Top 100 Graphic Novels: December 2011
Rick Grimes and his band of survivors of the zombie apocalypse continue their difficult journey toward safety in Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's The Walking Dead Volume 15: We Find Ourselves from Image Comics, December's top-selling graphic novel to comics retailers.
In total, Image Comics had four titles in the top ten best-selling graphic novels in December, including two more Walking Dead collections. The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye, the basis for the first season of AMC's hit adaptation of the series, ranked #3 and The Walking Dead Volume 2: Miles Behind Us ranked #8. Also in the top ten was Tito Faraci and Daniel Brereton's tale of the Roman Empire, The Last Battle, which ranked #4 for the month.
DC Comics had two titles in the top ten, led by Bill Willingham's Fables Volume 16: Super Team from the Vertigo imprint at #2. Also in the top ten was Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi's Brightest Day Volume 1 at #7.
Marvel Comics had three titles in the top ten, with Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' crime graphic novel Criminal Volume 6: Last of the Innocent from the publisher's Icon imprint at #5. Also in the top ten were the collected hardcover edition of X-Men: Schism at #9 and Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Volume 3: The Death of Spider-Man Prelude at #10.
Rounding out the top ten was VIZ Media with Naruto Volume 53 at #6.
Among the Premier Publishers, Dark Horse Comics' top-selling graphic novel in December was Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden's Baltimore: The Plague Ships, continuing the story of their acclaimed steampunk vampire novel, at #17. IDW Publishing's top book in December was The Rocketeer Adventures Volume 1, collecting the mini-series anthology based on Dave Stevens' beloved pulp-era character, which ranked at #27 for the month.
TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in November 2011
| QTY RANK | DOLLAR RANK | INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 16.33 | OCT110502 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 15 (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 2 | 3 | 8.32 | SEP110221 | FABLES TP VOL 16 SUPER TEAM (MR) | $14.99 | DC |
| 3 | 24 | 3.87 | JUL068351 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | IMA |
| 4 | 58 | 2.75 | OCT110442 | LAST BATTLE ONE SHOT | $7.99 | IMA |
| 5 | 16 | 2.70 | OCT110698 | CRIMINAL TP VOL 06 LAST OF INNOCENT (MR) | $14.99 | MAR |
| 6 | 42 | 2.54 | SEP111276 | NARUTO TP VOL 53 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 7 | 11 | 2.45 | SEP110177 | BRIGHTEST DAY TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | DC |
| 8 | 29 | 2.41 | SEP088204 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US | $14.99 | IMA |
| 9 | 7 | 2.30 | OCT110711 | X-MEN SCHISM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 10 | 19 | 2.29 | OCT110733-M | ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 03 DOSM PRELUDE | $19.99 | MAR |
| 11 | 32 | 2.10 | OCT110470 | RED WING TP | $14.99 | IMA |
| 12 | 18 | 1.99 | SEP110188 | SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN TP | $19.99 | DC |
| 13 | 14 | 1.96 | OCT110740 | X-MEN AGE OF X TP | $24.99 | MAR |
| 14 | 13 | 1.92 | JUL110245 | BATMAN NOEL DELUXE EDITION HC | $22.99 | DC |
| 15 | 31 | 1.87 | OCT110741 | X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 16 | 8 | 1.87 | AUG110242 | BATMAN NO MANS LAND TP VOL 01 | $29.99 | DC |
| 17 | 23 | 1.78 | AUG110039 | BALTIMORE VOL 01 THE PLAGUE SHIPS TP | $18.99 | DAR |
| 18 | 65 | 1.77 | SEP111272 | BLEACH TP VOL 37 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 19 | 56 | 1.68 | NOV082245 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $14.99 | IMA |
| 20 | 43 | 1.65 | OCT110729 | SECRET AVENGERS TP VOL 02 EYES OF DRAGON | $19.99 | MAR |
| 21 | 30 | 1.61 | AUG110253 | SHOWCASE PRESENTS BATMAN TP VOL 05 | $19.99 | DC |
| 22 | 62 | 1.59 | SEP110204 | TINY TITANS TP VOL 06 THE TREEHOUSE AND BEYOND | $12.99 | DC |
| 23 | 54 | 1.55 | SEP110224 | HOUSE OF MYSTERY TP VOL 07 CONCEPTION (MR) | $14.99 | DC |
| 24 | 75 | 1.52 | SEP111285 | FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST TP VOL 27 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 25 | 67 | 1.47 | OCT110522 | WITCH DOCTOR TP VOL 01 | $12.99 | IMA |
| 26 | 10 | 1.46 | OCT110735 | SECRET WARS TP | $34.99 | MAR |
| 27 | 15 | 1.45 | JAN120411-M | ROCKETEER ADVENTURES HC VOL 01 | $24.99 | IDW |
| 28 | 66 | 1.42 | OCT110726 | GENERATION HOPE SCHISM TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 29 | 72 | 1.32 | SEP088205 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 30 | 45 | 1.30 | SEP110218 | HELLBLAZER TP VOL 02 THE DEVIL YOU KNOW NEW ED (MR) | $19.99 | DC |
| 31 | 28 | 1.30 | OCT110731 | SPIDER-MAN BY MARK MILLAR ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP | $34.99 | MAR |
| 32 | 48 | 1.26 | OCT110722 | DEADPOOL MAX TP NUTJOB (MR) | $19.99 | MAR |
| 33 | 50 | 1.25 | SEP110675 | X-MEN WITH GREAT POWER TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 34 | 22 | 1.24 | SEP110179 | CHASE TP | $29.99 | DC |
| 35 | 59 | 1.21 | SEP110184 | LOBO UNBOUND TP (MR) | $17.99 | DC |
| 36 | 83 | 1.19 | APR110444 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 14 NO WAY OUT (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 37 | 97 | 1.18 | OCT110728 | WOLVERINE AND JUBILEE CURSE OF MUTANTS TP | $14.99 | MAR |
| 38 | 39 | 1.17 | SEP110189 | SUPERBOY SMALLVILLE ATTACKS TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 39 | 2 | 1.15 | AUG110243 | DC COMICS THE NEW 52 HC | $150.00 | DC |
| 40 | 55 | 1.14 | SEP110192 | SHOWCASE PRESENTS WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 04 | $19.99 | DC |
| 41 | 92 | 1.14 | AUG110047 | GANTZ TP VOL 20 | $12.99 | DAR |
| 42 | 44 | 1.14 | AUG110261 | SUPERMAN GROUNDED HC VOL 02 | $22.99 | DC |
| 43 | 5 | 1.13 | JUL110711-M | MMW NICK FURY AGENT OF SHIELD HC VOL 03 | $59.99 | MAR |
| 44 | 93 | 1.12 | SEP088206 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 45 | 163 | 1.12 | AUG110021 | STAR WARS EPISODE I ADVENTURES TP | $7.99 | DAR |
| 46 | 108 | 1.11 | AUG110048 | OH MY GODDESS RTL TP VOL 40 | $10.99 | DAR |
| 47 | 57 | 1.11 | SEP110227 | SANDMAN TP VOL 07 BRIEF LIVES NEW ED (MR) | $19.99 | DC |
| 48 | 85 | 1.11 | DEC058055 | BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP | $14.99 | DC |
| 49 | 86 | 1.09 | OCT110730 | SECRET WARRIORS TP VOL 05 NIGHT | $14.99 | MAR |
| 50 | 117 | 1.09 | SEP111273 | ONE PIECE TP VOL 59 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 51 | 21 | 1.09 | OCT110450 | CHEW OMNIVORE ED HC VOL 02 (MR) | $34.99 | IMA |
| 52 | 73 | 1.08 | AUG111285 | GFT DREAM EATER SAGA TP VOL 01 | $15.99 | ZEN |
| 53 | 35 | 1.06 | JUL110249 | BATMAN THE BLACK MIRROR HC | $29.99 | DC |
| 54 | 104 | 1.05 | OCT110721 | CAPTAIN AMERICA CORPS TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 55 | 47 | 1.04 | OCT110714 | MOON KNIGHT BY BENDIS AND MALEEV PREM HC VOL 01 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 56 | 34 | 1.03 | SEP110191 | ROOTS OF THE SWAMP THING TP | $29.99 | DC |
| 57 | 36 | 1.03 | OCT110736 | SECRET WARS 2 TP | $29.99 | MAR |
| 58 | 63 | 1.03 | SEP110658 | DEADPOOL PREM HC VOL 09 INSTITUTIONALIZED | $19.99 | MAR |
| 59 | 20 | 1.01 | JUL110719 | SIEGE HC | $39.99 | MAR |
| 60 | 40 | 0.96 | SEP110183 | HITMAN TP VOL 05 TOMMYS HEROES | $29.99 | DC |
| 61 | 106 | 0.95 | SEP088207 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 62 | 142 | 0.93 | SEP111271 | BAKUMAN TP VOL 08 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 63 | 6 | 0.93 | JUL110713-M | MMW GOLDEN AGE USA COMICS HC VOL 02 | $64.99 | MAR |
| 64 | 114 | 0.91 | NOV082242 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 65 | 153 | 0.86 | SEP111274 | BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 05 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 66 | 197 | 0.86 | AUG110022 | STAR WARS EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE TP | $7.99 | DAR |
| 67 | 84 | 0.85 | SEP110031 | SOLOMON KANE TP VOL 03 RED SHADOWS | $17.99 | DAR |
| 68 | 169 | 0.85 | OCT110456 | INFINITE TP VOL 01 | $9.99 | IMA |
| 69 | 100 | 0.85 | OCT110737 | SPIDER-MAN THROUGH DECADES TP | $26.99 | MAR |
| 70 | 68 | 0.85 | JUN110266 | BATMAN ARKHAM CITY HC | $22.99 | DC |
| 71 | 158 | 0.85 | SEP111267 | OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB TP VOL 17 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 72 | 129 | 0.84 | OCT110965 | XXXHOLIC GN VOL 18 | $10.99 | RAN |
| 73 | 64 | 0.84 | MAY090178 | BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 74 | 27 | 0.83 | AUG110250 | JACK KIRBYS FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 | $39.99 | DC |
| 75 | 124 | 0.83 | SEP088208 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 76 | 128 | 0.82 | SEP100413 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 13 TOO FAR GONE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 77 | 131 | 0.82 | JUN090332 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 10 WHAT WE BECOME | $14.99 | IMA |
| 78 | 81 | 0.81 | OCT110367 | DOCTOR WHO ONGOING 2 TP VOL 02 WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE | $17.99 | IDW |
| 79 | 17 | 0.80 | JUL110285 | BAD DOINGS BIG IDEAS A BILL WILLINGHAM DLX HC (MR) | $49.99 | DC |
| 80 | 33 | 0.79 | OCT110732 | WOLVERINE BY GREG RUCKA ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP | $39.99 | MAR |
| 81 | 135 | 0.79 | APR100438 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 12 LIFE AMONG THEM | $14.99 | IMA |
| 82 | 90 | 0.79 | OCT110742 | ESSENTIAL RAWHIDE KID TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 83 | 127 | 0.79 | SEP111289 | NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 18 | $12.99 | VIZ |
| 84 | 138 | 0.78 | OCT090390 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 11 FEAR THE HUNTERS (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 85 | 139 | 0.77 | FEB082136 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 86 | 183 | 0.75 | OCT110459 | LIL DEPRESSED BOY TP VOL 00 | $9.99 | IMA |
| 87 | 12 | 0.73 | MAY110250 | SUPERMANS GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE ARCHIVES HC VOL 01 | $59.99 | DC |
| 88 | 121 | 0.73 | OCT110720 | AVENGERS DEFENDERS WAR TP NEW PTG | $19.99 | MAR |
| 89 | 96 | 0.73 | OCT110715 | CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY PREM HC LIFE OF BUCKY BARNES | $19.99 | MAR |
| 90 | 115 | 0.73 | OCT110727 | JUBILEE BY ROBERT KIRKMAN TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 91 | 41 | 0.73 | AUG110254 | TALES OF THE BATMAN DON NEWTON HC VOL 01 | $39.99 | DC |
| 92 | 134 | 0.72 | OCT110486 | SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 13 | $14.99 | IMA |
| 93 | 155 | 0.71 | SEP111137 | GHOST IN SHELL STAND ALONE COMPLEX GN VOL 02 (MR) | $10.99 | RAN |
| 94 | 110 | 0.70 | OCT110910 | ELRIC THE BALANCE LOST TP VOL 01 | $14.99 | BOO |
| 95 | 107 | 0.69 | SEP088030 | V FOR VENDETTA NEW EDITION TP (MR) | $19.99 | DC |
| 96 | 102 | 0.68 | OCT110335 | GI JOE COBRA ONGOING TP VOL 01 COBRA CIVIL WAR | $17.99 | IDW |
| 97 | 60 | 0.68 | JUL108203-M | WALKING DEAD HC VOL 01 (MR) | $34.99 | IMA |
| 98 | 145 | 0.67 | OCT111274 | K ON GN VOL 04 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 99 | 151 | 0.67 | OCT060163 | BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC | $14.99 | DC |
| 100 | 146 | 0.65 | OCT110717 | NEW X-MEN BY GRANT MORRISON GN TP BOOK 08 | $14.99 | 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.
