Top 100 Graphic Novels: September 2012
Thanos' mad quest to assemble the Infinity Gauntlet and rule reality — a saga that continued in The Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War, and The Infinity Crusade — began in Jim Starlin's The Thanos Quest, and in September Marvel Comics reprinted the mini-series, giving the publisher the best-selling Graphic Novel for the month.
DC Comics had four of the month's top ten graphic novels, led by Walt Simonson's original graphic novel The Judas Coin at #2. Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis' Aquaman Volume 1: The Trench at #5, Paul Dini's Batman: Arkham City at #9, and Batman: Knightfall Volume 3: Knightsend at #10.
Image Comics had three volumes in the top ten, led by Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 8 hardcover at #3. The Manhattan Projects Volume 1 ranked #7 and Thief of Thieves Volume 1 ranked #8.
Dark Horse Comics had one title in the top ten — Avatar: The Last Airbender Volume 3: The Promise Part 3 at #4.
Rounding out the top ten, Legendary Comic's The Tower Chronicles Volume 1: Geisthawk, a new supernatural series from Matt Wagner (Grendel) and Simon Bisley (Lobo), ranked #6. In addition, this book was the best-selling Non-Premier Graphic Novel for the month.
Also from the Premier Publishers, IDW Publishing's top book in September was Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 Volume 1, the collected edition of the first four issues of the science-fiction franchise crossover, at #15.
TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in September 2012
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 6 | 8.39 | JUL120553 | THANOS QUEST #1 | $7.99 | MAR |
| 2 | 3 | 3.35 | MAY120270 | JUDAS COIN HC | $22.99 | DC |
| 3 | 2 | 3.33 | JUL120438 | WALKING DEAD HC VOL 08 (MR) | $34.99 | IMA |
| 4 | 23 | 3.31 | MAY120011 | AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 03 PROMISE PART 3 | $10.99 | DAR |
| 5 | 5 | 3.16 | MAY120278 | AQUAMAN HC VOL 01 THE TRENCH | $22.99 | DC |
| 6 | 36 | 3.11 | JUL121137 | TOWER CHRONICLES GN VOL 01 GEISTHAWK | $7.99 | LEG |
| 7 | 13 | 2.96 | JUN120470 | MANHATTAN PROJECTS TP VOL 01 SCIENCE BAD | $14.99 | IMA |
| 8 | 14 | 2.86 | JUL120437 | THIEF OF THIEVES TP VOL 01 | $14.99 | IMA |
| 9 | 16 | 2.51 | JUN120243 | BATMAN ARKHAM CITY TP | $16.99 | DC |
| 10 | 4 | 2.47 | JUN120242 | BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 03 KNIGHTSEND | $29.99 | DC |
| 11 | 28 | 2.28 | JUN120239 | TEEN TITANS TP VOL 01 ITS OUR RIGHT TO FIGHT | $14.99 | DC |
| 12 | 19 | 2.24 | JUN120718 | DR STRANGE PREM HC SEASON ONE | $24.99 | MAR |
| 13 | 56 | 2.13 | JUL068351 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | IMA |
| 14 | 41 | 1.94 | JUN120708 | NEMESIS TP (MR) | $14.99 | MAR |
| 15 | 24 | 1.91 | JUL120287 | STAR TREK TNG DOCTOR WHO ASSIMILATION TP VOL 01 | $17.99 | IDW |
| 16 | 42 | 1.90 | JUN120236 | BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 01 TROUBLE IN MIND | $14.99 | DC |
| 17 | 62 | 1.85 | JUN121344 | NARUTO TP VOL 58 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 18 | 34 | 1.84 | JUN120280 | AMERICAN VAMPIRE TP VOL 03 (MR) | $16.99 | DC |
| 19 | 35 | 1.78 | JUN120246 | GREEN LANTERN WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS TP | $16.99 | DC |
| 20 | 21 | 1.76 | MAY120279 | GREEN LANTERN CORPS HC VOL 01 FEARSOME | $22.99 | DC |
| 21 | 18 | 1.71 | MAY120322 | AMERICAN VAMPIRE HC VOL 04 (MR) | $24.99 | DC |
| 22 | 57 | 1.62 | JUN121186 | SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 07 | $10.99 | RAN |
| 23 | 43 | 1.58 | JUN121130 | LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES TP VOL 05 | $14.99 | FAN |
| 24 | 47 | 1.57 | JUL120655 | WINTER SOLDIER TP VOL 01 LONGEST WINTER | $15.99 | MAR |
| 25 | 27 | 1.57 | JUN120842 | CROSSED WISH YOU WERE HERE TP VOL 01 (MR) | $19.99 | AVA |
| 26 | 44 | 1.55 | JUN120720 | DEADPOOL TP VOL 10 EVIL DEADPOOL | $16.99 | MAR |
| 27 | 45 | 1.53 | JUL120672 | VENOM CIRCLE OF FOUR TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 28 | 48 | 1.39 | JUN120244 | BRIGHTEST DAY TP VOL 03 | $16.99 | DC |
| 29 | 39 | 1.38 | MAY120031 | STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE III EMPIRE LOST TP | $19.99 | DAR |
| 30 | 33 | 1.38 | MAR120234 | BATMAN EARTH ONE HC | $22.99 | DC |
| 31 | 63 | 1.36 | JUN120249 | PENGUIN PAIN AND PREJUDICE TP | $14.99 | DC |
| 32 | 58 | 1.36 | MAY120066 | BERSERK TP VOL 36 | $14.99 | DAR |
| 33 | 54 | 1.33 | JUN120732 | UNCANNY X-MEN BY KIERON GILLEN TP VOL 01 | $16.99 | MAR |
| 34 | 65 | 1.31 | SEP088204 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (NEW PTG) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 35 | 32 | 1.27 | JAN120300 | BATMAN HC VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS | $24.99 | DC |
| 36 | 46 | 1.25 | JUL120308 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ONGOING TP VOL 03 SHADOWS | $17.99 | IDW |
| 37 | 104 | 1.25 | JUN121345 | BLEACH TP VOL 46 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 38 | 15 | 1.24 | JUL120656 | SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-ISLAND TP | $34.99 | MAR |
| 39 | 107 | 1.24 | JUN121346 | BLEACH TP VOL 47 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 40 | 26 | 1.22 | JUL120638 | OZ HC DOROTHY AND WIZARD IN OZ | $29.99 | MAR |
| 41 | 94 | 1.21 | JUN120726 | HULK SMASH AVENGERS TP | $14.99 | MAR |
| 42 | 49 | 1.20 | JUL120642 | DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID PREM HC VOL 03 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 43 | 74 | 1.18 | JUN120237 | FURY OF FIRESTORM NUCLEAR MEN TP VOL 01 GOD PARTICLE | $14.99 | DC |
| 44 | 76 | 1.18 | JUN120238 | LEGION LOST TP VOL 01 RUN FROM TOMORROW | $14.99 | DC |
| 45 | 100 | 1.18 | JUL120650 | X-MEN WAR MACHINES TP | $14.99 | MAR |
| 46 | 75 | 1.17 | APR120487 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 16 A LARGER WORLD (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 47 | 40 | 1.16 | MAY120313 | WORLD OF WARCRAFT PEARL OF PANDARIA HC | $24.99 | DC |
| 48 | 95 | 1.16 | JUN120725 | JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY TP VOL 02 FEAR ITSELF FALLOUT | $15.99 | MAR |
| 49 | 72 | 1.14 | JUN120730 | ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY NICK SPENCER TP VOL 01 | $15.99 | MAR |
| 50 | 78 | 1.13 | JUL120666 | FEAR ITSELF TP SECRET AVENGERS | $19.99 | MAR |
| 51 | 359 | 1.11 | AUG120838 | NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD DAY O/T UNDEAD GN (MR) | $2.99 | AVA |
| 52 | 55 | 1.10 | NOV118095 | BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP | $19.99 | DC |
| 53 | 129 | 1.09 | JUN120737 | MARVELS AVENGERS TP BLACK WIDOW STRIKES | $12.99 | MAR |
| 54 | 81 | 1.08 | NOV082245 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $14.99 | IMA |
| 55 | 128 | 1.07 | JUL120651 | CAPTAIN AMERICA AND HAWKEYE TP | $12.99 | MAR |
| 56 | 7 | 1.06 | APR120321 | DAVE STEVENS STORIES & COVERS HC | $49.99 | IDW |
| 57 | 68 | 1.05 | JUL120646 | UNCANNY X-MEN BY KIERON GILLEN PREM HC VOL 03 AVX | $19.99 | MAR |
| 58 | 88 | 1.04 | JUN120728 | STAND TP VOL 04 HARDCASES | $19.99 | MAR |
| 59 | 87 | 1.03 | JUN120240 | VOODOO TP VOL 01 WHAT LIES BENEATH | $14.99 | DC |
| 60 | 70 | 1.03 | NOV070226 | BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC | $17.99 | DC |
| 61 | 77 | 1.03 | JUL120653 | PUNISHER BY GREG RUCKA TP VOL 02 | $16.99 | MAR |
| 62 | 90 | 1.02 | JUN120254 | SUPERMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 10 | $14.99 | DC |
| 63 | 93 | 1.01 | JUN120245 | FLASH TP VOL 02 THE ROAD TO FLASHPOINT | $14.99 | DC |
| 64 | 96 | 1.00 | JUL121308 | YOTSUBA & ! GN VOL 11 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 65 | 66 | 1.00 | JUL120645 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON PREM HC VOL 03 AVX | $19.99 | MAR |
| 66 | 67 | 0.97 | JUN120283 | SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING TP BOOK 02 (MR) | $19.99 | DC |
| 67 | 69 | 0.95 | JUN121372 | GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 12 | $15.99 | ZEN |
| 68 | 37 | 0.95 | MAY120048 | BTVS SEASON 8 LIBRARY HC VOL 02 WOLVES AT GATE | $29.99 | DAR |
| 69 | 125 | 0.95 | JUN120745 | THUNDERBOLTS TP LIKE LIGHTNING | $16.99 | MAR |
| 70 | 116 | 0.94 | JUL120776 | SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 06 | $11.99 | ARC |
| 71 | 51 | 0.94 | MAY090178 | BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 72 | 20 | 0.92 | APR120684 | INCOGNITO CLASSIFIED EDITION HC (MR) | $44.99 | MAR |
| 73 | 86 | 0.92 | JUN120255 | SUPERMAN THE BLACK RING TP VOL 02 | $16.99 | DC |
| 74 | 139 | 0.92 | JUN121342 | ONE PIECE TP VOL 64 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 75 | 71 | 0.91 | MAY120033 | CHRONICLES OF KING CONAN TP VOL 03 | $18.99 | DAR |
| 76 | 1 | 0.89 | JUN120398 | JOE KUBERT TARZAN OF THE APES ARTIST ED HC (NET) | $75.00 | IDW |
| 77 | 30 | 0.88 | MAY120032 | STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE SAGA HC | $34.99 | DAR |
| 78 | 111 | 0.88 | JUN120250 | GREEN ARROW LONGBOW HUNTERS TP NEW ED | $14.99 | DC |
| 79 | 99 | 0.86 | JUN120742 | AVENGERS CELESTIAL QUEST TP | $24.99 | MAR |
| 80 | 85 | 0.86 | APR121228 | ALIEN ILLUSTRATED STORY TP | $14.95 | RAN |
| 81 | 9 | 0.86 | APR120690-M | MMW IRON FIST HC VOL 02 | $69.99 | MAR |
| 82 | 112 | 0.86 | SEP088205 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 83 | 91 | 0.85 | STAR08102 | SQUEE TP | $15.95 | SLA |
| 84 | 101 | 0.85 | JUN120733 | WOLVERINE TP GOODBYE CHINATOWN | $16.99 | MAR |
| 85 | 147 | 0.84 | JUN120808 | KNUCKLES THE ECHIDNA ARCHIVES TP VOL 03 | $9.99 | ARC |
| 86 | 103 | 0.83 | JUL120668 | FEAR ITSELF TP UNCANNY X-MEN | $16.99 | MAR |
| 87 | 118 | 0.82 | JUN120269 | FRINGE BEYOND THE FRINGE TP | $14.99 | DC |
| 88 | 168 | 0.82 | JUN120461 | GLORY TP VOL 01 THE ONCE & FUTURE DESTROYER (MR) | $9.99 | IMA |
| 89 | 64 | 0.82 | JUL110251 | BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 90 | 82 | 0.82 | JUN120248 | SHOWCASE PRESENTS AMETHSYT TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | DC |
| 91 | 79 | 0.81 | MAY120065 | CARDCAPTOR SAKURA DARK HORSE OMNIBUS TP VOL 04 | $19.99 | DAR |
| 92 | 22 | 0.81 | MAY120326 | 100 BULLETS HC BOOK 03 (MR) | $49.99 | DC |
| 93 | 146 | 0.80 | SEP110039 | AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 01 PROMISE PART 1 | $10.99 | DAR |
| 94 | 8 | 0.80 | APR120688-M | MMW ATLAS ERA TALES OF SUSPENSE HC VOL 04 | $74.99 | MAR |
| 95 | 84 | 0.80 | JUN120247 | LOBO PORTRAIT OF A BASTICH TP NEW PTG | $19.99 | DC |
| 96 | 50 | 0.78 | JAN120303 | BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 01 | $29.99 | DC |
| 97 | 152 | 0.78 | MAY120064 | OREIMO TP VOL 01 | $10.99 | DAR |
| 98 | 92 | 0.77 | JUL120641 | SPIDER-MAN LIZARD PREM HC NO TURNING BACK | $19.99 | MAR |
| 99 | 115 | 0.76 | JUN120270 | PRINCE OF CATS TP (MR) | $16.99 | DC |
| 100 | 12 | 0.75 | MAR092419 | WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR) | $59.99 | IMA |
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.
