Top 100 Comics: May 2009
Norman Osborn's Dark Reign continued in May in New Avengers #53, giving Marvel Comics the best-selling comic book for the month, according to information from Diamond Comic Distributors.
In addition to New Avengers #53, Marvel placed six other titles in the top 10 — Wolverine #72 at #3, Wolverine #73 at #5, Uncanny X-Men #510 at #7, Hulk #12 at #8, Amazing Spider-Man #595 at #9, and Captain America #50 at #10.
DC Comics had three titles in the top 10 best-selling comics for the month — Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3 at #2, The Flash: Rebirth #2 at #4, and Green Lantern #41 at #6
Please Note: While this chart contains only the top 100 comics, Diamond makes available to retailers a complete list of the top 300 comics as a text file for download here.
TOP 100 COMIC BOOKS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in May 2009
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 1 | 105.83 | MAR092535-M | NEW AVENGERS #53 DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 2 | 2 | 100.00 | MAR090132-M | BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #3 (OF 3) | $3.99 | DC |
| 3 | 6 | 97.65 | FEB092578 | WOLVERINE #72 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 4 | 4 | 96.65 | MAR090151-M | FLASH REBIRTH #2 (OF 6) | $2.99 | DC |
| 5 | 7 | 93.44 | MAR092604-M | WOLVERINE #73 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 6 | 8 | 91.39 | FEB090180-M | GREEN LANTERN #41 | $2.99 | DC |
| 7 | 9 | 84.26 | MAR092595-M | UNCANNY X-MEN #510 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 8 | 3 | 81.98 | MAR092567-M | HULK #12 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 9 | 16 | 80.56 | MAR092529-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #595 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 10 | 5 | 75.06 | MAR092559 | CAPTAIN AMERICA #50 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 11 | 12 | 71.62 | MAR090157 | JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #33 | $2.99 | DC |
| 12 | 13 | 69.07 | MAR090155-M | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #36 | $2.99 | DC |
| 13 | 10 | 66.38 | MAR092606 | WOLVERINE WEAPON X #2 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 14 | 15 | 65.87 | MAR090016-M | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #25 CHEN CVR | $2.99 | DAR |
| 15 | 17 | 65.56 | MAR092528 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #594 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 16 | 18 | 65.45 | MAR092527 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #593 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 17 | 19 | 65.43 | MAR092601 | X-FORCE #15 XMW | $2.99 | MAR |
| 18 | 21 | 64.09 | MAR092514 | ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #6 (OF 6) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 19 | 20 | 62.92 | MAR090158 | JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #27 | $2.99 | DC |
| 20 | 11 | 62.50 | MAR092602-M | NEW MUTANTS #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 21 | 23 | 60.57 | MAR092597 | X-MEN LEGACY #224 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 22 | 24 | 57.54 | MAR092543 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #13 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 23 | 25 | 57.32 | MAR092549 | DEADPOOL #10 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 24 | 26 | 56.23 | JAN092451 | ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #132 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 25 | 29 | 53.07 | MAR090160 | POWER GIRL #1 | $2.99 | DC |
| 26 | 31 | 52.93 | MAR092600 | CABLE #14 XMW | $2.99 | MAR |
| 27 | 32 | 52.32 | FEB092536 | FANTASTIC FOUR #566 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 28 | 14 | 51.09 | MAR092590-M | WAR OF KINGS #3 (OF 6) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 29 | 34 | 50.97 | MAR092544 | WOLVERINE ORIGINS #36 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 30 | 35 | 49.39 | MAR092557-M | AVENGERS INVADERS #11 (OF 12) | $2.99 | MAR |
| 31 | 22 | 48.87 | MAR092495-M | DARK TOWER THE FALL OF GILEAD #1 (OF 6) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 32 | 38 | 47.98 | MAR092537 | SECRET WARRIORS #4 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 33 | 41 | 47.67 | MAR092533 | AVENGERS INITIATIVE #24 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 34 | 36 | 47.27 | MAR090145-M | SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #3 (OF 12) | $2.99 | DC |
| 35 | 37 | 46.85 | MAR090141 | ACTION COMICS #877 | $2.99 | DC |
| 36 | 40 | 46.70 | MAR090142 | SUPERMAN #688 | $2.99 | DC |
| 37 | 45 | 45.22 | MAR092588 | THUNDERBOLTS #132 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 38 | 44 | 44.33 | MAR090144 | SUPERMAN BATMAN #60 | $2.99 | DC |
| 39 | 46 | 43.86 | MAR090135 | GOTHAM GAZETTE #1 BATMAN ALIVE | $2.99 | DC |
| 40 | 47 | 43.65 | MAR090134 | BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL THE NETWORK #1 | $2.99 | DC |
| 41 | 27 | 40.78 | MAR092492-M | STAND AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #3 (OF 5) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 42 | 28 | 40.29 | MAR092582 | MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #2 (OF 4) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 43 | 49 | 40.28 | MAR090136 | AZRAEL DEATHS DARK KNIGHT #3 (OF 3) | $2.99 | DC |
| 44 | 53 | 39.95 | MAR092552 | PUNISHER #5 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 45 | 30 | 39.79 | MAR092611 | DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #2 (OF 5) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 46 | 51 | 39.62 | MAR090137 | ORACLE #3 (OF 3) | $2.99 | DC |
| 47 | 33 | 38.62 | MAR092548 | NEW AVENGERS REUNION #3 (OF 4) DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 48 | 54 | 38.51 | MAR090162 | TITANS #13 | $2.99 | DC |
| 49 | 57 | 37.50 | MAR090143 | SUPERGIRL #41 | $2.99 | DC |
| 50 | 58 | 37.08 | MAR090169-M | WONDER WOMAN #32 | $2.99 | DC |
| 51 | 59 | 36.56 | MAR090124 | TRINITY #49 | $2.99 | DC |
| 52 | 60 | 36.46 | MAR090127 | TRINITY #52 | $2.99 | DC |
| 53 | 61 | 36.44 | MAR090125 | TRINITY #50 | $2.99 | DC |
| 54 | 62 | 36.31 | MAR090126 | TRINITY #51 | $2.99 | DC |
| 55 | 42 | 36.18 | MAR092541 | DARK REIGN YOUNG AVENGERS #1 (OF 5) DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 56 | 65 | 35.37 | MAR092609 | X-FACTOR #43 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 57 | 67 | 34.75 | MAR092547 | BLACK PANTHER 2 #4 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 58 | 43 | 34.30 | MAR092540 | DARK REIGN HAWKEYE #2 (OF 5) DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 59 | 66 | 34.07 | MAR090164 | TEEN TITANS #71 | $2.99 | DC |
| 60 | 48 | 33.48 | MAR092542 | DARK REIGN HOOD #1 (OF 5) DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 61 | 69 | 32.60 | MAR090128 | FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH RUN #1 (OF 6) | $2.99 | DC |
| 62 | 73 | 32.52 | MAR092574 | INCREDIBLE HERCULES #129 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 63 | 72 | 32.15 | MAR090129 | FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH ESCAPE #1 (OF 6) | $2.99 | DC |
| 64 | 39 | 32.11 | MAR094310 | ANGEL #21 | $3.99 | IDW |
| 65 | 64 | 31.81 | MAR094168-M | BOYS #30 (MR) | $2.99 | DE |
| 66 | 77 | 31.07 | MAR092589 | WAR MACHINE #6 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 67 | 75 | 30.83 | MAR090130 | FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH DANCE #1 (OF 6) | $2.99 | DC |
| 68 | 80 | 30.43 | MAR092594 | GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #14 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 69 | 50 | 30.41 | MAR092538 | DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #3 (OF 5) DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 70 | 79 | 30.41 | MAR090165 | SECRET SIX #9 | $2.99 | DC |
| 71 | 68 | 30.40 | MAR094165-M | BOYS HEROGASM #1 (MR) | $2.99 | DE |
| 72 | 196 | 30.18 | MAR090225 | UNWRITTEN #1 (MR) | $1.00 | DC |
| 73 | 52 | 30.02 | MAR092571 | PLANET SKAAR PROLOGUE ONE-SHOT | $3.99 | MAR |
| 74 | 83 | 29.76 | MAR092539 | DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR #3 (OF 5) DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 75 | 86 | 29.35 | MAR092593 | NOVA #25 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 76 | 84 | 29.15 | MAR090140 | OUTSIDERS #18 | $2.99 | DC |
| 77 | 55 | 29.15 | MAR092592 | WAR OF KINGS ASCENSION #2 (OF 4) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 78 | 56 | 28.92 | MAR092523-M | WOLVERINE NOIR #2 (OF 4) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 79 | 87 | 28.57 | MAR090131 | FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH INK #1 (OF 6) | $2.99 | DC |
| 80 | 90 | 28.46 | MAR092545-M | AGENTS OF ATLAS #4 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 81 | 91 | 28.27 | MAR092546-M | AGENTS OF ATLAS #5 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 82 | 93 | 27.76 | MAR092553 | MS MARVEL #39 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 83 | 92 | 27.10 | MAR090091 | STAR WARS LEGACY #36 RENEGADE | $2.99 | DAR |
| 84 | 95 | 26.80 | MAR092467 | WALKING DEAD #61 (MR) | $2.99 | IMA |
| 85 | 96 | 26.50 | MAR090227 | FABLES #84 (MR) | $2.99 | DC |
| 86 | 102 | 25.29 | MAR090147 | BOOSTER GOLD #20 | $2.99 | DC |
| 87 | 103 | 25.02 | MAR090148 | BRAVE AND THE BOLD #23 | $2.99 | DC |
| 88 | 104 | 24.84 | MAR092563 | EXILES #2 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 89 | 63 | 24.64 | MAR094295 | GI JOE #5 | $3.99 | IDW |
| 90 | 106 | 24.52 | MAR092573 | IMMORTAL IRON FIST #26 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 91 | 71 | 24.52 | MAR092613 | PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #70 (MR) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 92 | 70 | 24.33 | MAR090139 | BATMAN IN BARCELONA DRAGONS KNIGHT | $3.99 | DC |
| 93 | 74 | 24.08 | MAR092526 | SPIDER-MAN SHORT HALLOWEEN | $3.99 | MAR |
| 94 | 105 | 24.05 | MAR090150 | GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #20 | $2.99 | DC |
| 95 | 110 | 23.55 | MAR092473 | FUSION #1 (OF 3) | $2.99 | IMA |
| 96 | 111 | 23.55 | FEB090059 | UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #6 (OF 6) | $2.99 | DAR |
| 97 | 76 | 23.34 | MAR092501-M | HUMAN TORCH COMICS #1 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL | $3.99 | MAR |
| 98 | 78 | 23.05 | MAR092522-M | DAREDEVIL NOIR #2 (OF 4) CALERO VAR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 99 | 115 | 23.02 | MAR092562 | GHOST RIDER #35 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 100 | 81 | 22.65 | MAR092570 | ALL NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #2 (OF 4) DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
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 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.
