Sonic and his friends are torn apart by a loss in their ranks in Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog #225, the best-selling Small Press comic book to comics specialty retailers in April 2012.
Other publishers in the top ten include Abstract Studios, Bongo Comics, United Plankton, and Zenescope Entertainment.
Harvey Pekar explores life in his hometown, Cleveland, Ohio, in Top Shelf Production's Harvey Pekar's Cleveland, the best-selling Small Press graphic novel in April.
Other publishers in the top ten include Archie Comics, Bongo Comics, Drawn & Quarterly, Oni Press, Yen Press, and Zenescope Entertainment.
Diamond Comic Distributors defines Small Presses as publishers outside the top-10 bestselling publishers over the previous six months. In offering these breakdowns of the bestselling small press comics and graphic novels, a spotlight is shown on these publishers, affording them recognition for their strong sales in a crowded marketplace. To help retailers contextualize the relationship between the Small Press sales rankings, each chart offers for each book the overall ranking for the month amongst all publishers.
TOP 50 SMALL PRESS COMICS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in April 2012
| QTY RANK |
OVERALL QTY RANK |
OVERALL DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE |
DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 192 | 212 | 6.75 | JAN120843 | SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #235 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 2 | 199 | 183 | 6.29 | FEB120703 | RACHEL RISING #7 | $3.99 | ABS |
| 3 | 207 | 215 | 6.10 | FEB121212-M | GFT ALICE IN WONDERLAND #5 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 4 | 209 | 217 | 6.06 | JAN121326-M | GFT ALICE IN WONDERLAND #4 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 5 | 210 | 230 | 6.05 | FEB120821 | SPONGEBOB COMICS #8 | $2.99 | UNI |
| 6 | 222 | 243 | 5.25 | FEB120762 | SONIC UNIVERSE #39 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 7 | 224 | 235 | 5.22 | JAN121328-M | GRIMM FAIRY TALES #71 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 8 | 225 | 247 | 5.17 | FEB120819 | SIMPSONS COMICS #189 | $2.99 | BON |
| 9 | 229 | 239 | 5.05 | FEB121216-M | GRIMM FAIRY TALES #72 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 10 | 237 | 250 | 4.71 | FEB121210-M | GFT JUNGLE BOOK #2 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 11 | 245 | 263 | 4.60 | JAN120842 | MEGA MAN #12 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 12 | 248 | 242 | 4.41 | FEB120772-M | FATHOM KIANI VOL 2 #1 | $3.50 | ASP |
| 13 | 257 | 267 | 4.10 | JAN121330-M | GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #15 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 14 | 259 | 276 | 4.04 | FEB120817 | BART SIMPSON COMICS #70 | $2.99 | BON |
| 15 | 265 | 275 | 3.80 | SEP111306-M | GRIMM FAIRY TALES THE LIBRARY #5 | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 16 | 267 | 240 | 3.77 | FEB121218 | GFT APRIL FOOLS SPECIAL 2012 (MR) | $3.99 | ZEN |
| 17 | 269 | 287 | 3.65 | FEB120749 | ARCHIE #632 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 18 | 270 | 254 | 3.64 | FEB121115 | COURTNEY CRUMRIN ONGOING #1 | $3.99 | ONI |
| 19 | 281 | 352 | 3.27 | JAN120775 | GLAMOURPUSS #24 | $3.00 | AAR |
| 20 | 285 | 261 | 3.16 | FEB121220-M | WAKING DREAM END #1 (MR) | $3.99 | ZEN |
| 21 | 290 | 269 | 3.06 | DEC111202 | LENORE VOLUME II #5 | $3.99 | TIT |
| 22 | 292 | 308 | 3.06 | JAN120838-M | KEVIN KELLER #2 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 23 | 299 | 279 | 2.66 | JAN121335-M | THEATER #5 (MR) | $3.99 | ZEN |
| 24 | 301 | 311 | 2.63 | DEC110880 | LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST #3 | $3.50 | BIG |
| 25 | 309 | 325 | 2.49 | SEP111123 | ROUTE DES MAISONS ROUGES #7 (MR) | $2.99 | GG |
| 26 | 312 | 300 | 2.44 | FEB121112 | SIXTH GUN #21 | $3.99 | ONI |
| 27 | 313 | 303 | 2.38 | FEB121113 | SECRET HISTORY OF DB COOPER #2 | $3.99 | ONI |
| 28 | 314 | 251 | 2.33 | JAN121166 | KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #185 | $5.99 | KEN |
| 29 | 324 | 312 | 2.11 | DEC110790 | VICTORIAN SECRET AGENTS STEAMPUNK ANGELS ONE SHOT | $3.99 | ANT |
| 30 | 327 | 316 | 2.06 | DEC118185 | LADY MECHANIKA #1 | $3.99 | ASP |
| 31 | 331 | 335 | 1.98 | OCT111125 | EXTINCTION SEED #2 | $2.99 | GG |
| 32 | 332 | 319 | 1.97 | JAN120798 | DEAD POOH ONE SHOT | $3.99 | ANT |
| 33 | 335 | 351 | 1.81 | FEB120753 | BETTY & VERONICA #259 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 34 | 338 | 342 | 1.72 | JAN120796 | STEAMPUNK SKETCHBOOK ONE SHOT | $3.50 | ANT |
| 35 | 344 | 246 | 1.56 | FEB120760 | SONIC SUPER SPECIAL MAGAZINE #3 | $9.99 | ARC |
| 36 | 346 | 360 | 1.50 | SEP111122 | GORE #5 (MR) | $2.99 | GG |
| 37 | 347 | 370 | 1.50 | OCT111128 | ONE #7 | $2.99 | GG |
| 38 | 349 | 340 | 1.48 | NOV110688 | CAVEWOMAN MUTATION #1 | $3.75 | AMR |
| 39 | 350 | 344 | 1.48 | DEC110787 | GOLD DIGGER #137 | $3.99 | ANT |
| 40 | 351 | 347 | 1.42 | JAN120835 | BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #200 | $3.99 | ARC |
| 41 | 354 | 343 | 1.35 | NOV111047 | ZOMBIES VS CHEERLEADERS #6 | $3.99 | MOO |
| 42 | 356 | 350 | 1.34 | DEC110779 | CAVEWOMAN FEEDING GROUNDS #2 (MR) | $3.75 | AMR |
| 43 | 359 | 356 | 1.30 | FEB121039 | CASTLE WAITING VOL II #16 | $3.95 | FAN |
| 44 | 363 | 386 | 1.22 | DEC110879 | PENNY FOR YOUR SOUL FALSE PROPHET #4 (MR) | $3.50 | BIG |
| 45 | 364 | 385 | 1.16 | FEB120727 | AIRBOY DEADEYE #1 | $3.50 | ANT |
| 46 | 367 | 366 | 1.15 | FEB120750 | ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #15 | $3.99 | ARC |
| 47 | 368 | 368 | 1.14 | FEB120751 | ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #228 | $3.99 | ARC |
| 48 | 369 | 374 | 1.11 | DEC110797 | NAZI ZOMBIES #2 | $3.99 | ANT |
| 49 | 370 | 376 | 1.09 | JAN120847 | WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #16 | $3.99 | ARC |
| 50 | 376 | 365 | 1.06 | DEC111130 | HONEY WEST #5 | $3.99 | MOO |
TOP 50 SMALL PRESS GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in April 2012
| QTY RANK |
OVERALL QTY RANK |
OVERALL DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE |
DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 31 | 24 | 1.73 | DEC111207 | HARVEY PEKAR CLEVELAND HC | $21.99 | TOP |
| 2 | 40 | 83 | 1.38 | JAN120832 | ARCHIE MEETS KISS TP | $12.99 | ARC |
| 3 | 48 | 72 | 1.32 | FEB121207 | HIGH SCHOOL OF DEAD GN VOL 06 (MR) | $13.99 | HAC |
| 4 | 52 | 95 | 1.23 | FEB121204 | BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 09 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 5 | 60 | 112 | 1.14 | JAN120845 | SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 05 | $11.99 | ARC |
| 6 | 71 | 90 | 1.04 | JAN120926 | SIMPSONS CONFIDENTIAL TP | $15.99 | BON |
| 7 | 73 | 71 | 1.03 | DEC111153 | SIXTH GUN TP VOL 03 | $19.99 | ONI |
| 8 | 93 | 94 | 0.83 | FEB121219 | GRIMM FAIRY TALES DIFFERENT SEASONS TP VOL 02 | $17.99 | ZEN |
| 9 | 95 | 96 | 0.80 | DEC111155 | COURTNEY CRUMRIN SPEC ED HC VOL 01 | $19.99 | ONI |
| 10 | 99 | 67 | 0.78 | FEB121003 | JERUSALEM CHRONICLES FROM THE HOLY CITY HC (MR) | $24.95 | DRA |
| 11 | 112 | 148 | 0.71 | JAN121334 | TALES FROM NEVERLAND TP (MR) | $12.99 | ZEN |
| 12 | 116 | 136 | 0.68 | DEC110962 | STAN LEE STRIPPERELLA GN (MR) | $14.99 | DEE |
| 13 | 120 | 165 | 0.67 | FEB121206 | DURARARA GN VOL 02 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 14 | 123 | 210 | 0.64 | JAN121197 | DISNEY FAIRIES GN VOL 08 TINKER BELL STORIES FOR RAINY DAY | $7.99 | NBM |
| 15 | 125 | 51 | 0.63 | SEP100802 | MICHAEL TURNER SOULFIRE DEFINITIVE ED TP VOL 01 | $39.99 | ASP |
| 16 | 140 | 89 | 0.56 | JAN120831 | ARCHIE MEETS KISS COLLECTORS ED HC | $29.99 | ARC |
| 17 | 144 | 221 | 0.53 | FEB121092 | TINTIN YOUNG READER ED SHOOTING STAR | $8.99 | HAC |
| 18 | 145 | 160 | 0.53 | JAN121333 | CHARMED TP VOL 03 | $15.99 | ZEN |
| 19 | 146 | 222 | 0.53 | FEB121091 | TINTIN YOUNG READER ED CRAB & GOLDEN CLAW | $8.99 | HAC |
| 20 | 147 | 45 | 0.53 | AUG111227 | DARKSTALKERS ULTIMATE ED TP | $49.99 | UDO |
| 21 | 148 | 129 | 0.53 | FEB100651 | JOHNNY HOMICIDAL MANIAC DIRECTORS CUT SC | $21.95 | SLA |
| 22 | 149 | 195 | 0.53 | SEP110819 | CODE GEASS QUEEN GN VOL 05 | $11.99 | BAN |
| 23 | 150 | 199 | 0.52 | FEB108442 | SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 01 PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE | $11.99 | ONI |
| 24 | 164 | 193 | 0.47 | FEB121208 | HIGURASHI WHEN THEY CRY GN VOL 18 ATONEMENT ARC PT 4 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 25 | 169 | 244 | 0.46 | JUN084266 | OWLY GN VOL 05 TINY TALES | $10.00 | TOP |
| 26 | 173 | 117 | 0.45 | NOV110990 | POPEYE HC VOL 06 ME LIL SWEE PEA | $29.99 | FAN |
| 27 | 175 | 236 | 0.45 | JUL110863 | CODE GEASS KNIGHT GN VOL 05 | $10.99 | BAN |
| 28 | 181 | 143 | 0.43 | SEP111099 | KRAZY & IGNATZ TP 1922 1924 DRIM OF LOVE | $24.99 | FAN |
| 29 | 185 | 168 | 0.41 | DEC111221 | SENGOKU BASARA SAMURAI LEGENDS GN VOL 01 | $19.99 | UDO |
| 30 | 186 | 183 | 0.41 | OCT111141 | KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 35 | $14.99 | KEN |
| 31 | 187 | 185 | 0.40 | DEC111114 | KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 36 | $14.99 | KEN |
| 32 | 188 | 218 | 0.40 | JAN121257 | TORADORA GN VOL 04 | $11.99 | ST. |
| 33 | 193 | 239 | 0.39 | JUL111150 | SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 01 | $10.99 | RAN |
| 34 | 195 | 243 | 0.38 | JAN121308 | GTO 14 DAYS IN SHONAN GN VOL 02 | $10.95 | RAN |
| 35 | 197 | 245 | 0.38 | JAN121167 | AIR GEAR GN VOL 23 (MR) | $10.99 | RAN |
| 36 | 206 | 172 | 0.36 | SEP110750 | JIM HENSONS DARK CRYSTAL HC VOL 01 CREATION MYTHS | $19.95 | ARA |
| 37 | 216 | 135 | 0.34 | JUL110825 | A TALE OF SAND HC | $29.95 | ARA |
| 38 | 218 | 300 | 0.34 | FEB121086 | GIRL WHO OWNED A CITY GN | $9.95 | LER |
| 39 | 224 | 188 | 0.33 | NOV111070 | AVALON CHRONICLES HC VOL 01 | $19.99 | ONI |
| 40 | 230 | 182 | 0.32 | JAN121274 | CAPTAIN COMMANDO GN VOL 01 | $19.99 | UDO |
| 41 | 236 | 169 | 0.31 | JAN121178 | DREAM QUEST OF UNKNOWN KADATH & OTHER STORIES HC | $24.99 | MOC |
| 42 | 238 | 225 | 0.31 | JAN121307 | DROPS OF GOD GN VOL 03 | $14.95 | RAN |
| 43 | 239 | 181 | 0.31 | JAN121255 | LOVECRAFT ANTHOLOGY TP VOL 01 | $19.95 | ABR |
| 44 | 243 | 305 | 0.31 | JAN121174 | SAYONARA ZETSUBOU SENSEI GN VOL 14 | $10.99 | RAN |
| 45 | 247 | 249 | 0.30 | MAY110809 | PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR TP VOL 01 | $14.95 | APE |
| 46 | 256 | 198 | 0.29 | FEB121203 | BETRAYAL KNOWS MY NAME GN VOL 03 (MR) | $18.99 | HAC |
| 47 | 259 | 301 | 0.28 | JUL118016 | YOTSUBA & ! GN VOL 01 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 48 | 264 | 197 | 0.28 | DEC111119 | NEGIMA OMNIBUS GN VOL 04 (MR) | $19.99 | RAN |
| 49 | 265 | 288 | 0.27 | FEB121170 | GTO EARLY YEARS GN VOL 12 (MR) | $12.95 | RAN |
| 50 | 266 | 200 | 0.27 | DEC111110 | PANDEMONIUM GN (HUMANOIDS) (MR) | $19.95 | HUM |
This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.
Item codes followed by -M indicate multiple covers and skus at the standard SRP.
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 3,500 accounts, comprised of comic book specialty shops and other merchant stores and buyers. The shops are primarily located in North America, with a percentage of sales also to international stores and buyers located throughout the world. The account base includes not only brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, but also Internet stores, chain stores, and other specialty stores.
Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.
About the Diamond Sales Index: The Sales Index of selected monthly Best Seller Charts is presented as a comparative tool for retailers and publishers. It presents Diamond’s monthly sales for individual titles in relation to Diamond’s total sales for the issue of DC Comics' monthly Batman comic book. (Batman is used as the control title — with a value of 100 — because sales of Batman usually remain relatively stable.) This allows for easy comparison to other titles and helps retailers gauge their orders for all other titles. This formula is only a guide, other factors may impact a titles’ ability to sell in certain locations and clientele.
