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Top 100 Graphic Novels: May 2013

Paul McCartney -- Off the GroundBOOM! Studios' Adventure Time: Playing With Fire, the first original graphic novel based on Cartoon Network's top-rated series, was the best-selling graphic novel to comic book specialty retailers in May. In total, BOOM! had two titles in the top ten, with Adventure Time: Marceline and the Scream Queens at #5 for the month.

Image Comics had two titles in the top ten — Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' Saga Volume 1 ranked #2 and Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye ranked #3.

DC Comics had three titles in the top ten, led by J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis' Superman: Earth One Volume 1 at #4. Also in the top ten were Grant Morrison's Superman in Action Comics: Volume 1: Superman and the Men of Steel at #9 and Vertigo's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Volume 2, based on the best-selling novel, at #10.

Marvel Comics' two titles in the top ten were Deadpool Volume 1: Dead Presidents at #7 and Superior Spider-Man Volume 1: My Own Worst Enemy at #8.

Also in the top ten, IDW Publishing's My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Volume 1 ranked #7.

Rounding out the premier publishers, Dark Horse Comics' Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Volume 3: Guarded ranked #16 for the month.

TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in May 2013

QTY
RANK
DOLLAR
RANK
INDEX ITEM CODE DESCRIPTION PRICE VENDOR
1 2 7.39 FEB130825 ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GN VOL 01 PLAYING FIRE $11.99 BOO
2 17 5.85 AUG120491 SAGA TP VOL 01 (MR) $9.99 IMA
3 15 4.17 NOV128157-M WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE $14.99 IMA
4 27 3.79 FEB130226 SUPERMAN EARTH ONE TP VOL 01 $12.99 DC 
5 4 3.71 MAR130946 ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE & THE SCREAM QUEENS TP VOL 01 $19.99 BOO
6 16 3.68 MAR130727 DEADPOOL TP VOL 01 DEAD PRESIDENTS NOW $15.99 MAR
7 7 3.61 MAR130366 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC TP VOL 01 $17.99 IDW
8 13 3.60 MAR130724 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 MY OWN WORST ENEMY NOW $17.99 MAR
9 21 3.27 FEB130215 SUPERMAN ACTION TP VOL 01 SUPERMAN MEN OF STEEL (N52) $16.99 DC 
10 12 3.23 JAN130329 GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO HC VOL 02 (MR) $19.99 DC 
11 25 3.14 FEB130206 AQUAMAN TP VOL 01 THE TRENCH (N52) $14.99 DC 
12 5 2.95 JAN130294 BATMAN INCORPORATED HC VOL 01 DEMON STAR (N52) $24.99 DC 
13 6 2.93 JAN130300 SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS HC VOL 02 BULLETPROOF (N52) $24.99 DC 
14 11 2.90 JAN130293 AQUAMAN HC VOL 02 THE OTHERS (N52) $22.99 DC 
15 32 2.79 JAN130523 THIEF OF THIEVES TP VOL 02 $14.99 IMA
16 23 2.72 JAN130085 BTVS SEASON 9 TP VOL 03 GUARDED $17.99 DAR
17 68 2.70 MAR130464 BEDLAM TP VOL 01 $9.99 IMA
18 34 2.63 SEP088204 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (NEW PTG) $14.99 IMA
19 8 2.56 JAN131224 SCOTT PILGRIM COLOR HC VOL 03 $24.99 ONI
20 35 2.40 DEC120744 HAWKEYE TP VOL 01 MY LIFE AS WEAPON NOW $16.99 MAR
21 75 2.25 FEB131179 NARUTO TP VOL 61 $9.99 VIZ
22 49 2.21 JAN130511 PETER PANZERFAUST TP VOL 02 HOOKED $14.99 IMA
23 39 2.19 SEP120922 ADVENTURE TIME TP VOL 01 $14.99 BOO
24 20 2.18 MAR130722 ALL NEW X-MEN PREM HC VOL 02 HERE TO STAY $24.99 MAR
25 128 2.16 MAR130696 CAPTAIN UNIVERSE HERO WHO COULD BE YOU $7.99 MAR
26 22 2.09 JAN130307 BATMAN NOIR EDUARDO RISSO DELUXE ED HC $24.99 DC 
27 41 2.04 FEB130625 CABLE AND X-FORCE TP VOL 01 WANTED NOW $17.99 MAR
28 53 2.02 NOV082245 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS $14.99 IMA
29 24 1.98 MAR130725 THOR GOD OF THUNDER PREM HC VOL 01 GOD BUTCHER $24.99 MAR
30 57 1.97 FEB130217 BATMAN DEATH BY DESIGN TP $14.99 DC 
31 56 1.96 SEP120449 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 17 SOMETHING TO FEAR (MR) $14.99 IMA
32 52 1.95 FEB130627 THUNDERBOLTS TP VOL 01 NO QUARTER NOW $15.99 MAR
33 37 1.94 FEB130638 SPIDER-MEN TP $19.99 MAR
34 26 1.90 FEB130623 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK PREM HC VOL 01 AGENT OF SHIELD NOW $24.99 MAR
35 55 1.87 FEB130624 AVENGERS ARENA TP VOL 01 KILL OR DIE TP NOW $15.99 MAR
36 77 1.86 MAR131208 SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 11 $10.99 RAN
37 54 1.77 DEC120323 BATMAN TP VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) $16.99 DC 
38 62 1.69 OCT128106 STAR WARS DARTH MAUL DEATH SENTENCE TP $15.99 DAR
39 132 1.67 MAR130504 GREAT PACIFIC TP VOL 01 TRASHED (MR) $9.99 IMA
40 50 1.65 FEB130637 ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN BY BENDIS TP VOL 03 $19.99 MAR
41 48 1.64 MAR130399 DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME TP VOL 01 $17.99 IDW
42 79 1.63 SEP088205 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE $14.99 IMA
43 64 1.63 FEB130221 BATMAN BEYOND 10000 CLOWNS TP $16.99 DC 
44 66 1.63 MAR130745 PUNISHER TP ENTER WAR ZONE $16.99 MAR
45 44 1.60 MAR130857 CROSSED WISH YOU WERE HERE TP VOL 02 (MR) $19.99 AVA
46 51 1.57 JAN130335 HELLBLAZER TP VOL 05 DANGEROUS HABITS NEW ED (MR) $19.99 DC 
47 94 1.54 JUN120470 MANHATTAN PROJECTS TP VOL 01 SCIENCE BAD $14.99 IMA
48 144 1.52 JUL110247 ALL STAR SUPERMAN TP $29.99 DC 
49 28 1.51 JAN130305 AUTHORITY HC VOL 01 $29.99 DC 
50 89 1.50 FEB130214 SUPERBOY TP VOL 02 EXTRACTION (N52) $14.99 DC 
51 73 1.50 DEC120941 ADVENTURE TIME TP VOL 02 $14.99 BOO
52 76 1.49 FEB130614 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON TP VOL 04 AVX $16.99 MAR
53 90 1.47 SEP088206 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE (NEW PTG) $14.99 IMA
54 71 1.45 FEB130628 A PLUS X TP VOL 01 EQUALS AWESOME $17.99 MAR
55 97 1.40 FEB130210 PHANTOM STRANGER TP VOL 01 A STRANGER AMONG US (N52) $14.99 DC 
56 98 1.38 FEB130242 GET JIRO TP (MR) $14.99 DC 
57 103 1.37 JAN130500 MANHATTAN PROJECTS TP VOL 02 $14.99 IMA
58 104 1.34 FEB130208 DEMON KNIGHTS TP VOL 02 THE AVALON TRAP (N52) $14.99 DC 
59 86 1.33 NOV070226 BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC $17.99 DC 
60 59 1.32 FEB130316 GODZILLA HALF CENTURY WAR TP $19.99 IDW
61 180 1.30 NOV120270 SUPERMAN FOR TOMORROW TP $24.99 DC 
62 177 1.29 JUN120225 SUPERMAN EARTH ONE HC VOL 02 $22.99 DC 
63 87 1.29 NOV058130 SUPERMAN RED SON TP $17.99 DC 
64 178 1.29 MAR130990 SILENCE & CO GN $9.99 CRY
65 38 1.28 FEB130247 LUCIFER TP VOL 01 (MR) $29.99 DC 
66 111 1.27 SEP088207 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (NEW PTG) (SEP088207) $14.99 IMA
67 154 1.25 NOV120020 AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 04 SEARCH PART 1 $10.99 DAR
68 118 1.25 FEB130629 CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 02 DOWN $14.99 MAR
69 80 1.22 MAR130332 TMNT ONGOING TP VOL 05 $17.99 IDW
70 100 1.22 MAR130813 ARCHIES 1000 PG COMICS DIGEST TP $14.99 ARC
71 99 1.21 FEB130222 JUSTICE LEAGUE BEYOND KONSTRICTION TP $16.99 DC 
72 60 1.21 MAY090178 BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP $24.99 DC 
73 10 1.21 MAY110712 ART OF MARVEL STUDIOS HC SLIPCASE $150.00 MAR
74 83 1.20 MAR130740 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY BRIAN WOOD TP VOL 01 $19.99 MAR
75 63 1.20 JAN120300 BATMAN HC VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) $24.99 DC 
76 58 1.19 FEB130631 NEW AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS TP VOL 04 AVX $24.99 MAR
77 123 1.19 SEP088208-M WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE $14.99 IMA
78 122 1.18 MAR130496 COMEBACK TP $14.99 IMA
79 142 1.17 MAR130493 CLONE TP VOL 01 $12.99 IMA
80 105 1.17 FEB130213 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES TP VOL 02 DOMINATORS (N52) $16.99 DC 
81 61 1.16 DEC120356 WORLD OF WARCRAFT DARK RIDERS HC $24.99 DC 
82 88 1.15 MAR130424 BORDERLANDS ORIGINS TP $17.99 IDW
83 127 1.14 FEB082136 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR) $14.99 IMA
84 130 1.14 APR120487 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 16 A LARGER WORLD (MR) $14.99 IMA
85 92 1.11 FEB130639 UNCANNY X-MEN BY KIERON GILLEN TP VOL 04 AVX $19.99 MAR
86 67 1.10 NOV120259 BATMAN HC VOL 02 THE CITY OF OWLS (N52) $24.99 DC 
87 119 1.09 FEB130211 RAVAGERS TP VOL 01 THE KIDS FROM NOWHERE (N52) $16.99 DC 
88 95 1.08 FEB130635 FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN TP VOL 04 $19.99 MAR
89 40 1.08 JAN130771 AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP AVX $34.99 MAR
90 30 1.08 FEB130604 KICK-ASS HC VOL 01 (MR) $39.99 MAR
91 46 1.07 MAR131167 WALT DISNEY DONALD DUCK HC VOL 03 CASTLES SECRET $28.99 FAN
92 133 1.06 FEB130626 JIM FEATURING SIF TP VOL 01 STRONGER THAN MONSTERS NOW $15.99 MAR
93 14 1.06 MAR092419 WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR) $59.99 IMA
94 376 1.06 OCT120270 SUPERMAN LAST SON OF KRYPTON TP $19.99 DC 
95 96 1.06 DEC120338 SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPERMAN FAMILY TP VOL 04 $19.99 DC 
96 65 1.03 JAN130115 STAR WARS OMNIBUS WILD SPACE TP VOL 01 $24.99 DAR
97 140 1.03 NOV082242 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR) $14.99 IMA
98 106 1.02 NOV118095 BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP $19.99 DC 
99 156 1.02 FEB131063 NEGIMA GN VOL 38 (MR) $10.99 RAN
100 211 1.00 MAR130469 BLACKACRE TP VOL 01 $9.99 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.

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.