Media Release -- Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis' cosmic company-wide crossover event Blackest Night #3 ramped up the battle between the Lantern Corps and the undead Black Lanterns, providing DC Comics with the best-selling comic book title for September 2009, based upon total unit sales to comic book specialty shops, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
Marvel Comics took the top publisher spot in September, leading in both the Unit Market and Dollar Shares categories, with a 47.58% Unit Market Share and a 40.72% Dollar Share for the month.
Dark Horse Comics' continuing adventures of Joss Whedon's classic character Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 Volume 5: Predator and Prey gave the Oregon publisher the best-selling graphic novel for the month of September.
Diamond Select Toys' Back to the Future: DeLorean Mark I Car, recreating the iconic time travel machine from the Robert Zemekis film, was the best-selling Toy product. Wizard of the Coast's Magic the Gathering TCG: Zendikar Booster Packs, the latest expansion for their popular trading card game, was September's best-selling Game product to comic book specialty shops.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | UNIT MARKET SHARE | DOLLAR SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 47.58% | 40.72% |
DC COMICS | 32.74% | 30.47% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.72% | 5.82% |
IMAGE COMICS | 2.93% | 3.20% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 2.58% | 3.19% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.11% | 2.22% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.42% | 1.52% |
ARCHIE COMICS | 0.95% | 0.63% |
VIZ MEDIA | 0.62% | 1.23% |
TOP 10 COMICS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BLACKEST NIGHT #3 | $3.99 | JUL090144-M | DC |
2 | CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #3 | $3.99 | JUL090458-M | MAR |
3 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #4 | $2.99 | JUL090168-M | DC |
4 | GREEN LANTERN #46 | $2.99 | JUL090153-M | DC |
5 | WOLVERINE: GIANT-SIZE OLD MAN LOGAN #1 | $4.99 | JUL090561-M | MAR |
6 | BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #2 | $2.99 | JUL090149-M | DC |
7 | NEW AVENGERS #57 | $3.99 | JUL090500-M | MAR |
8 | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #40 | $2.99 | JUL090155-M | DC |
9 | DARK AVENGERS #9 | $3.99 | JUL090499 | MAR |
10 | BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #2 | $2.99 | JUL090147-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK |
DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 8 VOLUME 5: PREDATOR & PREY TP | $15.95 | MAY090057 | DAR |
2 | THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY VOLUME 2: DALLAS TP | $17.95 | JUN090040 | DAR |
3 | DMZ VOLUME 7: WAR POWERS TP (MR) | $14.99 | JUN090262 | DC |
4 | THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ HC | $29.99 | JUL090457 | MAR |
5 | SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN VOLUME 6 TP | $19.95 | APR090029 | DAR |
6 | BATMAN: CACOPHONY HC | $19.99 | MAY090177 | DC |
7 | BATMAN: THE BLACK GLOVE TP | $17.99 | JUN090205 | DC |
8 | FABLES DELUXE EDITION VOLUME 1 HC (MR) | $29.99 | MAY090235 | DC |
9 | CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE MAN WITH NO FACE TP | $15.99 | JUL090619 | MAR |
10 | THE GOON VOLUME 9: CALAMITY OF CONSCIENCE TP | $15.95 | JUN090056 | DAR |
TOP 10 TOYS & STATUES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BACK TO THE FUTURE: DELOREAN MARK I CAR | MAR094739 | DST |
2 | BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE STATUE -- MAZZUCCHELLI STATUE | FEB090302 | DC |
3 | RED DAREDEVIL ON GARGOYLE STATUE | MAY091512 | BOW |
4 | JLI SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES | JAN090302 | DC |
5 | HEROES OF THE DCU: SUPERMAN BUST | FEB090294 | DC |
6 | JEAN GREY STATUE | FEB094918 | BOW |
7 | STAR TREK: "MIRROR MIRROR" ISS ENTERPRISE SHIP | FEB098006 | DST |
8 | ARKHAM ASYLUM BOXED SET | FEB090301 | DC |
9 | SUPERMAN/BATMAN DVD: BATMAN MAQUETTE | JUL090311 | DC |
10 | SUPERMAN/BATMAN DVD: SUPERMAN MAQUETTE | JUL090310 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: ZENDIKAR BOOSTER PACKS | AUG091778 | WIZ |
2 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2010 CORE SET BOOSTER PACKS | MAY091798 | WIZ |
3 | YU GI OH TCG: 5DS ANCIENT PROPHECY BOOSTER PACKS | JUL091697 | KON |
4 | YU GI OH TCG: 5DS JACK ATLAS COLLECTIBLE TINS | JUL091699 | KON |
5 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: SHARDS ALARA INTRO PACKS | MAY088381 | WIZ |
6 | POKEMON TCG: 2009 HOLIDAY COLLECTORS WAVE 1 TINS | JUL091716 | POK |
7 | SUPER MARIO BROS CHESS | JUL091739 | USA |
8 | D&D 4TH-EDITION DUNGEON MASTERS GUIDE II | JUL091747 | WIZ |
9 | RISK: HALO WARS COLLECTORS EDITION | JUN091743 | USA |
10 | MAGIC THE GATHERING PLANECHASE CARD GAME | JUL091755 | WIZ |
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.
ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS—the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise, Diamond is based in Baltimore, MD, and services more than 4,000 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.