Marvel is Over 40% of the Market While DC Slips Under 30% in November
Marvel ruled November according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors. The release of Uncanny X-Men #1 propelled the publisher to over 40% in both dollars and units for the month.
Marvel Comics was November’s top publisher with a 40.80% dollar share (+6.58) and a 43.75% unit share (+5.86). DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 26.74% dollar share (-3.74) and a 29.51% unit share (-3.48). Image Comics was third with a 8.57% dollar share (-4.05) and a 8.50% unit share (-4.14). In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 3.62% dollar share (-0.41) and a 3.39% unit share (-0.35), followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 3.37% dollar share (-0.05) and a 2.58% unit share (+0.17), BOOM! Studios with a 2.95% dollar share (+1.09) and a 2.49% unit share (+0.97), and Dynamite Entertainment with a 2.24% dollar share (-0.13) and a 2.11% unit share (+0.05).
Previous month gains slid as November saw a decrease in both dollars and units for comics, graphic novels, and toys compared to October 2018 and November 2017. Still, comics are still up in the year-to-date compared to 2017 up 1.48%. Comics and graphic novels are down 0.98% compared to the same time last year.
In total, Marvel Comics had six titles in the top ten including Web of Venom: Carnage Born #1 at #3, Amazing Spider-Man #10 at #4, Amazing Spider-Man #9 at #7, Avengers #10 at #9, and Venom #8 at #10. DC Entertainment had four titles, led by Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp’s The Green Lantern #1 at #2, followed byBatman #58 at #5, Batman #59 at #6, and Heroes in Crisis #3 at #8. Among the premier publishers, Image Comics’ top book, The Walking Dead #185, ranked #18; BOOM! Studios’ Firefly #1, based on Joss Whedon’s space opera, ranked #22; IDW Publishing’s Marvel Action: Spider-Man #1 ranked #48; Dark Horse Comics’Stranger Things #3, based on the hit Netflix series, ranked #67; and Dynamite Entertainment’s best-selling book, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark #3 ranked #156.
Venom faced the most powerful adversary he had ever faced in Marvel Comics’ Venom Volume 1: Rex by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, the best-selling graphic novel of November. In total, Marvel had seven titles in the top ten, including Thanos: The Infinity Conflict at #2, Black Eyed Peas Presents: Masters of the Sun: The Zombie Chronicles at #4, and Amazing Spider-Man Volume 1: Back to Basics, the first volume of Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley’s run on the title, at #5. DC Entertainment had two titles in the top ten, led by Justice League Volume 1: The Totality by Scott Snyder, Jim Cheung, and Jorge Jimenez at #3, followed by Sean Murphy’s Batman: White Knight, October’s best-selling graphic novel, at #7. Image Comics also had a title in the top ten; Mirka Andolfo’s Unnatural Volume 1: Awakening ranked #8.
Dark Horse Comics’ The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Creating a Champion, an art book that delves into the creation of the latest game in the fan-favorite Nintendo franchise, was the best-selling book of November.
DC Collectibles’ DC Comics Bombshells: Batman & Catwoman Statue, based on Ant Lucia’s pin-up styled artwork and sculpted by Jack Mathews, was November’s best-selling toy product. In total, DC Collectibles had three products in the top ten including the Batman Black & White: The Batman Who Laughs Statue at #2 and the DC Cover Girls: Catwoman by Joëlle Jones Statue at #10. Diamond Select Toys had four products in the top ten, led by the Marvel Gallery: Venom (Comic Version) PVC Figure at #2.
Shinobi 7’s My Hero Academia Card Game, based on the popular manga and anime, was November’s best-selling game. IDW Publishing had two games in the top ten: the Batman: The Animated Series: Gotham Under Siege Game ranked #4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Munchkin, a special edition of the popular Munchkinboard game, ranked #6.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 40.80% | 43.75% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 26.74% | 29.51% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 8.57% | 8.50% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 3.62% | 3.39% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.37% | 2.58% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.95% | 2.49% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.24% | 2.11% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.26% | 0.48% |
| TITAN COMICS | 1.20% | 0.80% |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 0.97% | 0.80% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.28% | 5.58% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| NOVEMBER 2018 VS. OCTOBER 2018 | ||
| COMICS | -16.49% | -19.71% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -21.10% | -23.49% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -17.81% | -19.99% |
| TOYS | 6.76% | -23.81% |
| NOVEMBER 2018 VS. NOVEMBER 2017 | ||
| COMICS | -4.98% | -11.24% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -30.36% | -31.11% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -13.61% | -13.02% |
| TOYS | -10.88% | -19.52% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017 | ||
| COMICS | 1.48% | -6.06% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -6.67% | -7.25% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -0.98% | -6.15% |
| TOYS | -3.25% | -3.25% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTALSHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 79 | 39 | 0 | 118 |
| DC COMICS | 67 | 40 | 0 | 107 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 57 | 18 | 0 | 75 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 33 | 14 | 0 | 47 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 23 | 16 | 0 | 39 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 16 | 19 | 0 | 35 |
| TITAN COMICS | 10 | 13 | 5 | 28 |
| VIZ MEDIA LLC | 0 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| DYNAMITE | 17 | 4 | 0 | 21 |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 8 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 113 | 206 | 17 | 336 |
| TOTAL | 423 | 399 | 22 | 844 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | UNCANNY X-MEN #1 | $7.99 | SEP180791-M | MAR |
| 2 | THE GREEN LANTERN #1 | $4.99 | SEP180430-M | DC |
| 3 | WEB OF VENOM: CARNAGE BORN #1 | $4.99 | SEP180855-M | MAR |
| 4 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #10 | $3.99 | SEP180916-M | MAR |
| 5 | BATMAN #58 | $3.99 | SEP180450-M | DC |
| 6 | BATMAN #59 | $3.99 | SEP180452-M | DC |
| 7 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9 | $3.99 | SEP180914-M | MAR |
| 8 | HEROES IN CRISIS #3 | $3.99 | SEP180434-M | DC |
| 9 | AVENGERS #10 | $5.99 | SEP180829-M | MAR |
| 10 | VENOM #8 | $3.99 | SEP180918-M | MAR |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | UNCANNY X-MEN #1 | $7.99 | SEP180791-M | MAR |
| 2 | WEB OF VENOM: CARNAGE BORN #1 | $4.99 | SEP180855-M | MAR |
| 3 | THE GREEN LANTERN #1 | $4.99 | SEP180430-M | DC |
| 4 | AVENGERS #10 | $5.99 | SEP180829-M | MAR |
| 5 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #10 | $3.99 | SEP180916-M | MAR |
| 6 | BATMAN #58 | $3.99 | SEP180450-M | DC |
| 7 | BATMAN #59 | $3.99 | SEP180452-M | DC |
| 8 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9 | $3.99 | SEP180914-M | MAR |
| 9 | HEROES IN CRISIS #3 | $3.99 | SEP180434-M | DC |
| 10 | VENOM #8 | $3.99 | SEP180918-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOLUME 1: REX TP | $17.99 | AUG181081 | MAR |
| 2 | THANOS: THE INFINITY CONFLICT HC | $24.99 | AUG181076 | MAR |
| 3 | JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: THE TOTALITY TP | $17.99 | AUG180630 | DC |
| 4 | BLACK EYED PEAS PRESENTS: MASTERS OF THE SUN: THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES TP | $24.99 | APR171143 | MAR |
| 5 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY NICK SPENCER VOLUME 1: BACK TO BASICS TP | $15.99 | SEP181008 | MAR |
| 6 | THE IMMORTAL HULK VOLUME 1: OR IS HE BOTH? TP | $15.99 | AUG181082 | MAR |
| 7 | BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT TP | $19.99 | JUL180733 | DC |
| 8 | UNNATURAL VOLUME 1: AWAKENING TP (MR) | $9.99 | SEP180132 | IMA |
| 9 | STAR WARS: LANDO: DOUBLE OR NOTHING TP | $15.99 | JUL181171 | MAR |
| 10 | DOMINO VOLUME 1: KILLER INSTINCT TP | $17.99 | AUG181085 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | X-MEN MUTANT: MASSACRE OMNIBUS HC | $100.00 | MAY180951 | MAR |
| 2 | THANOS: THE INFINITY CONFLICT HC | $24.99 | AUG181076 | MAR |
| 3 | ABSOLUTE TRANSMETROPOLITAN VOLUME 3 HC (MR) | $125.00 | MAR180362 | DC |
| 4 | SILVER SURFER BY SLOTT AND ALLRED OMNIBUS HC | $75.00 | MAY180954 | MAR |
| 5 | BLACK EYED PEAS PRESENTS: MASTERS OF THE SUN: THE ZOMBIE CHRONICLES TP | $24.99 | APR171143 | MAR |
| 6 | VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOLUME 1: REX TP | $17.99 | AUG181081 | MAR |
| 7 | FIREFLY: BIG DAMN HEROES BOX SET | $150.00 | SEP181294 | BOO |
| 8 | WONDER WOMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 3 HC | $125.00 | APR180285 | DC |
| 9 | MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE MIGHTY THOR VOLUME 17 HC | $75.00 | MAY180957-M | MAR |
| 10 | JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: THE TOTALITY TP | $17.99 | AUG180630 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD: CREATING A CHAMPION HC | $39.99 | JUL180425 | DAR |
| 2 | BLACK PANTHER LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | NOV172179 | GOL |
| 3 | GIGER HC | $15.00 | SEP181990 | TAS |
| 4 | ART MATTERS: BECAUSE YOUR IMAGINATION CAN CHANGE WORLD | $19.99 | OCT182016 | WIL |
| 5 | DARK SOULS III DESIGN WORKS HC | $49.99 | JUN182173 | UDO |
| 6 | SPECTRUM ART BOOK 25 SC | $35.00 | SEP181796 | FLE |
| 7 | FIREFLY: BIG DAMN HERO HC | $22.95 | AUG182286 | TTN |
| 8 | GHOSTBUSTERS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | JUL162266 | GOL |
| 9 | FINAL FANTASY VII: ON THE WAY TO A SMILE SC | $14.00 | AUG182452 | YEN |
| 10 | MARVEL STUDIOS: THE FIRST 10 YEARS HC | $24.99 | SEP182051 | TTN |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: BATMAN & CATWOMAN STATUE | MAY180613 | DC |
| 2 | BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS STATUE | MAY180609 | DC |
| 3 | MARVEL GALLERY: VENOM COMIC PVC FIGURE | MAY182304 | DST |
| 4 | MARVEL GALLERY: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: DR. STRANGE PVC FIGURE | AUG178008 | DST |
| 5 | LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD: GUARDIAN NENDOROID | JAN188701 | GOO |
| 6 | EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN: ASH WILLIAMS BISHOUJO STATUE | MAY182647 | KOT |
| 7 | MARVEL UNIVERSE: BLACK PANTHER ARTFX+ STATUE | MAY182646 | KOT |
| 8 | MARVEL GALLERY: BLACK PANTHER MOVIE (VER. 2) PVC FIGURE | MAY182305 | DST |
| 9 | MARVEL SELECT: JUGGERNAUT FIGURE | JUN101512 | DST |
| 10 | DC COVER GIRLS: CATWOMAN BY JOELLE JONES STATUE | MAY180610 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MY HERO ACADEMIA CARD GAME | JUL183082 | SHI |
| 2 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: GUILDS OF RAVNICA BOOSTERS | AUG183192 | WIZ |
| 3 | D&D ICONS OF THE REALM SET 10 | AUG183199 | NEC |
| 4 | BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES: GOTHAM UNDER SIEGE GAME | JUN180756 | IDW |
| 5 | RISK RICK & MORTY BOARD GAME | OCT182927 | USA |
| 6 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MUNCHKIN | MAY180770 | IDW |
| 7 | PATHFINDER BATTLES: KINGMAKER BOOSTER BRICK | AUG183201 | NEC |
| 8 | RICK AND MORTY DBG: THE RICKSHANK RICKDEMPTION | MAY188741 | PSI |
| 9 | FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDYS MONOPOLY BOARD GAME | SEP182828 | USA |
| 10 | DUNGEONS & DRAGONS RPG: WATERDEEP DRAGON HEIST HC | AUG183190 | WIZ |
October was a good month for comics as the slow rebound continues. That seems to be on the strength of DC Comics and especially Image Comics which each gained ground over the month according to data released by Diamond Comic Distributors.
The month saw gains continuing a rebound from a slump previous year. Compared to September 2018, October saw an increase in dollars and units sales for comics in double digits, graphic novels saw an increase in dollars though slight decrease in units. Overall comics and graphic novels increased in dollars by 9.32% and units by 10.49% compared to the previous month. Toys saw a 19.04% gain in dollars and 22.5% gain in units.
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).
August was a good month for Marvel, and the industry as a whole according to the latest report from Diamond Comic Distributors who released their August sales report today.
The industry is showing signs of improvement in the latter half of the year. While comics were down just under 2% in dollars and a little over 6% in units from the previous month, graphic novels were up almost 34% in dollars and around 28.5% in units. Overall comics and graphic novels were up 6.88% in dollars and down 3.97% in units. Toys saw massive improvement from the previous month up almost 50% in dollars and up a little over 32% in units.
Diamond Comic Distributors has announced that its 2019 Retailer Summit for comic book specialty retailers will take place 
Marvel Comics was July’s top publisher according to Diamond Comic Distributors with a 39.07% dollar share (+0.65) and a 41.05% unit share (+0.07). DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 31.62% dollar share (+1.08) and a 33.82% unit share (+0.09). Image Comics was third with an 8.52% dollar share (-1.94) and an 8.87% unit share (-2.59). In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 4.52% dollar share (+2.06) and a 3.95% unit share (+2.29), followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 2.82% dollar share (-0.51) and a 1.91% unit share (-0.19), BOOM! Studios with a 1.89% dollar share (+0.27) and a 1.74% unit share (-0.02), and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.74% dollar share (-0.36) and a 2.07% unit share (+0.56).
Compared to June 2018, comics saw a vast improvement while graphic novels fell. The two combined saw an improvement. Toys was mixed with an increased in dollars and a slight dip in units. Compared to July 2017, it’s much of the same but toys has also seen an increase in units.
Diamond Comic Distributors has released their sales information for June and Marvel again has taken the top unit and dollar share. DC Comics‘ Justice League took the top spot for comics sold.
Marvel Comics was June’s top publisher with a 38.42% dollar share (down 4.22 from the previous month) and a 40.98% unit share (up 2.63). DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 30.54% dollar share (up 4.83) and a 33.73% unit share (down 4.14). Image Comics was third with a 10.46% dollar share (down 0.37) and an 11.48% unit share (up 1.81). In fourth was Dark Horse Comics who moved up a slot with a 3.23% dollar share (up 0.69) and a 2.30% unit share (up 0.67), followed by IDW Publishing, who decreased a spot, with a 2.46% dollar share (down 1.19) and a 1.66% unit share (down 1.41), Dynamite Entertainment increases a spot with a 2.10% dollar share (up 0.46) and a 1.51% unit share (down 0.21), and BOOM! Studios, down a spot, with a 1.62% dollar share (down 0.34) and a 1.76% unit share (up 0.18).
Since its debut in March, retailer reaction has been strong to Diamond’s 44 Pocket Comic Spinner Rack (JAN188004), which wholesales for $299, with free delivery in the continental United States. Several hundred units have already been sold and feedback has been positive about the unit’s compact footprint and quality construction.
Diamond Comic Distributors has released the stats of May and Marvel Comics was the month’s top publisher with a 42.64% dollar share and a 38.35% unit share. DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 25.71% dollar share and a 37.87% unit share. Image Comics was third with a 10.83% dollar share and a 9.67% unit share. In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 3.65% dollar share and a 3.07% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 2.54% dollar share and a 1.63% unit share, BOOM! Studios with a 1.96% dollar share and a 1.58% unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.64% dollar share and a 1.30% unit share.
Compared to the previous month, comics, graphic novels, and toys were all up showing healthy growth. Compared to last year, comics are up 6.23% in dollars and graphic novels and comics are up 1.84% in dollars. We could be seeing a course correction in a sluggish year. In a year to year comparison, comics are up 0.22% in dollars but down 9.8% in units. Graphic Novels, toys, and comics/graphic novels are all down.