is now a subsidiary of Seven Seas Entertainment and will operate under an independent management and production team.
Shinobi 7’s main focus continues to be the production and publishing of high quality tabletop games based on exciting licensed brands. To date, Shinobi 7 has released the following product lines, which are available through Ninja Division Publishing until March 15, 2018:
Tokyo Ghoul: The Card Game, a deck-building game adapted from the hit anime franchise about an alternate reality where monstrous ghouls and humans coexist.
My Little Pony: Tales of Equestria, a complete pen-and-paper roleplaying system based on the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic franchise.
(via Board Game Today)
It’s a new week and we’ve got lots on tap. While you wait for things to kick off, here’s some news from around the web in our morning roundup.
CBR – Wonder Woman 2 Will Be First Film to Adopt Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy – Very nice to hear.
Comicbook – Snoop Dogg Donating Money for Kids to Go See ‘Black Panther’ – Cool of him to do. There’s lots of organizations raising money for kids if folks are interested.
The Comichron – Diamond’s Sales Charts: The road to the Top 500 – For those that like sales numbers.
Reviews
The Outhouse – Venom Inc.: Omega #1
Diamond Comic Distributors has announced the winners of the 2017 Diamond Gem Awards, selected by comic book specialty retailers and celebrated within the comic book industry as a key annual award honoring sales success.
DC Entertainment took home Comic Book Publisher of the Year (Over 3% Market Share) in 2017. Retailers recognized DC with the most Gem Awards–seven–including the Comic Book of the Year $3.99 or Under with Batman #24; Comic Book of the Year – Over $3.99 with Doomsday Clock #1 (of 12); Backlist Publisher of the Year; Licensed TP or HC of the Year with Batman TMNT, volume 1, shared with IDW Publishing; Best All-Ages Original/Reprint Graphic Novel with DC Super Hero Girls TP volume 4: Past Times at Super Hero High; and Original Graphic Novel of the Year with Wonder Woman Earth One, volume 1. DC Collectibles, the collectibles branch of DC Entertainment, won Collectible Statue of the Year with the DC Designer Series: The Joker by Brian Bolland Statue.
Marvel Comics earned three Gem Awards, including Top Dollar Market Share Publisher of the Year, Top Dollar Comic Book of the Year for Marvel Legacy #1; and Licensed Comic of the Year with Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel #1.
Image Comics received three Gem Awards, taking home Reprint TP or HC of the Year with The Walking Dead: Here’s Negan; Best Free Comic Book Day Book withFCBD 2017 I Hate Image; and Best New Comic Book Series for Redneck.
IDW Publishing received three Gem Awards as well, taking home Anthology of the Year with Love is Love GN; Best All Ages Series with Ducktales, and shared Licensed TP or HC of the Year with Batman TMNT, volume 1 with DC Comics.
Dark Horse Comics took home the Gem Award for Trade Book of the Year with The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts HC.
Retailers also recognized AfterShock Comics as New Publisher of the Year for 2017, VIZ Media with two Gem Awards, including Manga Publisher of the Year; and Diamond Select Toys for Toy Product of the Year with the Marvel Gallery: Dr. Strange PVC Figure.
2017 Diamond Gem Award Suppliers of the Year
2017 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Over 3%: DC Comics
2017 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Under 3%: Aftershock Comics
2017 Backlist Publisher of the Year: DC Comics
2017 Manga Publisher of the Year: VIZ Media
2017 Game Manufacturer of the Year: WizKids
2017 Toy Manufacturer of the Year: Funko
2017 Diamond Gem Award Products of the Year
2017 Comic Book of the Year – Under $3.99: Batman #24, DC Comics
2017 Comic Book of the Year – Over $3.99: Doomsday Clock #1 (of 12), DC Comics
2017 Best New Comic Book Series: Redneck, Image Comics
2017 Best All Ages Series: DuckTales, IDW Publishing
2017 Best All Ages Original/Reprint GN: DC Super Hero Girls, volume 4: Past Times at Super Hero High, DC Comics
2017 Licensed Comic of the Year: Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel #1, Marvel Comics
2017 Licensed TP or HC of the Year: Batman TMNT, volume 1, DC Comics/IDW Publishing
2017 Original Graphic Novel of the Year: Wonder Woman Earth One, volume 1, DC Comics
2017 Reprint TP or HC of the Year: The Walking Dead: Here’s Negan, Image Comics
2017 Indie Graphic Novel of the Year: My Favorite Thing is Monsters GN Vol. 1, Fantagraphics Books
2017 Manga TP of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Volume 1, VIZ Media
2017 Anthology of the Year: Love is Love GN, IDW Publishing
2017 Magazine of the Year: Heavy Metal, Heavy Metal Magazine
2017 Trade Book of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts HC, Dark Horse Comics
2017 Best Free Comic Book Day Book: FCBD 2017 I Hate Image, Image Comics
2017 Game Product of the Year: Marvel HeroClix: Deadpool and X-Force Booster Brick, WizKids/NECA
2017 Toy Product of the Year: Marvel Gallery: Dr. Strange PVC Figure, Diamond Select Toys
2017 Toy Line of the Year: POP!, Funko
2017 Collectible Statue of the Year: DC Designer Series: The Joker by Brian Bolland Statue, DC Collectibles
The weekend is almost here! What geeky things will you all be doing? Sound off in the comments below. While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.
ICv2 – Diamond Hires Jim Kuhoric as Purchasing Director – Congrats!
Comicbook – AMC Responds to ‘The Walking Dead’ Lawsuit – Well this should be interesting.
Comicbook – FX CEO Says They Are Pretty Optimistic About ‘Y: The Last Man’ – Duh?
The Outhouse – Amazon’s The Boys Sets Five Of The Seven – Who’s looking forward to this series?
Reviews
Comics Bulletin – Ice Cream Man #1
