Media Release -- The Avengers and the X-Men join forces to defeat the Phoenix-possessed Cyclops and Emma Frost and a legendary character falls in the battle in Avengers Vs. X-Men #11 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in September 2012, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
DC Entertainment was September's leading publisher in both Retail Dollars and Unit Market Share, leading Marvel Comics 34.41% to 31.04% in dollars and 41.10% to 33.65% in units.
Following Thanos' appearance in the Avengers film, Marvel Comics reprinted Jim Starlin and Ron Lim's 1990 mini-series The Thanos Quest, and the collected edition of this prequel to The Infinity Gauntlet was September's best-selling graphic novel to retailers.
The latest series of Hasbro's Marvel Legends Action Figures, featuring dynamic 6-inch sculpts of characters including Deadpool, Mystique, and the Punisher, was September's best-selling toy product to comic book specialty retailers.
The rage of the Incredible Hulk comes to the HeroClix campaign with the Marvel HeroClix: Incredible Hulk Booster Brick from WizKids/NECA, the best-selling games product to comic book specialty retailers in September.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
| DC COMICS | 36.41% | 41.10% |
| MARVEL COMICS | 31.04% | 33.65% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 6.36% | 4.82% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 6.09% | 5.56% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.49% | 3.69% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.97% | 2.97% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.40% | 1.50% |
| AVATAR PRESS | 1.11% | 0.87% |
| ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT | 0.96% | 1.00% |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 0.92% | 0.18% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.25% | 4.67% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| SEPTEMBER 2012 VS. AUGUST 2012 | ||
| COMICS | -11.89% | -9.62% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -14.31% | -15.83% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -12.69% | -10.17% |
| SEPTEMBER 2012 VS. SEPTEMBER 2011 | ||
| COMICS | -4.42% | -8.72% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 14.43% | 20.18% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 1.02% | -6.85% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2011 | ||
| COMICS | 17.12% | 14.26% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 14.16% | 13.60% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 16.16% | 14.21% |
| THIRD QUARTER 2012 VS. SECOND QUARTER 2012 | ||
| COMICS | 2.36% | 0.41% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 1.46% | 8.75% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.07% | 1.06% |
| THIRD QUARTER 2012 VS. THIRD QUARTER 2011 | ||
| COMICS | 8.25% | 6.06% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 7.84% | 21.21% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 8.12% | 7.19% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | AVENGERS VS X-MEN #11 | $3.99 | JUL120528-M | MAR |
| 2 | BATMAN #0 | $3.99 | JUL120154-M | DC |
| 3 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #0 | $3.99 | JUL120123-M | DC |
| 4 | GREEN LANTERN #0 | $2.99 | JUL120173-M | DC |
| 5 | DETECTIVE COMICS #0 | $3.99 | JUL120159-M | DC |
| 6 | ACTION COMICS #0 | $3.99 | JUL120142-M | DC |
| 7 | BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #0 | $2.99 | JUL120162-M | DC |
| 8 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #0 | $2.99 | JUL120164 | DC |
| 9 | EARTH 2 #0 | $2.99 | JUL120135-M | DC |
| 10 | BATMAN INCORPORATED #0 | $2.99 | JUL120150-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THANOS QUEST #1 | $7.99 | JUL120553 | MAR |
| 2 | THE JUDAS COIN HC | $22.99 | MAY120270 | DC |
| 3 | THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 8 HC (MR) | $34.99 | JUL120438 | IMA |
| 4 | AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER VOLUME 3: PROMISE PART 3 TP | $10.99 | MAY120011 | DAR |
| 5 | AQUAMAN VOLUME 1: THE TRENCH HC | $22.99 | MAY120278 | DC |
| 6 | THE TOWER CHRONICLES VOL. 1: GEISTHAWK GN | $7.99 | JUL121137 | LEG |
| 7 | THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS VOLUME 1: SCIENCE BAD TP | $14.99 | JUN120470 | IMA |
| 8 | THIEF OF THIEVES VOLUME 1 TP | $14.99 | JUL120437 | IMA |
| 9 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY TP | $16.99 | JUN120243 | DC |
| 10 | BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL VOL. 3: KNIGHTSEND TP | $29.99 | JUN120242 | DC |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MARVEL LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES | JUL121808 | HAS |
| 2 | ARKHAM ASYLUM DELUXE: TITAN JOKER FIGURE | JUL120272 | DC |
| 3 | BATMAN ARTFX STATUE – BLACK COSTUME VERSION | FEB121622 | KOT |
| 4 | JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASH ACTION FIGURE | MAY120340 | DC |
| 5 | BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: JOKER BY BOLLAND STATUE | JUN120309 | DC |
| 6 | MARVEL SELECT: ULTRON ACTION FIGURE | MAR121603 | DST |
| 7 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY SERIES 3: BATMAN FIGURE | JUN120298 | DC |
| 8 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY SERIES 3 RA'S AL GHUL FIGURE | JUN120301 | DC |
| 9 | BATMAN VERSION 2 1/4-SCALE MUSEUM QUALITY STATUE | JUN120308 | DC |
| 10 | JUSTICE LEAGUE: PARADEMON ACTION FIGURE | MAY120342 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: INCREDIBLE HULK BOOSTER BRICK | OCT112063 | NEC |
| 2 | DC HEROCLIX 10TH-ANNIVERSARY | MAY122157 | NEC |
| 3 | MARVEL HEROCLIX 10TH-ANNIVERSARY | MAY122158 | NEC |
| 4 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: RETURN OF THE DUELIST BOOSTERS | APR128387 | KON |
| 5 | THE WALKING DEAD TV BOARD GAME | JUL112137 | CRY |
| 6 | STREET FIGHTER MONOPOLY | APR121976 | USA |
| 7 | MARVEL HEROIC RPG: CIVIL WAR EVENT BOOK PREMIUM | JAN122072 | MAR |
| 8 | RISK LEGACY | JUN118204 | HAS |
| 9 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2013 CORE SET BOOSTERS | APR121977 | WIZ |
| 10 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: AVACYN RESTORED BOOSTERS | FEB121827 | 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 3,500 comic book specialty shops located in North America and around 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.
Please note that comics marked with an asterisk have had their reported quantities reduced due to retailer returnability, and thus may rank lower on the charts than their actual sales would reflect.
ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS (DCD)—Diamond is at the nexus of comics and pop culture merchandise. Based in Baltimore, MD, DCD is the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise, servicing more than 4,000 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.
© 2012 Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. All rights reserved. Diamond, the Diamond logo, Diamond Books logo, and PREVIEWS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Diamond Comic Distributors in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective copyright owners.
