DIAMOND announces the Top Comics in MAY!


MAY 2012

Today, Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. announced the comic book and graphic novel sales figures for the month of May.

Before we get to the individual title rankings and which company won or lost this month, let’s first start with the good news that all comic fans can enjoy.  Overall the comic book market had a very strong month.

PREVIEWSworld had this to say:

Sales overall continued to be strong for the year, with comics sales up nearly 21% over the first five months of 2011 and graphic novel sales up nearly 13% for the same period.

And The Comic Chronicles reported:

…the comic book Direct Market’s orders of $44.68 million in comics and graphic novels (at full retail value) is the largest sum seen in a single month since Diamond began reporting Final Order data in February 2003, and it’s probably a higher figure seen in any month since 1995 in un-inflation-adjusted dollars.

To sum up , based on initial estimates the comic book industry is doing quite well as Marvel and DC continued to battle each other for the top spot in the retail market.

Overall Marvel won the month taking in 35.32% of the comic revenues, while DC on the other hand brought in 32.73%.  Image Comics (7.19%) led the pack of the independent publishers, followed by IDW Publishing (4.8%), Dark Horse Comics (4.75%), Dynamite Entertainment (2.55%), Boom! Studios (1.60%) and assorted companies (11.06%) totaling about 31.95% of the comic sales in May.

The Top 20 Comic Books for May 2012:

The top comic book in May 2012

1. AVENGERS VS X-MEN #4 (MARVEL)

2. AVENGERS VS X-MEN #3 (MARVEL)

3. BATMAN #9 (DC)

4. JUSTICE LEAGUE #9 (DC)

5. BATMAN ANNUAL #1 (DC)

6. AVX VS #2 $3.99 (DC)

7. BATMAN INCORPORATED #1 (DC)

8. DETECTIVE COMICS #9 $3.99 (DC)

9. ACTION COMICS #9 (DC)

10. GREEN LANTERN #9 $2.99 (DC)

11. EARTH 2 #1 (DC)

12. BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #9 (DC)

13. BATMAN AND ROBIN #9 (DC)

14. UNCANNY X-MEN #12 (MARVEL)

15. AVENGERS #26 (MARVEL)

16. WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #11 (MARVEL)

17. NEW AVENGERS #26 (MARVEL)

18. WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #10 (MARVEL)

19. FLASH #9 $2.99 (DC)

20. WORLDS FINEST #1 (DC)

To see extended rankings please click here.

The Top 20 Graphic Novels for May 2012:

The top graphic novel in May 2012

1. JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: ORIGIN HC

2. BATMAN HC VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (DC)

3. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE (IMAGE)

4. BATMAN DEATH BY DESIGN DELUXE ED HC (DC)

5. ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 01 THE HUNT (DC)

6. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE (IMAGE)

7. KICK-ASS 2 PREM HC (MARVEL)

8. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (IMAGE)

9. WATCHMEN HC (DC)

10. GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 01 SINESTRO (DC)

11. AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 02 PROMISE PART 2 (DARK HORSE)

12. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS (IMAGE)

13. SPIDER-MAN SEASON ONE PREM HC (MARVEL)

14. CATWOMAN TP VOL 01 THE GAME (DC)

15. BATMAN AND ROBIN TP VOL 03 BATMAN ROBIN MUST DIE (DC)

16. WONDER WOMAN (DC)

17. EMPOWERED TP VOL 07 (DARK HORSE)

18. LOCKE & KEY TP VOL 04 KEYS TO THE KINGDOM (IDW)

19. AMERICAN VAMPIRE TP VOL 02 (DC)

20. NARUTO TP VOL 56 (VIZ)

To see extended rankings please click here.

SOURCE: PREVIEWSworld & The Comic Chronicles