Diamond's Top 300 Comics for December 2012

Media Release -- Trapped in Doctor Octopus' body, Peter Parker wages a desperate final battle against his old enemy in Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos' Amazing Spider-Man #700, the oversized anniversary issue of the long-running series from Marvel Comics and the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in December 2012.

In total, Marvel Comics had six titles in December's top ten, all save Amazing Spider-Man #700 part of the Marvel NOW! initiative. Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena's Avengers #1 ranked #2, and their Avengers #2 ranked #6. Dennis Hopeless and Salvador Larroca's Cable and X-Force #1 ranked #7. Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen's All-New X-Men #3 ranked #9, and Daniel Way and Steve Dillon's Thunderbolts #1 ranked #10.

DC Comics rounded out the top ten with four titles. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman #15, part of the "Death of the Family" storyline, was the publisher's top book at #3. Geoff Johns and Ivas Reis' Justice League #15, the first chapter of the "Throne of Atlantis" crossover, ranked #4. John Layman and Jason Fabok's Detective Comics #15 ranked #5. Finally, Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's Batman and Robin #15 ranked #8.

Among other Premier Publishers, Dark Horse Comics' top book for December was Mike Mignola's Hellboy at Hell #1 at #76 for the month.

IDW Publishing's My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #2, based on the Hasbro property and fan-favorite cartoon, ranked #54.

Finally, Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead #105 was Image Comics' top-selling book in December at #28.

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.

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.