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Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two Batmen

These are the official statistics for comic books as distributed in North America by Diamond Comic Distributors in the month of April 2014. So what have we learned?

Marvel Comics dollar share continued its rise, but sharper this month with their dollar share rising from 34.31% to 39.27  and their unit share does the same from 38.17% to 41.15%, possibly due to a rather highly priced Amazing Spider-Man #1. DC Comics saw their dollar share continue to dive from 25.94% to 23.65%, eleven points behind Marvel, the lowest in ages, and their unit share fall from 29.02% to 27.24%, fourteen points behind Marvel. This is almost as bad as it got before the New 52 relaunch. September can't come soon enough for them.

And while last month DC Comics took the four top spots with Batman, Superman Unchained, Forever Evil and Sandman, this month Marvel took the top two with Spider-Man, Amazing and Superior, and even DC's big launch of Batman Eternal was outsold by regular flavour Batman, though all four issues of Eternal placed in the top ten. The prelude issue of Original Sin, Marvel's big new event was, however, squeezed down the chart, with Mark Waid's Hulk relaunch pushing out the higher profile Original Sin issue he wrote.

But the bigger news is that Image's dollar share has continued to hang around the 10% mark, which is significantly better than they were doing a year ago. It cannot be ignored that Image have the top four selling collections as well, and not one of them is The Walking Dead.

Overall sales though are dropping, compared to January and to this time last year… indeed, compared 2013 at this time last year, 2014 is 10% down. After months and years of increasing sales… is this the beginning of reducing sales? Graphic novel sales in comic stores are up, but its not enough to stop the downward trend…

But its also noticing that while the graphic novel sales don't match the bookstore sales results, there are still no Marvel or DC titles in the top five.

April's sales are up on this March and last April, though more due to this being a five Wednesday month. Sales are still down on 2013 at this turn but it's not as bad as it was…

 

TOP PUBLISHERS

RETAIL MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 39.27%
DC COMICS 23.65%
IMAGE COMICS 9.34%
DARK HORSE COMICS 5.54%
IDW PUBLISHING 5.10%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.49%
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD 2.14%
BOOM! STUDIOS 2.07%
AVATAR PRESS INC 1.15%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 1.04%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 8.21%
UNIT MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 41.15%
DC COMICS 27.24%
IMAGE COMICS 10.31%
DARK HORSE COMICS 5.18%
IDW PUBLISHING 4.24%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.47%
BOOM! STUDIOS 1.97%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 1.18%
AVATAR PRESS INC 1.03%
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 0.73%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 4.50%

TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER COMICS SHIPPED GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED MAGAZINES SHIPPED TOTAL SHIPPED
MARVEL COMICS 80 35 0 115
DC COMICS 79 26 1 106
IMAGE COMICS 71 13 0 84
IDW PUBLISHING 45 24 0 69
DARK HORSE COMICS 38 27 0 65
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 43 6 0 49
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT 25 7 0 32
EAGLEMOSS 0 0 26 26
AVATAR PRESS INC 11 2 2 15
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 13 2 0 15
OTHER 77 157 35 269

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

  DOLLARS UNITS
APRIL 2014 VS. MARCH 2014
COMICS 23.22% 14.36%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 8.90% -0.33%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 18.27% 12.90%
APRIL 2014 VS. APRIL 2013
COMICS 17.37% 6.96%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 16.78% 11.20%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 17.18% 7.32%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2014 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2013
COMICS -0.89% -6.91%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 5.44% 10.38%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 1.04% -5.61%

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 $5.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140664-M MAR
2 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #31 $5.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140659-M MAR
3 BATMAN #30 $3.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140198-M DC
4 BATMAN ETERNAL #1 [*] $2.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140140-M DC
5 JUSTICE LEAGUE #29 $3.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJAN140243-M DC
6 BATMAN ETERNAL #2 [*] $2.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140142 DC
7 HULK #1 $3.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140684-M MAR
8 ORIGINAL SIN #0 $4.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140657 MAR
9 BATMAN ETERNAL #3 [*] $2.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140143 DC
10 BATMAN ETERNAL #4 [*] $2.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140144 DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 SEX CRIMINALS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) $9.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJAN140558 IMA
2 SAGA VOLUME 3 TP (MR) $14.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJAN140556 IMA
3 EAST OF WEST VOLUME 2: WE ARE ALL ONE TP $14.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenDEC130494 IMA
4 SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) $9.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenAUG120491 IMA
5 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: FAMILY BUSINESS HC $24.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenDEC130759 MAR
6 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 1: COSMIC AVENGERS TP $19.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJAN140800 MAR
7 THE JOKER: DEATH OF THE FAMILY TP (N52) $24.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJAN140340 DC
8 SAGA VOLUME 2 TP (MR) $14.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenAPR130443 IMA
9 PRETTY DEADLY VOLUME 1 TP (MR) $9.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB140533 IMA
10 THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP $14.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenNOV128157 IMA

TOP 10 BOOKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 JIM HENSON'S LABYRINTH HC $19.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB141067 BOO
2 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 4: FALL OF THE GOVERNOR PART 2 $25.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenDEC138366 STM
3 LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC $34.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenSEP120055 DAR
4 MY LITTLE PONY: FIREFLY WITH BOOK $9.95 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB141598 RUN
5 THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 83 SC $14.95 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB141625 SAN
6 MARVEL ENCYCLOPEDIA 75TH-ANNIVERSARY EDITION HC $40.00 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenDEC131413 DK
7 SPIDER-MAN CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA HC $16.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJAN141481 DK
8 GODZILLA LIGHT & SOUND MINIATURE BOOK KIT $12.95 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJAN141512 RUN
9 SWORD ART ONLINE VOLUME 1: AINCRAD SC $13.00 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB141540 HAC
10 DARKSTALKERS: OFFICIAL COMPANION WORKS SC $39.99 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJAN141345 UDO

TOP 10 TOYS

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED MINI FIGURES SERIES 2 Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenOCT130312 DC
2 THE WALKING DEAD: DIXON WITH CHOPPER BOX SET Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenAUG138265 TMP
3 MARVEL COMICS: AVENGERS NOW: THE HULK ARTFX+ STATUE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenOCT132006 KOT
4 MARVEL SELECT: CAPTAIN AMERICA 2 ACTION FIGURE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenDEC131822 DST
5 BATMAN HUSH: BATMAN & CATWOMAN: THE KISS STATUE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenSEP130322 DC
6 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS: SUPERWOMAN ACTION FIGURE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenSEP130323 DC
7 BATMAN ARKHAM CITY: ARMORED BATMAN STATUE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenNOV130291 DC
8 THE WALKING DEAD: DARYL DIXON MINI-BUST Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenMAY131926 GEN
9 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS: ULTRAMAN ACTION FIGURE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenSEP130325 DC
10 DC COMICS VARIANT PLAY ARTS KAI: THE FLASH ACTION FIGURE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJUL138154 SQU

TOP 10 GAMES

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 MONOPOLY: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenOCT128266 USA
2 MARVEL HEROCLIX: DEADPOOL Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB142556 NEC
3 YU-GI-OH! HEROCLIX Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenMAY132348 NEC
4 RISK: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenOCT128267 USA
5 RISK LEGACY Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenJUN118204 HAS
6 MARVEL DICE MASTERS: AVENGERS VS. X-MEN Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenNOV132536 NEC
7 DC HEROCLIX: LEGION OF SUPERHEROES BOOSTER BRICK Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenOCT132418 NEC
8 WONDER WOMAN: COLLAGE 1000-PIECE JIGSAW PUZZLE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB142427 AQU
9 SUPERMAN: COLLAGE 1000-PIECE JIGSAW PUZZLE Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenFEB142426 AQU
10 RISK: MASS EFFECT: GALAXY AT WAR COLLECTOR'S EDITION Marvel Pulls Well Ahead From DC In April 2014 Marketshare, With Two Spider-Men Ahead Of Two BatmenDEC132333 USA

 

d1

Dollar Market Share – April 2014

d2

Unit Market Share– April 2014

 

 

 


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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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