Diamond's Top 300 Comics for October 2012

Media Release -- To prevent another world-endangering conflict between humans and mutants, Captain America forms a new team of Avengers and X-Men in Rick Remember and John Cassaday's Uncanny Avengers #1 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book to the specialty market in October 2012.

In total, Marvel Comics had five books in October's top ten. Avengers Vs. X-Men #12, the grand finale to Marvel's summer event, ranked #2. A+X #1, the debut of a new anthology series spinning out of Avengers Vs. X-Men, ranked #5. AVX Vs. #6, the final issue of the "fights only" companion series to Avengers Vs. X-Men, ranked #8, and AVX: Consequences #1, the first issue of a special follow-up series to Avengers Vs. X-Men, ranked #10.

DC Comics had four books in the top ten, led by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman #13, the first part of the epic "Death of the Family" Joker storyline, at #3. Justice League #13 from Geoff Johns and Tony S. Daniel ranked #4. Also in the top ten were Green Lantern #13 at #6 and Detective Comics #13 at #9.

Image Comics returned to the top ten in October with Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's The Walking Dead #103 at #9.

Dark Horse Comics' top book in October was Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #14, which ranked #104 for the month.

Rounding out the premier publishers, IDW Publishing's Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor who: Assimilation2 #6 was the publisher's top book for October at #118.

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.