DC Gains Ground as Marvel Holds Steady in October
October helped bring about a better rebound for a year that has been mixed for the comic industry while toys continue growth. Marvel was the best selling publisher for the month holding relatively steady from the previous month while DC gained ground according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
Across the board, the industry saw big gains from the previous month. Comics, graphic novels and toys all saw increased sales and units compared to the previous month. Comics was up 22.22% in dollars and 16.49% in units and graphic novels increased 12.88% in dollars and 15.87% in units. The two combined saw an increase of 19.82% in dollars and 16.45% in units. Toys continue a banner year increase 24.94% in dollars and 51.89% in units compared to the previous month.
Comics saw gains compared to the same time last year. They increased by 21.05% in dollars and 9.95% in units. Graphic novels dipped a bit compared to the same time last year but overall, comics and graphic novels increased 14.09% in dollars and 8.68% in units. Toys also saw gains in both dollars and units.
Year to date, comics have gained ground increasing 4.19% in dollars compared to last year while units are down 1.81%. Graphic novels have improved by struggled down 4.16% in dollars and down 9.71% in units. Overall, comics and graphic novels are up 1.81% in dollars and down 2.4% in units. Toys have driven the sector up 21.81% in dollars and 22.21% in units.
Marvel Comics was October’s top publisher, leading in both dollar share, 39.51% (+0.70) and unit share, 45.20% (-0.31). DC placed second for the month with a 31.67% dollar share (+3.87) and a 32.02% unit share (+1.87). In third was Image Comics with a 7.59% dollar share (-3.42) and a 7.18% unit share (-1.14), followed by IDW Publishing, Dark Horse Comics, BOOM! Studios, and Dynamite Entertainment.
In total, Marvel Comics had eight comics in October’s top ten including the top-selling comic of the month, X-Men #1. Image Comics’ Spawn #301 ranked #2. DC’s The Joker: Year of the Villain #1 ranked #5.
Among the premier publishers, Dynamite Entertainment’s top book Vengeance of Vampirella #1 ranked #50, BOOM! Studios’ Something Is Killing the Children #2 ranked #96, IDW Publishing’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #99 ranked #101, and Dark Horse Comics’ Black Hammer/Justice League #4 ranked #151.
DC’s Doomsday Clock Part 1, collecting the first half of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s sequel to Watchmen, was October’s best-selling graphic novel and one of the two DC titles in the top ten. Image Comics had three titles in the top ten, with Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine Volume 9 as their top book at #2. Marvel Comics had two titles in the top ten, led by Chip Zdarsky and Mark Bagley’s Spider-Man: Life Story at #3. Also in the top ten, Dark Horse Comics’ Critical Role Volume 1: Vox Machina Origins ranked #8.
UDON Entertainment’s Shigenori Soejima & P-Studio Art Unit Art Works, an art book featuring work from the artists behind Persona 5, was October’s best-selling book.
Funko’s POP! Marvel: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Casual Miles Morales Vinyl Figure, a PREVIEWS Exclusive figure based on the award-winning animated film, was October’s best-selling toy product. Also in the top ten from Funko was the PREVIEWS Exclusive POP! DC Heroes: The Red Death Vinyl Figure at #2. Diamond Select Toys had three products in the top ten: the Marvel Select: Unleashed Hulk Action Figure at #6, the Marvel Milestones: Thor Ragnarök: Gladiator Hulk Statue at #8, and the Marvel Select: Carnage Action Figure at #10.
Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder: Lost Dimensions Character Guide, a source book for Pathfinder Second Edtion, was the best-selling game product of October and one of the five Paizo products among the top ten.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 39.51% | 45.20% |
| DC | 31.67% | 32.02% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 7.59% | 7.18% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 3.42% | 3.16% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 2.93% | 2.11% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.32% | 2.21% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.21% | 1.67% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.33% | 0.51% |
| ONI PRESS | 0.56% | 0.33% |
| TITAN COMICS | 0.48% | 0.42% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 7.98% | 5.19% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| AUGUST 2019 VS. JULY 2019 | ||
| COMICS | 22.22% | 16.49% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 12.88% | 15.87% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 19.82% | 16.45% |
| TOYS | 24.94% | 51.89% |
| AUGUST 2019 VS. AUGUST 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 21.05% | 9.95% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -3.32% | -7.10% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 14.09% | 8.68% |
| TOYS | 15.44% | 1.80% |
| YEAR TO DATE 2019 VS. YEAR TO DATE 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 4.19% | -1.81% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -4.16% | -9.71% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 1.81% | -2.40% |
| TOYS | 21.81% | 22.21% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTALSHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 110 | 50 | 0 | 160 |
| DC COMICS | 107 | 30 | 1 | 138 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 50 | 12 | 0 | 62 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 39 | 16 | 0 | 55 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 26 | 21 | 0 | 47 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 18 | 15 | 0 | 33 |
| DYNAMITE | 15 | 9 | 0 | 24 |
| VIZ MEDIA LLC | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 3 | 9 | 0 | 12 |
| TITAN COMICS | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 147 | 229 | 30 | 406 |
| TOTAL | 521 | 417 | 33 | 971 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | X-MEN #1 | $4.99 | AUG190845-M | MAR |
| 2 | SPAWN #301 | $4.99 | JUL190084-M | IMA |
| 3 | POWERS OF X #6 | $5.99 | AUG190879-M | MAR |
| 4 | HOUSE OF X #6 | $4.99 | AUG190870-M | MAR |
| 5 | THE JOKER: YEAR OF THE VILLAIN #1 | $4.99 | AUG190440 | DC |
| 6 | AMAZING MARY JANE #1 | $3.99 | AUG190933-M | MAR |
| 7 | ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #4 | $4.99 | AUG190902-M | MAR |
| 8 | GHOST RIDER #1 | $4.99 | AUG190978-M | MAR |
| 9 | IMMORTAL HULK #25 | $5.99 | AUG191030-M | MAR |
| 10 | MARAUDERS #1 | $4.99 | AUG190863-M | MAR |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | X-MEN #1 | $4.99 | AUG190845-M | MAR |
| 2 | SPAWN #301 | $4.99 | JUL190084-M | IMA |
| 3 | POWERS OF X #6 | $5.99 | AUG190879-M | MAR |
| 4 | THE JOKER: YEAR OF THE VILLAIN #1 | $4.99 | AUG190440 | DC |
| 5 | HOUSE OF X #6 | $4.99 | AUG190870-M | MAR |
| 6 | THE JOKER/HARLEY: CRIMINAL SANITY #1 [*] | $5.99 | AUG190443-M | DC |
| 7 | HARLEEN #2 (MR) | $7.99 | AUG190524-M | DC |
| 8 | IMMORTAL HULK #25 | $5.99 | AUG191030-M | MAR |
| 9 | ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #4 | $4.99 | AUG190902-M | MAR |
| 10 | AMAZING MARY JANE #1 | $3.99 | AUG190933-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DOOMSDAY CLOCK PART 1 HC | $24.99 | JUL190638 | DC |
| 2 | THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOL. 9 TP | $17.99 | JUN190046 | IMA |
| 3 | SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY TP | $24.99 | JUL191106 | MAR |
| 4 | THANOS: THE INFINITY ENDING HC | $24.99 | JUN191038 | MAR |
| 5 | ASCENDER VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | AUG190065 | IMA |
| 6 | DC SUPER HERO GIRLS AT METROPOLIS HIGH TP | $9.99 | JUL190526 | DC |
| 7 | THE WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM VOL. 4 TP | $59.99 | JUL190111 | IMA |
| 8 | CRITICAL ROLE VOL. 1: VOX MACHINA ORIGINS TP | $19.99 | JUN190303 | DAR |
| 9 | MY HERO ACADEMIA VOLUME 1 GN | $9.99 | AUG192431 | VIZ |
| 10 | GIDEON FALLS VOL. 3: STATIONS OF THE CROSS TP | $16.99 | AUG190124 | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM VOL. 4 TP | $59.99 | JUL190111 | IMA |
| 2 | DOOMSDAY CLOCK PART 1 HC | $24.99 | JUL190638 | DC |
| 3 | JOHN BYRN’ES MARVEL CLASSICS ARTIFACT EDITION HC | $75.00 | JUL190826 | IDW |
| 4 | NAMOR SUB-MARINER BY BYRNE AND JAE LEE OMNIBUS HC | $125.00 | APR190937-M | MAR |
| 5 | SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY TP | $24.99 | JUL191106 | MAR |
| 6 | THANOS: THE INFINITY ENDING HC | $24.99 | JUN191038 | MAR |
| 7 | BATMAN BY SNYDER & CAPULLO OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC | $125.00 | APR190526 | DC |
| 8 | THE IMMORTAL HULK VOL. 1 HC | $34.99 | APR190949 | MAR |
| 9 | THE BOYS OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $29.99 | DEC181256-M | DE |
| 10 | MARVEL MASTERWORKS: GHOST RIDER VOLUME 1 HC | $75.00 | APR190942-M | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | SHIGENORI SOEJIMA & P-STUDIO ART UNIT ART WORKS 2 TP | $39.99 | AUG192423 | UDO |
| 2 | SHIGENORI SOEJIMA ART WORKS TP | $39.99 | AUG192422 | UDO |
| 3 | DARKSTALKERS OFFICIAL COMPLETE WORKS HC | $44.99 | AUG192425 | UDO |
| 4 | DRAGON’S CROWN OFFICIAL ARTWORKS HC | $49.99 | JUL192399 | UDO |
| 5 | OVERLORD VOLUME 11 HC | $20.00 | JUL192435 | YEN |
| 6 | NO GAME NO LIFE VOLUME 9 SC | $14.00 | MAY192173 | YEN |
| 7 | DOCTOR WHO: TALES OF TERROR SC | $11.99 | APR198763 | BBC |
| 8 | FRANK CHO: BALLPOINT BEAUTIES HC (MR) | $29.95 | MAY191709 | FLE |
| 9 | BLOODBORNE OFFICIAL ARTWORKS SC | $44.99 | MAR172148 | UDO |
| 10 | HARRY POTTER POP UP BOOK: GUIDE TO HOGWARTS | $75.00 | AUG182035 | INS |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | POP! MARVEL: SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE: CASUAL MILES MORALES VINYL FIGURE | JAN199071 | FUN |
| 2 | POP! DC HEROES: THE RED DEATH VINYL FIGURE | JUN192566 | FUN |
| 3 | OVERWATCH: D.VA FIGMA | JUL188939 | GOO |
| 4 | POP! DC HEROES: BATWOMAN VINYL FIGURE | JAN199072 | FUN |
| 5 | MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: FAKER 1/6-SCALE COLLECTIBLE FIGURE | NOV188738 | MON |
| 6 | MARVEL SELECT: UNLEASHED HULK ACTION FIGURE | AUG118205 | DST |
| 7 | ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL: CYCLOPS ACTION FIGURE | JUL188503 | MEZ |
| 8 | MARVEL MILESTONES: THOR RAGNAROK: GLADIATOR HULK STATUE | MAY182309 | DST |
| 9 | MARVEL: DOMINO BISHOUJO STATUE | JAN199191 | KOT |
| 10 | MARVEL SELECT: CARNAGE ACTION FIGURE | NOV142179 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | PATHFINDER: LOST OMENS CHARACTER GUIDE HC (P2) | AUG193363 | PAI |
| 2 | MY HERO ACADEMIA CARD GAME | JUL183082 | S7 |
| 3 | CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
| 4 | MUTANTS & MASTERMINDS RPG GAME: MASTERS GUIDE REVISED EDITION HC | MAR198040 | GRE |
| 5 | PATHFINDER CORE RULEBOOK HC (P2) | MAY193227 | PAI |
| 6 | TOME OF BEASTS HC | JUN168476 | PAI |
| 7 | POP! FUNKOVERSE STRATEGY GAME: DC COMICS 100 BASE SET | JUN198702 | FUN |
| 8 | POP! FUNKOVERSE STRATEGY GAME: HARRY POTTER 100 BASE SET | JUN198705 | FUN |
| 9 | PATHFINDER RPG: BESTIARY 6 POCKET EDITION | JUL193268 | PAI |
| 10 | PATHFINDER RPG: VILLAIN CODEX POCKET EDITION | JUL193269 | PAI |
