Top 100 Graphic Novels: December 2012
Rick Grimes' desperate struggle for survival in the face of the zombie apocalypse begins as Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye from Image Comics, the first volume of the fan-favorite series and inspiration for the AMC series, returns to the top of the sales charts as December's best-selling graphic novel.
Image Comics had December's top six best-selling graphic novels and seven of the top ten. Four of those seven books were volumes of The Walking Dead; in addition to the first volume, Volume 2: Miles Behind Us ranked #2, Volume 3: Safety Behind Bars ranked #6, and Volume 17: Something to Fear ranked #9. Also from Image Comics, Chew Volume 6: Space Cakes ranked #3, Saga Volume 1 ranked #4, and Fatale Volume 2: Devil's Business ranked #5.
Dark Horse Comics' Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Volume 2: On Your Own ranked #7.
DC Comics' Green Lantern Volume 2: Revenge of the Black Hand ranked #8.
Rounding out the top ten, Marvel Comics' Daredevil by Mark Waid Volume 2 ranked #10.
Finishing off the Premier Publishers, IDW Publishing's top book in December was Darwyn Cooke's Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter at #39.
TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in December 2012
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 3 | 6.50 | JUL068351 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | IMA |
| 2 | 8 | 3.77 | SEP088204 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US | $14.99 | IMA |
| 3 | 10 | 3.72 | OCT120481 | CHEW TP VOL 06 SPACE CAKES (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 4 | 28 | 3.13 | AUG120491 | SAGA TP VOL 01 | $9.99 | IMA |
| 5 | 16 | 2.83 | OCT120474 | FATALE TP VOL 02 DEVILS BUSINESS (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 6 | 15 | 2.80 | NOV082245 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $14.99 | IMA |
| 7 | 11 | 2.60 | AUG120067 | BTVS SEASON 9 TP VOL 02 ON YOUR OWN | $17.99 | DAR |
| 8 | 7 | 2.41 | SEP120232 | GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 02 REVENGE OF THE BLACK HAND | $24.99 | DC |
| 9 | 22 | 2.38 | SEP120449 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 17 SOMETHING TO FEAR (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 10 | 26 | 2.36 | SEP120699 | DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID TP VOL 02 | $15.99 | MAR |
| 11 | 31 | 2.27 | OCT120493 | REVIVAL TP VOL 01 YOU'RE AMONG FRIENDS | $12.99 | IMA |
| 12 | 25 | 2.24 | OCT120257 | GREEN LANTERN TP VOL 01 SINESTRO (N52) | $14.99 | DC |
| 13 | 17 | 2.10 | OCT120258 | BATMAN INCORPORATED TP | $19.99 | DC |
| 14 | 29 | 1.97 | SEP088205 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 15 | 18 | 1.96 | AUG120063 | BPRD HELL ON EARTH TP VOL 04 DEVIL ENGINE & LONG DEATH | $19.99 | DAR |
| 16 | 5 | 1.88 | SEP120237 | BATMAN NO MANS LAND TP VOL 04 NEW EDITION | $34.99 | DC |
| 17 | 21 | 1.85 | SEP120696 | CARNAGE USA TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 18 | 23 | 1.76 | AUG120079 | STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI TP VOL 01 FORCE STORM | $18.99 | DAR |
| 19 | 24 | 1.70 | AUG120710 | ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN BY BENDIS TP VOL 02 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 20 | 27 | 1.63 | SEP120712 | FURY MAX TP VOL 01 MY WAR GONE BY (MR) | $19.99 | MAR |
| 21 | 42 | 1.60 | SEP088206 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 22 | 61 | 1.55 | SEP120697 | CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 01 IN PURSUIT OF FLIGHT | $14.99 | MAR |
| 23 | 43 | 1.52 | AUG120726 | UNCANNY X-MEN BY KIERON GILLEN TP VOL 02 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 24 | 32 | 1.50 | SEP120706 | NEW AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS TP VOL 03 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 25 | 1 | 1.43 | MAR092419 | WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR) | $59.99 | IMA |
| 26 | 90 | 1.42 | SEP121242 | YU GI OH ZEXAL GN VOL 02 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 27 | 93 | 1.39 | OCT121241 | X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) TP VOL 01 BY THE SWORD | $9.99 | VAL |
| 28 | 53 | 1.37 | SEP088207 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 29 | 37 | 1.36 | SEP120704 | AVENGERS X-SANCTION TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 30 | 75 | 1.34 | SEP120707 | SPIDER-MAN TROUBLE ON HORIZON TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 31 | 104 | 1.26 | SEP121245 | BLEACH TP VOL 52 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 32 | 66 | 1.25 | AUG120720 | MOON KNIGHT BY BENDIS AND MALEEV TP VOL 02 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 33 | 105 | 1.24 | SEP121246 | BLEACH TP VOL 53 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 34 | 44 | 1.23 | SEP120261 | IZOMBIE TP VOL 04 REPOSSESSION (MR) | $19.99 | DC |
| 35 | 71 | 1.22 | APR120487 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 16 A LARGER WORLD (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 36 | 30 | 1.21 | SEP120715 | INCREDIBLE HULK BY JASON AARON TP VOL 01 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 37 | 114 | 1.20 | OCT121253 | BLEACH TP VOL 54 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 38 | 78 | 1.18 | SEP088208 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 39 | 46 | 1.17 | SEP120377 | PARKER THE HUNTER SC | $17.99 | IDW |
| 40 | 34 | 1.16 | JAN120300 | BATMAN HC VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) | $24.99 | DC |
| 41 | 60 | 1.16 | OCT120255 | JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL TP VOL 02 BREAKDOWN | $16.99 | DC |
| 42 | 62 | 1.15 | SEP120700 | CAPTAIN AMERICA BY ED BRUBAKER TP VOL 02 | $16.99 | MAR |
| 43 | 69 | 1.12 | SEP120701 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 09 DEMON | $16.99 | MAR |
| 44 | 82 | 1.11 | FEB082136 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 45 | 13 | 1.11 | SEP120687 | DEADPOOL DEAD HC | $39.99 | MAR |
| 46 | 2 | 1.10 | AUG120496 | WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 02 (MR) | $59.99 | IMA |
| 47 | 85 | 1.09 | NOV082242 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 48 | 38 | 1.08 | MAY090178 | BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 49 | 129 | 1.07 | SEP120716 | MUPPETS TP FOUR SEASONS | $14.99 | MAR |
| 50 | 80 | 1.03 | SEP121182 | ATOMIC ROBO REAL SCIENCE ADV TP | $13.95 | RED |
| 51 | 100 | 1.00 | AUG120722 | NEW MUTANTS TP VOL 07 FIGHT FUTURE | $19.99 | MAR |
| 52 | 84 | 1.00 | SEP120698 | FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN TP VOL 03 | $16.99 | MAR |
| 53 | 96 | 0.97 | OCT110502 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 15 WE FIND OURSELVES (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 54 | 81 | 0.97 | SEP120922 | ADVENTURE TIME TP VOL 01 | $14.99 | BOO |
| 55 | 95 | 0.97 | JUN090332 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 10 WHAT WE BECOME | $14.99 | IMA |
| 56 | 109 | 0.97 | SEP120705 | AVENGERS MYTHOS TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 57 | 41 | 0.96 | AUG120083 | GRENDEL OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 LEGACY | $24.99 | DAR |
| 58 | 74 | 0.94 | AUG120703 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON PREM HC VOL 04 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 59 | 124 | 0.92 | AUG120087 | OH MY GODDESS RTL TP VOL 43 | $12.99 | DAR |
| 60 | 89 | 0.92 | NOV070226 | BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC | $17.99 | DC |
| 61 | 102 | 0.92 | OCT090390 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 11 FEAR THE HUNTERS (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 62 | 127 | 0.90 | AUG120047 | DARKSIDERS II DEATHS DOOR HC VOL 01 | $12.99 | DAR |
| 63 | 68 | 0.90 | AUG120082 | GRANDVILLE BETE NOIRE HC | $19.99 | DAR |
| 64 | 76 | 0.89 | SEP120709 | WOLVERINE BACK IN JAPAN TP | $19.99 | MAR |
| 65 | 112 | 0.89 | SEP120241 | SUPERMAN GROUNDED TP VOL 02 | $14.99 | DC |
| 66 | 36 | 0.89 | AUG120068 | BTVS SEASON 8 LIBRARY HC VOL 03 | $29.99 | DAR |
| 67 | 14 | 0.87 | AUG120257 | KAMANDI LAST BOY ON EARTH OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 | $49.99 | DC |
| 68 | 113 | 0.87 | APR100438 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 12 LIFE AMONG THEM | $14.99 | IMA |
| 69 | 118 | 0.86 | APR110444 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 14 NO WAY OUT (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 70 | 121 | 0.85 | SEP100413 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 13 TOO FAR GONE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 71 | 12 | 0.84 | SEP120284 | JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE BRIAN BOLLAND HC | $49.99 | IDW |
| 72 | 72 | 0.83 | SEP120323 | TALES O/T TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | IDW |
| 73 | 58 | 0.82 | SEP120693 | AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS PREM HC VOL 04 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 74 | 107 | 0.82 | OCT120777 | BEST OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG TP VOL 01 | $14.99 | ARC |
| 75 | 49 | 0.80 | MAR128057-M | ROCKETEER ADVENTURES HC VOL 02 | $24.99 | IDW |
| 76 | 156 | 0.80 | SEP121138 | BATTLE ANGEL ALITA LAST ORDER TP VOL 16 | $10.99 | RAN |
| 77 | 59 | 0.80 | SEP120692 | SPIDER-MAN DANGER ZONE PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 78 | 63 | 0.80 | OCT121185 | JUDGE DREDD GARTH ENNIS COLL TP (MR) | $19.99 | POC |
| 79 | 115 | 0.79 | SEP120713 | X-MEN LEGACY BACK TO SCHOOL TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 80 | 111 | 0.78 | SEP120702 | HALO TP FALL OF REACH INVASION | $16.99 | MAR |
| 81 | 65 | 0.78 | SEP120690 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN PREM HC VOL 11 FUTURE | $24.99 | MAR |
| 82 | 152 | 0.78 | SEP120711 | SPACE PUNISHER TP | $12.99 | MAR |
| 83 | 9 | 0.77 | JUL120634-M | MMW GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA HC VOL 06 | $74.99 | MAR |
| 84 | 56 | 0.76 | AUG120080 | STAR WARS OMNIBUS CLONE WARS TP VOL 03 REPUBLIC FALLS | $24.99 | DAR |
| 85 | 122 | 0.76 | AUG120059 | EERIE PRESENTS EL CID HC | $15.99 | DAR |
| 86 | 138 | 0.75 | SEP120264 | DOMINIQUE LAVEAU VOODOO CHILD TP VOL 01 (MR) | $14.99 | DC |
| 87 | 181 | 0.75 | AUG120088 | NGE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT TP VOL 12 | $9.99 | DAR |
| 88 | 70 | 0.74 | SEP120431 | COURIERS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP (MR) | $24.99 | IMA |
| 89 | 47 | 0.74 | MAR120749 | CURSED PIRATE GIRL HC VOL 01 | $24.95 | ARA |
| 90 | 139 | 0.74 | OCT120494 | THINK TANK TP | $14.99 | IMA |
| 91 | 88 | 0.74 | MAR120234 | BATMAN EARTH ONE HC | $22.99 | DC |
| 92 | 128 | 0.73 | SEP120238 | JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA OMEGA TP | $16.99 | DC |
| 93 | 147 | 0.73 | SEP120695 | JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY TP VOL 04 MANCHESTER GODS | $14.99 | MAR |
| 94 | 91 | 0.72 | OCT120375 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES CLASSICS TP VOL 03 | $19.99 | IDW |
| 95 | 149 | 0.71 | AUG120709 | DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE TP | $14.99 | MAR |
| 96 | 45 | 0.70 | SEP120688 | INCREDIBLE HULK BY JASON AARON HC VOL 02 | $34.99 | MAR |
| 97 | 161 | 0.70 | SEP120802 | MEGA MAN TP VOL 04 SPIRITUS EX MACHINA | $11.99 | ARC |
| 98 | 52 | 0.70 | AUG120787 | SPACE 1999 AFTERSHOCK & AWE | $24.95 | ARA |
| 99 | 187 | 0.69 | SEP121243 | BAKUMAN TP VOL 17 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 100 | 55 | 0.69 | SEP120691 | FANTASTIC FOUR BY JONATHAN HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 06 | $29.99 | MAR |
This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.
For retailers, Diamond offers the Top 300 Comics and Top 300 Graphic Novels sales charts on the Diamond Tools page of the Diamond Retailer Services website to provide more information about the industry's top selling publications.
Please note that comics marked with an asterisk have had their reported quantities reduced due to retailer returnability, and thus may rank lower on the charts than their actual sales would reflect.
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 dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, minus any copies that are distributed free of cost.
Please note that comics that were shipped to comic book retailers on December 28, 2012 with an on-sale date of January 2, 2013 were included in December's sales chart information.
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.
