Diamond's Top 300 Comics for December 2011

Media Release -- The dread lord Darkseid revealed himself to Earth's heroes in Geoff Johns and Jim Lee's Justice League #4 from DC Comics, the best-selling comic book to comics retailers in the month of December.

In total, DC Comics had eight of the top ten best-selling comics in December. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's acclaimed Batman storyline continued in Batman #4, which ranked #2. Grant Morrison and Rags Morales' exploration of Superman's early days in Action Comics #4 ranked #3. Green Lantern Sinestro battled the yellow-powered corps he left behind in Geoff Johns and Dough Mahnke's Green Lantern #4, which ranked #4. Tony Daniels' gritty take on the Dark Knight continued in Detective Comics #4, which ranked #6. Francis Manapul's The Flash #4 ranked #8 and Paul Jenkins, David Finch's Batman: The Dark Knight #4 ranked #9, and George Peréz and Jesus Merino's Superman #4 ranked #10.

Marvel Comics had two titles in the top ten. Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness' Avengers: X-Sanction #1, the first issue of a four issue mini-series that pits Cable against the Avengers and leads into this summer's Avengers Vs. X-Men event, was the publisher's top-selling book at #5. Also in the top ten was Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson's Defenders #1, reviving one of Marvel's legendary super-teams, at #7.

Among other Premier Publishers, Dark Horse Comics' top book for November was Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #4 at #61 which continued the adventures of Joss Whedon's vampire slayer. IDW Publishing's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 ranked #102, and Image Comics' The Walking Dead #92 ranked #58.

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 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 not only brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, but also Internet stores, chain stores, 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 the Diamond Sales Index: The Sales Index of selected monthly Best Seller Charts is presented as a comparative tool for retailers and publishers. It presents Diamond's monthly sales for individual titles in relation to Diamond's total sales for the issue of DC Comics' monthly Batman comic book. (Batman is used as the control title – with a value of 100 – because sales of Batman usually remain relatively stable.) This allows for easy comparison to other titles and helps retailers gauge their orders for all other titles. This formula is only a guide, other factors may impact a titles' ability to sell in certain locations and clientele.