Diamond Announces Top Comic Book Product Sales For May 2012

By TDmonthly Staff
June 2012

BALTIMORE, MD, June 8, 2012 — The battle between Marvel Comics' top teams reaches the surface of the moon in the publisher's Avengers Vs. X-Men #4, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in May 2012, 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 in both Retail Dollar and Unit Market Shares with 35.32% and 38.64% respectively. DC Entertainment, which had seven of the month's top ten best-selling comics, was second in both Retail Dollar and Unit Market Shares with 32.73% and 36.72% respectively.

Earth's greatest heroes joined forces to defeat an invasion by Darkseid and his Parademons in Geoff Johns and Jim Lee's Justice League Volume 1: Origin, and this hardcover collection of the first six issues of DC Comics' best-selling Justice League series from DC Comics was the top selling graphic novel in May.

Based on Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment's best-selling video game Batman: Arkham City, DC Collectibles' Batman: Arkham City Series 2 Action Figures were the best-selling toy product to specialty retailers in May.

WizKids/NECA's latest Magic the Gathering expansion, Avacyn Restored, had a strong debut in May with the expansion's booster packs topping the games sales charts and the Fat Pack, Intro Decks, and Event Decks all placing in the top ten.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER	DOLLARSHARE	UNITSHARE
MARVEL COMICS	35.32%	38.64%
DC COMICS	32.73%	36.72%
IMAGE COMICS	7.19%	6.70%
IDW PUBLISHING	4.80%	4.04%
DARK HORSE COMICS	4.75%	3.48%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT	2.55%	2.63%
BOOM! STUDIOS	1.60%	1.60%
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS	1.08%	0.26%
VIZ MEDIA	0.86%	0.38%
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT	0.85%	0.73%
OTHER NON-TOP 10	8.27%	4.84%

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

DOLLAR UNITS
MAY 2012 VS. APRIL 2012
COMICS	20.60%	20.93%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	31.65%	22.13%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	24.11%	21.02%
MAY 2012 VS. MAY 2011
COMICS	45.12%	44.24%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	41.14%	24.98%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	43.76%	42.46%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2011
COMICS	21.77%	20.89%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	16.22%	12.77%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	19.95%	20.21%

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #4	$3.99	MAR120534	MAR
2	AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #3	$3.99	MAR120530	MAR
3	BATMAN #9	$3.99	MAR120184	DC
4	JUSTICE LEAGUE #9	$3.99	MAR120159	DC
5	BATMAN ANNUAL #1	$4.99	MAR120188	DC
6	AVX VS #2	$3.99	MAR120528	MAR
7	BATMAN INCORPORATED #1	$2.99	MAR120149	DC
8	DETECTIVE COMICS #9	$3.99	MAR120189	DC
9	ACTION COMICS #9	$3.99	MAR120176	DC
10	GREEN LANTERN #9	$2.99	MAR120204	DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR

1 JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: ORIGIN HC $24.99 JAN120299 DC

2 BATMAN VOLUME 1: THE COURT OF OWLS HC $24.99 JAN120300 DC

3 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP $9.99 JUL068351 IMA

4 BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN DELUXE EDITION HC $24.99 JAN120285 DC

5 ANIMAL MAN VOLUME 1: THE HUNT TP $14.99 FEB120247 DC

6 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 4: HEARTS DESIRE TP $14.99 SEP088205 IMA

7 KICK-ASS 2 PREMIERE HC (MR) $24.99 MAR120637 MAR

8 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHIND US TP $14.99 SEP088204 IMA

9 WATCHMEN HC $39.99 JUL080172 DC

10 GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 1: SINESTRO HC $22.99 JAN120301 DC

TOP 10 TOYS

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR

1 BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES JAN120380 DC

2 MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS MOVIE HULK ACTION FIGURE DEC111596 DST

3 MASS EFFECT 3 SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES NOV118167 BIG

4 MASS EFFECT 3 SERIES 1 ACTION FIGURES NOV118166 BIG

5 COVER GIRLS OF THE DCU: RAVEN STATUE FEB120307 DC

6 USTICE LEAGUE: BATMAN ACTION FIGURE MAR128193 DC

7 THE WALKING DEAD SERIES 1: RICK/MICHONNE PREVIEWS EXCLUSIVE ACTION FIGURE 2-PACK AUG118185 TMP

8 MARVEL X BISHOUJO: ELEKTRA STATUE JUN111918 KOT

9 STORM STATUE OCT111743 BOW

10 METAL GEAR SOLID PLAY ARTS KAI: SOLID SNAKE FIGURE JAN121896 SQU

TOP 10 GAMES

RANK	DESCRIPTION	ITEM CODE	VENDOR
1	MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: AVACYN RESTORED BOOSTER PACKS	FEB121827	WIZ
2	MARVEL HEROCLIX: GALACTIC GUARDIANS BOOSTER BRICK	FEB121832	NEC
3	MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: AVACYN RESTORED FAT PACKS	FEB121829	WIZ
4	MARVEL HEROCLIX: CAPTAIN AMERICA BOOSTER PACK	APR112103	NEC
5	MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: AVACYN RESTORED INTRO DECKS	FEB121830	WIZ
6	THE BIG BANG THEORY PARTY GAME	MAR121853	CRY
7	YU-GI-OH! TCG: GALACTIC OVERLORD BOOSTER PACKS	JAN128149	KON
8	MARVEL HEROCLIX: AVENGERS MOVIE MARQUEE PACKS	MAR121893	NEC
9	MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: AVACYN RESTORED EVENT DECKS	FEB121828	WIZ
10	MARVEL HEROCLIX: AVENGERS MOVIE BOOSTER PACKS	JAN122087	NEC

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.

***

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 more than 4,000 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.

© 2012 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 the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective copyright owners.