Diamond Announces Top Products for December 2018
Jan 18, 2019
(BALTIMORE, MD) — (January 18, 2019) — Spinning out of the events of Dark Nights: Metal, a twisted version of Batman is on the loose in Gotham City in Scott Snyder and Jock’s The Batman Who Laughs #1 from DC Entertainment, the best-selling comic book of December 2018 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
In total, DC Entertainment had seven titles in the top ten, including Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo's Batman: Damned #2 at #2, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Doomsday Clock #8 at #3, Tom King and Mikel Janin's Batman #60 at #4, King and Travis Moore's Batman #61 at #5, Tom Taylor and Otto Schmidt's Batman Annual #3 at #9, and Johns and Dale Eaglesham's SHAZAM! #1 at #10. Marvel Comics had three titles in the top ten: Nick Spencer, Ryan Ottley, and Cliff Rathburn's Amazing Spider-Man #11 at #7; Dan Slott, Mike Allred, Adam Hughes, and Aaron Kuder's Fantastic Four #5, featuring the wedding of Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters, at #8, and Spencer, Ottley, and Rathburn's Amazing Spider-Man #12 at #9. Among the premier publishers, Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead #186 was Image Comics' top book in December at #18; BOOM! Studios' Firefly #2, based on Joss Whedon's television series, was their best-selling comic at #60; Marvel Action: Avengers #1 was IDW Publishing's top book at #86; Dark Horse Comics' Hellboy Winter Special 2018 ranked #112; and Dynamite Entertainment's John Wick #4 was their top book at #145.
Marvel Comics was the top publisher in December, with a 38.57% dollar share and 44.09% unit share. DC Entertainment was second, with a 31.51% dollar share and a 30.75% unit share. In third was Image Comics at 8.73% in dollars and 9.06% in units, followed by IDW Publishing at 4.10% in dollars and 3.55% in units, BOOM! Studios with 2.98% in dollars and 2.38% in units, Dark Horse Comics with 2.82% in dollars and 2.37% in units, and Dynamite Entertainment with 2.11% in dollars and 2.10% in units.
Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang's Paper Girls Volume 5 from Image Comics was December's best-selling graphic novel. DC Entertainment had three titles in the top ten, led by Batman Volume 8: Cold Days at #2. Dark Horse Comics' Avatar: The Last Airbender: Imbalance Part 1 ranked #3. BOOM! Studios was also in the top ten; Saban's Power Rangers: Soul Dragon, an original graphic novel, ranked #4. Marvel Comics also had three titles in the top ten; Star Wars Volume 9: Hope Dies was their top charting book for the month at #5.
Inspired by the long-running BBC series, BBC Books' Doctor Who: TARDIS Type-40 Instruction Manual, a technical manual that explores the Doctor's time and space vessel, was the best-selling book in December. Gemstone Publishing's The Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles ranked #7 for the month.
Diamond Select Toys' Ghostbusters Series 9 Action Figures, featuring characters from the late 1980s animated television series The Real Ghostbusters, was December's best-selling toy product and one of three products from the manufacturer in the top ten. DC Collectibles had three products among the top ten, as well, led by the DC Artists Alley: The Flash by Uminga Vinyl Figure at #5. Mezco also had three products in the top ten, including the PREVIEWS Exclusive One:12 Collective: Marvel Comics: Dr. Strange (Defenders) Action Figure at #2.
Green Ronin Publishing's Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, a sourcebook for the Critical Role role-playing game, was December's best-selling game product. Paizo had a strong month, with seven products in the top ten, led by the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook at #2.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
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COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| DECEMBER 2018 VS. NOVEMBER 2018 | ||
| COMICS | -3.53% | -3.58% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -17.46% | -17.18% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -7.35% | -4.55% |
| TOYS | -58.05% | -53.99% |
| DECEMBER 2018 VS. DECEMBER 2017 | ||
| COMICS | 9.29% | -0.42% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -26.35% | -35.98% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -2.26% | -3.72% |
| TOYS | -44.01% | -47.06% |
| YEAR 2018 VS. YEAR 2017 | ||
| COMICS | 2.04% | -5.67% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -8.22% | -9.71% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -1.08% | -5.98% |
| TOYS | -6.39% | -6.48% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED |
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED |
MAGAZINES SHIPPED |
TOTAL SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 90 | 38 | 0 | 128 |
| DC COMICS | 52 | 37 | 1 | 90 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 52 | 10 | 0 | 62 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 32 | 10 | 0 | 42 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 24 | 16 | 0 | 40 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 21 | 11 | 0 | 32 |
| VIZ MEDIA LLC | 0 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| TITAN COMICS | 8 | 7 | 2 | 17 |
| DYNAMITE | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 101 | 113 | 9 | 223 |
| TOTAL | 398 | 268 | 12 | 678 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 | $4.99 | OCT180464-M | DC |
| 2 | BATMAN: DAMNED #2 (MR) | $6.99 | SEP180424-M | DC |
| 3 | DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8 | $4.99 | SEP180426-M | DC |
| 4 | BATMAN #60 | $3.99 | OCT180483-M | DC |
| 5 | BATMAN #61 | $3.99 | OCT180485-M | DC |
| 6 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11 | $3.99 | OCT180921-M | MAR |
| 7 | FANTASTIC FOUR #5 | $7.99 | OCT180766-M | MAR |
| 8 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #12 | $3.99 | OCT180925-M | MAR |
| 9 | BATMAN ANNUAL #3 | $4.99 | OCT180487 | DC |
| 10 | SHAZAM #1 | $4.99 | SEP180436-M | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #1 | $4.99 | OCT180464-M | DC |
| 2 | BATMAN: DAMNED #2 (MR) | $6.99 | SEP180424-M | DC |
| 3 | DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8 | $4.99 | SEP180426-M | DC |
| 4 | FANTASTIC FOUR #5 | $7.99 | OCT180766-M | MAR |
| 5 | BATMAN #60 | $3.99 | OCT180483-M | DC |
| 6 | BATMAN #61 | $3.99 | OCT180485-M | DC |
| 7 | BATMAN ANNUAL #3 | $4.99 | OCT180487 | DC |
| 8 | SHAZAM #1 | $4.99 | SEP180436-M | DC |
| 9 | INFINITY WARS #6 | $5.99 | OCT180866-M | MAR |
| 10 | FANTASTIC FOUR WEDDING SPECIAL #1 | $4.99 | OCT180778-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 5 TP | $14.99 | OCT180099 | IMA |
| 2 | BATMAN VOLUME 8: COLD DAYS TP | $16.99 | SEP180545 | DC |
| 3 | AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: IMBALANCE PART ONE TP | $10.99 | JUN180347 | DAR |
| 4 | SABAN’S POWER RANGERS: SOUL DRAGON ORIGINAL GN | $19.99 | AUG181366 | BOO |
| 5 | STAR WARS VOLUME 9: HOPE DIES TP | $19.99 | SEP180996 | MAR |
| 6 | THE FLASH VOLUME 8: FLASH WAR TP | $16.99 | SEP180570 | DC |
| 7 | MY HERO ACADEMIA VOLUME 16 GN | $9.99 | OCT182065 | VIZ |
| 8 | THOR VOLUME 1: GOD OF THUNDER REBORN TP | $17.99 | SEP181005 | MAR |
| 9 | VENOM: FIRST HOST TP | $15.99 | SEP181007 | MAR |
| 10 | BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 8: ON THE OUTSIDE TP | $16.99 | SEP180548 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 5 TP | $14.99 | OCT180099 | IMA |
| 2 | BATMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 6 HC | $125.00 | MAY180571 | DC |
| 3 | FANTASTIC FOUR BY WAID & WIERINGO OMNIBUS HC | $100.00 | JUN180968 | MAR |
| 4 | MARVEL MASTERWORKS: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 20 HC | $75.00 | JUN180962-M | MAR |
| 5 | JEPH LOEB & TIM SALE: YELLOW, BLUE, GRAY & WHITE OMNIBUS HC | $100.00 | JUN180964 | MAR |
| 6 | BATMAN VOLUME 8: COLD DAYS TP | $16.99 | SEP180545 | DC |
| 7 | SABAN’S POWER RANGERS: SOUL DRAGON ORIGINAL GN | $19.99 | AUG181366 | BOO |
| 8 | MARVEL UNIVERSE BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC | $125.00 | JUN180960 | MAR |
| 9 | BEFORE WATCHMEN OMNIBUS HC | $125.00 | JUN180573 | DC |
| 10 | WONDER WOMAN DIANA PRINCE: CELEBRATING THE 60S OMNIBUS HC | $125.00 | MAY180594 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DOCTOR WHO: TARDIS TYPE-40 INSTRUCTION MANUAL HC | $19.99 | MAY188247 | BBC |
| 2 | DOCTOR WHO: COMBAT MAGICKS HC | $10.99 | APR188135 | BBC |
| 3 | MONSTER HUNTER ILLUSTRATIONS 2 HC | $54.99 | OCT182056 | UDO |
| 4 | LULU IS A RHINOCEROS | $16.99 | FEB188267 | WIC |
| 5 | DC SUPER HEROES: SUPER HEROES SAY PLEASE BOARD BOOK | $10.99 | JUL181774 | DOW |
| 6 | DRAGON QUEST ILLUSTRATIONS HC (30TH ANNIVERSARY) | $34.99 | OCT182063 | VIZ |
| 7 | OVERSTREET PRICE GUIDE TO STAR WARS COLLECTIBLES SC | $30.00 | SEP181814 | GEM |
| 8 | SWORD ART ONLINE NOVEL VOLUME 15 SC | $14.00 | OCT182104 | YEN |
| 9 | OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 48 SC | $29.95 | APR181580 | GEM |
| 10 | FINAL FANTASY: ULTIMANIA ARCHIVE VOLUME 2 HC | $39.99 | JUL180505 | DAR |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | GHOSTBUSTERS SELECT SERIES 9 ACTION FIGURES | JUL182490 | DST |
| 2 | ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL PX DEFENDERS DOCTOR STRANGE AF | AUG178702 | MEZ |
| 3 | PACIFIC RIM 2 SELECT AF SERIES 3 ASST | JUL182498 | DST |
| 4 | ONE-12 COLLECTIVE DC CATWOMAN AF | JAN189082 | MEZ |
| 5 | DC ARTISTS ALLEY FLASH BY UMINGA VINYL FIG | JUN180600 | DC |
| 6 | ONE-12 COLLECTIVE MARVEL DOCTOR STRANGE AF | APR178082 | MEZ |
| 7 | DC ARTISTS ALLEY BATGIRL BY MURASE VINYL FIG | JUN180598 | DC |
| 8 | MARVEL GALLERY ANT-MAN & THE WASP MOVIE WASP PVC FIGURE | JUL182500 | DST |
| 9 | X-MEN LEGENDS ARCHANGEL 6IN AF CS | JUN188419 | HAS |
| 10 | DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS BATMAN & CATWOMAN STATUE | MAY180613 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
| 2 | PATHFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK | JUN091729 | PAI |
| 3 | TOME OF BEASTS HC | JUN168476 | PAI |
| 4 | STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
| 5 | DUNGEONS & DRAGONS RPG: CORE RULEBOOK GIFT SET | SEP182834 | WIZ |
| 6 | STARFINDER RPG: ARMORY HC | MAY182931 | PAI |
| 7 | PATHFINDER RPG FLIP TILES: URBAN STARTER SET | OCT182919 | PAI |
| 8 | MY HERO ACADEMIA: THE CARD GAME | JUL183082 | SHI |
| 9 | STARFINDER RPG: PACT WORLDS HC | JAN182863 | PAI |
| 10 | PATHFINDER FLIP-MAT BASIC (NEW EDITION) | MAR138328 | PAI |
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| Dollar Market Share – December 2018 |
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| Unit Market Share – December 2018 |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which includes the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from sales made to thousands of comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. Additional sales made to online merchants and other specialty retailers may be included as well.
Unit and dollar market shares are calculated based upon orders for comic books, graphic novels, and magazines invoiced and shipped to Diamond customers during any given month, which comprises 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.
The New Titles Count Chart includes all titles that were invoiced by Diamond to retailers for the first time during the month and is not the official solicited title count for the month. Variant edition comic books and graphic novels at the same price point count as a single SKU. Variant edition comic books, lenticular covers, digital combo packs, and graphic novels at different price points count as separate SKUs for each edition.
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