Press Release
May 2013 Preliminary Comichron Report: Wide-based rally boosts comics
By John Jackson Miller
Comichron.com
Last May was a blockbuster month for comics, with Avengers in theaters — and this May still eked out a slight increase, according to the preliminary post now up at Comichron:
One fact of note here is that the market's momentum seems broad-based. The non Marvel-DC-Image-IDW-Dark Horse grouping totals nearly 20% this month, the highest figure since 2005. Yet the larger publishers aren't doing worse: the pie is larger.
Full data next week. Also, be sure to take a look at the Flashbacks column, as May was the 25th anniversary of DC's release of V FOR VENDETTA #1:
Replies
Press Release
Diamond Announces Top Products For May 2013
(BALTIMORE, MD) — (June 7, 2013) — The world's female mutants gather together in Brian Wood and Olivier Coipel's X-Men #1 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in May 2013, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics was May's leading publisher with a 33.36% market share in retail dollars and a 37.44% market share in units. DC Entertainment was second with a 28.27% share in dollars and a 30.84% share in units. May's comics sales increased overall by nearly 7% over April and graphic novels by nearly 16%. Comics sales through the end of May are up 15% over last year.
BOOM! Studios' first original Adventure Time graphic novel, Adventure Time: Playing With Fire by Danielle Corsetto and Zack Sterling, was May's best-selling graphic novel.
Square Enix's The Dark Knight Trilogy Play Arts ~Kai~: Batman Action Figure, based on Christopher Nolan's acclaimed Batman film trilogy, was the best-selling toy product to direct market retailers in May.
DC Comics' popular Teen Titans franchise joined the HeroClix gaming table in May with the DC HeroClix: Teen Titans Booster Brick, the best-selling game product to direct market retailers for the month.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER
DOLLAR
SHARE
UNIT
SHARE
MARVEL COMICS
33.36%
37.44%
DC COMICS
28.27%
30.84%
IMAGE COMICS
7.48%
8.11%
IDW PUBLISHING
6.28%
4.77%
DARK HORSE COMICS
4.73%
4.36%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
3.50%
3.30%
BOOM! STUDIOS
2.97%
2.63%
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD
1.57%
0.37%
AVATAR PRESS INC
0.92%
0.76%
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC
0.90%
0.82%
OTHER NON-TOP 10
10.02%
6.60%
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS
UNITS
MAY 2013 VS. APRIL 2013
COMICS
6.93%
5.42%
GRAPHIC NOVELS
15.79%
5.88%
TOTAL COMICS/GN
9.76%
5.46%
MAY 2013 VS. MAY 2012
COMICS
0.97%
-2.62%
GRAPHIC NOVELS
1.00%
3.17%
TOTAL COMICS/GN
0.98%
-2.15%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2013 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2012
COMICS
15.04%
12.25%
GRAPHIC NOVELS
12.01%
11.45%
TOTAL COMICS/GN
14.07%
12.19%
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
X-MEN #1
$3.99
FEB130492
MAR
2
BATMAN #20
$3.99
MAR130201
DC
3
JUSTICE LEAGUE #20
$3.99
MAR130173
DC
4
AGE OF ULTRON #7
$3.99
MAR130600
MAR
5
AGE OF ULTRON #8
$3.99
MAR130603
MAR
6
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #9
$3.99
MAR130615
MAR
7
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #10
$3.99
MAR130617
MAR
8
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #3
$3.99
FEB130111
DC
9
ALL NEW X-MEN #11
$3.99
MAR130614
MAR
10
DETECTIVE COMICS #20
$3.99
MAR130210
DC
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GN VOL 01 PLAYING FIRE
$11.99
FEB130825
BOO
2
SAGA TP VOL 01 (MR)
$9.99
AUG120491
IMA
3
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE
$14.99
NOV128157
IMA
4
SUPERMAN EARTH ONE TP VOL 01
$12.99
FEB130226
DC
5
ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE & THE SCREAM QUEENS TP VOL 01
$19.99
MAR130946
BOO
6
DEADPOOL TP VOL 01 DEAD PRESIDENTS NOW
$15.99
MAR130727
MAR
7
MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC TP VOL 01
$17.99
MAR130366
IDW
8
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 MY OWN WORST ENEMY NOW
$17.99
MAR130724
MAR
9
SUPERMAN ACTION TP VOL 01 SUPERMAN MEN OF STEEL (N52)
$16.99
FEB130215
DC
10
GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO HC VOL 02 (MR)
$19.99
JAN130329
DC
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK
DESCRIPTION
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY PLAY ARTS KAI BATMAN AF
SEP128219
SQU
2
MARVEL SELECT NIGHTCRAWLER AF
MAY121672
DST
3
MAN OF STEEL SUPERMAN 1:6 SCALE ICONIC STATUE
FEB130255
DC
4
DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY PLAY ARTS KAI BANE AF
SEP128218
SQU
5
GREEN LANTERN SIMON BAZ AF
JAN130349
DC
6
ST TOS ENTERPRISE CUTAWAY MODEL
FEB131540
DST
7
BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY MIKE ALLRED
FEB130260
DC
8
MASS EFFECT COMMANDER SHEPARD BISHOUJO STATUE
OCT121708
KOT
9
DC COMICS AQUAMAN ARTFX+ STATUE NEW 52 VER
APR131844
KOT
10
KNIGHT RIDER 1/15 SCALE KITT
MAY121668
DST
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK
DESCRIPTION
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
DC HEROCLIX TEEN TITANS BOOSTER BRICK
JAN132015
NEC
2
MTG TCG DRAGONS MAZE BOOSTER DIS
FEB131931
WIZ
3
RISK LEGACY
JUN118204
HAS
4
DC HEROCLIX TEEN TITANS 24 CT PRIMER DS
JAN132014
NEC
5
MTG TCG DRAGONS MAZE FAT PACK
FEB131933
WIZ
6
MARVEL HEROCLIX FEAR ITSELF BLITZKRIEG USA SCENARIO PK
JAN138294
NEC
7
DC HEROCLIX TEEN TITANS RAVAGERS FAST FORCES 6 PACK
JAN132016
NEC
8
WALKING DEAD TV BOARD GAME
JUL112137
CRY
9
IRON MAIDEN HEROCLIX 24 CT GRAVITY FEED DISPLAY
JAN138373
NEC
10
MTG TCG DRAGONS MAZE INTRO DECK DIS
FEB131934
WIZ
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 comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, 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.
Presumably e-distribution is also growing.
It's also possible that there's substantial distribution of manga translations not through Diamond; but I don't know that for sure.
I don't believe Diamond includes newsstand sales, either.
Obviously, the economy is getting better and people have more disposable income to spend on comics.
Nothing wrong with that!
WHO has more disposable income? I've got a kid in college and an unemployed wife. Tell me the economy is getting better.
Mark Stanislawski said:
Which publishers still have newsstand versions? DC, Marvel, and Archie? I guess the only difference would be the markings on the covers. I wonder if this is a money-losing proposition these days.
Captain Comics said:
Archie still has newsstand. Supposedly DC and Marvel's kid friendly comics do well on the newsstand as well, yet they are always being cancelled, so it can't be that good.
Press Release
Best,
John Jackson Miller
Curator, The Comics Chronicles • http://www.comichron.com
Press Release
BATMAN CONTINUES TO BE DC ENTERTAINMENT’S BEST-SELLING COMIC IN MAY - AS JUNE LOOKS TO BE ALL THINGS SUPERMAN
New digital and print publishing initiatives solidify DC Entertainment’s place as industry leader, innovator
BURBANK, CA, June 7, 2013 – BATMAN #20 continued the popular comic book's three-month reign as the top-selling DC Entertainment periodical, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic book distributor in the world.
The Batman story by the bestselling team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo features the conclusion of the Dark Knight's two-part battle with the shape-shifting villain Clayface and serves as a prelude to June’s BATMAN #21 – the first part of “Zero Year,” the modern re-telling of Batman’s classic origin. Additionally, the month saw GREEN LANTERN #20, the critically-acclaimed conclusion of writer and DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns’ epic nine-year run on the series, clock in as the top DC book in total dollars and the softcover graphic novel SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 as the top DC Entertainment collection in sales to comic shop retailers, according to Diamond.
In celebration of Superman’s 75th anniversary, Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment revealed plans befitting the most popular and enduring super hero of all time. The celebration kicks into high gear next Wednesday, June 12 with the launch of SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1, also from writer Snyder and legendary artist and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee.
Ahead of the theatrical release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Man of Steel” on June 14, DC Entertainment announced a partnership with comic book retailers, libraries and bookstores across America to declare Wednesday, June 12 “‘Man of Steel’ Day.” Fans visiting their local comic book retailers on “‘Man of Steel’ Day” will receive a free copy of an ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1 Special Edition comic book, one of the most acclaimed Superman stories ever by the award-winning and beloved creative team of Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly.
“It’s a great time to be a fan of both Batman and Superman,” said Diane Nelson, President DC Entertainment. “The continued success of these iconic characters is further proof that DC Entertainment is the home to the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. For Superman’s 75th anniversary, we’re showcasing the character’s enduring greatness, from the first panel of ACTION COMICS #1 to next week’s SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1.”
This week also saw the company make two game-changing announcements in the areas of digital and print publishing. Earlier this week, Nelson and Lee unveiled DC2 and DC2 Multiverse — new digital innovations that will take comics to the next level of interactivity — at Time Warner’s “The Future of Storytelling” exhibition at the Time Warner Media Lab in New York. DC2 is a new feature that layers dynamic artwork onto digital comic panels, adding a new level of dimension to digital storytelling. DC2 Multiverse allows readers to determine a specific story outcome by selecting individual characters, storylines and plot developments while reading the comic, creating multiple options and end results for each digital comic chapter, leading the way in interactive comic book storytelling.
Additionally, plans were revealed for an epic month of September and beyond, as Lee and fellow Co-Publisher Dan DiDio announced that the company’s legendary villains would be taking over the entire publishing line as part of a month-long event aptly titled “Villains Month,” spearheaded by the seven-issue limited series FOREVER EVIL, from the powerhouse creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artist David Finch, and spinning out of the conclusion of TRINITY WAR, a two-month crossover involving the three ongoing JUSTICE LEAGUE titles this summer. Each of the “DC Comics – The New 52” regular comic book series for September will focus on a key foe and answer the question: “What happens when the villains win?” Each “Villains Month” book will also feature a never-before-seen printing innovation: 3-D Motion covers. Featuring five layers of visual scenery and completely lenticular stock cover, the groundbreaking initiative creates an unparalleled sense of visual depth and brings to life the most beloved – and evil – characters in the DC Entertainment pantheon of characters. The 3-D Motion covers - paired with the universe-spanning saga that is FOREVER EVIL and “Villains Month” - give comic shop retailers and core fans of the company’s print business a great event with lasting value and an engaging story.
Vertigo kicked off the summer in fine form, with the launch of the horror-tinged THE WAKE, from Snyder and writer Sean Murphy in May and this week’s ASTRO CITY #1, from the classic creative team of writer Kurt Busiek, artist Brent Anderson and cover artist Alex Ross. The series leads a pack of notable debuts coming down the line for the genre-defying imprint, including this month’s 100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO #1 from the legendary team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso, July’s sci-fi adventure COLLIDER #1 by rising star writer Simon Oliver and artist Robbi Rodriguez and renowned writer/artist Jeff Lemire’s TRILLIUM #1 in August. More Vertigo news – including details about Neil Gaiman’s much-anticipated return to the world of SANDMAN - will be announced throughout this year.
Just a few weeks ahead of the debut of the BEFORE WATCHMEN deluxe collections, digital sales of the classic WATCHMEN paperback increased in May during a two-week promotion with partner Kindle. This uptick was also seen in overall physical sales.
The New York Times Graphic Novel Bestseller lists also featured a number of new additions from the DC Entertainment library, including DC Comics’ AQUAMAN VOL. 2: THE OTHERS, the second top-selling volume by JUSTICE LEAGUE’s dynamic creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artistic collaborators Ivan Reis and Joe Prado and THE AUTHORITY VOL. 1, from the iconic creative team of writer Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch.
MAD continues to bring humor to our lives daily on The Idiotical with parodies like “Drone Ranger” and “Obama and Christie: Jersey Shore BFFs.” And MAD Presents Superman #1, the Super Spectacular Summer issue featuring some of the most beloved Superman parodies and includes 7 new pages that put a uniquely MAD spin on the upcoming film, arrives in stores June 12.
The coming weeks will also see a refreshed and streamlined DC Entertainment website, featuring a homepage redesign, a more robust video section and enhanced, daily coverage and features of our products and news.