Top 50 Small Press Comics and Graphic Novels: September 2012

Aric of Dacia crosses paths with another classic Valiant character — Ninjak — in Valiant Entertainment's X-O Manowar #5, the best-selling Small Press comic book in September. The publisher had the top four Small Press comics for the month, with X-O Manowar followed by Harbinger #4 at #2, Archer & Armstrong #2 at #3, and Bloodshot #3 at #4.

Other publishers in the top ten include Abstract Studios (Rachel Rising #11 ranked #7), Archie Comics (New Crusaders: Rise of the Heroes #1, the relaunch of the Red Circle heroes, ranked #6), Bongo Comics (Simpsons Treehouse of Horror #18 ranked #10), United Plankton (Spongebob Comics #12 ranked #9), and Zenescope Entertainment (two titles led by Wonderland #2 at #4).

Legendary creators Matt Wagner and Simon Bisley teamed for a new graphic novel, The Tower Chronicles Volume 1: Geisthawk, from Legendary Comics, September's best-selling Small Press Graphic Novel.

Other publishers in the top ten include Amaze Ink/Slave Labor Graphics, Archie Comics, Fantagraphics Books, Kodansha Comics, Oni Press, Titan Books, 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 September 2012

TOP 50 SMALL PRESS GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in September 2012

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.