Diamond Announces Top Products for August 2018
(BALTIMORE, MD) — (September 14, 2018) — Johnny Storm's search for Reed Richards and Sue Storm continues while Ben Grimm proposes to Alicia Masters in Dan Slott, Sara Pichelli, Simone Bianchi, Skottie Young, and Marte Gracia's Fantastic Four #1 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book of August 2018 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
Marvel Comics was August's top publisher with a 40.87% dollar share and a 43.12% unit share. DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 27.51% dollar share and a 31.02% unit share. Image Comics was third with an 8.90% dollar share and a 9.08% unit share. In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 4.43% dollar share and a 3.81% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 3.05% dollar share and a 2.37% unit share, BOOM! Studios with a 2.58% dollar share and a 2.30% unit share, VIZ media with a 1.33% dollar share and a 0.54% unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.32% dollar share and a 1.12% unit share.
Marvel Comics had four titles in the top ten. In addition to Fantastic Four #1, Garry Duggan and Mike Deodato’s Infinity Wars #1 ranked #2; Nick Spencer, Ryan Ottley and Cliff Rathburn’s Amazing Spider-Man #3 ranked #5 and Spencer, Ottley and Rathburn’s Amazing Spider-Man #4 ranked at #7.
DC Entertainment had six titles in the top ten, led by Tom King and Lee Weeks’ Batman #52 at #3, followed by King and Weeks’ Batman #53 at #4. The Sandman Universe #1, a special one-shot launching Neil Gaiman’s Sandman Universe titles written by Si Spurrier, Nalo Hopkinson, Kat Howard and Dan Watters, ranked #6 with Brian Michael Bendis, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado’s Superman #2 ranked #8. Justice League #5, by James Tynion IV, Doug Mahnke and Jaime Mendoza ranked #9, while Justice League #6 by Scott Snyder and Jorge Jimenez ranked #10.
Among the premier publishers, Image Comics' The Walking Dead #182 was their top book at #14; IDW Publishing's Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons #1, a co-production with Oni Press, ranked #65; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Shattered Grid #1 was BOOM! Studios' best-selling book at #94; Dark Horse Comics' Seeds ranked #154, and Dynamite Entertainment's top book, Project Superpowers #1, ranked #175.
Dark Horse Comics' The Legend of Korra Volume 3: Turf Wars Part 3, continuing the fan-favorite Nickelodeon animated series, was August's best-selling graphic novel. DC Entertainment had two titles in the top ten, led by DC Super Hero Girls: Out of the Bottle at #2. Image Comics had five titles, with East of West Volume 8 their top book at #2. Marvel Comics also had two titles in the top ten; Black Panther Book 1: A Nation Under Our Feet was their best-selling book at #4.
In August, for the second month in a row, Gemstone's Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 48 was the month's best-selling book. Also in the top ten, IDW Publishing's John Byrne: X-Men Artifact Edition ranked #4.
Based on Blizzard Entertainment's best-selling video game, Good Smile's Overwatch: D.Va "Classic Skin" Nendoroidwas August's best-selling toy product. Diamond Select Toys had three products in the top ten: the Marvel Gallery: Taco Truck Deadpool PVC Figure ranked #3, the Pacific Rim Uprising Select Series 2 Action Figures ranked #7, and the DC Gallery: Batman The Animated Series: Harley Quinn 25th-Anniversary Deluxe PVC Figure ranked #10.
Paizo's Starfinder RPG: Armory, a sourcebook for the space role-playing game, was August's best-selling game product and one of the nine Paizo products in the top ten, including July's best-sellingproduct , the Pathfinder Playtest Rulebook, which charted at #2.
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.
Marvel Comics was August's top publisher with a 40.87% dollar share and a 43.12% unit share. DC Entertainment was second for the month with a 27.51% dollar share and a 31.02% unit share. Image Comics was third with an 8.90% dollar share and a 9.08% unit share. In fourth was IDW Publishing with a 4.43% dollar share and a 3.81% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 3.05% dollar share and a 2.37% unit share, BOOM! Studios with a 2.58% dollar share and a 2.30% unit share, VIZ media with a 1.33% dollar share and a 0.54% unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 1.32% dollar share and a 1.12% unit share.
Marvel Comics had four titles in the top ten. In addition to Fantastic Four #1, Garry Duggan and Mike Deodato’s Infinity Wars #1 ranked #2; Nick Spencer, Ryan Ottley and Cliff Rathburn’s Amazing Spider-Man #3 ranked #5 and Spencer, Ottley and Rathburn’s Amazing Spider-Man #4 ranked at #7.
DC Entertainment had six titles in the top ten, led by Tom King and Lee Weeks’ Batman #52 at #3, followed by King and Weeks’ Batman #53 at #4. The Sandman Universe #1, a special one-shot launching Neil Gaiman’s Sandman Universe titles written by Si Spurrier, Nalo Hopkinson, Kat Howard and Dan Watters, ranked #6 with Brian Michael Bendis, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado’s Superman #2 ranked #8. Justice League #5, by James Tynion IV, Doug Mahnke and Jaime Mendoza ranked #9, while Justice League #6 by Scott Snyder and Jorge Jimenez ranked #10.
Among the premier publishers, Image Comics' The Walking Dead #182 was their top book at #14; IDW Publishing's Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons #1, a co-production with Oni Press, ranked #65; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Shattered Grid #1 was BOOM! Studios' best-selling book at #94; Dark Horse Comics' Seeds ranked #154, and Dynamite Entertainment's top book, Project Superpowers #1, ranked #175.
Dark Horse Comics' The Legend of Korra Volume 3: Turf Wars Part 3, continuing the fan-favorite Nickelodeon animated series, was August's best-selling graphic novel. DC Entertainment had two titles in the top ten, led by DC Super Hero Girls: Out of the Bottle at #2. Image Comics had five titles, with East of West Volume 8 their top book at #2. Marvel Comics also had two titles in the top ten; Black Panther Book 1: A Nation Under Our Feet was their best-selling book at #4.
In August, for the second month in a row, Gemstone's Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 48 was the month's best-selling book. Also in the top ten, IDW Publishing's John Byrne: X-Men Artifact Edition ranked #4.
Based on Blizzard Entertainment's best-selling video game, Good Smile's Overwatch: D.Va "Classic Skin" Nendoroidwas August's best-selling toy product. Diamond Select Toys had three products in the top ten: the Marvel Gallery: Taco Truck Deadpool PVC Figure ranked #3, the Pacific Rim Uprising Select Series 2 Action Figures ranked #7, and the DC Gallery: Batman The Animated Series: Harley Quinn 25th-Anniversary Deluxe PVC Figure ranked #10.
Paizo's Starfinder RPG: Armory, a sourcebook for the space role-playing game, was August's best-selling game product and one of the nine Paizo products in the top ten, including July's best-selling
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
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COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| AUGUST 2018 VS. JULY 2018 | ||
| COMICS | -1.95% | -6.19% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 33.98% | 28.57% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 6.88% | -3.97% |
| TOYS | 49.89% | 32.04% |
| AUGUST 2018 VS. AUGUST 2017 | ||
| COMICS | 5.04% | -5.25% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 2.91% | 1.44% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 4.37% | -4.71% |
| TOYS | 13.76% | 4.26% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2018 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2017 | ||
| COMICS | 1.31% | -6.80% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -6.73% | -8.83% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -1.10% | -6.95% |
| TOYS | -5.15% | -8.32% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTAL SHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 86 | 45 | 0 | 131 |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 72 | 30 | 1 | 103 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 61 | 16 | 0 | 77 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 39 | 24 | 0 | 63 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 23 | 21 | 0 | 44 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 27 | 14 | 0 | 41 |
| TITAN COMICS | 15 | 10 | 3 | 28 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 14 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
| AFTERSHOCK COMICS | 13 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 114 | 180 | 31 | 325 |
| TOTAL | 464 | 363 | 35 | 862 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | FANTASTIC FOUR #1 | $5.99 | JUN180762-M | MAR |
| 2 | INFINITY WARS #1 | $5.99 | JUN180789-M | MAR |
| 3 | BATMAN #52 | $3.99 | JUN180463-M | DC |
| 4 | BATMAN #53 | $3.99 | JUN180465-M | DC |
| 5 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 | $3.99 | JUN180856-M | MAR |
| 6 | THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1 (MR) | $4.99 | JUN180422-M | DC |
| 7 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #4 | $3.99 | JUN180858-M | MAR |
| 8 | SUPERMAN #2 | $3.99 | JUN180537-M | DC |
| 9 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #5 | $3.99 | JUN180507-M | DC |
| 10 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 | $3.99 | JUN180509-M | DC |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | FANTASTIC FOUR #1 | $5.99 | JUN180762-M | MAR |
| 2 | INFINITY WARS #1 | $5.99 | JUN180789-M | MAR |
| 3 | THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1 (MR) | $4.99 | JUN180422-M | DC |
| 4 | BATMAN #52 | $3.99 | JUN180463-M | DC |
| 5 | PUNISHER #1 | $4.99 | JUN180809-M | MAR |
| 6 | BATMAN #53 | $3.99 | JUN180465-M | DC |
| 7 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 | $3.99 | JUN180856-M | MAR |
| 8 | INFINITY WARS #2 | $4.99 | JUN180799-M | MAR |
| 9 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #4 | $3.99 | JUN180858-M | MAR |
| 10 | VENOM: FIRST HOST #1 | $3.99 | JUN180823-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | LEGEND OF KORRA VOLUME 3 : TURF WARS PT 3 TP | $10.99 | FEB180062 | DAR |
| 2 | DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: OUT OF THE BOTTLE TP | $9.99 | FEB180156 | DC |
| 3 | EAST OF WEST VOLUME 8 TP | $16.99 | JUN180144 | IMA |
| 4 | BLACK PANTHER BOOK 1: A NATION UNDER OUR FEET TP | $16.99 | JUN160956 | MAR |
| 5 | SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL VOL. 1: ISN'T IT BROMANTIC? TP | $17.99 | MAY160926 | MAR |
| 6 | RAT QUEENS VOL. 5: COLOSSAL MAGIC NOTHING TP (MR) | $16.99 | MAY180229 | IMA |
| 7 | THE FLASH VOL. 1: LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE TP | $17.99 | OCT160292 | DC |
| 8 | KILL OR BE KILLED VOLUME 4 TP (MR) | $16.99 | JUN180190 | IMA |
| 9 | I HATE FAIRYLAND VOLUME 4 TP (MR) | $16.99 | JUN180176 | IMA |
| 10 | SEX CRIMINALS VOL. 5: FIVE-FINGERED DISCOUNT TP (MR) | $16.99 | JUN180239 | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | PUNISHER MAX BY GARTH ENNIS OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC (MR) | $100.00 | FEB180917 | MAR |
| 2 | JACK KIRBY: MARVEL HEROES & MONSTERS ARTIST EDITION | $90.00 | FEB180485 | IDW |
| 3 | X-MEN REVOLUTION BY CHRIS CLAREMONT OMNIBUS HC | $100.00 | FEB180914 | MAR |
| 4 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLLECTION: VENOM TP | $39.99 | JUN180972 | MAR |
| 5 | SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL VOL. 1: ISN'T IT BROMANTIC? TP | $17.99 | MAY160926 | MAR |
| 6 | BLACK PANTHER BOOK 1: A NATION UNDER OUR FEET TP | $16.99 | JUN160956 | MAR |
| 7 | THE FLASH VOL. 1: LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE TP | $17.99 | OCT160292 | DC |
| 8 | X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX SAGA OMNIBUS HC | $100.00 | FEB180915 | MAR |
| 9 | SEVEN SOLDIERS BY GRANT MORRISON OMNIBUS HC | $75.00 | FEB180312 | DC |
| 10 | INFINITY GAUNTLET TP | $24.99 | JUL110745 | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 48 SC | $29.95 | APR181580-M | GEM |
| 2 | THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY 2018 | $19.95 | JAN188603 | PRI |
| 3 | DOCTOR WHO: ONE DOCTOR TWO HEARTS HC | $9.99 | DEC178057 | BBC |
| 4 | JOHN BYRNE X-MEN ARTIFACT EDITION HC | $75.00 | MAR180554 | IDW |
| 5 | STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK: I AM A WOOKIE | $4.99 | MAY181770 | GOL |
| 6 | LULU IS A RHINOCEROS | $16.99 | FEB188267 | WIC |
| 7 | JIM HENSON'S THE DARK CRYSTAL ARTIST TRIBUTE HC | $24.99 | FEB181211 | BOO |
| 8 | BE A STAR, WONDER WOMAN BOARD BOOK | $7.99 | MAY181564 | CAP |
| 9 | DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: WONDER WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT | $5.99 | MAY181938 | RAN |
| 10 | COURAGEOUS CAPTAIN AMERICA LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | MAR161966 | GOL |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | OVERWATCH: D.VA "CLASSIC SKIN" NENDOROID | NOV178113 | GOO |
| 2 | VOLTRON: HYPERPHASE VOLTRON SDCC 2018 5-PIECE GIFT SET | JAN189071 | PLA |
| 3 | X-MEN LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES | JUL178804 | HAS |
| 4 | MARVEL GALLERY: TACO TRUCK DEADPOOL PVC FIGURE | MAR182429 | DST |
| 5 | DRAGONBALL SUPER DRAGON STARS ACTION FIGURES | FEB188788 | BAN |
| 6 | AVENGERS INFINITY WAR MC-004: INFINITY GAUNTLET REPLICA STATUE | DEC178326 | BEA |
| 7 | PACIFIC RIM UPRISING SELECT SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES | JAN182369 | DST |
| 8 | SW BLACK SERIES 6IN AF ASST 201803 | FEB188917 | HAS |
| 9 | SDCC 2018 POP MARVEL TELEPORTING LOCKJAW & BLACK BOLT PX 2PK | DEC178718 | FUN |
| 10 | DC GALLERY BATMAN TAS 25 ANNIV HARLEY QUINN DLX PVC FIG | APR172648 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | STARFINDER RPG :ARMORY HC | MAY182931 | PAI |
| 2 | PATHFINDER PLAYTEST RULEBOOK SC | MAY182921 | PAI |
| 3 | STARFINDER RPG CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
| 4 | PATHFINDER PLAYTEST RULEBOOK HC | MAY182922 | PAI |
| 5 | PATHFINDER PLAYTEST RULEBOOK DELUXE HARDCOVER | MAY182923 | PAI |
| 6 | PATHFINDER RPG: ULTIMATE COMBAT POCKET EDITION | MAY182927 | PAI |
| 7 | PATHFINDER RPG: BESTIARY 5 POCKET EDITION | MAY182926 | PAI |
| 8 | GLOOMHAVEN 2017 EDITION | MAR188530 | CEP |
| 9 | PATHFINDER RPG: PLANAR ADVENTURES HC | APR182573 | PAI |
| 10 | PATHFINDER PLAYTEST ADVENTURE: DOOMSDAY DAWN | MAY182924 | PAI |
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| Dollar Market Share – August 2018 |
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| Unit Market Share – August 2018 |
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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