Sales of comics and graphic novels to comic stores declined 11.12% in October in comparison to the year ago period, according to information released by Diamond Comic Distributors.  Sales declines had moderated somewhat last month (see ‘Comic Store Sales Declines Moderate”), but are now back to around the average for the year.  Comic sales were the entire source of the decline; comic sales declined 15.74%, while graphic novel sales were up 2.37%.

Year-to-date sales are down 10.12%, overall, with comic sales down 9.93% and graphic novel sales down 10.55%..

Market shares were fairly consistent with where they’ve been except for a big month for Image, which had an 11.46% share of sales to comic stores in October.

October 2017 Comic Store Market Share
36.38%                  Marvel Comics
30.58%                  DC Entertainment
11.46%                  Image Comics
  4.33%                  IDW Publishing
  2.82%                  Dark Horse Comics
  1.99%                  Dynamite Entertainment
  1.96%                  BOOM! Studios
  1.08%                  Oni Press
  1.02%                  Titan Comics
  0.68%                  Archie Comics

DC had the best-selling comic in October, and seven of the top ten.

Top 10 Comics – October 2017

1. Dark Nights: Metal #3
2. The Mighty Thor #700
3. Amazing Spider-Man #789
4. Batman #32
5. Batman #33
6. The Despicable Deadpool #287
7. Batman: The Drowned #1
8. Batman: The Dawnbreaker #1
9. Batman: The Merciless #1
10. Batman: White Knight #1

The Walking Dead is back on TV with a new season, and on top of the graphic novel chart for October.

To 10 Graphic Novels – October 2017

1. The Walking Dead: Here’s Negan
2. Batman/The Flash: The Button Deluxe Ed.
3. Seven to Eternity Vol. 2
4. Rat Queens Vol. 4
5. Super Sons Vol. 1
6. I Hate Fairyland Vol. 3
7. Redneck Vol. 1
8. Star Wars:  The Screaming Citadel
9. Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 3
10. Low Vol. 4

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

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

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

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

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