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Diamond Announces Top Products for December 2018

(BALTIMORE, MD) — (January 18, 2019) — Spinning out of the events of Dark Nights: Metal, a twisted version of Batman is on the loose in Gotham City in Scott Snyder and Jock’s The Batman Who Laughs #1 from DC Entertainment, the best-selling comic book of December 2018 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.

In total, DC Entertainment had seven titles in the top ten, including Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo's Batman: Damned #2 at #2, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Doomsday Clock #8 at #3, Tom King and Mikel Janin's Batman #60 at #4, King and Travis Moore's Batman #61 at #5, Tom Taylor and Otto Schmidt's Batman Annual #3 at #9, and Johns and Dale Eaglesham's SHAZAM! #1 at #10. Marvel Comics had three titles in the top ten: Nick Spencer, Ryan Ottley, and Cliff Rathburn's Amazing Spider-Man #11 at #7; Dan Slott, Mike Allred, Adam Hughes, and Aaron Kuder's Fantastic Four #5, featuring the wedding of Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters, at #8, and Spencer, Ottley, and Rathburn's Amazing Spider-Man #12 at #9. Among the premier publishers, Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead #186 was Image Comics' top book in December at #18; BOOM! Studios' Firefly #2, based on Joss Whedon's television series, was their best-selling comic at #60; Marvel Action: Avengers #1 was IDW Publishing's top book at #86; Dark Horse Comics' Hellboy Winter Special 2018 ranked #112; and Dynamite Entertainment's John Wick #4 was their top book at #145.

Marvel Comics was the top publisher in December, with a 38.57% dollar share and 44.09% unit share. DC Entertainment was second, with a 31.51% dollar share and a 30.75% unit share. In third was Image Comics at 8.73% in dollars and 9.06% in units, followed by IDW Publishing at 4.10% in dollars and 3.55% in units, BOOM! Studios with 2.98% in dollars and 2.38% in units, Dark Horse Comics with 2.82% in dollars and 2.37% in units, and Dynamite Entertainment with 2.11% in dollars and 2.10% in units.

Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang's Paper Girls Volume 5 from Image Comics was December's best-selling graphic novel. DC Entertainment had three titles in the top ten, led by Batman Volume 8: Cold Days at #2. Dark Horse Comics' Avatar: The Last Airbender: Imbalance Part 1 ranked #3. BOOM! Studios was also in the top ten; Saban's Power Rangers: Soul Dragon, an original graphic novel, ranked #4. Marvel Comics also had three titles in the top ten; Star Wars Volume 9: Hope Dies was their top charting book for the month at #5.

Inspired by the long-running BBC series, BBC Books' Doctor Who: TARDIS Type-40 Instruction Manual, a technical manual that explores the Doctor's time and space vessel, was the best-selling book in December. Gemstone Publishing's The Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles ranked #7 for the month.

Diamond Select Toys' Ghostbusters Series 9 Action Figures, featuring characters from the late 1980s animated television series The Real Ghostbusters, was December's best-selling toy product and one of three products from the manufacturer in the top ten. DC Collectibles had three products among the top ten, as well, led by the DC Artists Alley: The Flash by Uminga Vinyl Figure at #5. Mezco also had three products in the top ten, including the PREVIEWS Exclusive One:12 Collective: Marvel Comics: Dr. Strange (Defenders) Action Figure at #2.

Green Ronin Publishing's Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, a sourcebook for the Critical Role role-playing game, was December's best-selling game product. Paizo had a strong month, with seven products in the top ten, led by the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook at #2.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

RETAIL MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 38.93%
DC ENTERTAINMENT 31.32%
IMAGE COMICS 8.68%
IDW PUBLISHING 4.08%
BOOM! STUDIOS 2.96%
DARK HORSE COMICS 2.80%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.10%
VIZ MEDIA 1.03%
TITAN COMICS 0.81%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT 0.70%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 6.58%
 
UNIT MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 44.09%
DC ENTERTAINMENT 30.75%
IMAGE COMICS 9.06%
IDW PUBLISHING 3.66%
BOOM! STUDIOS 2.38%
DARK HORSE COMICS 2.37%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.10%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT 0.78%
TITAN COMICS 0.59%
ARCHIE COMICS 0.56%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 3.67%

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

  DOLLARS UNITS
DECEMBER 2018 VS. NOVEMBER 2018
COMICS -3.53% -3.58%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -17.46% -17.18%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -7.35% -4.55%
TOYS -58.05% -53.99%
DECEMBER 2018 VS. DECEMBER 2017
COMICS 9.29% -0.42%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -26.35% -35.98%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -2.26% -3.72%
TOYS -44.01% -47.06%
YEAR 2018 VS. YEAR 2017
COMICS 2.04% -5.67%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -8.22% -9.71%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -1.08% -5.98%
TOYS -6.39% -6.48%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER COMICS
SHIPPED
GRAPHIC NOVELS
SHIPPED
MAGAZINES
SHIPPED
TOTAL
SHIPPED
MARVEL COMICS 90 38 0 128
DC COMICS 52 37 1 90
IMAGE COMICS 52 10 0 62
IDW PUBLISHING 32 10 0 42
BOOM! STUDIOS 24 16 0 40
DARK HORSE COMICS 21 11 0 32
VIZ MEDIA LLC 0 23 0 23
TITAN COMICS 8 7 2 17
DYNAMITE 13 1 0 14
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 5 2 0 7
OTHER NON-TOP 10 101 113 9 223
TOTAL 398 268 12 678

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 $4.99 OCT180464-M DC
2 BATMAN: DAMNED #2 (MR) $6.99 SEP180424-M DC
3 DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8 $4.99 SEP180426-M DC
4 BATMAN #60 $3.99 OCT180483-M DC
5 BATMAN #61 $3.99 OCT180485-M DC
6 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11 $3.99 OCT180921-M MAR
7 FANTASTIC FOUR #5 $7.99 OCT180766-M MAR
8 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #12 $3.99 OCT180925-M MAR
9 BATMAN ANNUAL #3 $4.99 OCT180487 DC
10 SHAZAM #1 $4.99 SEP180436-M DC

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 $4.99 OCT180464-M DC
2 BATMAN: DAMNED #2 (MR) $6.99 SEP180424-M DC
3 DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8 $4.99 SEP180426-M DC
4 FANTASTIC FOUR #5 $7.99 OCT180766-M MAR
5 BATMAN #60 $3.99 OCT180483-M DC
6 BATMAN #61 $3.99 OCT180485-M DC
7 BATMAN ANNUAL #3 $4.99 OCT180487 DC
8 SHAZAM #1 $4.99 SEP180436-M DC
9 INFINITY WARS #6 $5.99 OCT180866-M MAR
10 FANTASTIC FOUR WEDDING SPECIAL #1 $4.99 OCT180778-M MAR

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 5 TP $14.99 OCT180099 IMA
2 BATMAN VOLUME 8: COLD DAYS TP $16.99 SEP180545 DC
3 AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: IMBALANCE PART ONE TP $10.99 JUN180347 DAR
4 SABAN’S POWER RANGERS: SOUL DRAGON ORIGINAL GN $19.99 AUG181366 BOO
5 STAR WARS VOLUME 9: HOPE DIES TP $19.99 SEP180996 MAR
6 THE FLASH VOLUME 8: FLASH WAR TP $16.99 SEP180570 DC
7 MY HERO ACADEMIA VOLUME 16 GN $9.99 OCT182065 VIZ
8 THOR VOLUME 1: GOD OF THUNDER REBORN TP $17.99 SEP181005 MAR
9 VENOM: FIRST HOST TP $15.99 SEP181007 MAR
10 BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 8: ON THE OUTSIDE TP $16.99 SEP180548 DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 5 TP $14.99 OCT180099 IMA
2 BATMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 6 HC $125.00 MAY180571 DC
3 FANTASTIC FOUR BY WAID & WIERINGO OMNIBUS HC $100.00 JUN180968 MAR
4 MARVEL MASTERWORKS: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 20 HC $75.00 JUN180962-M MAR
5 JEPH LOEB & TIM SALE: YELLOW, BLUE, GRAY & WHITE OMNIBUS HC $100.00 JUN180964 MAR
6 BATMAN VOLUME 8: COLD DAYS TP $16.99 SEP180545 DC
7 SABAN’S POWER RANGERS: SOUL DRAGON ORIGINAL GN $19.99 AUG181366 BOO
8 MARVEL UNIVERSE BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC $125.00 JUN180960 MAR
9 BEFORE WATCHMEN OMNIBUS HC $125.00 JUN180573 DC
10 WONDER WOMAN DIANA PRINCE: CELEBRATING THE 60S OMNIBUS HC $125.00 MAY180594 DC

TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 DOCTOR WHO: TARDIS TYPE-40 INSTRUCTION MANUAL HC $19.99 MAY188247 BBC
2 DOCTOR WHO: COMBAT MAGICKS HC $10.99 APR188135 BBC
3 MONSTER HUNTER ILLUSTRATIONS 2 HC $54.99 OCT182056 UDO
4 LULU IS A RHINOCEROS $16.99 FEB188267 WIC
5 DC SUPER HEROES: SUPER HEROES SAY PLEASE BOARD BOOK $10.99 JUL181774 DOW
6 DRAGON QUEST ILLUSTRATIONS HC (30TH ANNIVERSARY) $34.99 OCT182063 VIZ
7 OVERSTREET PRICE GUIDE TO STAR WARS COLLECTIBLES SC $30.00 SEP181814 GEM
8 SWORD ART ONLINE NOVEL VOLUME 15 SC $14.00 OCT182104 YEN
9 OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 48 SC $29.95 APR181580 GEM
10 FINAL FANTASY: ULTIMANIA ARCHIVE VOLUME 2 HC $39.99 JUL180505 DAR

TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 GHOSTBUSTERS SELECT SERIES 9 ACTION FIGURES JUL182490 DST
2 ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL PX DEFENDERS DOCTOR STRANGE AF AUG178702 MEZ
3 PACIFIC RIM 2 SELECT AF SERIES 3 ASST JUL182498 DST
4 ONE-12 COLLECTIVE DC CATWOMAN AF JAN189082 MEZ
5 DC ARTISTS ALLEY FLASH BY UMINGA VINYL FIG JUN180600 DC
6 ONE-12 COLLECTIVE MARVEL DOCTOR STRANGE AF APR178082 MEZ
7 DC ARTISTS ALLEY BATGIRL BY MURASE VINYL FIG JUN180598 DC
8 MARVEL GALLERY ANT-MAN & THE WASP MOVIE WASP PVC FIGURE JUL182500 DST
9 X-MEN LEGENDS ARCHANGEL 6IN AF CS JUN188419 HAS
10 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS BATMAN & CATWOMAN STATUE MAY180613 DC

TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC JUN173357 GRE
2 PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK JUN091729 PAI
3 TOME OF BEASTS HC JUN168476 PAI
4 STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC JUN173371 PAI
5 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS RPG: CORE RULEBOOK GIFT SET SEP182834 WIZ
6 STARFINDER RPG: ARMORY HC MAY182931 PAI
7 PATHFINDER RPG FLIP TILES: URBAN STARTER SET OCT182919 PAI
8 MY HERO ACADEMIA: THE CARD GAME JUL183082 SHI
9 STARFINDER RPG: PACT WORLDS HC JAN182863 PAI
10 PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT BASIC (NEW EDITION) MAR138328 PAI

 

Dollar Market Shares for December 2018
Dollar Market Share – December 2018
Unit Market Shares for December 2018
Unit Market Share – December 2018

 

How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.

Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which includes the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from sales made to thousands of comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world.  Additional sales made to online merchants and other specialty retailers may be included as well.

Unit and dollar market shares are calculated based upon orders for comic books, graphic novels, and magazines invoiced and shipped to Diamond customers during any given month, which comprises pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable. 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.

The New Titles Count Chart includes all titles that were invoiced by Diamond to retailers for the first time during the month and is not the official solicited title count for the month. Variant edition comic books and graphic novels at the same price point count as a single SKU. Variant edition comic books, lenticular covers, digital combo packs, and graphic novels at different price points count as separate SKUs for each edition.

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ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS (DCD)—Diamond is at the nexus of comics and pop culture merchandise. Based in Baltimore, MD, DCD is the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise, servicing thousands of specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.

© 2019 Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. All rights reserved. Diamond, the Diamond logo, Diamond Books logo, and PREVIEWS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Diamond Comic Distributors in theUnited States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective copyright owners.

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