Walter Gibson's classic pulp character The Shadow returned to combat the evil that lurks in the hearts of men in Garth Ennis' The Shadow #1 from Dynamite Entertainment, the best-selling Non-Premier Comic sold to retailers in April 2012. In total, Dynamite had six of the month's top ten Non-Premier comics, including The Boys #65 at #4, A Game of Thrones #7 at #5, Kirby: Genesis #6 at #6, Dejah Thoris and the White Apes of Mars #1 at #8, and Warlord of Mars #17 at #10.
BOOM! Studios had three titles in the top ten, led by Fanboys Vs. Zombies #1 at #2, followed by two titles from their KaBOOM! imprint — Adventure Time #3 at #3 and Peanuts #4 at #7. Rounding out the top ten was Avatar Press with Crossed: Badlands #3 at #9.
Acclaimed graphic novelist Harvey Pekar was working on his final memoir, Harvey Pekar's Cleveland, at the time of his death, and Top Shelf Productions published the volume in April, giving the publisher the top selling Non-Premier Graphic Novel for the month.
Other publishers in the top ten include Archie Comics (Archie Meets KISS ranked #3), Bongo Comics (Simpsons Confidential ranked #7), Oni Press (The Sixth Gun Volume 3 ranked #9), VIZ Media (three titles, led by Bleach Volume 39 at #2), and Yen Press (two titles, ledy by High School of the Dead Volume 6 at #4).
TOP 50 NON-PREMIER 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 | 31 | 19 | 34.88 | FEB120897-M | SHADOW #1 | $3.99 | DE |
| 2 | 80 | 200 | 19.86 | FEB120828 | FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES #1 | $1.00 | BOO |
| 3 | 111 | 89 | 13.12 | FEB120869 | ADVENTURE TIME #3 | $3.99 | BOO |
| 4 | 115 | 78 | 12.54 | FEB120905 | BOYS #65 (MR) | $4.99 | DE |
| 5 | 155 | 126 | 8.81 | FEB120976 | GAME OF THRONES #7 (MR) | $3.99 | DE |
| 6 | 158 | 132 | 8.57 | SEP110990 | KIRBY GENESIS #6 | $3.99 | DE |
| 7 | 165 | 152 | 7.82 | FEB120872 | PEANUTS #4 | $3.99 | BOO |
| 8 | 169 | 145 | 7.61 | FEB120925 | DEJAH THORIS & WHITE APES OF MARS #1 (MR) | $3.99 | DE |
| 9 | 171 | 140 | 7.52 | FEB120783-M | CROSSED BADLANDS #3 (MR) | $3.99 | AVA |
| 10 | 173 | 153 | 7.45 | DEC110978 | WARLORD OF MARS #17 (MR) | $3.99 | DE |
| 11 | 180 | 157 | 7.13 | DEC110986 | LORD OF THE JUNGLE #3 (MR) | $3.99 | DE |
| 12 | 182 | 160 | 7.01 | JAN121011 | BIONIC WOMAN #1 | $3.99 | DE |
| 13 | 185 | 156 | 6.93 | FEB120787-M | CROSSED BADLANDS #4 (MR) | $3.99 | AVA |
| 14 | 186 | 163 | 6.90 | NOV110874 | KIRBY GENESIS #7 | $3.99 | DE |
| 15 | 187 | 162 | 6.90 | DEC111012 | VAMPIRELLA #16 | $3.99 | DE |
| 16 | 188 | 164 | 6.88 | JAN121014 | KEVIN SMITH BIONIC MAN #8 | $3.99 | DE |
| 17 | 189 | 165 | 6.87 | NOV110934 | GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #11 (MR) | $3.99 | DE |
| 18 | 190 | 154 | 6.79 | JAN120971-M | ADVENTURE TIME #2 | $3.99 | BOO |
| 19 | 192 | 212 | 6.75 | JAN120843 | SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #235 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 20 | 194 | 178 | 6.39 | DEC110966 | GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #12 (MR) | $3.99 | DE |
| 21 | 198 | 182 | 6.30 | SEP111045 | DANGER GIRL ARMY OF DARKNESS #5 | $3.99 | DE |
| 22 | 199 | 183 | 6.29 | FEB120703 | RACHEL RISING #7 | $3.99 | ABS |
| 23 | 206 | 188 | 6.13 | JAN121000 | VAMPIRELLA RED ROOM #1 | $3.99 | DE |
| 24 | 207 | 215 | 6.10 | FEB121212-M | GFT ALICE IN WONDERLAND #5 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 25 | 209 | 217 | 6.06 | JAN121326-M | GFT ALICE IN WONDERLAND #4 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 26 | 210 | 230 | 6.05 | FEB120821 | SPONGEBOB COMICS #8 | $2.99 | UNI |
| 27 | 211 | 195 | 6.01 | FEB120838 | IRREDEEMABLE #36 | $3.99 | BOO |
| 28 | 213 | 181 | 5.82 | FEB120880-M | LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #16 (MR) | $3.99 | AVA |
| 29 | 215 | 199 | 5.59 | JAN121070 | RED SONJA WITCHBLADE #2 | $3.99 | DE |
| 30 | 219 | 159 | 5.33 | FEB120876-M | LADY DEATH ORIGINS CURSED #1 (MR) | $4.99 | AVA |
| 31 | 222 | 243 | 5.25 | FEB120762 | SONIC UNIVERSE #39 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 32 | 223 | 209 | 5.25 | FEB120833 | HELLRAISER #13 (MR) | $3.99 | BOO |
| 33 | 224 | 235 | 5.22 | JAN121328-M | GRIMM FAIRY TALES #71 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 34 | 225 | 247 | 5.17 | FEB120819 | SIMPSONS COMICS #189 | $2.99 | BON |
| 35 | 226 | 207 | 5.17 | NOV110942 | GREEN HORNET #24 | $3.99 | DE |
| 36 | 227 | 208 | 5.15 | OCT111046 | RED SONJA #65 | $3.99 | DE |
| 37 | 229 | 239 | 5.05 | FEB121216-M | GRIMM FAIRY TALES #72 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 38 | 231 | 210 | 4.89 | JAN120892-M | STITCHED #4 (MR) | $3.99 | AVA |
| 39 | 232 | 221 | 4.89 | FEB120985 | ARMY OF DARKNESS ONGOING #3 | $3.99 | DE |
| 40 | 234 | 179 | 4.81 | JAN120939 | HELLRAISER ANNUAL #1 (MR) | $4.99 | BOO |
| 41 | 237 | 250 | 4.71 | FEB121210-M | GFT JUNGLE BOOK #2 (MR) | $2.99 | ZEN |
| 42 | 238 | 225 | 4.69 | JAN121006 | VAMPIRELLA VS DRACULA #3 | $3.99 | DE |
| 43 | 240 | 227 | 4.65 | FEB120988 | THE LONE RANGER #4 | $3.99 | DE |
| 44 | 242 | 222 | 4.63 | FEB120798-M | FERALS #4 (MR) | $3.99 | AVA |
| 45 | 243 | 228 | 4.61 | DEC111011 | QUEEN SONJA #28 | $3.99 | DE |
| 46 | 244 | 229 | 4.60 | FEB120956 | VOLTRON YEAR ONE #1 | $3.99 | DE |
| 47 | 245 | 263 | 4.60 | JAN120842 | MEGA MAN #12 | $2.99 | ARC |
| 48 | 247 | 231 | 4.50 | FEB120947 | MERCILESS RISE OF MING #1 | $3.99 | DE |
| 49 | 248 | 242 | 4.41 | FEB120772-M | FATHOM KIANI VOL 2 #1 | $3.50 | ASP |
| 50 | 250 | 232 | 4.26 | JAN120943 | INCORRUPTIBLE #28 | $3.99 | BOO |
TOP 50 NON-PREMIER 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 | 32 | 88 | 1.70 | JAN121283 | BLEACH TP VOL 39 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 3 | 40 | 83 | 1.38 | JAN120832 | ARCHIE MEETS KISS TP | $12.99 | ARC |
| 4 | 48 | 72 | 1.32 | FEB121207 | HIGH SCHOOL OF DEAD GN VOL 06 (MR) | $13.99 | HAC |
| 5 | 52 | 95 | 1.23 | FEB121204 | BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 09 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 6 | 60 | 112 | 1.14 | JAN120845 | SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 05 | $11.99 | ARC |
| 7 | 71 | 90 | 1.04 | JAN120926 | SIMPSONS CONFIDENTIAL TP | $15.99 | BON |
| 8 | 72 | 146 | 1.03 | JAN121284 | ROSARIO VAMPIRE SEASON II TP VOL 08 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 9 | 73 | 71 | 1.03 | DEC111153 | SIXTH GUN TP VOL 03 | $19.99 | ONI |
| 10 | 80 | 156 | 0.97 | JAN121282 | BAKUMAN TP VOL 10 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 11 | 85 | 166 | 0.89 | JAN121281 | BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 07 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 12 | 93 | 94 | 0.83 | FEB121219 | GRIMM FAIRY TALES DIFFERENT SEASONS TP VOL 02 | $17.99 | ZEN |
| 13 | 95 | 96 | 0.80 | DEC111155 | COURTNEY CRUMRIN SPEC ED HC VOL 01 | $19.99 | ONI |
| 14 | 96 | 149 | 0.78 | JAN121286 | NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 20 | $12.99 | VIZ |
| 15 | 99 | 67 | 0.78 | FEB121003 | JERUSALEM CHRONICLES FROM THE HOLY CITY HC (MR) | $24.95 | DRA |
| 16 | 112 | 148 | 0.71 | JAN121334 | TALES FROM NEVERLAND TP (MR) | $12.99 | ZEN |
| 17 | 116 | 136 | 0.68 | DEC110962 | STAN LEE STRIPPERELLA GN (MR) | $14.99 | DEE |
| 18 | 120 | 165 | 0.67 | FEB121206 | DURARARA GN VOL 02 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 19 | 123 | 210 | 0.64 | JAN121197 | DISNEY FAIRIES GN VOL 08 TINKER BELL STORIES FOR RAINY DAY | $7.99 | NBM |
| 20 | 125 | 51 | 0.63 | SEP100802 | MICHAEL TURNER SOULFIRE DEFINITIVE ED TP VOL 01 | $39.99 | ASP |
| 21 | 126 | 227 | 0.63 | JAN121280 | VOLTRON FORCE GN VOL 01 | $7.99 | VIZ |
| 22 | 140 | 89 | 0.56 | JAN120831 | ARCHIE MEETS KISS COLLECTORS ED HC | $29.99 | ARC |
| 23 | 144 | 221 | 0.53 | FEB121092 | TINTIN YOUNG READER ED SHOOTING STAR | $8.99 | HAC |
| 24 | 145 | 160 | 0.53 | JAN121333 | CHARMED TP VOL 03 | $15.99 | ZEN |
| 25 | 146 | 222 | 0.53 | FEB121091 | TINTIN YOUNG READER ED CRAB & GOLDEN CLAW | $8.99 | HAC |
| 26 | 147 | 45 | 0.53 | AUG111227 | DARKSTALKERS ULTIMATE ED TP | $49.99 | UDO |
| 27 | 148 | 129 | 0.53 | FEB100651 | JOHNNY HOMICIDAL MANIAC DIRECTORS CUT SC | $21.95 | SLA |
| 28 | 149 | 195 | 0.53 | SEP110819 | CODE GEASS QUEEN GN VOL 05 | $11.99 | BAN |
| 29 | 150 | 199 | 0.52 | FEB108442 | SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 01 PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE | $11.99 | ONI |
| 30 | 151 | 164 | 0.52 | DEC110971 | TERMINATOR ROBOCOP KILL HUMAN TP | $16.99 | DE |
| 31 | 163 | 170 | 0.48 | JAN121287 | TENJO TENGE GN VOL 06 (MR) | $17.99 | VIZ |
| 32 | 164 | 193 | 0.47 | FEB121208 | HIGURASHI WHEN THEY CRY GN VOL 18 ATONEMENT ARC PT 4 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 33 | 166 | 470 | 0.46 | FEB121189 | POKEMON BLACK & WHITE GN VOL 06 | $4.99 | VIZ |
| 34 | 169 | 244 | 0.46 | JUN084266 | OWLY GN VOL 05 TINY TALES | $10.00 | TOP |
| 35 | 173 | 117 | 0.45 | NOV110990 | POPEYE HC VOL 06 ME LIL SWEE PEA | $29.99 | FAN |
| 36 | 175 | 236 | 0.45 | JUL110863 | CODE GEASS KNIGHT GN VOL 05 | $10.99 | BAN |
| 37 | 180 | 265 | 0.43 | JAN121302 | SKIP BEAT TP VOL 27 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 38 | 181 | 143 | 0.43 | SEP111099 | KRAZY & IGNATZ TP 1922 1924 DRIM OF LOVE | $24.99 | FAN |
| 39 | 182 | 163 | 0.42 | JAN121022 | BOYS TP VOL 10 BUTCHER BAKER CANDLESTICKMAKER (MR) | $19.99 | DE |
| 40 | 183 | 1161 | 0.42 | JUN090842 | TERMINATOR REVOLUTION TP | $19.99 | DE |
| 41 | 184 | 171 | 0.41 | FEB120936 | VAMPIRELLA MASTERS SERIES TP VOL 07 | $19.99 | DE |
| 42 | 185 | 168 | 0.41 | DEC111221 | SENGOKU BASARA SAMURAI LEGENDS GN VOL 01 | $19.99 | UDO |
| 43 | 186 | 183 | 0.41 | OCT111141 | KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 35 | $14.99 | KEN |
| 44 | 187 | 185 | 0.40 | DEC111114 | KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 36 | $14.99 | KEN |
| 45 | 188 | 218 | 0.40 | JAN121257 | TORADORA GN VOL 04 | $11.99 | ST. |
| 46 | 192 | 132 | 0.39 | OCT111015 | VAMPI OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 | $29.99 | DE |
| 47 | 193 | 239 | 0.39 | JUL111150 | SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 01 | $10.99 | RAN |
| 48 | 195 | 243 | 0.38 | JAN121308 | GTO 14 DAYS IN SHONAN GN VOL 02 | $10.95 | RAN |
| 49 | 197 | 245 | 0.38 | JAN121167 | AIR GEAR GN VOL 23 (MR) | $10.99 | RAN |
| 50 | 198 | 214 | 0.38 | DEC110908 | FARSCAPE TP VOL 07 WAR UNCHARTED TERRITORIES PT ONE | $12.99 | BOO |
This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.
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, minus any copies that are distributed free of cost.
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 generally remain 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.
