Even the fourth issue of Dark Knight III:  The Master Race couldn’t narrow the market share gap between Marvel and DC in April, as Marvel topped DC’s share by the largest margin since January, with a 17.16% beat, according to numbers released by Diamond Comic Distributors based on North American sales to comic stores in April.  Marvel’s margin of victory was the third largest in the last year, as its share returned to the 43% range.
 

April 2016 Comic Channel Market Share
42.98%                 Marvel Comics
25.82%                 DC Entertainment
  8.72%                 Image Comics
  4.41%                 IDW Publishing
  3.07%                 Dark Horse Comics
  2.39%                 BOOM! Studios
  1.53%                 Dynamite Entertainment
  1.10%                 Titan Comics
  0.97%                 Viz Media
  0.87%                 Oni Press                           

Marvel had seven of the top ten comic titles in April, as its new Black Panther written by Ta-Nehisi Coates topped the chart.  Four Star Wars titles, a new Gwenpool, and Amazing Spider-Man completed the Marvel roster in the Top 10.  DC’s bestselling title was Dark Knight III, with Batman and a Harley Quinn and Suicide Squad special its other titles in the Top 10.

Top 10 Comics – April 2016

  1. Black Panther #1
  2. Star Wars:  Poe Dameron #1
  3. Dark Knight III:  The Master Race #4
  4. Star Wars Special:  C-3PO #1
  5. Batman #51
  6. Gwenpool #1
  7. Star Wars #18
  8. Darth Vader #19
  9. Harley Quinn & Suicide Squad April Fool’s Special #1
  10. Amazing Spider-Man #10

DC took the top spot on the graphic novel chart for April, with the latest in its Earth One OGN line.  Marvel also placed an OGN in the Top 10, with  its Thanos:  The Infinity Finale.  Two perennials with movie connections, Civil War and The Killing Joke, continued their long run in the Top 10.

Top 10 Graphic Novels – April 2016

  1. Wonder Woman:  Earth One Book 1
  2. Star Wars:  Vader Down
  3. Rat Queens Vol. 3:  Demons
  4. I Hate Fairyland Vol. 1:  Madly Ever After
  5. Thanos:  The Infinity Finale
  6. Civil War
  7. Deadpool:  World;’s Greaest Vol. 1:  A Millionaire with Mouth
  8. Black Magick Vol. 1:  Awaikening Part One
  9. Batman:  The Killing Joke Special Edition
  10. Rick & Morty Vol. 2

Sales in April 2016 were down 16.19% vs. the same period a year ago, but 2016 was a four week month vs. a five week month in April of 2015, so the difference year over year likely isn't that great if adjusted for the period length.  Graphic novels were down 11.99% and comics were down 18.05%.

For an overview of comic sales in April, see "'Black Panther' #1 a Million Dollar Book."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during April, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--April 2016."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during April, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--April 2016."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during March, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--March 2016."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during March, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--March 2016."

For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in March, see "Landmark 'Batman' Issue Doubles Dollars of #2."

​For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through March 2016, see "ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 300 GNs Index."