Top 100 Comics: May 2012
The Avengers and the X-Men continued their pursuit of Hope while the Phoenix Force neared Earth in Avengers Vs. X-Men #4, the best-selling comic book to comics retailers in May 2012.
Overall, Marvel Comics had three of the month's top ten books, all of them part of the Avengers Vs. X-Men event. Avengers Vs. X-Men #3 was the month's #2 book, and AVX Vs. #2, the tie-in comic that focuses solely on the fights from Avengers Vs. X-Men, ranked #6.
DC Comics had the other seven books in the top ten, led by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman #9, part of the "Court of Owls" storyline, at #3. Justice League #9 ranked #4; Batman Annual #1, a tie-in to "Court of Owls," ranked #5; Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham's Batman, Incorporated #1 ranked #7; Detective Comics #9 ranked #8; Action Comics #9 ranked #9; and Green Lantern #9 ranked #10.
Image Comics' The Walking Dead #97, the first of two issues of the Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard zombie series, was the publisher's top-selling comic in May at #28.
Dark Horse Comics' best-selling book for the month continued to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9; the ninth issue ranked #94 for the month.
IDW Publishing's top book in May was Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #1. The first part of the long-awaited crossover between these two venerable science-fiction franchises ranked #121.
TOP 100 COMIC BOOKS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in May 2012
QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
1 | 1 | 132.48 | MAR120534-M | AVENGERS VS X-MEN #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
2 | 2 | 130.53 | MAR120530-M | AVENGERS VS X-MEN #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
3 | 3 | 100.00 | MAR120184-M | BATMAN #9 | $3.99 | DC |
4 | 4 | 97.57 | MAR120159-M | JUSTICE LEAGUE #9 | $3.99 | DC |
5 | 5 | 75.33 | MAR120188 | BATMAN ANNUAL #1 | $4.99 | DC |
6 | 6 | 73.41 | MAR120528-M | AVX VS #2 | $3.99 | MAR |
7 | 10 | 71.68 | MAR120149-M | BATMAN INCORPORATED #1 | $2.99 | DC |
8 | 7 | 71.33 | MAR120189-M | DETECTIVE COMICS #9 | $3.99 | DC |
9 | 9 | 65.97 | MAR120176-M | ACTION COMICS #9 | $3.99 | DC |
10 | 13 | 65.08 | MAR120204-M | GREEN LANTERN #9 | $2.99 | DC |
11 | 8 | 64.02 | MAR120145-M | EARTH 2 #1 [*] | $3.99 | DC |
12 | 18 | 61.04 | MAR120193-M | BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #9 | $2.99 | DC |
13 | 21 | 56.44 | MAR120196 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #9 | $2.99 | DC |
14 | 11 | 51.46 | MAR120539 | UNCANNY X-MEN #12 | $3.99 | MAR |
15 | 12 | 50.33 | MAR120538 | AVENGERS #26 | $3.99 | MAR |
16 | 14 | 48.24 | MAR120541 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #11 | $3.99 | MAR |
17 | 15 | 47.79 | MAR120542 | NEW AVENGERS #26 | $3.99 | MAR |
18 | 16 | 47.29 | MAR120540 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #10 | $3.99 | MAR |
19 | 27 | 46.66 | MAR120168-M | FLASH #9 | $2.99 | DC |
20 | 23 | 46.49 | MAR120147-M | WORLDS FINEST #1 [*] | $2.99 | DC |
21 | 28 | 46.23 | MAR120180-M | SUPERMAN #9 | $2.99 | DC |
22 | 29 | 45.61 | MAR120203 | NIGHTWING #9 | $2.99 | DC |
23 | 30 | 44.97 | MAR120166-M | AQUAMAN #9 | $2.99 | DC |
24 | 31 | 43.62 | MAR120200 | BATGIRL #9 | $2.99 | DC |
25 | 19 | 43.34 | MAR120573-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #686 | $3.99 | MAR |
26 | 20 | 43.18 | MAR120571-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #685 | $3.99 | MAR |
27 | 25 | 43.04 | MAR120623-M | ASTONISHING X-MEN #50 | $3.99 | MAR |
28 | 36 | 39.92 | MAR120507 | WALKING DEAD #97 (MR) | $2.99 | IMA |
29 | 17 | 37.78 | MAR120615-M | UNCANNY X-FORCE #25 | $4.99 | MAR |
30 | 42 | 37.34 | MAR120229-M | TEEN TITANS #9 | $2.99 | DC |
31 | 40 | 37.13 | MAR120508 | WALKING DEAD #98 (MR) | $2.99 | IMA |
32 | 24 | 37.04 | MAR120543 | SECRET AVENGERS #27 | $3.99 | MAR |
33 | 43 | 36.94 | MAR120202 | CATWOMAN #9 | $2.99 | DC |
34 | 44 | 36.25 | MAR120201 | RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #9 | $2.99 | DC |
35 | 45 | 36.22 | MAR120164-M | WONDER WOMAN #9 | $2.99 | DC |
36 | 48 | 34.42 | MAR120210 | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #9 | $2.99 | DC |
37 | 51 | 34.38 | MAR120547 | X-MEN LEGACY #267 | $2.99 | MAR |
38 | 50 | 34.35 | MAR120208-M | GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #9 | $2.99 | DC |
39 | 22 | 33.00 | MAR120228 | TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1 | $4.99 | DC |
40 | 56 | 32.65 | MAR120197-M | BATWOMAN #9 | $2.99 | DC |
41 | 32 | 32.60 | MAR120548 | AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
42 | 59 | 32.09 | MAR120546 | X-MEN LEGACY #266 | $2.99 | MAR |
43 | 26 | 31.73 | MAR121222-M | X-O MANOWAR #1 | $3.99 | VAL |
44 | 33 | 31.47 | MAR120560 | ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #10 | $3.99 | MAR |
45 | 34 | 31.26 | MAR120594-M | INCREDIBLE HULK #8 | $3.99 | MAR |
46 | 35 | 31.11 | MAR120569 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #39 | $3.99 | MAR |
47 | 64 | 30.85 | MAR120199 | BIRDS OF PREY #9 | $2.99 | DC |
48 | 53 | 30.29 | MAR120153-M | DIAL H #1 [*] | $2.99 | DC |
49 | 66 | 29.65 | MAR120597 | FANTASTIC FOUR #606 | $2.99 | MAR |
50 | 55 | 29.57 | MAR120157-M | RAVAGERS #1 [*] | $2.99 | DC |
51 | 69 | 29.33 | MAR120596 | FANTASTIC FOUR #605.1 | $2.99 | MAR |
52 | 68 | 29.26 | MAR120213-M | SWAMP THING #9 | $2.99 | DC |
53 | 70 | 29.15 | MAR120608 | DAREDEVIL #12 | $2.99 | MAR |
54 | 67 | 29.13 | MAR120211 | RED LANTERNS #9 | $2.99 | DC |
55 | 71 | 29.02 | MAR120609 | DAREDEVIL #13 | $2.99 | MAR |
56 | 38 | 28.98 | MAR120583 | CAPTAIN AMERICA #11 | $3.99 | MAR |
57 | 57 | 28.90 | MAR120499 | SAGA #3 (MR) [*] | $2.99 | IMA |
58 | 39 | 28.83 | MAR120584 | CAPTAIN AMERICA #12 | $3.99 | MAR |
59 | 72 | 28.58 | MAR120591 | INCREDIBLE HULK #7.1 | $2.99 | MAR |
60 | 41 | 28.24 | MAR120570 | AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #7 | $3.99 | MAR |
61 | 46 | 26.62 | MAR120619 | X-MEN #28 | $3.99 | MAR |
62 | 78 | 26.55 | MAR120195 | BATWING #9 | $2.99 | DC |
63 | 79 | 26.52 | MAR120215 | ANIMAL MAN #9 | $2.99 | DC |
64 | 47 | 26.36 | MAR120620 | X-MEN #29 | $3.99 | MAR |
65 | 80 | 26.10 | MAR120183 | SUPERGIRL #9 | $2.99 | DC |
66 | 49 | 25.91 | MAR120617 | WOLVERINE #306 | $3.99 | MAR |
67 | 81 | 25.88 | MAR120182 | SUPERBOY #9 | $2.99 | DC |
68 | 82 | 25.74 | MAR120212 | JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #9 | $2.99 | DC |
69 | 83 | 25.67 | MAR120598 | FF #18 | $2.99 | MAR |
70 | 52 | 25.62 | MAR120618 | WOLVERINE #307 | $3.99 | MAR |
71 | 87 | 24.20 | MAR120225 | SUICIDE SQUAD #9 | $2.99 | DC |
72 | 85 | 24.19 | MAR120163 | JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #9 | $2.99 | DC |
73 | 58 | 24.18 | MAR120588 | MIGHTY THOR #14 | $3.99 | MAR |
74 | 89 | 23.84 | MAR120626 | AGE OF APOCALYPSE #3 | $2.99 | MAR |
75 | 37 | 23.56 | MAR120216 | ANIMAL MAN ANNUAL #1 | $4.99 | DC |
76 | 61 | 23.43 | MAR120590 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #517 | $3.99 | MAR |
77 | 60 | 23.34 | MAR120227 | ALL STAR WESTERN #9 | $3.99 | DC |
78 | 62 | 23.31 | MAR120589 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #516 | $3.99 | MAR |
79 | 63 | 23.29 | MAR120562 | ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #11 | $3.99 | MAR |
80 | 65 | 23.22 | MAR120561 | ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #10 | $3.99 | MAR |
81 | 92 | 22.98 | MAR120576 | SCARLET SPIDER #5 | $2.99 | MAR |
82 | 93 | 22.77 | MAR120587 | WINTER SOLDIER #5 | $2.99 | MAR |
83 | 54 | 22.56 | MAR120155-M | GI COMBAT #1 [*] | $3.99 | DC |
84 | 94 | 22.40 | MAR120565-M | VENOM #17 | $2.99 | MAR |
85 | 96 | 22.02 | MAR120627 | DEADPOOL #54 | $2.99 | MAR |
86 | 97 | 21.89 | MAR120544 | AVENGERS ACADEMY #29 | $2.99 | MAR |
87 | 99 | 21.70 | MAR120545 | AVENGERS ACADEMY #30 | $2.99 | MAR |
88 | 98 | 21.56 | MAR120628 | DEADPOOL #55 | $2.99 | MAR |
89 | 73 | 21.42 | MAR120564 | ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #12 | $3.99 | MAR |
90 | 74 | 21.33 | MAR120563 | ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #11 | $3.99 | MAR |
91 | 75 | 21.25 | MAR120614 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN ALPHA AND #5 | $3.99 | MAR |
92 | 102 | 21.03 | MAR120567 | VENOM #18 | $2.99 | MAR |
93 | 105 | 21.00 | MAR120633-M | SECRET SERVICE #2 (MR) | $2.99 | MAR |
94 | 100 | 20.97 | MAR120045-M | BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #9 | $2.99 | DAR |
95 | 76 | 20.32 | MAR120568 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OF EARTH #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
96 | 77 | 20.06 | MAR120235 | SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #1 | $3.99 | DC |
97 | 108 | 20.04 | MAR120635-M | SUPERCROOKS #3 (MR) | $2.99 | MAR |
98 | 107 | 20.03 | MAR120174 | GREEN ARROW #9 | $2.99 | DC |
99 | 84 | 18.96 | MAR120606 | DEFENDERS #6 | $3.99 | MAR |
100 | 111 | 18.73 | MAR120237 | BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #2 | $2.99 | DC |
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.
Please note that comics marked with an asterisk have had their reported quantities reduced due to retailer returnability, and thus may rank lower on the charts than their actual sales would reflect.
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, minus any copies that are distributed free of cost.
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.