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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.

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

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.

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

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

PUBLISHER

DOLLAR

SHARE

UNIT

SHARE

MARVEL COMICS

42.64%

38.35%

DC ENTERTAINMENT

25.71%

37.87%

IMAGE COMICS

10.83%

9.67%

IDW PUBLISHING

3.65%

3.07%

DARK HORSE COMICS

2.54%

1.63%

BOOM! STUDIOS

1.96%

1.58%

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

1.64%

1.30%

VIZ MEDIA

1.12%

0.40%

ONI PRESS

1.03%

0.48%

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT

0.84%

0.90%

OTHER NON-TOP 10

8.03%

4.75%

 

 COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

DOLLARS

UNITS

MAY 2018 VS. APRIL 2018

COMICS

7.00%

2.99%

GRAPHIC NOVELS

6.94%

4.85%

TOTAL COMICS/GN

6.98%

3.13%

TOYS

4.95%

23.84%

MAY 2018 VS. MAY 2017

COMICS

6.23%

-8.63%

GRAPHIC NOVELS

-8.04%

-13.85%

TOTAL COMICS/GN

1.84%

-9.06%

TOYS

-28.63%

-30.85%

YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017

COMICS

0.22%

-9.80%

GRAPHIC NOVELS

-9.31%

-10.56%

TOTAL COMICS/GN

-2.67%

-9.85%

TOYS

-12.06%

-17.25%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER

COMICS SHIPPED

GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED

MAGAZINES SHIPPED

TOTAL

SHIPPED

MARVEL COMICS

92

42

0

134

DC ENTERTAINMENT

74

30

0

104

IMAGE COMICS

65

22

0

87

IDW PUBLISHING

39

24

0

63

BOOM! STUDIOS

23

12

0

35

DARK HORSE COMICS

17

16

0

33

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

20

5

0

25

VIZ MEDIA

0

22

0

22

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT

8

3

0

11

ONI PRESS

3

2

0

5

OTHER NON-TOP 10

131

208

32

371

TOTAL

472

386

32

890

 

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800

$9.99

MAR180826-M MAR

2

VENOM #1

$4.99

MAR180796-M MAR

3

DOOMSDAY CLOCK #5

$4.99

MAR180233-M DC

4

AVENGERS #1

$4.99

MAR180776-M MAR

5

BLACK PANTHER #1

$4.99

MAR180786-M MAR

6

BATMAN #47

$2.99

MAR180256-M DC

7

BATMAN #46

$2.99

MAR180254-M DC

8

JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE #1

$3.99

MAR180228-M DC

9

THE MAN OF STEEL #1 [*]

$3.99

APR180145 DC

10

THE WALKING DEAD #179 (MR)

$3.99

MAR180767-M IMA

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800

$9.99

MAR180826-M MAR

2

VENOM #1

$4.99

MAR180796-M MAR

3

DOOMSDAY CLOCK #5

$4.99

MAR180233-M DC

4

AVENGERS #1

$4.99

MAR180776-M MAR

5

BLACK PANTHER #1

$4.99

MAR180786-M MAR

6

ACTION COMICS #1000

$7.99

FEB180142-M DC

7

DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #300

$5.99

MAR180832-M MAR

8

BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT #8

$4.99

MAR180260-M DC

9

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #600

$5.99

MAR180837-M MAR

10

JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE #1

$3.99

MAR180228-M DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

STAR WARS: TAG & BINK WERE HERE #1

$7.99

MAR180947 MAR

2

THE INFINITY GAUNTLET TP

$24.99

JUL110745 MAR

3

WHERE WE LIVE: LAS VEGAS SHOOTING BENEFIT ANTHOLOGY TP

$19.99

MAR180600 IMA

4

SNOTGIRL VOL. 2: CALIFORNIA SCREAMING TP

$15.99

MAR180757 IMA

5

DARK DAYS: THE ROAD TO METAL HC

$29.99

DEC170376 DC

6

WONDER WOMAN VOL. 5: HEART OF THE AMAZON TP

$16.99

FEB180292 DC

7

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN/VENOM: VENOM, INC TP

$19.99

FEB180936 MAR

8

HELLBOY OMNIBUS VOL. 1: SEED OF DESTRUCTION TP

$24.99

JAN180104 DAR

9

BLACK MAGICK VOL. 2: AWAKENING II TP (MR)

$16.99

MAR180642 IMA

10

BLACK PANTHER: LONG LIVE THE KING TP

$14.99

FEB180931 MAR

10

INFINITY WAR TP

$29.99

JAN062102 MAR

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

THE INFINITY GAUNTLET TP

$24.99

JUL110745 MAR

2

PUNISHER MAX BY GARTH ENNIS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC (MR)

$100.00

NOV171043 MAR

3

STAR WARS: TAG & BINK WERE HERE #1

$7.99

MAR180947 MAR

4

DARK DAYS: THE ROAD TO METAL HC

$29.99

DEC170376 DC

5

WHERE WE LIVE: LAS VEGAS SHOOTING BENEFIT ANTHOLOGY TP

$19.99

MAR180600 IMA

6

WOLVERINE GOES TO HELL OMNIBUS HC

$100.00

NOV171044 MAR

7

INFINITY WAR TP

$29.99

JAN062102 MAR

8

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: MARVEL TEAM-UP VOL. 3 HC

$75.00

NOV171039-M MAR

9

HELLBOY OMNIBUS VOL. 1: SEED OF DESTRUCTION TP

$24.99

JAN180104 DAR

10

WEAPON X: THE RETURN OMNIBUS HC

$125.00

NOV171045 MAR

TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

GRIMM FAIRY TALES ADULT COLORING BOOK VOL. 2

$12.99

APR181912 ZEN

2

OVERLORD VOL. 7 LIGHT NOVEL HC

$20.00

MAR188458 YEN

3

THE ART OF JIM STARLIN: LIFE IN WORDS & PICTURES HC

$49.99

MAR181077 AFT

4

BLOODBORNE OFFICIAL ARTWORKS SC

$44.99

MAR172148 UDO

5

DOCTOR WHO TARGET COLLECTION: CITY OF DEATH MMPB

$9.99

APR181367 PEN

6

THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 129 SC

$14.95

FEB182112 SAN

7

OVERWATCH ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 1 HC

$19.99

JUN170080 DAR

8

WOLF & PARCHMENT VOL. 2 LIGHT NOVEL SC

$14.00

FEB181982 YEN

9

DEATH MARCH TO THE PARALLEL WORLD RHAPSODY VOL. 5 NOVEL SC

$14.00

MAR182083 YEN

10

NEIL GAIMAN: NORSE MYTHOLOGY SC

$15.95

DEC178273 WW

TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: DC: ASCENDING KNIGHT BATMAN "BLUE" FIGURE JUL178556 MEZ

2

DC DESIGNER SERIES: METAL BATMAN STATUE BY CAPULLO NOV170394 DC

3

POP! RICK & MORTY: PICKLE RICK "NO LIMBS" VINYL FIGURE DEC178162 FUN

4

POP! HEROES: DC: DEATH VINYL FIGURE DEC178161 FUN

5

OVERWATCH: GENJI 12-INCH STATUE DEC178061 BLI

6

MARVEL GALLERY: X-23 PVC STATUE NOV172443 DST

7

OVERWATCH: D.VA 20-INCH STATUE AUG178473 BLI

8

BATMAN VS. THE JOKER: LAFF-CO BATTLE STATUE OCT170396 DC

9

DC REBIRTH: JUSTICE LEAGUE ACTION FIGURE 7-PACK AUG160372 DC

10

STRANGER THINGS: DEMOGORGON DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SEP178832 TMP

TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED

RANK

DESCRIPTION

ITEM CODE

VENDOR

1

MARVEL HEROCLIX: AVENGERS INFINITY COLOSSAL BOOSTER BRICK DEC172935 NEC

2

STARFINDER RPG: PACT WORLDS HC JAN182863 PAI

3

CRITICAL ROLE: TAL DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC JUN173357 GRE

4

PATHFINDER RPG: ULTIMATE MAGIC POCKET EDITION FEB182807 PAI

5

PATHFINDER RPG: BESTIARY 4 POCKET EDITION FEB182806 PAI

6

STARFINDER ADVENTURE PATH: DEAD SUNS PART 5 SC FEB182808 PAI

7

PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK JUN091729 PAI

8

PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK POCKET EDITION APR168770 PAI

9

STARFINDER RPG ALIEN: ARCHIVE HC AUG173202 PAI

10

PATHFINDER RPG: BOOK OF THE DAMNED HC JUL173377 PAI

 

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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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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