Top 100 Graphic Novels: March 2013
Batman battles the Court of Owls — and their leader, Bruce Wayne's long-lost brother — for the soul of Gotham City in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman Volume 2: The City of Owls hardcover from DC Comics, the best-selling graphic novel to retailers in March.
In total, DC Comics had three of the month's top-selling graphic novels. Snyder and Capullo's Batman Volume 1: The Court of Owls ranked #2 and James Robinson and Nicola Scott's Earth 2 Volume 1: The Gathering ranked #10.
Marvel Comics had four titles in the top ten, led by Matt Fraction and David Aja's Hawkeye Volume 1: My Life as a Weapon at #3. Also in the top ten were the softcover edition of Avengers Vs. X-Men, the crossover event of 2012, at #6; Kick-Ass 2 from Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. at #7; and Kick-Ass 2 Prelude: Hit-Girl, also from Millar and Romita, Jr., at #8.
Dark Horse Comics' Avatar: The Last Airbender Volume 4: The Search Part 1 ranked #4.
Rounding out the top ten was Image Comics with two titles, led by Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye at #5, followed by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' Saga Volume 1 at #9.
From the premier publishers, IDW Publishing's top graphic novel in March was Doctor Who Volume 1: The Hypothetical Gentleman, based on the top-rated BBC America series, at #46.
TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in March 2013
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 1 | 6.57 | NOV120259 | BATMAN HC VOL 02 THE CITY OF OWLS (N52) | $24.99 | DC |
| 2 | 3 | 5.24 | DEC120323 | BATMAN TP VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) | $16.99 | DC |
| 3 | 5 | 5.07 | DEC120744 | HAWKEYE TP VOL 01 MY LIFE AS WEAPON NOW | $16.99 | MAR |
| 4 | 17 | 4.46 | NOV120020 | AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 04 SEARCH PART 1 | $10.99 | DAR |
| 5 | 9 | 4.39 | NOV128157-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 6 | 2 | 3.72 | JAN130771 | AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP | $34.99 | MAR |
| 7 | 6 | 3.70 | AUG120686 | KICK-ASS 2 TP (MR) | $19.99 | MAR |
| 8 | 4 | 3.44 | OCT120679 | KICK-ASS 2 PRELUDE HIT-GIRL PREM HC (MR) | $24.99 | MAR |
| 9 | 33 | 3.27 | AUG120491 | SAGA TP VOL 01 | $9.99 | IMA |
| 10 | 11 | 2.55 | NOV120262 | EARTH 2 HC VOL 01 THE GATHERING (N52) | $22.99 | DC |
| 11 | 18 | 2.45 | NOV120024 | MASSIVE TP VOL 01 BLACK PACIFIC | $19.99 | DAR |
| 12 | 27 | 2.43 | DEC120368 | UNWRITTEN TP VOL 07 THE WOUND (MR) | $14.99 | DC |
| 13 | 13 | 2.36 | DEC120733 | ALL NEW X-MEN PREM HC VOL 01 YESTERDAYS X-MEN NOW | $24.99 | MAR |
| 14 | 26 | 2.35 | SEP088204 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US | $14.99 | IMA |
| 15 | 38 | 2.35 | DEC120332 | BATMAN GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT TP NEW ED | $12.99 | DC |
| 16 | 132 | 2.23 | DEC090580 | IRON MAN EXTREMIS HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 17 | 73 | 2.23 | NOV120013 | STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP DEFENDERS LOST TEMPLE | $7.99 | DAR |
| 18 | 19 | 2.02 | NOV120768 | SPIDER-MAN DYING WISH PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 19 | 133 | 1.99 | JUN110729 | CARNAGE HC FAMILY FEUD | $24.99 | MAR |
| 20 | 12 | 1.96 | NOV120298 | AMERICAN VAMPIRE HC VOL 05 (MR) | $29.99 | DC |
| 21 | 34 | 1.91 | DEC120329 | RED LANTERNS TP VOL 02 DEATH OF RED LANTERNS (N52) | $16.99 | DC |
| 22 | 24 | 1.88 | DEC120365 | JOE THE BARBARIAN TP (MR) | $19.99 | DC |
| 23 | 20 | 1.87 | DEC120737 | AVENGERS SEASON ONE PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 24 | 37 | 1.86 | DEC120746 | DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID TP VOL 03 | $16.99 | MAR |
| 25 | 44 | 1.81 | NOV082245-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $14.99 | IMA |
| 26 | 49 | 1.75 | SEP120449 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 17 SOMETHING TO FEAR (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 27 | 31 | 1.71 | DEC120724 | SUPERIOR TP (MR) | $19.99 | MAR |
| 28 | 166 | 1.68 | JUN100656 | SECRET INVASION HC | $34.99 | MAR |
| 29 | 22 | 1.61 | DEC120759 | DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 08 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 30 | 52 | 1.61 | MAY110714 | X-MEN CLAREMONT AND LEE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 | $125.00 | MAR |
| 31 | 40 | 1.57 | DEC120740 | GAMBIT TP VOL 01 ONCE A THIEF | $18.99 | MAR |
| 32 | 32 | 1.57 | NOV100638 | X-MEN FALL OF MUTANTS HC | $99.99 | MAR |
| 33 | 51 | 1.56 | DEC120325 | ALL STAR WESTERN TP VOL 02 LORDS & OWLS (N52) | $16.99 | DC |
| 34 | 57 | 1.51 | SEP088205 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 35 | 102 | 1.48 | JAN131201 | TOWER CHRONICLES GN VOL 04 GEISTHAWK | $7.99 | LEG |
| 36 | 14 | 1.46 | JAN130978 | ADVENTURE TIME MATHEMATICAL ED HC VOL 01 | $34.99 | BOO |
| 37 | 54 | 1.45 | DEC120741 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON TP VOL 03 AVX | $16.99 | MAR |
| 38 | 61 | 1.44 | JAN130513 | SEVERED TP | $14.99 | IMA |
| 39 | 45 | 1.43 | NOV120272 | SHADE TP | $19.99 | DC |
| 40 | 29 | 1.41 | JUN110719 | X-STATIX OMNIBUS HC | $125.00 | MAR |
| 41 | 53 | 1.39 | SEP120922 | ADVENTURE TIME TP VOL 01 | $14.99 | BOO |
| 42 | 101 | 1.35 | MAY110730 | X-MEN X-CUTIONERS SONG HC | $49.99 | MAR |
| 43 | 43 | 1.35 | NOV120067 | BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 26 BLIZZARD (MR) | $19.99 | DAR |
| 44 | 95 | 1.34 | JAN131309 | ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (NEW) TP VOL 01 | $9.99 | VAL |
| 45 | 204 | 1.33 | JUL100672 | OZ MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ HC | $29.99 | MAR |
| 46 | 50 | 1.32 | JAN130424 | DOCTOR WHO 3 TP VOL 01 HYPOTHETICAL GENTLEMAN | $17.99 | IDW |
| 47 | 60 | 1.31 | DEC120326 | I VAMPIRE TP VOL 02 RISE OF THE VAMPIRES (N52) | $16.99 | DC |
| 48 | 67 | 1.30 | SEP088206 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 49 | 28 | 1.29 | JAN130904 | CROSSED TP VOL 05 (MR) | $24.99 | AVA |
| 50 | 55 | 1.25 | DEC121247 | NEMO HEART OF ICE HC | $14.95 | TOP |
| 51 | 63 | 1.25 | JAN130782 | MARVEL UNIVERSE VS AVENGERS TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 52 | 64 | 1.24 | DEC120742 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 10 LONG WAY DOWN | $16.99 | MAR |
| 53 | 71 | 1.22 | DEC120748 | WINTER SOLDIER TP VOL 03 BLACK WIDOW HUNT | $15.99 | MAR |
| 54 | 76 | 1.21 | DEC120330 | DAY OF JUDGMENT TP | $14.99 | DC |
| 55 | 41 | 1.18 | JUN110717-M | FANTASTIC FOUR BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 | $125.00 | MAR |
| 56 | 68 | 1.18 | DEC120340 | SUPERMAN REIGN OF DOOMSDAY TP | $16.99 | DC |
| 57 | 8 | 1.14 | MAR092419 | WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR) | $59.99 | IMA |
| 58 | 72 | 1.13 | DEC120749 | SPIDER-MAN LIZARD TP NO TURNING BACK | $16.99 | MAR |
| 59 | 262 | 1.12 | NOV100645 | AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS PREM HC VOL 01 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 60 | 59 | 1.11 | NOV120032 | CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 23 WELL OF SOULS | $18.99 | DAR |
| 61 | 123 | 1.11 | JUL110719 | SIEGE HC | $39.99 | MAR |
| 62 | 144 | 1.10 | DEC120339 | SUPERMAN VS ZOD TP | $9.99 | DC |
| 63 | 62 | 1.07 | NOV120267 | SHOWCASE PRESENTS SGT ROCK TP VOL 04 | $19.99 | DC |
| 64 | 135 | 1.06 | DEC121281 | ONE PIECE TP VOL 66 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 65 | 176 | 1.03 | DEC120463 | TMNT ANIMATED TP VOL 01 | $7.99 | IDW |
| 66 | 77 | 1.03 | NOV070226 | BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC | $17.99 | DC |
| 67 | 66 | 1.01 | DEC120757 | MARVEL ZOMBIES DESTROY TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 68 | 47 | 1.00 | DEC120424-M | ROCKETEER CARGO OF DOOM HC | $24.99 | IDW |
| 69 | 30 | 1.00 | JAN130491 | CHEW OMNIVORE ED HC VOL 03 (MR) | $34.99 | IMA |
| 70 | 70 | 1.00 | NOV118095 | BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP | $19.99 | DC |
| 71 | 89 | 1.00 | SEP088207 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (SEP088207) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 72 | 69 | 0.99 | DEC120745 | MIGHTY THOR BY MATT FRACTION TP VOL 03 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 73 | 98 | 0.98 | DEC120327 | BATWING TP VOL 02 IN THE SHADOW OF ANCIENTS (N52) | $14.99 | DC |
| 74 | 104 | 0.97 | NOV120063 | TRIGUN MULTIPLE BULLETS TP | $13.99 | DAR |
| 75 | 56 | 0.95 | DEC120739 | AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP AVENGERS ACADEMY | $24.99 | MAR |
| 76 | 105 | 0.95 | SEP088208-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 77 | 46 | 0.94 | OCT120247 | BATMAN HC THE NIGHT OF THE OWLS (N52) | $29.99 | DC |
| 78 | 91 | 0.93 | DEC120751 | ULTIMATE COMICS IRON MAN TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 79 | 130 | 0.93 | DEC120348 | ALL NEW BATMAN BRAVE AND BOLD SMALL MIRACLES TP | $12.99 | DC |
| 80 | 42 | 0.93 | NOV120049 | BTVS SEASON 8 LIBRARY HC VOL 04 | $29.99 | DAR |
| 81 | 10 | 0.93 | OCT120681-M | MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 15 | $69.99 | MAR |
| 82 | 93 | 0.91 | APR110672 | EVOLUTIONARY WAR OMNIBUS HC GARBETT CVR | $74.99 | MAR |
| 83 | 128 | 0.91 | DEC120829 | SONIC SAGA TP VOL 02 ORDER FROM CHAOS | $11.99 | ARC |
| 84 | 16 | 0.89 | AUG120496 | WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 02 (MR) | $59.99 | IMA |
| 85 | 23 | 0.89 | DEC121142 | MUSE DLX HC (MR) | $34.95 | HUM |
| 86 | 183 | 0.89 | JAN110820 | DEADPOOL HC VOL 01 | $39.99 | MAR |
| 87 | 231 | 0.88 | MAR110775 | ROCKET RACCOON GUARDIAN PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 88 | 251 | 0.87 | MAR110781 | DEADPOOL MAX PREM HC NUTJOB (MR) | $24.99 | MAR |
| 89 | 252 | 0.86 | SEP110651 | DEADPOOL MAX INVOLUNTARY ARMAGEDDON PREM HC (MR) | $24.99 | MAR |
| 90 | 199 | 0.86 | DEC090593 | X-FORCE HC VOL 01 | $34.99 | MAR |
| 91 | 84 | 0.85 | DEC120761 | ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 02 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 92 | 164 | 0.85 | DEC121295 | ROSARIO VAMPIRE SEASON II TP VOL 11 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 93 | 114 | 0.85 | DEC120753 | X-FACTOR TP VOL 19 SHORT STORIES | $15.99 | MAR |
| 94 | 117 | 0.84 | FEB082136 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 95 | 109 | 0.83 | JAN130785 | ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 11 WEAPONIZED | $16.99 | MAR |
| 96 | 119 | 0.83 | APR120487 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 16 A LARGER WORLD (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 97 | 178 | 0.82 | DEC121299 | VAMPIRE KNIGHT TP VOL 16 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 98 | 141 | 0.82 | NOV120064 | BLOOD C GN VOL 01 | $12.99 | DAR |
| 99 | 360 | 0.81 | NOV100646 | NEW AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS PREM HC VOL 01 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 100 | 137 | 0.80 | JAN131351 | SOUL EATER TP VOL 13 | $11.99 | HAC |
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.
Please note that comics that were shipped to comic book retailers on December 28, 2012 with an on-sale date of January 2, 2013 were included in December's sales chart information.
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.
