Media Release -- (BALTIMORE, MD) — (April 9, 2009) — Marvel Comics’ Dark Avengers #3 was the best-selling comic book title for March 2009, based upon total unit sales to comic book specialty shops, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
Marvel Comics also took the top publisher spot in March, leading both Unit and Retail Dollar Market Shares, with a 47.24% Unit Market Share, and a 42.74% Retail Dollar Market Share.
The top-selling graphic novel in March was DC Comics' Watchmen TP, its sales fueled by the feature film from director Zack Snyder that opened in theaters on March 9th.
DC Direct took the top two spots on the Top 10 toy chart, with the Women of the DC Universe Series 2: Shazam! Mary Bust as the best-selling Toy product for March. Spin Master's new marble/card game Bakugan Battle Brawlers Battlepacks were the best-selling Games product in March to comic book specialty retailers.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| Publisher | Unit Market Share | Retail Dollar Share |
| MARVEL COMICS |
47.24% | 42.74% |
| DC COMICS |
27.77% | 27.34% |
| IDW PUBLISHING |
5.10% | 5.01% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS |
4.80% | 5.63% |
| IMAGE COMICS |
3.18% | 3.60% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT |
2.10% | 1.82% |
| VIZ MEDIA |
1.09% | 1.88% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS |
0.84% | 0.78% |
| AVATAR PRESS INC |
0.69% | 0.83% |
| ASPEN MLT |
0.66% | 0.42% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 |
6.53% | 9.95% |
TOP 10 COMICS
| Quantity Rank | Description | Price | Item Code | Vendor |
| 1 | DARK AVENGERS #3 (DARK REIGN) |
$3.99 | JAN092467-M | MARVEL COMICS |
| 2 | NEW AVENGERS #51 (DARK REIGN) |
$3.99 | JAN092464-M | MARVEL COMICS |
| 3 | BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #1 (OF 3) |
$3.99 | JAN090180-M | DC COMICS |
| 4 | WOLVERINE #71 | $2.99 | JAN092546 | MARVEL COMICS |
| 5 | ULTIMATUM #3 (OF 5) | $3.99 | OCT082376-M | MARVEL COMICS |
| 6 | UNCANNY X-MEN #507 | $2.99 | JAN092537-M | MARVEL COMICS |
| 7 | MIGHTY AVENGERS #23 (DARK REIGN) |
$2.99 | JAN092465 | MARVEL COMICS |
| 8 | JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #31 |
$2.99 | JAN090205 | DC COMICS |
| 9 | ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #3 (OF 6) |
$2.99 | JAN092452-M | MARVEL COMICS |
| 10 | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #23 |
$2.99 | DEC080047-M | DARK HORSE COMICS |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| Quantity Rank | Description | Price | Item Code | Vendor |
| 1 | WATCHMEN TP | $19.99 | FEB058406-M | DC COMICS |
| 2 | THE STAND: CAPTAIN TRIPS PREMIERE HC (BERMEJO EDITION) |
$24.99 | DEC082308-M | MARVEL COMICS |
| 3 | JACK OF FABLES VOLUME 5: TURNING PAGES TP (MR) |
$14.99 | DEC080210 | DC COMICS |
| 4 | ALAN MOORE: THE LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE GN (MR) |
$7.99 | NOV083804 | AVATAR PRESS |
| 5 | FRUITS BASKET VOL 22 GN |
$10.99 | DEC084252 | TOKYOPOP |
| 6 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOLUME 1: FIVE NIGHTMARES TP |
$19.99 | DEC082451-M | MARVEL COMICS |
| 7 | NARUTO VOL 40 TP | $7.95 | JAN094484 | VIZ MEDIA |
| 8 | NARUTO VOL 38 TP | $7.95 | JAN094482 | VIZ MEDIA |
| 9 | NARUTO VOL 41 TP | $7.95 | JAN094485 | VIZ MEDIA |
| 10 | AMERICAN JESUS VOLUME 1: CHOSEN TP (MR) |
$9.99 | NOV082224 | IMAGE COMICS |
TOP 10 TOYS
| Retail Rank | Description | Item Code | Vendor |
| 1 | WOMEN OF THE DCU SERIES 2: SHAZAM! MARY BUST |
AUG080268 | DC DIRECT |
| 2 | BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE STATUE -- THE JOKER BY JIM LEE |
AUG080253 | DC DIRECT |
| 3 | STAR WARS ULTIMATE QUARTER-SCALE: "HOTH" HAN SOLO ACTION FIGURE |
SEP084797 | DIAMOND SELECT TOYS |
| 4 | IRON MAN: MODERN ARMOR STATUE |
SEP084824 | BOWEN DESIGNS |
| 5 | WATCHMEN MOVIE: RORSCHACH 1/6-SCALE FIGURE |
AUG080246 | DC DIRECT |
| 6 | SUPERGIRL 1/6-SCALE COLLECTOR'S FIGURE |
JUL080257 | DC DIRECT |
| 7 | WATCHMEN MOVIE ACTION FIGURE ASST. #2 BALANCED CASE |
JUL080240 | DC DIRECT |
| 8 | JLA CLASSIFIED CLASSIC BALANCED MASTER CASE |
AUG080254 | DC DIRECT |
| 9 | SANDMAN ABSOLUTE EDITION 1/6-SCALE FIGURE |
AUG080252 | DC DIRECT |
| 10 | IRON MAN: CLASSIC ACTION STATUE |
DEC084769 | BOWEN DESIGNS |
TOP 10 GAMES
| Retail Rank | Description | Item Code | Vendor |
| 1 | BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS BATTLEPACK |
JAN095168 | SPIN MASTER |
| 2 | POKEMON TCG PLATINUM BOOSTER PACK |
JAN095155 | POKÉMON USA |
| 3 | D&D 4TH ED PLAYERS HANDBOOK II |
JAN095203 | WIZARDS OF THE COAST |
| 4 | MTG TCG CONFLUX BOOSTER PACK |
DEC085084 | WIZARDS OF THE COAST |
| 5 | MTG TCG SHARDS ALARA BOOSTER PACK |
MAY088379 | WIZARDS OF THE COAST |
| 6 | STAR WARS CMG IMPERIAL ENTANGLEMENTS BOOSTER PACK |
DEC085092 | WIZKIDS LLC |
| 7 | WOW TCG BLOOD GLADIATORS BOOSTER PACK |
JAN095187 | THE UPPER DECK COMPANY |
| 8 | BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS DEKA PACK |
JAN095171 | SPIN MASTER |
| 9 | BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS STARTER PACK |
JAN095169 | SPIN MASTER |
| 10 | POKEMON TCG TRIO BOX CASE |
OCT088167 | POKÉMON USA |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales charts—which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts—are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 4,000+ accounts, comprised of comic book specialty shops and other merchant stores and buyers. The shops are primarily located in North America, with a percentage of sales also to international stores and buyers located throughout the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, and other specialty stores.
Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.
