Marvel’s Princess Leia #1 was the #1 book in March according to Diamond’s just released sales charts….another month for a female led title to top the charts following Spider-Gwen last month. Howard the Duck #1 also made the top ten, a pretty strong debut.
And yes, I know the Marvel Star Wars franchise is so strong (esp. with variant covers) that they could put out a Nien Nunb #1 and it would probably top the charts, but Spider-Gwen and Ms Marvel also made strong showings elsewhere so this is not a fluke.
Marvel continued to whup DC in market share and dollars, while Image comics was in double digits once again. 1st quarter comparisons show comics are up yet again from 2014, a healthy 9.63% in dollars and 11.76% in units. Are these just variant buoyed increases that are unhealthy in the long run? Let me know what you think in the comments.
Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s Nemo: River of Ghosts, was the top selling graphic novel, with Image’s Low and Ms. Marvel Volume 2 also making a strong showing.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 38.82% | 41.53% |
| DC COMICS | 23.01% | 26.13% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 11.39% | 12.98% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 6.51% | 5.16% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.90% | 3.07% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.41% | 2.44% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.37% | 1.99% |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.83% | 0.32% |
| TITAN COMICS | 1.01% | 0.77% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0.98% | 0.37% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 7.76% | 5.23% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTALSHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 79 | 30 | 0 | 109 |
| DC COMICS | 85 | 17 | 0 | 102 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 59 | 20 | 0 | 79 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 52 | 18 | 0 | 70 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 27 | 22 | 0 | 49 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 40 | 3 | 0 | 43 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 28 | 6 | 0 | 34 |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| TITAN COMICS | 8 | 7 | 2 | 17 |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 86 | 98 | 13 | 197 |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| MARCH 2015 VS. FEBRUARY 2014 | ||
| COMICS | -3.86% | -4.32% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 8.34% | 10.63% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -0.58% | -3.37% |
| MARCH 2015 VS. MARCH 2014 | ||
| COMICS | 11.19% | 9.92% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -12.56% | -22.36% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.99% | 6.70% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2015 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2014(FIRST QUARTER 2015 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2014) | ||
| COMICS | 13.85% | 13.76% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 0.65% | -8.96% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 9.63% | 11.76% |
| FIRST QUARTER 2015 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2014 | ||
| COMICS | -9.56% | -8.37% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -17.28% | -15.58% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -11.97% | -8.93% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | PRINCESS LEIA #1 | $3.99 | JAN150727-M | MAR |
| 2 | STAR WARS #3 | $3.99 | JAN150742-M | MAR |
| 3 | GUARDIANS TEAM-UP #1 | $3.99 | DEC140815-M | MAR |
| 4 | SPIDER-GWEN #2 | $3.99 | JAN150785-M | MAR |
| 5 | PRINCESS LEIA #2 | $3.99 | JAN150738-M | MAR |
| 6 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16 | $3.99 | JAN150779-M | MAR |
| 7 | HOWARD THE DUCK #1 | $3.99 | JAN150769-M | MAR |
| 8 | DARTH VADER #3 | $3.99 | JAN150740-M | MAR |
| 9 | BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT #1 | $3.99 | JAN150229-M | DC |
| 10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16.1 | $3.99 | JAN150781-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | NEMO: RIVER OF GHOSTS HC (MR) | $14.95 | JAN151622 | IDW |
| 2 | MS. MARVEL VOL. 2: GENERATION WHY TP | $15.99 | DEC140970 | MAR |
| 3 | LOW VOL. 1: THE DELIRIUM OF HOPE TP (MR) | $9.99 | DEC140670 | IMA |
| 4 | HAWKEYE VS. DEADPOOL TP | $16.99 | DEC140975 | MAR |
| 5 | SAGA VOLUME 4 TP (MR) | $14.99 | OCT140644 | IMA |
| 6 | DEADPOOL VOLUME 7: AXIS TP | $17.99 | DEC140987 | MAR |
| 7 | DEADPOOL’S THE ART OF WAR TP | $12.99 | DEC140974 | MAR |
| 8 | DEADLY CLASS VOL. 2: KIDS OF THE BLACK HOLE TP (MR) | $14.99 | DEC140657 | IMA |
| 9 | BIRTHRIGHT VOL. 1: HOMECOMING TP (MR) | $9.99 | JAN150622 | IMA |
| 10 | BOB’S BURGERS VOLUME 1 TP | $17.99 | JAN151278-M | DE |
TOP 10 BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | HOW TO DRAW BATMAN, SUPERMAN & OTHER DC HEROES & VILLAINS SC | $14.95 | NOV141845 | CAP |
| 2 | MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS: ULTIMATE CHARACTER GUIDE UPDATED & EXPANDED | $16.99 | JAN151807 | DK |
| 3 | DC SUPER HEROES: ABC 123 BOARD BOOK | $9.99 | SEP148147 | POC |
| 4 | THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 93 SC | $14.95 | JAN151844 | SAN |
| 5 | MY FIRST SUPERMAN BOOK BOARD BOOK | $10.99 | SEP148149 | POC |
| 6 | DC SUPER HEROES: MY FIRST BOOK OF SUPER VILLAINS BOARD BOOK | $9.99 | SEP148144 | POC |
| 7 | DC SUPER HEROES: COLORS SHAPES & MORE BOARD BOOK | $9.99 | SEP148148 | POC |
| 8 | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER PANEL TO PANEL: SEASONS 8 & 9 TP | $24.99 | OCT140022 | DAR |
| 9 | DC SUPER HEROES: BUSY BODIES BOARD BOOK | $9.99 | SEP148146 | POC |
| 10 | DAVID MACK: REFLECTIONS TP | $24.99 | NOV140015 | DAR |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE JOKER AND HARLEY QUINN STATUE | AUG140385 | DC |
| 2 | MARVEL SELECT: CABLE ACTION FIGURE | OCT142189 | DST |
| 3 | ARROW: DEATHSTROKE ACTION FIGURE | OCT140412 | DC |
| 4 | GHOSTBUSTERS: BURNT STAY-PUFT MARSHMALLOW MAN BANK | MAY142237 | DST |
| 5 | STAR TREK SELECT: WORF ACTION FIGURE | NOV142174 | DST |
| 6 | JAY & SILENT BOB: BUDDY CHRIST BANK | JUN142094 | DST |
| 7 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY: CLAYFACE DELUXE ACTION FIGURE | NOV140359 | DC |
| 8 | GODZILLA: BURNING GODZILLA VINYL FIGURAL BANK | OCT142184 | DST |
| 9 | MY LITTLE PONY: APPLEJACK BANK | JUL142032 | DST |
| 10 | BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT: BATMAN STATUE | SEP140354 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK MONOPOLY | DEC142209 | DST |
| 2 | D&D DICE MASTERS FOIL PACKS | SEP142615 | NEC |
| 3 | D&D DICE MASTERS STARTER SET | SEP142616 | NEC |
| 4 | D&D MINIATURES SET TWO BOOSTER BRICK | JAN152658 | NEC |
| 5 | MONOPOLY: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION | OCT128266 | USA |
| 6 | STAR WARS: X-WING MOST WANTED EXPANSION PACK | OCT142777 | FAN |
| 7 | DC HEROCLIX: JUSTICE LEAGUE TRINITY WAR BOOSTER BRICK | DEC142573 | NEC |
| 8 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: FATE REFORGED BOOSTER PACKS | JAN152654 | WIZ |
| 9 | STAR WARS: X-WING IG-2000 EXPANSION PACK | OCT142775 | FAN |
| 10 | STAR WARS: X-WING STARVIPER EXPANSION PACK | OCT142778 | FAN |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Also, lots of books aimed at kids!
RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 HOW TO DRAW BATMAN, SUPERMAN & OTHER DC HEROES & VILLAINS SC $14.95 NOV141845 CAP
2 MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS: ULTIMATE CHARACTER GUIDE UPDATED & EXPANDED $16.99 JAN151807 DK
3 DC SUPER HEROES: ABC 123 BOARD BOOK $9.99 SEP148147 POC
5 MY FIRST SUPERMAN BOOK BOARD BOOK $10.99 SEP148149 POC
6 DC SUPER HEROES: MY FIRST BOOK OF SUPER VILLAINS BOARD BOOK $9.99 SEP148144 POC
7 DC SUPER HEROES: COLORS SHAPES & MORE BOARD BOOK $9.99 SEP148148 POC
9 DC SUPER HEROES: BUSY BODIES BOARD BOOK $9.99 SEP148146 POC
Capstone, DK, Downtown Bookworks
I look forward to the continued increase in non top two sales. Perhaps that will convince them to start creating comics average people can read again. DC and Marvel are pretty insular these days, and it’s just no fun trying to read their books. Image, Dark Horse, Oni, and others seem to be exploring new venues, and that’s where you get interest. By continuing to cater to the same readers, Marvel and DC just don’t seem to be generating new fans.
I’m not anti big two. It’s just that they really don’t have much that’s new and interesting nowadays.
Top 100’s have been published:
http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/977?articleID=162281
http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/977?articleID=162284