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Marvel Increases Dollar Share Massively, Unit Share Not So Much, in May 2018 Marketshare Figures

Marvel Comics was May's top publisher with a 42.64% dollar share and a 38.35% unit share, compared with April's  37.59% dollar share and a 42.21% unit share. It's like a reversal of position.

DC was second for the month with a 25.71% dollar share and a 37.87% unit share. Compared to April's  32.39% dollar share and a 33.02% unit share.

This marks the largest difference between dollar shares combined with the smallest difference between unit share. What this means is that DC Comics sold about as many copies as Marvel Comics. But Marvel made a lot more money from them.

Why? Well DC's one million-selling DC Nation #0 for 25 cents a copy must be a factor. As must Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man #800 selling half a million for ten bucks…

But it is surprising as DC are selling more and more ongoing series from $3.99 rather than $2.99. But it also demonstrates how much Marvel Comics are discounting their titles to get retailers to order lots of them. Especially for launch…

But DC Comics should take solace that while their dollar marketshare is down, it may not be down in dollars taken as the market in June had a massive sales boost. 2018 had been badly performing against both 2016 and 2017. But things began to turn round in the last two months and with comics sales up on April and dollars earned up on May 2017, it is getting closer and closer to 2018 matching 2017's sales success. June's performance may be enough to push it into overall growth…

Image Comics was third with a 10.83% dollar share and a 9.67% unit share. In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 3.65% dollar share and a 3.07% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 2.54% dollar share and a 1.63% unit share, BOOM! Studios with a 1.96% dollar share and a 1.58% unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.64% dollar share and a 1.30% unit share.

As Amazing Spider-Man and Venom topped the chart with anniversary and launch issues, Doomsday Clock impressively followed for issue 3 – the best selling non-launch/anniversary comic at the moment. Marvel also does well with Avengers and Black Panther, giving Marvel four out of the top five.

DC has a couple of Batman, the launch of Justice League No Justice both beating Man Of Steel's launch. And The Walking Dead still manages to shuffle in yt number ten…

Among the premier publishers, BOOM! Studios' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #27 was their top book at #133, Frank Miller's Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander #2 was Dark Horse's top book at #129, Dynamite Entertainment's Red Sonja/Tarzan #1 ranked #142, and IDW Publishing's TMNT: Urban Legends #1 ranked #159.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

 COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED

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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