Marvel [AvX #1?] on Top of Charts; March Comics Sales Down
Because Diamond’s charts reflect sales to Direct Market comic book retailers and not retail sales to customers, AvX #1, which shipped to retailers a week before its on-sale date, charted as the bestselling title in March.
The “debut” issue of Marvel’s big 2012 event was followed on the charts by its prequel issue, Avengers vs. X-Men #0. Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley’s Avengers movie-centric new title Avengers Assemble #1 was the month’s 5th highest selling comic book title.
DC Comics had the other 7 bestselling titles, including Justice League #7 in the #3 position.
March marks the first time Marvel has topped the chart since July 2011 - pre-DC's The new 52 - and the first time Marvel has cracked the Top 10 chart in 2012.
Marvel’s strength at the top of the charts and their higher average cover price helped them take both Market Share leads in March, making it 2 months in a row they’ve lead both categories.
Marvel accounted for 39.94% of all comic books ordered by retailers in March, with DC second at 36.09%. 36.21% of all retailer dollars were spent on Marvel comics, with DC nearly 6 percentage points behind at 30.95%.
The monthly horse race aside, March was 2012’s first negative month compared to the same period in 2012.
In addition to comic book and graphic novel sales being down 2.07% compared to February 2012, combined sales are also down 2.03% compared to March 2011. Those figures, however, come with a huge caveat as March 2011 featured 5 shipping weeks compared to last month’s four, and to-date sales for the year are still up a combined 14.13% compared to 2011.
Look for much more analysis of March 2012 sales from our content partner Comichron in the upcoming hours and days.March 2012’s Market Share chart, Comparative Sales Data, and Top 100 Comic Book chart with sales indexes and Top 10 Graphic Novel charts follow below.
PUBLISHER MARKET SHARES
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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 100 COMIC BOOKS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in March 2012
|
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 |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
|
RANK |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
VENDOR |
|
1 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP |
$9.99 |
IMA |
|
2 |
HELLBOY VOL. 12: THE STORM AND THE FURY TP |
$19.99 |
DAR |
|
3 |
THE BOYS VOLUME 10: BUTCHER, BAKER, CANDLESTICKMAKER TP |
$19.99 |
DE |
|
4 |
FLASHPOINT TP |
$14.99 |
DC |
|
5 |
X-MEN SEASON ONE PREMIERE HC |
$24.99 |
MAR |
|
6 |
DMZ VOLUME 11:FREE STATESRISING TP |
$19.99 |
DC |
|
7 |
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS VOLUME 7: THE ENEMY WITHIN TP |
$7.99 |
DAR |
|
8 |
FLASHPOINT: WORLD OF FLASHPOINT: BATMAN TP |
$17.99 |
DC |
|
9 |
NORTHLANDERS VOL. 6: THOR'S DAUGHTER TP |
$14.99 |
DC |
|
10 |
THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHINDUSTP |
$14.99 |
IMA |