Top 100 Comics: April 2009
Detective Comics #853, the concluding chapter of Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert's tale of Batman's final days, vaulted DC Comics to the top of the comics sales charts in April 2009, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.
In addition, DC Comics had four other titles in the top 10 comics for the month. The Flash: Rebirth #1, featuring the return of Barry Allen to the DC Universe, placed at #2; Batman: Battle for the Cowl #2, continuing the story of the birth of the new Dark Knight in the aftermath of Batman: R.I.P., ranked #6; Justice Society of America #26, the final issue from the creative team of Geoff Johns and Dale Eaglesham, placed #8; and Green Lantern #39 ranked #9.
Marvel Comics had five titles in the top ten for the month of April. Wolverine: Weapon X #1, the debut of the new, action-oriented Wolverine series, placed at #3. Dark Avengers #4 and New Avengers #52, both continuing the Dark Reign storyline, placed at #4 and #5 respectively. Hulk #11 placed at #7, and Thor #601 rounded out the top 10 at #10.
TOP 100 COMIC BOOKS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in April 2009
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 1 | 116.82 | DEC080107-M | DETECTIVE COMICS #853 | $3.99 | DC |
| 2 | 2 | 114.93 | FEB090172-M | FLASH REBIRTH #1 (OF 6) | $3.99 | DC |
| 3 | 8 | 109.85 | FEB092579-M | WOLVERINE WEAPON X #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 4 | 3 | 107.56 | FEB092496-M | DARK AVENGERS #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 5 | 4 | 105.45 | FEB092493-M | NEW AVENGERS #52 (DARK REIGN) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 6 | 5 | 100.00 | FEB090155-M | BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2 (OF 3) | $3.99 | DC |
| 7 | 6 | 92.83 | FEB092538-M | HULK #11 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 8 | 9 | 91.11 | FEB090183-M | JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #26 | $2.99 | DC |
| 9 | 10 | 89.53 | DEC080128-M | GREEN LANTERN #39 (ORIGINS) | $2.99 | DC |
| 10 | 7 | 89.35 | JAN092529-M | THOR #601 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 11 | 11 | 86.02 | JAN090203-M | GREEN LANTERN #40 | $2.99 | DC |
| 12 | 13 | 85.77 | FEB092572-M | UNCANNY X-MEN #508 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 13 | 14 | 80.72 | FEB092575-M | X-MEN LEGACY #223 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 14 | 15 | 77.63 | FEB092574 | UNCANNY X-MEN #509 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 15 | 16 | 76.56 | FEB092494 | MIGHTY AVENGERS #24 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 16 | 17 | 76.05 | FEB092571 | ASTONISHING X-MEN #29 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 17 | 20 | 74.52 | FEB092485-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #590 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 18 | 18 | 74.08 | FEB090182 | JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #32 | $2.99 | DC |
| 19 | 21 | 73.99 | FEB092488-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #592 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 20 | 19 | 73.74 | JAN090206-M | JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #25 | $2.99 | DC |
| 21 | 23 | 71.67 | FEB092529 | CAPTAIN AMERICA #49 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 22 | 25 | 68.35 | FEB090102-M | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24 CHEN CVR | $2.99 | DAR |
| 23 | 27 | 68.24 | FEB092479 | ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #4 (OF 6) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 24 | 26 | 67.89 | FEB092487 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #591 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 25 | 29 | 66.66 | FEB092480 | ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #5 (OF 6) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 26 | 28 | 65.94 | FEB090179-M | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #35 | $2.99 | DC |
| 27 | 31 | 64.30 | FEB092586 | X-FORCE #14 (X-MEN: MESSIAH WAR) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 28 | 12 | 63.83 | OCT080095 | FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #4 (OF 5) | $3.99 | DC |
| 29 | 35 | 58.09 | FEB092516 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #12 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 30 | 22 | 56.35 | FEB092492 | DARK REIGN CABAL (DARK REIGN) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 31 | 38 | 56.25 | FEB092498-M | SECRET WARRIORS #3 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 32 | 39 | 56.15 | JUN082405 | KICK ASS #6 (MR) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 33 | 42 | 55.16 | FEB092521-M | THUNDERBOLTS #131 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 34 | 43 | 54.40 | FEB092520 | DEADPOOL #9 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 35 | 44 | 53.90 | JAN092497-M | AVENGERS INVADERS #9 (OF 12) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 36 | 24 | 53.47 | FEB092565-M | WAR OF KINGS #2 (OF 6) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 37 | 49 | 50.66 | FEB092495 | AVENGERS INITIATIVE #23 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 38 | 51 | 50.47 | FEB092533-M | DAREDEVIL #118 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 39 | 48 | 50.47 | FEB092515 | WOLVERINE ORIGINS #35 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 40 | 47 | 50.36 | FEB090165-M | SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #2 (OF 12) | $2.99 | DC |
| 41 | 54 | 49.37 | FEB092527 | AVENGERS INVADERS #10 (OF 12) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 42 | 53 | 48.66 | FEB090167 | ACTION COMICS #876 | $2.99 | DC |
| 43 | 55 | 48.30 | FEB090168 | SUPERMAN #687 | $2.99 | DC |
| 44 | 30 | 48.13 | FEB092557-M | MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #1 (OF 4) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 45 | 57 | 46.84 | JAN090195 | SUPERMAN BATMAN #57 | $2.99 | DC |
| 46 | 40 | 46.07 | FEB092500 | DARK REIGN HAWKEYE #1 (OF 5) (DARK REIGN) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 47 | 58 | 46.01 | FEB090170 | SUPERMAN BATMAN #58 | $2.99 | DC |
| 48 | 60 | 45.49 | FEB092585 | CABLE #13 (X-MEN: MESSIAH WAR) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 49 | 59 | 45.09 | FEB090171 | SUPERMAN BATMAN #59 | $2.99 | DC |
| 50 | 36 | 44.00 | JAN092438 | DARK TOWER SORCERER #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 51 | 61 | 43.97 | FEB090158 | BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL ARKHAM #1 | $2.99 | DC |
| 52 | 34 | 43.69 | FEB092503 | NEW AVENGERS REUNION #2 (OF 4) (DARK REIGN) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 53 | 33 | 43.66 | FEB092457-M | STAND AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #2 (OF 5) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 54 | 63 | 43.49 | FEB090159 | BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL THE UNDERGROUND #1 | $2.99 | DC |
| 55 | 64 | 43.19 | FEB090157 | BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL MAN BAT #1 | $2.99 | DC |
| 56 | 37 | 43.11 | FEB092577 | DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #1 (OF 5) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 57 | 67 | 41.51 | FEB092504 | PUNISHER #4 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 58 | 41 | 41.20 | FEB092460-M | CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 59 | 66 | 40.88 | FEB090160 | AZRAEL DEATHS DARK KNIGHT #2 (OF 3) | $2.99 | DC |
| 60 | 68 | 40.41 | FEB090190 | TITANS #12 | $2.99 | DC |
| 61 | 69 | 39.74 | FEB090192 | TEEN TITANS #70 | $2.99 | DC |
| 62 | 70 | 39.69 | JAN090218 | TEEN TITANS #69 | $2.99 | DC |
| 63 | 45 | 38.76 | FEB092569-M | WAR OF KINGS ASCENSION #1 (OF 4) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 64 | 46 | 38.55 | FEB092592 | X-MEN ORIGINS WOLVERINE #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 65 | 76 | 38.44 | FEB092513-M | WAR MACHINE #5 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 66 | 74 | 38.24 | FEB090169 | SUPERGIRL #40 | $2.99 | DC |
| 67 | 81 | 37.86 | FEB092511-M | INCREDIBLE HERCULES #128 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 68 | 75 | 37.85 | FEB090161 | ORACLE #2 (OF 3) | $2.99 | DC |
| 69 | 77 | 37.59 | FEB090150 | TRINITY #44 | $2.99 | DC |
| 70 | 84 | 37.43 | FEB092508 | BLACK PANTHER 2 #3 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 71 | 78 | 37.43 | FEB090151 | TRINITY #45 | $2.99 | DC |
| 72 | 80 | 37.16 | FEB090152 | TRINITY #46 | $2.99 | DC |
| 73 | 82 | 37.00 | FEB090153 | TRINITY #47 | $2.99 | DC |
| 74 | 83 | 36.83 | FEB090154 | TRINITY #48 | $2.99 | DC |
| 75 | 32 | 36.50 | FEB090189 | TEEN TITANS ANNUAL 2009 #1 | $4.99 | DC |
| 76 | 56 | 36.03 | FEB092483-M | WOLVERINE NOIR #1 (OF 4) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 77 | 87 | 35.91 | FEB092587 | X-FACTOR #42 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 78 | 86 | 35.75 | FEB090199-M | WONDER WOMAN #31 | $2.99 | DC |
| 79 | 89 | 35.34 | FEB092502 | DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR #2 (OF 5) (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 80 | 65 | 34.94 | FEB092559-M | EXILES #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 81 | 50 | 34.01 | FEB094348 | ANGEL #20 | $3.99 | IDW |
| 82 | 62 | 33.54 | FEB092501 | DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #2 (OF 5) (DARK REIGN) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 83 | 92 | 33.38 | FEB092505-M | AGENTS OF ATLAS #3 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 84 | 227 | 32.06 | JAN098012 | PREACHER # 1 SPECIAL EDITION | $1.00 | DC |
| 85 | 101 | 30.90 | FEB092509-M | MS MARVEL #38 (DARK REIGN) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 86 | 102 | 30.65 | JAN092526 | SKAAR #10 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 87 | 100 | 30.49 | FEB090164 | OUTSIDERS #17 | $2.99 | DC |
| 88 | 103 | 30.42 | FEB092568 | GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #13 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 89 | 52 | 30.32 | FEB094121 | FEMALE FORCE #3 MICHELLE OBAMA | $3.99 | BLU |
| 90 | 71 | 29.45 | FEB092523 | SI AFTERMATH BETA RAY BILL GREEN OF EDEN #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 91 | 106 | 29.44 | FEB092567 | NOVA #24 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 92 | 94 | 29.21 | FEB094199 | BOYS #29 (MR) | $2.99 | DE |
| 93 | 73 | 29.13 | FEB092463-M | SUB-MARINER COMICS 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 94 | 72 | 28.96 | AUG072194 | HALO UPRISING #4 (OF 4) (MR) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 95 | 85 | 27.69 | FEB092481-M | DAREDEVIL NOIR #1 (OF 4) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 96 | 108 | 27.55 | FEB090125 | STAR WARS LEGACY #35 STORMS PT 2 (OF 2) | $2.99 | DAR |
| 97 | 110 | 27.31 | FEB090194 | SECRET SIX #8 | $2.99 | DC |
| 98 | 97 | 27.24 | JAN092558 | INCOGNITO #3 (MR) | $3.50 | MAR |
| 99 | 88 | 26.62 | FEB092584 | WOLVERINE ANNIVERSARY | $3.99 | MAR |
| 100 | 114 | 26.51 | FEB090249 | FABLES #83 (MR) | $2.99 | DC |
This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.
Note: Item codes ending with -M combine multiple covers and skus with the same SRP.
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 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, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.
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.
