Top 100 Graphic Novels: April 2012

Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye, the first volume of the best-selling zombie series published by Image Comics and the basis of the top-rated AMC series, was the best-selling graphic novel to comics retailers in April 2012.

In total, Image Comics had eight of the month's top ten best-selling graphic novels, seven of those eight Walking Dead volumes. Miles Behind Us, the second volume, ranked #2; Safety Behind Bars, the third volume, ranked #3; Best Defense, the fifth volume, ranked #7; We Find Ourselves, the fifteenth volume, ranked #8; Hearts Desire, the fourth volume, ranked #9; and Sorrowful Life, the sixth volume, ranked #10. Image Comics' other volume in April's graphic novels top ten was Chew Volume 5: Major League Chew, which ranked #5 for the month.

DC Comics rounded out the top ten with two titles. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's Flex Mentallo: Man of Muscle Mystery ranked #4. Chris Roberson, Bill Willingham, and Shawn McManus' Cinderella: Fables are Forever, released from DC's Vertigo imprint, ranked #6.

Anthony Johnson and Wellington Alves revisited the story of Matt Murdock in Marvel Comics' Daredevil Season One hardcover graphic novel; the publisher's top-selling graphic novel in April, Daredevil Season One ranked #19.

Dark Horse Comics' top graphic novel in April was Abe Sapien Volume 2: The Devil Does Not Jest; the Hellboy spin-off by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and James Harren ranked #23.

IDW Publishing's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimate Collection Volume 2 was the publisher's top-selling graphic novel at #36.

TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in April 2012

This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.

For retailers, Diamond offers the Top 300 Comics and Top 300 Graphic Novels sales charts on the Diamond Tools page of the Diamond Retailer Services website to provide more information about the industry's top selling publications.

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 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.