Publisher Market Shares: 2008
Marvel Comics was the leading publisher in Unit Market and Retail Dollar Shares based on total sales of comics, graphic novels and magazines to comic book specialty stores in calendar year 2008, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
PUBLISHER MARKET SHARES
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in Calendar Year 2008
| PUBLISHER |
UNIT MARKET SHARE |
DOLLAR MARKET SHARE |
|---|---|---|
| MARVEL COMICS | 45.82% | 40.81% |
| DC COMICS | 31.67% | 29.94% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 5.05% | 6.49% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 3.32% | 3.73% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 2.92% | 3.08% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.08% | 1.79% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0.90% | 1.77% |
| WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT | 0.75% | 1.01% |
| DEVIL'S DUE PUBLISHING | 0.61% | 0.74% |
| TOKYOPOP | 0.52% | 1.21% |
| AVATAR PRESS | 0.47% | 0.50% |
| ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS | 0.46% | 0.31% |
| ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT | 0.42% | 0.35% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 0.34% | 0.36% |
| BONGO COMICS | 0.28% | 0.23% |
| VIRGIN COMICS | 0.28% | 0.20% |
| RANDOM HOUSE | 0.23% | 0.65% |
| ASPEN MLT INC | 0.18% | 0.17% |
| GEMSTONE PUBLISHING | 0.18% | 0.45% |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 0.14% | 0.24% |
| ANTARCTIC PRESS | 0.14% | 0.13% |
| ABSTRACT STUDIOS | 0.14% | 0.14% |
| RADICAL PUBLISHING | 0.14% | 0.08% |
| FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS | 0.13% | 0.43% |
| DABEL BROTHERS PRODUCTIONS LLC | 0.12% | 0.10% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 25 | 2.74% | 5.08% |
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 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 Retail 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.
