Diamond Releases More 2008 Year-End Data

Following up on the release of the top-selling comic books of 2008 to USA Today Monday morning, Diamond Comics Distributors released their Top 10 Bestselling Comic Books and Graphic Novels lists, along with their Market Share report for last year for the comic book Direct Market, which according to Diamond is made up by more than 4000 retailers. Coming as little surprise, Marvel Comics led the industry in both of the latter categories, but maybe somewhat surprising, at similar levels as 2007.

As previously reported, the publisher's Secret Invasion limited series dominated the comic book chart, taking 8 of the top 10 positions, and interestingly, in numerical order from issue #1 right down through #8, with only Marvel's Uncanny X-Men #500 (#7) and DC's Final Crisis #1 (#9) breaking up the party.

#2 publisher of the year (in terms of market share) DC's strength continues to be their trade and graphic novel program, which flipped the script on Marvel, accounting for 7 of the 10 bestselling trades of the year, including the #1 seller of the year, the Watchmen trade paperback.

Alan Moore's late 1980's work is still a force in 2008, as his one-shot special with Brian Bolland Batman: The Killing Joke came in as the second best-selling trade of the year.

Marvel's dominance in the monthly comic book segment helped it lead both Market Share categories, Unit and Dollar, by no less than 10 point margins over DC.

Marvel accounted for 45.82% of all comic books and graphic novels sold to comic book Direct Market retailers in 2008, and 40.81% of every dollar spent by retailers.

DC's figures for '08 came in at 31.67% Unit share and 29.34% Dollar share.

As shown below, Marvel's margins over its biggest rival DC are slightly expanded over 2007, but overall very similar to their own figures from the previous year. In 2007 Marvel grabbed 44.72% Unit share and 40.25% Dollar. Where did those margin points get redistributed to?

Dark Horse, IDW and "Other" ("other" being not DHC, Image, IDW, or the 'Big Two') all gained points in 2008 compared to the year before.

The 2008 comic book and graphic novel Top 10 Charts follow below, along with the 2008 and 2007 Market Share charts...

2008 TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

2008 TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

2008 TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

2007 TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS