Comics and graphic novel sales to comic stores dropped 8.62% in June, returning to the negative sales patterns of the past year-and-a-half after two up months in April and May, according to info released by Diamond Comic Distributors. Comics sales were down 11.14%, and graphic novels down 2.15%.
Sales in Q2 were up 1.1%, with comics up 3.01% and graphic novels down 3.41%.
Year-to-date sales dropped back into negative territory after briefly showing small year-to-date positive growth last month; first half sales were down 3.72%, with comics dales down 1.84% and graphic novels down 8.12%.
After stretching out its market share lead to over 16 points last month, Marvel’s lead over DC Comics dropped into more typical territory in June. Two unusual ranking shifts: Dark Horse Comics ahead of IDW Publishing, and Dynamite Entertainment ahead of BOOM! Studios.
June 2018 Comic Store Market Share (Dollar Share)
38.42% Marvel Comics
30.54% DC Entertainment
10.46% Image Comics
3.23% Dark Horse Comics
2.46% IDW Publishing
2.10% Dynamite Entertainment
1.62% BOOM! Studios
1.18% VIZ Media
1.09% Oni Press Inc.
0.87% Titan Comics
8.03% Other Non-Top 10
The launch of the new bi-weekly Justice League title series sold the most copies in June, but the second issue barely held in the Top 10. Mark Millar still has the magic, taking the #2 slot for the month with his The Magic Order #1 (published by Image Comics).
Top 10 Comics by Units Shipped – June 2018
1. Justice League #1 (DC Comics)
2. The Magic Order #1 [*] (Image Comics)
3. Tony Stark: Iron Man #1 (Marvel Comics)
4. Amazing Spider-Man #801 (Marvel Comics)
5. Batman #49 (DC Comics)
6. Batman #48 (DC Comics)
7. Deadpool #1 (Marvel Comics)
8. Thor #1 (Marvel Comics)
9. X-Men Gold #30 (Marvel Comics)
10. Justice League #2 (DC Comics)
As usual, the main difference between the unit and dollar best-sellers on the comics chart is that due to cover prices, more Marvels move into the Top 10 when ranked by dollars.
Top 10 Comics by Dollars Invoiced – June 2018
1. Justice League #1 (DC Comics)
2. Tony Stark: Iron Man #1 (Marvel Comics)
3. Deadpool #1 (Marvel Comics)
4. Thor #1 (Marvel Comics)
5. Amazing Spider-Man #801 (Marvel Comics)
6. X-Men Gold #30 (Marvel Comics)
7. The Immortal Hulk #1 (Marvel Comics)
8. Batman #49 (DC Comics)
9. Justice League #2 (DC Comics)
10. Venom #2 (Marvel Comics)
Dark Nights: Metal collections took the top three slots on the bestselling graphic novels chart, followed by two Marvel volumes with Avengers: Infinity Wars connections.
Top 10 Graphic Novels by Units Shipped – June 2018
1. Dark Nights: Metal Deluxe Edition HC (DC Comics)
2. Dark Nights: Metal - Dark Nights Rising HC (DC Comics)
3. Dark Nights: Metal - The Resistance TP (DC Comics)
4. Thanos Wins TP (Marvel Comics)
5. The Infinity Gauntlet TP (Marvel Comics)
6. Southern Bastards Vol. 4: Gut Check TP (Image Comics)
7. Neil Gaiman: A Study in Emerald HC (Dark Horse Comics)
8. The Flash Vol. 6: A Cold Day in Hell TP (DC Comics)
9. Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 6 Fall of the Batman TP (DC Comics)
10. Super Sons of Tomorrow TP (DC Comics)
Omnibi do generate the graphic novel dollars. Half of the Top 10 Graphic Novels by Dollars in June were large collections at $99.99 to $150 MSRP.
Top 10 Graphic Novels by Dollars Invoiced – June 2018
1. Dark Nights: Metal Deluxe Edition HC (DC Comics)
2. Dark Nights: Metal - Dark Nights Rising HC (DC Comics)
3. Infinite Crisis Omnibus HC (DC Comics)
4. Dark Nights: Metal - The Resistance TP (DC Comics)
5. The Infinity Gauntlet TP (Marvel Comics)
6. Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics)
7. Thanos Wins TP (DC Comics)
8. Wonder Woman by George Perez Omnibus Vol. 3 HC (DC Comics)
9. Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan & Adrian Alphona Omnibus HC (Marvel Comics)
10. Absolute Sandman Overature HC (DC Comics)
For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during June, see "Top 500 Comics Actual--June 2018."
For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during June, see "Top 500 Graphic Novels Actual--June 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."
Up in Q2, Down for Year
Posted by Milton Griepp on July 6, 2018 @ 6:01 am CT
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