Comics and graphic novel sales to comic stores showed another big decline in March, but given the quirks of the calendar (five months in March 2017 vs. four months in March this year), the month may have been the best of the year so far according to numbers released by Diamond Comic Distributors.  Comic sales were down 13.2% and graphic novel sales were down 22.12% in March vs. March 2017, bringing the total decline to 15.96% for comics and graphic novels combined.  But the 15.96% decline is roughly what one might expect if sales on a weekly comparison were about flat, so we read these numbers as an encouraging sign that March was a better month than the first two. 

For the quarter, comic sales were down 7.09%, graphic novel sales were down 13.17%, and overall comics and graphic novel sales were down 8.92%.

Share numbers were much as they’ve been in the past few months, with a relatively narrow lead for Marvel

March 2018 Comic Store Market Share

35.92%         Marvel Comics
31.06%         DC Entertainment
10.98%         Image Comics
  3.96%         IDW Publishing
  2.40%         BOOM! Studios 
  2.38%         Dark Horse Comics
  1.83%         Dynamite Entertainment
  1.23%         VIZ Media
  1.16%         Oni Press
  0.93%         Valiant Entertainment LLC
  8.15%         Other Non-Top 10

DC Comics' big winter hits, Dark Nights Metal and Doomsday Clock, took the top two spots in the Top 10 unit sales comics for March, but Marvel showed signs of life with four titles in the Top 10 this month.  Image Comics had a launch hit with Robert Kirkman, Lorenzo De Felici, and Annalisa Leoni new title Oblivion Song making the Top 10.

Top 10 Comics by Units Shipped – March 2018

1.  Dark Knights: Metal #6
2.  Doomsday Clock #4
3.  Amazing Spider-Man #797
4.  Weapon H #1
5.  Batman #42
6.  The Mighty Thor #705
7.  Infinity Countdown #1
8.  Batman #43
9.  Oblivion Song #1
10.  Batman: White Knight #6

The dollar chart for comics sales was similar.

 Top 10 Comics by Dollars Invoiced – March 2018

1.  Dark Knights: Metal #6
2.  Doomsday Clock #4
3.  Weapon H #1
4.  Amazing Spider-Man #797
5.  Infinity Countdown #1
6.  Daredevil #600
7.  The Mighty Thor #705
8.  The Walking Dead #177
9.  Batman: White Knight #6
10.  Oblivion Song #1

As was the case in bookstores (see “Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels”), The Walking Dead Vol. 29 TP was the bestselling graphic novel in units in comic stores in March. 

Top 10 Graphic Novels by Units Shipped – March 2018

1.  Walking Dead Vol. 29: Line We Cross TP
2.  Green Lantern: Earth One Vol. 1 HC
3.  The Flash Volume 5: Negative TP
4.  Super Sons Volume 2: Planet of the Capes TP
5.  Realm Vol. 1 TP
6.  Black Science Vol. 7: Extinction is the Rule TP
7.  Invincible Vol. 25: The End of All Things Part 2 TP
8.  Batman & Harley Quinn HC
9.  Port of Earth Vol. 1 TP
10.  Saga Vol. 8 TP

The top graphic novel products in dollars were dominated by three-figure cover prices, with the Infinity Gauntlet box set, at $500 MSRP, the #2 dollar title in comic stores in March.

Top 10 Graphic Novels by Dollars Invoiced – March 2018

1.  Walking Dead Vol. 29: Line We Cross TP
2.  Infinity Gauntlet Box HC Slipcase Set
3.  Green Lantern: Earth One Vol. 1 HC
4.  Avengers Omnibus Vol. 3 HC
5.  Kamandi by Jack Kirby Omnibus HC
6.  Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
7.  Daredevil by Waid & Samnee Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
8.  Absolute WildC.A.T.S. by Jim Lee HC
9.  Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two in One Vol. 3 HC
10. Batman & Harley Quinn HC

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 2018."

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 2018."

For links to all previous Top 300 Comic and Top 300 Graphic Novel articles, see "ICv2 Top 300 Comics and Top 300 GNs Index."