Top 100 Comics: August 2009
DC Comics' cosmic crossover event Blackest Night from writer Geoff Johns and artist Ivan Reis sent DC Comics to the top of the bestselling comics chart in the month of August with the series' second issue, according to information from Diamond Comic Distributors.
In total, DC Comics had four titles in the top 10 comics for the month, with three of those titles — the aforementioned Blackest Night #2, Green Lantern #45 (ranked #4), and Blackest Night: Batman #1 (at #10) — as integral parts of the Blackest Night event. The fourth title, Batman & Robin #3 from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely ranked as the #3 best-selling comic for the month.
Marvel Comics had six of the top 10 best-selling comics for August. Captain America: Reborn #2 ranked #2, Ultimate Comics Avengers #1 placed #5, Dark Avengers #8 placed #6, Uncanny X-Men #514 ranked #7, New Avengers #56 placed at #8, and the 70th-anniversary project The Marvels Project #1 ranked at #9 for the month.
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 August 2009
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 1 | 186.36 | JUN090122-M | BLACKEST NIGHT #2 (OF 8) | $3.99 | DC |
| 2 | 2 | 159.92 | JUN090439-M | CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #2 (OF 5) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 3 | 8 | 141.08 | JUN090146-M | BATMAN AND ROBIN #3 | $2.99 | DC |
| 4 | 11 | 130.67 | JUN090131-M | GREEN LANTERN #45 (BLACKEST NIGHT) | $2.99 | DC |
| 5 | 6 | 121.17 | JUN090468-M | ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 6 | 3 | 120.15 | JUN090486-M | DARK AVENGERS #8 DAX | $3.99 | MAR |
| 7 | 4 | 115.21 | JUN090483-M | UNCANNY X-MEN #514 DAX | $3.99 | MAR |
| 8 | 5 | 114.80 | JUN090510-M | NEW AVENGERS #56 DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 9 | 9 | 113.61 | JUN090440-M | MARVELS PROJECT #1 (OF 8) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 10 | 14 | 110.04 | JUN090125-M | BLACKEST NIGHT BATMAN #1 (OF 3) | $2.99 | DC |
| 11 | 10 | 109.72 | JUN090471-M | ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 12 | 15 | 107.46 | JUN090133-M | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39 (BLACKEST NIGHT) | $2.99 | DC |
| 13 | 18 | 100.00 | JUN090149 | BATMAN #689 | $2.99 | DC |
| 14 | 19 | 99.64 | MAY090153-M | FLASH REBIRTH #4 (OF 6) | $2.99 | DC |
| 15 | 12 | 98.80 | JUN090515-M | HULK #14 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 16 | 20 | 98.10 | JUN090127-M | BLACKEST NIGHT SUPERMAN #1 (OF 3) | $2.99 | DC |
| 17 | 22 | 94.75 | JUN090476-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 18 | 7 | 93.74 | JUN090528-M | DAREDEVIL #500 | $4.99 | MAR |
| 19 | 25 | 91.25 | JUN090478-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #602 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 20 | 13 | 91.04 | JUN090512-M | HULK #13 DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 21 | 26 | 90.64 | JUN090480-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 22 | 28 | 87.50 | JUN090491-M | DARK WOLVERINE #77 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 23 | 29 | 82.62 | JUN090129-M | BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #1 (OF 3) | $2.99 | DC |
| 24 | 16 | 81.79 | JUN090541-M | INCREDIBLE HULK #601 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 25 | 31 | 80.77 | JUN090489-M | X-MEN LEGACY #227 DAX | $2.99 | MAR |
| 26 | 44 | 79.60 | JUN090532-M | FANTASTIC FOUR #570 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 27 | 32 | 78.23 | JUN090554-M | MIGHTY AVENGERS #28 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 28 | 17 | 75.08 | JUN090148 | DETECTIVE COMICS #856 | $3.99 | DC |
| 29 | 33 | 73.41 | JUN090182 | JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #36 | $2.99 | DC |
| 30 | 21 | 72.34 | JUN090155-M | ADVENTURE COMICS #1 | $3.99 | DC |
| 31 | 34 | 71.97 | JUN090575-M | X-FORCE #18 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 32 | 35 | 70.72 | JUN090591-M | DEADPOOL #13 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 33 | 24 | 70.03 | JUN090482 | DARK X-MEN BEGINNING #3 (OF 3) DAX | $3.99 | MAR |
| 34 | 23 | 69.59 | JUN090183 | JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #2 (OF 7) | $3.99 | DC |
| 35 | 56 | 69.10 | JUN090699 | ARCHIE #600 | $2.50 | ARC |
| 36 | 38 | 68.61 | JUN090496-M | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #16 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 37 | 37 | 68.12 | JUN090048-M | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #27 CHEN CVR | $2.99 | DAR |
| 38 | 27 | 66.58 | JUN090143-M | BATMAN WIDENING GYRE #1 (OF 6) | $3.99 | DC |
| 39 | 40 | 65.98 | JUN090144-M | BATGIRL #1 | $2.99 | DC |
| 40 | 46 | 65.25 | JUN090589-M | DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #2 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 41 | 42 | 64.20 | JUN090154 | RED ROBIN #3 | $2.99 | DC |
| 42 | 50 | 64.12 | JUN090593 | DEADPOOL #14 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 43 | 49 | 63.04 | JUN090184 | JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #30 | $2.99 | DC |
| 44 | 30 | 62.87 | JUN090577-M | WOLVERINE WEAPON X #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 45 | 54 | 57.36 | JUN090581-M | WOLVERINE ORIGINS #39 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 46 | 36 | 51.48 | JUN090150 | BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #3 | $3.99 | DC |
| 47 | 39 | 51.20 | JUN090569-M | WAR OF KINGS #6 (OF 6) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 48 | 63 | 50.29 | JUN090579-M | CABLE #17 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 49 | 60 | 50.03 | JUN090159-M | SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #6 (OF 12) | $2.99 | DC |
| 50 | 59 | 49.89 | JUN090163 | SUPERMAN #691 | $2.99 | DC |
| 51 | 64 | 49.77 | JUN090518-M | AVENGERS INITIATIVE #27 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 52 | 65 | 49.74 | JUN090560-M | SECRET WARRIORS #7 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 53 | 41 | 49.31 | JUN090139 | WEDNESDAY COMICS #5 (OF 12) | $3.99 | DC |
| 54 | 68 | 49.19 | JUN090583-M | NEW MUTANTS #4 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 55 | 47 | 49.00 | MAY090441 | ULTIMATUM X-MEN REQUIEM #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 56 | 48 | 48.26 | JUN090586 | DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #5 (OF 5) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 57 | 45 | 48.22 | JUN090140 | WEDNESDAY COMICS #6 (OF 12) | $3.99 | DC |
| 58 | 43 | 47.95 | JUN090161 | ACTION COMICS #880 | $3.99 | DC |
| 59 | 66 | 47.79 | JUN090165 | SUPERMAN BATMAN #63 | $2.99 | DC |
| 60 | 51 | 46.92 | JUN090141 | WEDNESDAY COMICS #7 (OF 12) | $3.99 | DC |
| 61 | 69 | 46.91 | JUN090151 | GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #3 | $2.99 | DC |
| 62 | 52 | 45.88 | JUN090142 | WEDNESDAY COMICS #8 (OF 12) | $3.99 | DC |
| 63 | 53 | 45.42 | JUN090443-M | DARK TOWER THE FALL OF GILEAD #4 (OF 6) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 64 | 72 | 43.14 | JUN090162 | SUPERGIRL #44 | $2.99 | DC |
| 65 | 76 | 42.17 | JUN090558-M | PUNISHER #8 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 66 | 77 | 42.16 | JUN090587-M | X-FACTOR #47 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 67 | 79 | 41.69 | JUN090538-M | INCREDIBLE HERCULES #132 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 68 | 55 | 41.15 | JUN090158 | SUPERMAN ANNUAL #14 | $3.99 | DC |
| 69 | 78 | 41.00 | JUN090192-M | POWER GIRL #4 | $2.99 | DC |
| 70 | 57 | 40.19 | JUN090446-M | STAND AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #5 (OF 5) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 71 | 80 | 40.07 | JUN090199 | TITANS #16 | $2.99 | DC |
| 72 | 58 | 38.75 | JUN090198 | TEEN TITANS #74 | $3.99 | DC |
| 73 | 61 | 38.36 | MAY090439 | ULTIMATUM FANTASTIC FOUR REQUIEM #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 74 | 82 | 37.83 | JUN090200 | WONDER WOMAN #35 | $2.99 | DC |
| 75 | 67 | 36.06 | JUN090176-M | DOOM PATROL #1 | $3.99 | DC |
| 76 | 87 | 36.05 | JUN090505-M | MS MARVEL #43 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 77 | 89 | 35.58 | JUN090571-M | GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #17 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 78 | 70 | 35.49 | JUN090597-M | X-MEN FOREVER #5 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 79 | 90 | 35.23 | JUN090524-M | BLACK PANTHER 2 #7 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 80 | 71 | 35.08 | JUN090498 | DARK REIGN SINISTER SPIDER-MAN #3 (OF 4) DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 81 | 92 | 35.07 | JUN090539-M | INCREDIBLE HERCULES #133 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 82 | 94 | 34.66 | JUN090544-M | SON OF HULK #14 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 83 | 95 | 34.49 | JUN090573-M | NOVA #28 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 84 | 98 | 32.59 | JUN090507 | MS MARVEL #44 DKR | $2.99 | MAR |
| 85 | 74 | 31.73 | JUN090599 | X-MEN FOREVER #6 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 86 | 91 | 31.49 | JUN090832 | BOYS #33 (MR) | $2.99 | DE |
| 87 | 99 | 31.12 | JUN090395 | WALKING DEAD #64 (MR) | $2.99 | IMA |
| 88 | 100 | 30.82 | JUN090194 | SECRET SIX #12 | $2.99 | DC |
| 89 | 103 | 30.57 | MAY090527 | WAR MACHINE #8 | $2.99 | MAR |
| 90 | 104 | 30.43 | JUN090153 | OUTSIDERS #21 | $2.99 | DC |
| 91 | 81 | 29.92 | MAY090453 | DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #5 (OF 5) DKR | $3.99 | MAR |
| 92 | 62 | 29.82 | JUN090157 | SUPERMAN SECRET FILES 2009 #1 | $4.99 | DC |
| 93 | 106 | 29.20 | JUN090061 | STAR WARS LEGACY #39 TATOOINE PT 3 (OF 4) | $2.99 | DAR |
| 94 | 107 | 29.09 | JUN090185 | JSA VS KOBRA #3 (OF 6) | $2.99 | DC |
| 95 | 73 | 29.08 | JUN090962 | ANGEL #24 | $3.99 | IDW |
| 96 | 83 | 28.20 | JUN090178 | BOOSTER GOLD #23 | $3.99 | DC |
| 97 | 101 | 28.16 | JUN090833 | BOYS HEROGASM #4 (OF 6) (MR) | $2.99 | DE |
| 98 | 84 | 27.99 | JUN090535-M | GHOST RIDERS HEAVENS ON FIRE #1 (OF 6) | $3.99 | MAR |
| 99 | 110 | 27.91 | JUN090260 | FABLES #87 (MR) | $2.99 | DC |
| 100 | 113 | 27.81 | JUN090526-M | EXILES #5 | $2.99 | 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 dollar 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 Bestseller 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.
