Top 100 Comics: December 2010
David Finch, the artist of last month's top-selling comic book, Batman: The Return, continued his run atop the comic book sales charts in December as his new series from DC Comics, Batman: The Dark Knight, debuted as the best-selling comic book as the writer/artist took Gotham City's guardian on a dark journey into the city's underbelly.
In total, DC Comics had eight of the top ten best-selling comic books for the month. Green Lantern #60, part of the Brightest Day storyline and a lead-in to the upcoming "War of the Green Lanterns" event, ranked #2. Brightest Day took two spots in the top ten — issue #15 at #3 and issue #15 at #4. Green Lantern #61 ranked #5. Grant Morrison's Batman, Inc. #2, which took Batman and Catwoman to Japan on a recruiting mission for Bruce Wayne's new global initiative, ranked #6. Paul Cornell and Scott McDaniel's Batman and Robin #18 ranked #7, and Tony Daniels' Batman #705 ranked #10.
Marvel Comics rounded out the top ten with two books from writer Brian Michael Bendis. The Illustrated by Stuart Immonen, the New Avengers recovered from their recent reality-warping adventure in New Avengers #7, the #8 best-selling comic book for the month. At #9, Bendis teamed with artist John Romita, Jr. to pit the Avengers against the Illuminati in Avengers #8.
Among other premier publishers, fan-favorite creator Joss Whedon brings the "Season Eight" near to its conclusion in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer #39, the #32 ranked book for the month. IDW Publishing's True Blood #86, based on the hit HBO series, was the west coast publisher's top book at #86. Finally, Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane's Haunt #12 was Image Comics' top-selling book in December, ranked #12 for the month.
TOP 100 COMIC BOOKS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in December 2010
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 1 | 142.24 | SEP100159-M | BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1 | $3.99 | DC |
| 2 | 5 | 120.70 | SEP100200-M | GREEN LANTERN #60 | $2.99 | DC |
| 3 | 7 | 119.27 | OCT100206-M | BRIGHTEST DAY #15 | $2.99 | DC |
| 4 | 8 | 118.35 | OCT100208-M | BRIGHTEST DAY #16 | $2.99 | DC |
| 5 | 13 | 114.13 | OCT100214-M | GREEN LANTERN #61 | $2.99 | DC |
| 6 | 2 | 113.09 | OCT100172-M | BATMAN INCORPORATED #2 | $3.99 | DC |
| 7 | 18 | 108.78 | OCT100180-M | BATMAN AND ROBIN #18 | $2.99 | DC |
| 8 | 3 | 107.24 | OCT100572-M | NEW AVENGERS #7 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 9 | 4 | 106.00 | OCT100570 | AVENGERS #8 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 10 | 20 | 100.00 | OCT100176 | BATMAN #705 | $2.99 | DC |
| 11 | 11 | 90.65 | OCT100643-M | WOLVERINE BEST THERE IS #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 12 | 25 | 89.00 | AUG100132-M | FLASH #7 | $2.99 | DC |
| 13 | 9 | 88.51 | OCT100566 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #650 BIG | $3.99 | MAR |
| 14 | 10 | 88.16 | OCT100659 | UNCANNY X-MEN #531 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 15 | 12 | 87.76 | OCT100658-M | UNCANNY X-FORCE #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 16 | 28 | 85.97 | OCT100217-M | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #55 | $2.99 | DC |
| 17 | 14 | 85.44 | OCT100571 | SECRET AVENGERS #8 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 18 | 29 | 85.32 | SEP100206-M | FLASH #8 | $2.99 | DC |
| 19 | 15 | 83.79 | OCT100657-M | X-MEN #6 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 20 | 16 | 83.48 | OCT100648-M | WOLVERINE #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 21 | 19 | 76.67 | OCT100226-M | JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #52 | $3.99 | DC |
| 22 | 36 | 72.83 | JUN100644-M | NEMESIS #4 (MR) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 23 | 21 | 71.36 | OCT100625 | THOR #618 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 24 | 23 | 69.96 | SEP100602-M | SHADOWLAND #5 SL | $3.99 | MAR |
| 25 | 22 | 69.67 | OCT100219-M | GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #5 | $3.99 | DC |
| 26 | 42 | 68.01 | OCT100198-M | SUPERMAN #706 | $2.99 | DC |
| 27 | 24 | 67.77 | OCT100584 | CAPTAIN AMERICA #613 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 28 | 27 | 66.22 | OCT100612-M | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #33 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 29 | 43 | 66.07 | OCT100662 | X-MEN LEGACY #243 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 30 | 17 | 65.57 | OCT100179 | BATMAN ANNUAL #28 | $4.99 | DC |
| 31 | 45 | 63.73 | SEP100605 | DAREDEVIL #512 SL | $2.99 | MAR |
| 32 | 44 | 63.24 | OCT100013-M | BUFFY VAMPIRE SLAYER #39 | $2.99 | DAR |
| 33 | 30 | 62.71 | OCT100216-M | GREEN LANTERN LARFLEEZE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL #1 | $3.99 | DC |
| 34 | 73 | 61.62 | OCT100654-M | GENERATION HOPE #2 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 35 | 47 | 60.24 | OCT100607 | FANTASTIC FOUR #586 BIG | $2.99 | MAR |
| 36 | 31 | 60.01 | OCT100177 | DETECTIVE COMICS #872 | $3.99 | DC |
| 37 | 49 | 58.23 | OCT100222-M | GREEN ARROW #7 | $2.99 | DC |
| 38 | 52 | 56.11 | SEP100190-M | WONDER WOMAN #605 | $2.99 | DC |
| 39 | 33 | 55.12 | OCT100602-M | INCREDIBLE HULKS #618 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 40 | 34 | 54.94 | OCT100606 | HULK #28 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 41 | 35 | 54.51 | OCT100560 | ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 3 #5 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 42 | 38 | 53.28 | OCT100563 | ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #151 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 43 | 26 | 52.99 | OCT100178 | DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #12 | $4.99 | DC |
| 44 | 70 | 52.36 | OCT100586-M | BLACK PANTHER MAN WITHOUT FEAR #513 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 45 | 58 | 52.34 | OCT100191 | BIRDS OF PREY #7 | $2.99 | DC |
| 46 | 39 | 52.32 | JUL100504 | ASTONISHING X-MEN XENOGENESIS #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 47 | 48 | 51.84 | OCT100547-M | CARNAGE #2 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 48 | 41 | 51.62 | OCT100604 | INCREDIBLE HULKS #619 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 49 | 40 | 51.15 | OCT100196 | ACTION COMICS #896 | $3.99 | DC |
| 50 | 64 | 50.51 | OCT100670 | SUPERIOR #3 (MR) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 51 | 59 | 50.38 | OCT100210-M | JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #15 | $2.99 | DC |
| 52 | 61 | 50.21 | OCT100200-M | SUPERBOY #2 | $2.99 | DC |
| 53 | 63 | 49.79 | OCT100229 | JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #46 | $2.99 | DC |
| 54 | 65 | 49.08 | OCT100212-M | JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #16 | $2.99 | DC |
| 55 | 66 | 48.80 | OCT100195 | RED ROBIN #18 | $2.99 | DC |
| 56 | 68 | 48.57 | OCT100650-M | DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE #4 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 57 | 67 | 48.35 | OCT100203 | SUPERMAN BATMAN #79 | $2.99 | DC |
| 58 | 69 | 48.19 | OCT100555 | DEADPOOL #30 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 59 | 46 | 48.01 | OCT100588-M | HEROES FOR HIRE #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 60 | 72 | 46.95 | OCT100652-M | X-23 #4 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 61 | 50 | 44.38 | OCT100564 | ULTIMATE COMICS THOR #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 62 | 78 | 44.17 | OCT100619 | THUNDERBOLTS #151 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 63 | 79 | 43.90 | OCT100574-M | AVENGERS ACADEMY #7 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 64 | 51 | 43.42 | OCT100561-M | ULTIMATE COMICS DOOM #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 65 | 82 | 42.89 | OCT100640-M | SHIELD #5 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 66 | 37 | 42.73 | OCT100197 | ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #13 | $4.99 | DC |
| 67 | 85 | 41.80 | OCT100660 | X-FACTOR #212 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 68 | 53 | 41.79 | OCT100585 | SHADOWLAND AFTER FALL #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 69 | 54 | 41.59 | OCT100596 | CHAOS WAR #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 70 | 86 | 41.09 | OCT100231-M | TEEN TITANS #90 | $2.99 | DC |
| 71 | 55 | 40.86 | SEP100544 | ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN WOLVERINE #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 72 | 89 | 39.87 | OCT100190 | BATGIRL #16 | $2.99 | DC |
| 73 | 57 | 39.62 | OCT100240 | LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #8 | $3.99 | DC |
| 74 | 32 | 38.86 | OCT100193 | BATMAN 80 PAGE GIANT 2010 #1 | $5.99 | DC |
| 75 | 95 | 38.60 | OCT100661 | NEW MUTANTS #20 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 76 | 60 | 37.60 | OCT100241 | ADVENTURE COMICS #521 | $3.99 | DC |
| 77 | 104 | 36.48 | OCT100616 | SECRET WARRIORS #23 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 78 | 6 | 36.38 | AUG100257 | FABLES #100 (MR) (NOTE PRICE) | $9.99 | DC |
| 79 | 105 | 35.73 | OCT100202 | SUPERGIRL #59 | $2.99 | DC |
| 80 | 107 | 35.54 | OCT100234 | TITANS #30 | $2.99 | DC |
| 81 | 71 | 35.27 | SEP100211 | TIME MASTERS VANISHING POINT #5 | $3.99 | DC |
| 82 | 74 | 34.60 | OCT100244-M | DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES #8 | $3.99 | DC |
| 83 | 75 | 34.28 | OCT100187 | BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #18 | $3.99 | DC |
| 84 | 150 | 34.15 | OCT100569 | SPIDER-GIRL #2 BIG | $2.99 | MAR |
| 85 | 115 | 33.74 | OCT100188 | GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #18 | $2.99 | DC |
| 86 | 62 | 33.66 | OCT100405-M | TRUE BLOOD #6 | $3.99 | IDW |
| 87 | 77 | 33.18 | OCT100668 | DEADPOOLMAX #3 (MR) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 88 | 56 | 32.30 | OCT100635 | WHAT IF 200 | $4.99 | MAR |
| 89 | 81 | 31.86 | OCT100601 | CHAOS WAR X-MEN #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 90 | 108 | 31.67 | OCT100798-M | LADY MECHANIKA #1 CVR A BENITEZ | $2.99 | ASP |
| 91 | 84 | 31.40 | OCT100637 | WHAT IF WOLVERINE FATHER | $3.99 | MAR |
| 92 | 83 | 31.31 | OCT100552 | DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER LITTLE SISTERS ELURIA #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 93 | 98 | 31.27 | OCT100034 | STAR WARS LEGACY WAR #1 | $3.50 | DAR |
| 94 | 123 | 30.96 | OCT100252 | SECRET SIX #28 | $2.99 | DC |
| 95 | 76 | 30.95 | OCT100961 | BOYS #49 (MR) | $3.99 | DYN |
| 96 | 87 | 30.77 | OCT100633 | THOR FOR ASGARD #5 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 97 | 103 | 30.60 | NOV100023-M | HELLBOY SLEEPING & DEAD #1 | $3.50 | DAR |
| 98 | 126 | 30.54 | OCT100253 | ZATANNA #8 | $2.99 | DC |
| 99 | 88 | 30.06 | SEP100301 | AMERICAN VAMPIRE #9 (MR) | $3.99 | DC |
| 100 | 91 | 29.73 | OCT100638 | WHAT IF SPIDER-MAN | $3.99 | MAR |
This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.
For retailers, Diamond offers the Top 300 Comics and Top 300 Graphic Novels sales charts on the Diamond Tools page of the Diamond Retailer Services website to provide more information about the industry's top selling publications.
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales charts – which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts – are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 3,500 accounts, comprised of comic book specialty shops and other merchant stores and buyers. The shops are primarily located in North America, with a percentage of sales also to international stores and buyers located throughout the world. The account base includes not only brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, but also Internet stores, chain stores, and other specialty stores.
Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.
About the Diamond Sales Index: The Sales Index of selected monthly Best Seller Charts is presented as a comparative tool for retailers and publishers. It presents Diamond’s monthly sales for individual titles in relation to Diamond’s total sales for the issue of DC Comics' monthly Batman comic book. (Batman is used as the control title – with a value of 100 – because sales of Batman usually remain relatively stable.) This allows for easy comparison to other titles and helps retailers gauge their orders for all other titles. This formula is only a guide, other factors may impact a titles’ ability to sell in certain locations and clientele.
