Top 100 Graphic Novels: August 2012
Geoff Johns and Gary Franks' Batman: Earth One, their reimagining of Batman's origins and first days as Gotham City's hero, topped the graphic novels sales chart in August and was the best-selling graphic novel in the specialty market for the second month in a row.
Including Batman: Earth One, DC Comics had four of the month's best-selling graphic novels. Swamp Thing Volume 1: Raise Them Bones from Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette ranked #3, Superman: Action Comics Volume 1: Superman, Men of Steel from Grant Morrison and Rags Morales ranked #4, and Batman Volume 1: The Court of Owls from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo ranked #5.
Two volumes of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead from Image Comics placed in August's top ten — Volume 1: Days Gone Bye ranked #2 and Volume 2: Miles Behind Us ranked #9.
Marvel Comics also had two titles in the top ten. Fred Van Lente and Tom Fowler's Hulk Season One, an original graphic novel that retells the origin of the Hulk, ranked #6 and Fear Itself from Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen ranked #10.
Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim Color Edition Volume 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life from Oni Press ranked #7 and Dark Horse Comics' star Wars: The Clone Wars: Sith Hunters rounded out the top ten at #8.
Also from the premier publishers, IDW Publishing's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimate Collection Volume 3 was the publisher's top book in August at #45.
TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in August 2012
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 1 | 5.84 | MAR120234 | BATMAN EARTH ONE HC | $22.99 | DC |
| 2 | 20 | 4.46 | JUL068351 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | IMA |
| 3 | 12 | 4.02 | MAY120280 | SWAMP THING TP VOL 01 RAISE THEM BONES TP | $14.99 | DC |
| 4 | 3 | 4.00 | APR120245 | SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS HC VOL 01 SUPERMAN MEN OF STEEL | $24.99 | DC |
| 5 | 4 | 3.55 | JAN120300 | BATMAN HC VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS | $24.99 | DC |
| 6 | 13 | 3.26 | MAY120746 | HULK SEASON ONE PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 7 | 5 | 3.12 | MAY121234 | SCOTT PILGRIM COLOR HC VOL 01 | $24.99 | ONI |
| 8 | 77 | 2.75 | APR120041 | STAR WARS THE CLONE WARS SITH HUNTERS TP | $7.99 | DAR |
| 9 | 28 | 2.73 | SEP088204 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US | $14.99 | IMA |
| 10 | 7 | 2.73 | JUN120721 | FEAR ITSELF TP | $29.99 | MAR |
| 11 | 29 | 2.72 | APR120487 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 16 A LARGER WORLD (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 12 | 14 | 2.60 | APR120025 | BPRD HELL ON EARTH TP VOL 03 RUSSIA | $19.99 | DAR |
| 13 | 16 | 2.49 | JUN120731 | UNCANNY X-FORCE TP VOL 04 DARK ANGEL SAGA BOOK 2 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 14 | 17 | 2.48 | MAY120769 | ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN BY BENDIS TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 15 | 18 | 2.42 | NOV118095 | BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP | $19.99 | DC |
| 16 | 44 | 2.37 | APR121134 | SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 06 | $10.99 | RAN |
| 17 | 38 | 2.31 | MAY120285 | SUPERBOY TP VOL 01 INCUBATION | $14.99 | DC |
| 18 | 9 | 2.27 | MAY120289 | BATMAN NO MANS LAND TP VOL 03 NEW EDITION | $34.99 | DC |
| 19 | 40 | 2.24 | NOV082245 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $14.99 | IMA |
| 20 | 32 | 2.14 | NOV070226 | BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC | $17.99 | DC |
| 21 | 75 | 2.13 | MAY121323 | YU GI OH GX GN VOL 09 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 22 | 24 | 1.90 | JUL110251 | BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 23 | 37 | 1.89 | JUN120937 | IRREDEEMABLE TP VOL 10 | $16.99 | BOO |
| 24 | 19 | 1.88 | MAY090178 | BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 25 | 41 | 1.83 | JUN120719 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON PREM HC VOL 02 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 26 | 71 | 1.79 | MAY120765 | ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 08 CHILDREN OF BROOD | $16.99 | MAR |
| 27 | 49 | 1.77 | MAY120760 | CAPTAIN AMERICA BY ED BRUBAKER TP VOL 01 | $16.99 | MAR |
| 28 | 129 | 1.72 | JUN120482 | PROPHET TP VOL 01 REMISSION | $9.99 | IMA |
| 29 | 47 | 1.71 | MAY120741 | SCARLET SPIDER PREM HC VOL 01 LIFE AFTER DEATH | $19.99 | MAR |
| 30 | 35 | 1.70 | MAR120059 | BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 25 | $19.99 | DAR |
| 31 | 22 | 1.69 | FEB120053 | GRENDEL OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 HUNTER ROSE | $24.99 | DAR |
| 32 | 55 | 1.68 | MAY120282 | DEATHSTROKE TP VOL 01 LEGACY | $16.99 | DC |
| 33 | 64 | 1.67 | SEP088205-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 34 | 61 | 1.67 | JUN120739 | ELEKTRA ASSASSIN TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 35 | 57 | 1.66 | MAY120770 | PUNISHER BY GREG RUCKA TP VOL 01 | $16.99 | MAR |
| 36 | 116 | 1.65 | MAY121325 | BLEACH TP VOL 44 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 37 | 46 | 1.65 | SEP110038 | SERENITY HC VOL 01 THOSE LEFT BEHIND 2ND ED | $17.99 | DAR |
| 38 | 43 | 1.64 | JUN120729 | ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES BY HICKMAN TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 39 | 119 | 1.64 | MAY121326 | BLEACH TP VOL 45 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 40 | 100 | 1.58 | MAY120771 | X-MEN FF TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 41 | 76 | 1.57 | MAY120284 | RESURRECTION MAN TP VOL 01 DEAD AGAIN | $14.99 | DC |
| 42 | 80 | 1.55 | OCT060163 | BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC | $14.99 | DC |
| 43 | 85 | 1.52 | MAY120324 | HOUSE OF MYSTERY TP VOL 08 DESOLATION (MR) | $14.99 | DC |
| 44 | 21 | 1.48 | MAY120290 | GREEN LANTERN GREEN ARROW TP | $29.99 | DC |
| 45 | 8 | 1.47 | MAR120369 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ULT COLL HC VOL 03 | $49.99 | IDW |
| 46 | 135 | 1.45 | JAN120087 | AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 02 PROMISE PART 2 | $10.99 | DAR |
| 47 | 26 | 1.45 | JUN120741 | DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 07 | $29.99 | MAR |
| 48 | 53 | 1.44 | APR120368 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES CLASSICS TP VOL 01 | $17.99 | IDW |
| 49 | 93 | 1.44 | SEP088206 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 50 | 73 | 1.42 | MAY120283 | OMAC TP VOL 01 OMACTIVATE | $16.99 | DC |
| 51 | 87 | 1.42 | APR120033 | CONAN DAUGHTERS OF MIDORA & OTHER STORIES TP | $14.99 | DAR |
| 52 | 58 | 1.41 | JUN120722 | FEAR ITSELF TP AVENGERS | $19.99 | MAR |
| 53 | 31 | 1.40 | FEB120708 | GIRL GENIUS TP VOL 11 HAMMERLESS BELL | $22.95 | STU |
| 54 | 70 | 1.39 | MAY120291 | BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM TP VOL 03 HOUSE OF HUSH | $17.99 | DC |
| 55 | 30 | 1.36 | JAN120303 | BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP VOL 01 | $29.99 | DC |
| 56 | 60 | 1.35 | JUN120746 | ESSENTIAL WARLOCK TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 57 | 52 | 1.34 | JUN120716-M | ASTONISHING X-MEN NORTHSTAR HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 58 | 104 | 1.34 | OCT110502 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 15 WE FIND OURSELVES (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 59 | 121 | 1.33 | JUN120813 | SONIC SAGA TP VOL 01 DARKEST STORM | $11.99 | ARC |
| 60 | 101 | 1.33 | JUN121162 | AMULET SC VOL 05 PRINCE OF THE ELVES | $12.99 | SCH |
| 61 | 124 | 1.28 | APR120050 | OH MY GODDESS RTL TP VOL 42 | $12.99 | DAR |
| 62 | 141 | 1.27 | MAY120306 | ALL NEW BATMAN BRAVE & THE BOLD TP VOL 02 HELP WANTED | $12.99 | DC |
| 63 | 65 | 1.26 | MAY120296 | SHOWCASE PRESENTS TALES OT UNEXPECTED TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | DC |
| 64 | 39 | 1.24 | MAY120443 | CLASSIC GI JOE TP VOL 15 | $24.99 | IDW |
| 65 | 140 | 1.23 | MAY120858 | SONIC UNIVERSE TP VOL 03 KNUCKLES RETURNS | $11.99 | ARC |
| 66 | 114 | 1.21 | SEP088207 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 67 | 10 | 1.20 | MAR092419 | WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR) | $59.99 | IMA |
| 68 | 36 | 1.20 | MAY120294 | HITMAN TP VOL 07 CLOSING TIME | $29.99 | DC |
| 69 | 117 | 1.19 | NOV082242 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 70 | 79 | 1.16 | JUN120402 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES CLASSICS TP VOL 02 | $17.99 | IDW |
| 71 | 48 | 1.16 | APR120040 | STAR WARS OMNIBUS CLONE WARS VOL 01 REPUBLIC WAR TP | $24.99 | DAR |
| 72 | 148 | 1.16 | APR121133 | NEGIMA GN VOL 35 (MR) | $10.99 | RAN |
| 73 | 45 | 1.16 | MAY120428 | STEPHEN KING JOE HILL ROAD RAGE HC | $24.99 | IDW |
| 74 | 107 | 1.16 | MAY120281 | HAWK AND DOVE TP VOL 01 FIRST STRIKES | $16.99 | DC |
| 75 | 59 | 1.14 | JAN120299 | JUSTICE LEAGUE HC VOL 01 ORIGIN | $24.99 | DC |
| 76 | 133 | 1.13 | SEP088208-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 77 | 56 | 1.13 | APR120279 | RIGHT STATE HC (MR) | $24.99 | DC |
| 78 | 134 | 1.12 | MAY120310 | SUPERNATURAL THE DOGS OF EDINBURGH TP | $14.99 | DC |
| 79 | 51 | 1.12 | MAY121013 | RASL TP VOL 04 LOST JOURNALS OF NIKOLA TESLA | $19.95 | PUB |
| 80 | 154 | 1.11 | APR120049 | GANTZ TP VOL 24 | $12.99 | DAR |
| 81 | 138 | 1.11 | MAY120293 | FLASH CHRONICLES TP VOL 03 | $14.99 | DC |
| 82 | 74 | 1.09 | MAY120416 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ADVENTURES TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | IDW |
| 83 | 131 | 1.08 | JUN120723 | JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY TP VOL 01 FEAR ITSELF | $15.99 | MAR |
| 84 | 139 | 1.08 | FEB082136 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 85 | 207 | 1.06 | MAR090173 | SUPERMAN WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MAN OF TOMORROW HC | $24.99 | DC |
| 86 | 143 | 1.05 | JUN120743 | NAMOR VISIONARIES BY JOHN BYRNE TP VOL 02 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 87 | 81 | 1.05 | JUN121291 | LENORE SWIRLIES HC | $17.95 | RAN |
| 88 | 144 | 1.05 | JUN090332 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 10 WHAT WE BECOME | $14.99 | IMA |
| 89 | 145 | 1.04 | APR100438 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 12 LIFE AMONG THEM | $14.99 | IMA |
| 90 | 125 | 1.03 | JUN120462 | GUARDING THE GLOBE TP VOL 01 (RES) | $16.99 | IMA |
| 91 | 69 | 1.01 | MAY120286 | DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS TP VOL 03 | $24.99 | DC |
| 92 | 155 | 1.01 | JUN120480 | PETER PANZERFAUST TP VOL 01 THE GREAT ESCAPE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 93 | 153 | 1.00 | APR110444 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 14 NO WAY OUT (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 94 | 147 | 1.00 | JUN120735 | X-MEN LEGACY TP FIVE MILES SOUTH OF UNIVERSE | $15.99 | MAR |
| 95 | 86 | 1.00 | FEB120245 | BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 01 FACES OF DEATH | $22.99 | DC |
| 96 | 68 | 0.99 | JAN128076 | UNDERWATER WELDER GN | $19.95 | TOP |
| 97 | 270 | 0.99 | DEC080152 | BATMAN THE HEART OF HUSH HC | $19.99 | DC |
| 98 | 72 | 0.99 | DEC111102 | ROUTE DES MAISONS ROUGES TP VOL 01 (MR) | $19.99 | GG |
| 99 | 142 | 0.98 | MAY121235 | PENNY ARCADE TP VOL 08 MAGICAL KIDS IN DANGER | $14.99 | ONI |
| 100 | 199 | 0.98 | MAY120846 | BEST OF ARCHIE COMICS TP VOL 02 | $9.99 | ARC |
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, 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.
