April's Top Comics & Graphic Novels!

The Avengers stormed the beaches of the X-Men's island base of Utopia in Jason Aaron and John Romita, Jr.'s Avengers Vs. X-Men #2, the second chapter of the 12-part event from Marvel Comics and April's best-selling comic book.

In total, Marvel Comics had four of the month's top ten books, all of them tie-ins to the Avengers Vs. X-Men event. AVX Vs. #1, the anthology comic that expands on the battles in the main book, was Marvel's number two book at #4. Kieron Gillen and Greg Land's Uncanny X-Men #11 ranked #9 and Brian Michael Bendis and Walt Simonson's Avengers #25 ranked #10.

DC Comics had six of the month's top ten books, led by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman #8, the first chapter of the "Night of the Owls" events, at #2. Geoff Johns and Carlos D'Anda's Justice League #8 ranked #3, Johns and Doug Mahnke's Green Lantern #8 ranked #5, Grant Morrison and Rags Morales' Action Comics #8 ranked #6, Tony S. Daniel's Detective Comics #8 ranked #7, and and Joe Harris and Ed Benes' Batman: The Dark Knight #8 ranked #8.

Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's The Walking Dead #47 was Image Comics' top book in April at #47.

Dark Horse Comics' top book in April was Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #8, which ranked #74 for the month.

Finally, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #9 was IDW Publishing's top book for April at #102.

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 April's best-selling graphic novel.

In total, Image Comics had eight of April's top ten best-selling graphic novels, and seven of those eight were 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 50 COMIC BOOKS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in April 2012

TOP 50 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.

Please note that comics marked with an asterisk have had their reported quantities reduced due to retailer returnability, and thus may rank lower on the charts than their actual sales would reflect.

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 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.