Top 100 Graphic Novels & Trade Paperbacks: 2008
Graphic novels and trade paperbacks were a strong market segment for retailers in 2008. Fueled by summer blockbusters, media properties, and upcoming film excitement, DC Comics had seven of the top ten spots, including the top four, with Watchmen (FEB058406) taking the top spot and Batman titles such as Batman: The Killing Joke Special Edition (NOV070226) and The Dark Knight Returns (DEC058055) rounding out the top. Image took positions #5 and #8, with Image/Top Cow Productions' Wanted (SEP072032) buoyed by the Angelina Jolie film. Dark Horse Comics completed the top ten with Buffy (FEB080102).
TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in calendar year 2008.
|
QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
ITEM CODE |
VENDOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | WATCHMEN TP* | $19.99 | FEB058406-V | DC Comics |
| 2 | 2 | BATMAN KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC | $17.99 | NOV070226 | DC Comics |
| 3 | 3 | JOKER HC | $19.99 | JUL080124 | DC Comics |
| 4 | 8 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS & WHEREFORES (MR) | $14.99 | MAR080241 | DC Comics |
| 5 | 13 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR) | $14.99 | FEB082136 | Image Comics |
| 6 | 20 | BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP | $14.99 | DEC058055 | DC Comics |
| 7 | 10 | FABLES TP VOL 10 GOOD PRINCE (MR) | $17.99 | FEB080297 | DC Comics |
| 8 | 9 | WANTED GN (NEW PTG) | $19.99 | SEP072032 | Image Comics |
| 9 | 25 | BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 02 NO FUTURE FOR YOU | $15.95 | FEB080102 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 10 | 35 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 01 UNMANNED | $12.99 | OCT058020 | DC Comics |
| 11 | 15 | BOYS TP VOL 02 GET SOME (MR) | $19.99 | DEC073541 | Dynamite Entertainment |
| 12 | 5 | HULK WWH TP | $24.99 | MAR082264 | Marvel Comics |
| 13 | 6 | CIVIL WAR TP | $24.99 | JAN072436 | Marvel Comics |
| 14 | 32 | BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 01 LONG WAY HOME | $15.95 | JUL070028 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 15 | 22 | BATMAN LONG HALLOWEEN TP | $19.99 | DEC058083 | DC Comics |
| 16 | 28 | UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE TP | $17.95 | MAR080049 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 17 | 92 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | JUL068351 | Image Comics |
| 18 | 30 | FABLES TP VOL 11 WAR & PIECES (MR) | $17.99 | AUG080229 | DC Comics |
| 19 | 94 | FABLES TP VOL 01 LEGENDS IN EXILE | $9.99 | APR058372 | DC Comics |
| 20 | 36 | STAR WARS FORCE UNLEASHED GN | $15.95 | DEC070070 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 21 | 14 | GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 01 SINESTRO CORPS WAR | $24.99 | OCT070196 | DC Comics |
| 22 | 26 | ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 04 UNSTOPPABLE | $19.99 | APR082359 | Marvel Comics |
| 23 | 55 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 02 CYCLES (MR) | $12.99 | OCT058281 | DC Comics |
| 24 | 18 | DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN PREM HC | $24.99 | SEP072167 | Marvel Comics |
| 25 | 19 | ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN BOY WONDER HC VOL 01 | $24.99 | FEB080250 | DC Comics |
| 26 | 51 | BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC | $14.99 | OCT060163 | DC Comics |
| 27 | 72 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 03 ONE SMALL STEP (MR) | $12.99 | MAR068027 | DC Comics |
| 28 | 34 | V FOR VENDETTA TP | $19.99 | APR058272 | DC Comics |
| 29 | 91 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE (MR) | $12.99 | JUL071937 | Image Comics |
| 30 | 93 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (MR) | $12.99 | NOV068026 | Image Comics |
| 31 | 64 | INFINITE CRISIS TP | $14.99 | OCT070197 | DC Comics |
| 32 | 38 | BATMAN MAN WHO LAUGHS HC | $19.99 | SEP070214 | DC Comics |
| 33 | 46 | ARKHAM ASYLUM ANNIVERSARY ED SC (MR) | $17.99 | AUG050185 | DC Comics |
| 34 | 68 | PREACHER TP VOL 01 GONE TO TEXAS NEW EDITION (MR) | $14.99 | MAR050489 | DC Comics |
| 35 | 39 | MARVEL ZOMBIES ARMY OF DARKNESS HC* | $19.99 | JUL072223-V | Marvel Comics |
| 36 | 103 | BATMAN HUSH TP VOL 01 | $12.99 | DEC058310 | DC Comics |
| 37 | 107 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 04 SAFEWORD (MR) | $12.99 | APR058056 | DC Comics |
| 38 | 70 | ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 19 DEATH O/GOBLIN | $14.99 | DEC072269 | Marvel Comics |
| 39 | 88 | ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 2 PLATINUM ED LEARNING CURVE TP | $13.95 | SEP048016 | Marvel Comics |
| 40 | 60 | BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 03 WOLVES AT GATE | $15.95 | JUL080042 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 41 | 29 | GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 02 SINESTRO CORPS WAR | $24.99 | FEB080242 | DC Comics |
| 42 | 11 | HULK TP PLANET HULK | $34.99 | FEB082298 | Marvel Comics |
| 43 | 250 | TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL TURNER GN | $8.99 | SEP083746 | Aspen |
| 44 | 40 | SANDMAN TP VOL 01 PRELUDES & NOCTURNES | $19.99 | DEC058090 | DC Comics |
| 45 | 672 | WITCHBLADE TP VOL 01 WITCH HUNT (DIRECT MARKET ED) | $4.99 | NOV072077 | Image Comics |
| 46 | 41 | MARVEL ZOMBIES 02 HC | $19.99 | APR082346 | Marvel Comics |
| 47 | 42 | SECRET INVASION TP INFILTRATION | $19.99 | FEB082297 | Marvel Comics |
| 48 | 124 | DMZ TP VOL 04 FRIENDLY FIRE (MR) | $12.99 | DEC070294 | DC Comics |
| 49 | 82 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 05 RING O/TRUTH (MR) | $14.99 | MAY050306 | DC Comics |
| 50 | 126 | FABLES TP VOL 02 ANIMAL FARM | $12.99 | MAR058123 | DC Comics |
| 51 | 24 | HEROES HC VOL 02* | $29.99 | JUL080198-V | DC Comics |
| 52 | 43 | HELLBOY TP VOL 08 DARKNESS CALLS | $19.95 | JAN080090 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 53 | 84 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 09 MOTHERLAND (MR) | $14.99 | FEB070362 | DC Comics |
| 54 | 44 | BOYS TP VOL 03 (MR) | $19.99 | AUG083939 | Dynamite Entertainment |
| 55 | 56 | SAVAGE SWORD O/CONAN VOL 1 TP | $17.95 | AUG070123 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 56 | 33 | DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME HC | $24.99 | JUN082298 | Marvel Comics |
| 57 | 144 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 06 GIRL ON GIRL (MR) | $12.99 | SEP050317 | DC Comics |
| 58 | 69 | BOYS TP VOL 01 (MR) | $16.99 | DEC078191 | Dynamite Entertainment |
| 59 | 85 | MARVEL ZOMBIES TP* | $15.99 | AUG082452-4 | Marvel Comics |
| 60 | 260 | SERENITY TP | $9.95 | OCT050020 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 61 | 261 | SERENITY BETTER DAYS TP | $9.95 | JUN080076 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 62 | 381 | NARUTO TP VOL 28 | $7.95 | DEC073979 | VIZ |
| 63 | 161 | 100 BULLETS TP VOL 12 DIRTY (MR) | $12.99 | JUN080292 | DC Comics |
| 64 | 112 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 07 PAPER DOLLS (MR) | $14.99 | FEB060341 | DC Comics |
| 65 | 67 | HELLBOY TP VOL 01 SEED OF DESTRUCTION | $17.95 | NOV030025 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 66 | 71 | ULTIMATE X-MEN TP VOL 17 SENTINELS | $17.99 | NOV072217 | Marvel Comics |
| 67 | 118 | Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 08 KIMONO DRAGONS (MR) | $14.99 | AUG060299 | DC Comics |
| 68 | 172 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $12.99 | FEB078167 | Image Comics |
| 69 | 177 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE (MR) | $12.99 | SEP051681 | Image Comics |
| 70 | 180 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (MR) | $12.99 | DEC061874 | Image Comics |
| 71 | 125 | CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 01 DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA | $14.99 | APR082360 | Marvel Comics |
| 72 | 186 | BATMAN HUSH TP VOL 02 | $12.99 | FEB058024 | DC Comics |
| 73 | 131 | FABLES 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL SC (MR) | $14.99 | DEC070297 | DC Comics |
| 74 | 16 | WATCHMEN HC | $39.99 | JUL080172 | DC Comics |
| 75 | 191 | ALL STAR SUPERMAN TP VOL 01 | $12.99 | MAY080205 | DC Comics |
| 76 | 198 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE (MR) | $12.99 | MAR061834 | Image Comics |
| 77 | 453 | DEATH NOTE TP VOL 01 | $7.99 | JUL053236 | VIZ |
| 78 | 143 | FABLES TP VOL 03 STORYBOOK LOVE (MR) | $14.99 | MAY068085 | DC Comics |
| 79 | 205 | PRIDE OF BAGHDAD SC (MR) | $12.99 | OCT070256 | DC Comics |
| 80 | 90 | SAVAGE SWORD O/CONAN TP VOL 02 | $17.95 | OCT070029 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 81 | 66 | BATMAN DARK VICTORY TP | $19.99 | MAR058151 | DC Comics |
| 82 | 210 | ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 20 & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS | $12.99 | JUN082431 | Marvel Comics |
| 83 | 153 | PREACHER TP VOL 02 UNTIL END O/WORLD NEW EDITION | $14.99 | MAR050490 | DC Comics |
| 84 | 497 | NARUTO TP VOL 29 | $7.95 | FEB084122 | VIZ |
| 85 | 158 | JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 03 BAD PRINCE (MR) | $14.99 | MAR080229 | DC Comics |
| 86 | 217 | DMZ TP VOL 05 THE HIDDEN WAR (MR) | $12.99 | APR080273 | DC Comics |
| 87 | 164 | INVINCIBLE TP VOL 09 OUT OF THIS WORLD | $14.99 | OCT071979 | Image Comics |
| 88 | 75 | HEROES SC | $19.99 | FEB080287 | DC Comics |
| 89 | 21 | X-MEN HC MESSIAH COMPLEX | $39.99 | FEB082284 | Marvel Comics |
| 90 | 207 | ULTIMATE X-MEN TP VOL 18 APOCALYPSE | $13.99 | MAY082367 | Marvel Comics |
| 91 | 176 | NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI TP | $14.99 | MAR082271 | Marvel Comics |
| 92 | 179 | KINGDOM COME TP | $14.99 | NOV058067 | DC Comics |
| 93 | 113 | SUPERMAN RED SON TP | $17.99 | NOV058130 | DC Comics |
| 94 | 83 | STAR WARS LEGACY TP VOL 02 SHARDS | $19.95 | OCT070066 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 95 | 237 | INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM O/T CRYSTAL SKULL TP | $12.95 | JAN080049 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 96 | 189 | THOR BY J MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI TP VOL 01 | $14.99 | MAY082369 | Marvel Comics |
| 97 | 87 | JLA AVENGERS TP | $19.99 | AUG080178 | DC Comics |
| 98 | 568 | NARUTO TP VOL 30 | $7.95 | APR084200 | VIZ |
| 99 | 574 | STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP VOL 01 SHIPYARDS O/DOOM | $7.95 | JUN080125 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 100 | 199 | JUSTICE TP VOL 01 | $14.99 | FEB080252 | DC Comics |
*- Various printings combined for total quantity V-Additional Item Codes not shown.
This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.
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 4,000+ 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 brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet stores, chain stores, and other specialty stores.
Unit and retail dollar sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts in 2008, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.
