Comics and graphic novel comic store sales comps turned positive in May for the first time in six months, according to information released by Diamond Comic Distributors, but the increase was tied to an asymmetrical comparison between a five-week May 2017 and a four-week May 2016.  Comic sales in May were up 10.58% over the previous year, and graphic novel sales were up 3.54%, for an 8.31% overall increase.

Even with the differing lengths of May 2017 vs. May 2016, any kind of an increase is a welcome change from the long run of comics and graphic novel sales declines through last month (see "Double Digit Declines in Comics and Graphic Novel Sales").

Year-to-date comic sales are now up 0.11%, year-to-date graphic novel sales are down 9.23%, and overall comics and graphic novel sales are down 2.92% for the first five months of 2017 vs. the same period in 2016.

Marvel Comics won market share handily with a 38.05% share.

May 2017 Comic Channel Market Share

38.05%            Marvel Comics
30.88%            DC Entertainment
10.25%            Image Comics
 4.65%            IDW Publishing
 3.05%            Dark Horse Comics
 2.10%            BOOM! Studios
 1.72%            Dynamite Entertainment
 1.18%            Titan Comics
 1.12%            Viz Media
 0.89%            Oni Press Inc.

Marvel Comics placed three issues of its controversial Secret Empire series in the Top 10 Comics, including the top position.  We won’t know until Monday whether it would have held that top position if both versions (lenticular cover and regular) of DC’s Batman were counted together.  Marvel took seven of the top ten slots, and placed two Guardians of the Galaxy #1s, drafting off the release of the movie.

Top 10 Comics – May 2017

  1.  Secret Empire #1
  2.  Venom #150
  3.  Batman #22 Lenticular Edition
  4.  The Flash #22 Lenticular Edition
  5.  Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout #1
  6.  Secret Empire #2
  7.  Batman #23
  8.  Secret Empire #3
  9.  All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #1
  10.  The Walking Dead #167

The new Deadpool OGN took the top slot on the graphic novel chart, while DC’s top book-format product was a Wonder Woman volume, in the run-up to the movie.  Saga Vol. 7 showed strong staying power at #3.

Top 10 Graphic Novels – May 2017

  1.  Deadpool: Bad Blood OGN HC
  2.  Bitch Planet Vol. 2: President Bitch
  3.  Saga Vol. 7
  4.  Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Year One
  5.  Moonshine Vol. 1
  6.  The Flash Vol. 2: The Speed of Darkness
  7.  Champions Vol. 1: Change the World
  8.  Detective Comics Vol. 2: Victim Syndicate
  9.  The Unworthy Thor
  10.  Doom Patrol Vol. 1: Brick by Brick

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during May, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--May 2017."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during May, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--May 2017."

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 2017."

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 2017."

For links to all previous Top 300 Comic and Top 300 (& 100) Graphic Novel articles (going back over three years, including preorder analysis through March 2003 and actual order analysis beginning March 2003), see "ICv2 Top 300 Comics and Top 300 GNs Index."