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Marvel Smashes Three Titles Into The Top Five For March 2012 – But Did They?

I expected that Marvel would take the top spot away from Justice League in March, due to the sales of Avengers Vs X-Men #0, and Jim Lee leaving the book for a short sabbatical. But, thanks to Marvel shipping Avengers Vs X-Men #1 a week early, to be held for this week, they've taken the top two spots. As well as grabbing the fifth spot with Avengers Assemble.

Of late, DC has increasingly improved its grip on the top sales in comics, with even Aquaman outselling every Marvel title. It's worth noting that while Marvel now have three books in the top five, Aquaman – and now Batman And Robin too, are still outselling their next bestseller, Uncanny X-Men.

You can also see a strange disparity between Avengers Vs X-Men #0 and Justice League #7 in that while they are both priced the same, Avengers Vs X-Men #0 counts more copies sold, but Justice League #7 counts more dollars raised. This indicates that Marvel gave away a significant number of copies to retailers as overship, counted on quantity but not on revenue raised.

Which means, if you only counted Avengers Vs X-Men #1 as a March sale and you discounted the overship of Avengers Vs X-Men #0, Justice League #7 would still be the best selling comic in the direct market.

Something similar happened with Avengers Assemble #1 when you compare it to the sales of Action Comics #7. Indeed through the chart there are signs of such oddities, presumably caused by Marvel overshipping copies of comics.

Estimates indicate that Avengers Vs X-Men #1 sold around 206,000. Add on to that a British estimate and you'd get around 236,000. Then there's reorders which sold out, which would in all likelihood push it over the 250,000 mark. Look for more copies of AVX #1 to be listed next month. In comparison, AVX #0 did about 136,000, Justice League #7 did around 130,000, Batman #7 did around 130,000 and Avengers Assemble #1 did 102,000.

Despite the addition of Avengers Vs X-Men #1, DC actually did better on marketshare than last month. DC gained a point and a half in dollar share up from 29.47% to 30.95%, while improving their actual numbers of comics sold from 35.26% to 36.09%. Marvel also gained with dollar share increasing from 35.93% to 36.21% while increasing their share of comics sold from 35.25% to 36.09%, both companies shaving percentages off smaller publishers.

 

QTY
RANK
DOLLAR
RANK
INDEX DESCRIPTION PRICE VENDOR
1 1 159.48 AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 $3.99 MAR
2 3 105.58 AVENGERS VS X-MEN #0 $3.99 MAR
3 2 103.37 JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 $3.99 DC
4 4 100.00 BATMAN #7 $2.99 DC
5 6 79.18 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1 $3.99 MAR
6 5 72.07 ACTION COMICS #7 $3.99 DC
7 7 70.82 GREEN LANTERN #7 $2.99 DC
8 8 70.56 DETECTIVE COMICS #7 $2.99 DC
9 10 59.10 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #7 $2.99 DC
10 20 52.27 SUPERMAN #7 $2.99 DC
11 22 51.00 FLASH #7 $2.99 DC
12 23 48.94 AQUAMAN #7 $2.99 DC
13 19 48.04 BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 [*] $2.99 DC
14 9 45.19 UNCANNY X-MEN #8 $3.99 MAR
15 12 44.85 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #682 $3.99 MAR
16 13 44.72 UNCANNY X-MEN #9 $3.99 MAR
17 26 44.29 AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1 $2.99 MAR
18 17 43.70 AVENGERS X-SANCTION #4 $3.99 MAR
19 14 42.82 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #7 $3.99 MAR
20 16 41.01 AVENGERS #24 $3.99 MAR
21 29 40.94 AVENGERS #24.1 $2.99 MAR
22 15 40.93 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #681 $3.99 MAR
23 18 40.58 NEW AVENGERS #23 $3.99 MAR
24 30 40.35 TEEN TITANS #7 $2.99 DC
25 31 40.28 WONDER WOMAN #7 $2.99 DC
26 21 38.36 UNCANNY X-FORCE #23 $3.99 MAR
27 38 38.01 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #7 $2.99 DC
28 40 36.79 BATWOMAN #7 $2.99 DC
29 24 36.33 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #8 $3.99 MAR
30 33 35.86 BATGIRL #7 [*] $2.99 DC
31 34 35.67 NIGHTWING #7 [*] $2.99 DC
32 11 35.49 KICK-ASS 2 #7 (MR) $4.99 MAR
33 36 34.40 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #7 [*] $2.99 DC
34 27 33.07 FANTASTIC FOUR #604 $3.99 MAR
35 25 32.68 CAPTAIN AMERICA #9 $3.99 MAR
36 28 32.09 AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #5 $3.99 MAR
37 32 31.81 INCREDIBLE HULK #6 $3.99 MAR
38 48 31.61 SWAMP THING #7 $2.99 DC
39 55 29.93 DAREDEVIL #10 $2.99 MAR
40 44 29.55 SAGA #1 (MR) [*] $2.99 IMA
41 46 29.41 RED LANTERNS #7 [*] $2.99 DC
42 35 29.21 WOLVERINE #302 $3.99 MAR
43 58 29.16 FF #16 $2.99 MAR
44 37 28.55 WOLVERINE #303 $3.99 MAR
45 60 28.26 X-MEN LEGACY #263 $2.99 MAR
46 65 28.22 X-MEN LEGACY #264 $2.99 MAR
47 39 28.13 X-MEN #26 $3.99 MAR
48 51 27.98 CATWOMAN #7 [*] $2.99 DC
49 62 27.41 WINTER SOLDIER #3 $2.99 MAR
50 53 27.29 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #7 [*] $2.99 DC
51 64 27.22 SUPERCROOKS #1 (MR) $2.99 MAR
52 42 26.83 ASTONISHING X-MEN #48 $3.99 MAR
53 41 26.66 MIGHTY THOR #12 $3.99 MAR
54 63 26.62 WALKING DEAD #95 (MR) $2.99 IMA
55 56 26.17 SUPERGIRL #7 [*] $2.99 DC
56 57 26.04 ANIMAL MAN #7 [*] $2.99 DC
57 70 25.60 SCARLET SPIDER #3 $2.99 MAR
58 59 25.49 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #7 [*] $2.99 DC
59 43 25.29 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #8 $3.99 MAR
60 88 24.94 FAIREST #1 (MR) $2.99 DC
61 61 24.92 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #7 [*] $2.99 DC
62 45 24.69 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN ALPHA AND OMEGA #3 $3.99 MAR
63 47 24.67 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #514 $3.99 MAR
64 49 23.61 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #9 $3.99 MAR
65 50 23.38 DEFENDERS #4 $3.99 MAR
66 67 23.35 SUPERBOY #7 [*] $2.99 DC
67 68 23.25 SUICIDE SQUAD #7 [*] $2.99 DC
68 52 23.16 AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #9 $3.99 MAR
69 75 22.70 VENOM #14 $2.99 MAR
70 72 22.69 BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #7 $2.99 DAR
71 54 22.53 CARNAGE USA #4 $3.99 MAR
72 78 21.97 DEADPOOL #52 $2.99 MAR
73 73 20.62 BIRDS OF PREY #7 [*] $2.99 DC
74 74 20.49 GREEN ARROW #7 [*] $2.99 DC
75 81 19.53 CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #628 $2.99 MAR
76 84 19.14 STORMWATCH #7 $2.99 DC
77 85 18.71 X-FACTOR #233 $2.99 MAR
78 86 18.55 FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #10 $2.99 MAR
79 69 18.50 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #2 $3.99 DC
80 87 18.22 FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #11 $2.99 MAR
81 66 17.91 ALL STAR WESTERN #7 [*] $3.99 DC
82 89 17.52 PUNISHER #9 $2.99 MAR
83 92 17.13 AVENGERS ACADEMY #27 $2.99 MAR
84 94 17.02 HUNTRESS #6 $2.99 DC
85 100 16.97 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #635 $2.99 MAR
86 76 16.94 MOON KNIGHT #11 $3.99 MAR
87 96 16.88 HULK #49 $2.99 MAR
88 97 16.88 NEW MUTANTS #39 $2.99 MAR
89 79 15.87 FATALE #3 (MR) [*] $3.50 IMA
90 103 15.79 X-23 #21 $2.99 MAR
91 71 15.76 MAGIC THE GATHERING #3 $3.99 IDW
92 104 15.56 MARVELS AVENGERS PRELUDE FURYS BIG WEEK #1 $2.99 MAR
93 90 15.54 DEMON KNIGHTS #7 [*] $2.99 DC
94 91 15.47 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #7 [*] $2.99 DC
95 110 14.97 THUNDERBOLTS #171 $2.99 MAR
96 80 14.89 SECRET AVENGERS #24 $3.99 MAR
97 99 14.88 BATWING #7 [*] $2.99 DC
98 77 14.74 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ONGOING #8 $3.99 IDW
99 82 14.39 BATMAN ODYSSEY VOL 2 #6 $3.99 DC
100 95 14.22 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE STORM #2 $3.50 DAR

PUBLISHER MARKET SHARES

RETAIL MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 36.21%
DC COMICS 30.95%
IMAGE COMICS 6.66%
IDW PUBLISHING 5.74%
DARK HORSE COMICS 5.24%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.90%
BOOM! STUDIOS 1.42%
AVATAR PRESS INC 1.15%
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 1.06%
VIZ LLC 0.86%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 7.81%
UNIT MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 39.94%
DC COMICS 36.09%
IMAGE COMICS 5.59%
IDW PUBLISHING 4.71%
DARK HORSE COMICS 3.98%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.38%
BOOM! STUDIOS 1.27%
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 0.98%
AVATAR PRESS INC 0.93%
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 0.72%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 3.41%

 

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

  DOLLARS UNITS
MARCH 2012 VS. FEBRUARY 2012
COMICS -5.32% -2.99%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -7.13% 9.54%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -5.89% -2.07%
MARCH 2012 VS. MARCH 2011
COMICS -1.18% -2.45%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -5.67% 2.93%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -2.61% -2.03%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2011
(FIRST QUARTER 2012 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2011)
COMICS 15.85% 14.74%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 8.39% 7.25%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 13.42% 14.13%
FIRST QUARTER 2012 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2011
COMICS -13.48% -15.19%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -7.37% -0.80%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -11.67% -14.24%
LAST TWELVE MONTHS VERSUS PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS
COMICS 7.59% 10.46%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -1.42% -7.61%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 4.59% 8.86%

 

TOP 10 COMICS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #1 $3.99 JAN120625 MAR
2 AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #0 $3.99 JAN120622 MAR
3 JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 $3.99 JAN120210 DC
4 BATMAN #7 $2.99 JAN120236 DC
5 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1 $3.99 JAN120638 MAR
6 ACTION COMICS #7 $3.99 JAN120228 DC
7 GREEN LANTERN #7 $2.99 JAN120253 DC
8 DETECTIVE COMICS #7 $2.99 JAN120240 DC
9 BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #7 $2.99 JAN120242 DC
10 SUPERMAN #7 $2.99 JAN120232 DC

 

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP $9.99 JUL068351 IMA
2 HELLBOY VOL. 12: THE STORM AND THE FURY TP $19.99 OCT110020 DAR
3 THE BOYS VOLUME 10: BUTCHER, BAKER, CANDLESTICKMAKER TP $19.99 JAN121022 DE
4 FLASHPOINT TP $14.99 DEC110276 DC
5 X-MEN SEASON ONE PREMIERE HC $24.99 JAN120729 MAR
6 DMZ VOLUME 11:FREE STATESRISING TP $19.99 DEC110321 DC
7 STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS VOLUME 7: THE ENEMY WITHIN TP $7.99 NOV110031 DAR
8 FLASHPOINT: WORLD OF FLASHPOINT: BATMAN TP $17.99 DEC110277 DC
9 NORTHLANDERS VOL. 6: THOR'S DAUGHTER TP $14.99 DEC110323 DC
10 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHINDUSTP $14.99 SEP088204 IMA

Marvel Smashes Three Titles Into The Top Five For March 2012 – But Did They? Marvel Smashes Three Titles Into The Top Five For March 2012 – But Did They?


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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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