Top 100 Graphic Novels: April 2013
Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye, the first volume of the best-selling Image Comics zombie series and the basis for a top-rated television series from AMC, returned to the top of the sales charts in April for the first time since December as the best-selling graphic novel to the direct market for the month.
In total, Image Comics had four titles in the top ten. Jonathan Hickman, Nick Pitarra and Jordie Bellaire's The Manhattan Projects Volume 2 ranked #2. Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson's Happy ranked #3. Finally, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' Saga Volume 1 ranked #4.
DC Comics had five titles in the top ten, led by Sean Murphy's Punk Rock Jesus from their Vertigo imprint at #5. Also in the top ten were Batman: Detective Comics Volume 1: Faces of Death at #6, Batman: Detective Comics Volume 2: Scare Tactics at #7, Batman: The Killing Joke Special Edition at #8, and Swamp Thing Volume 2: Family Tree at #9.
Rounding out the top ten, Marvel Comic's Hawkeye Volume 1: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction and David Aja ranked #10.
Among the other premier publishers, Dark Horse Comics' top book in April was Aliens: Inhuman Condition, an original graphic novel by John Layman (Chew) and Sam Kieth (The Maxx), at #26.
Finally, IDW Publishing's top graphic novel for April was Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness, a prequel to the new film Star Trek Into Darkness, at #14.
TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in April 2013
| QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | 4 | 5.24 | NOV128157-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 2 | 7 | 3.79 | JAN130500 | MANHATTAN PROJECTS TP VOL 02 | $14.99 | IMA |
| 3 | 17 | 3.65 | FEB130420 | HAPPY TP (MR) | $12.99 | IMA |
| 4 | 34 | 3.47 | AUG120491 | SAGA TP VOL 01 | $9.99 | IMA |
| 5 | 6 | 3.44 | JAN130330 | PUNK ROCK JESUS TP (MR) | $16.99 | DC |
| 6 | 8 | 3.32 | JAN130296 | BATMAN DETECTIVE TP VOL 01 FACES OF DEATH (N52) | $16.99 | DC |
| 7 | 2 | 3.13 | DEC120324 | BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 02 SCARE TACTICS (N52) | $29.99 | DC |
| 8 | 11 | 3.12 | NOV070226 | BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC | $17.99 | DC |
| 9 | 20 | 2.89 | JAN130301 | SWAMP THING TP VOL 02 FAMILY TREE (N52) | $14.99 | DC |
| 10 | 19 | 2.77 | DEC120744 | HAWKEYE TP VOL 01 MY LIFE AS WEAPON NOW | $16.99 | MAR |
| 11 | 25 | 2.68 | JAN130507 | MORNING GLORIES TP VOL 04 TRUANTS | $14.99 | IMA |
| 12 | 26 | 2.53 | SEP088204 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US | $14.99 | IMA |
| 13 | 9 | 2.22 | JAN130772 | AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP VS | $24.99 | MAR |
| 14 | 22 | 2.13 | FEB130270 | STAR TREK COUNTDOWN TO DARKNESS TP | $17.99 | IDW |
| 15 | 15 | 2.10 | JUL110251 | BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 16 | 13 | 2.07 | JAN130755 | UNCANNY AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 01 RED SHADOW NOW | $24.99 | MAR |
| 17 | 16 | 1.98 | JAN130757 | AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 01 AVENGERS WORLD | $24.99 | MAR |
| 18 | 41 | 1.96 | NOV082245 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $14.99 | IMA |
| 19 | 45 | 1.95 | JAN130302 | WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 01 LOST DAUGHTERS (N52) | $14.99 | DC |
| 20 | 28 | 1.91 | JAN130779 | UNCANNY X-FORCE TP VOL 06 FINAL EXECUTION BOOK 1 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 21 | 47 | 1.91 | JAN130761 | IRON MAN EXTREMIS TP NEW PTG | $14.99 | MAR |
| 22 | 62 | 1.82 | JAN131200 | SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 10 | $10.99 | RAN |
| 23 | 51 | 1.80 | JAN130314 | SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 TP VOL 01 THE GUARDIAN | $14.99 | DC |
| 24 | 163 | 1.77 | NOV090539 | DARK TOWER FALL OF GILEAD PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 25 | 162 | 1.77 | SEP072167 | DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 26 | 83 | 1.76 | DEC120054 | ALIENS HC INHUMAN CONDITION | $10.99 | DAR |
| 27 | 165 | 1.75 | JUN082298 | DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 28 | 21 | 1.74 | DEC120736 | IRON MAN SEASON ONE PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 29 | 104 | 1.73 | FEB110651 | DARK AVENGERS HC | $49.99 | MAR |
| 30 | 170 | 1.67 | MAY100674 | DARK TOWER PREM HC BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL | $24.99 | MAR |
| 31 | 59 | 1.66 | JAN130297 | BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 02 YOUR KISS MIGHT KILL (N52) | $14.99 | DC |
| 32 | 56 | 1.66 | SEP120449 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 17 SOMETHING TO FEAR (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 33 | 174 | 1.65 | JAN092437 | DARK TOWER TREACHERY PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 34 | 52 | 1.64 | JAN130759 | FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 01 NEW DEPARTURE NEW ARRIVALS | $15.99 | MAR |
| 35 | 36 | 1.59 | DEC120086 | SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 13 | $19.99 | DAR |
| 36 | 39 | 1.59 | JAN130309 | BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED TP NEW PTG | $19.99 | DC |
| 37 | 30 | 1.59 | MAY090178 | BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 38 | 108 | 1.59 | NOV120020 | AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 04 SEARCH PART 1 | $10.99 | DAR |
| 39 | 65 | 1.59 | JAN130295 | DIAL H TP VOL 01 INTO YOU (N52) | $14.99 | DC |
| 40 | 31 | 1.57 | JUN110717-M | FANTASTIC FOUR BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 | $125.00 | MAR |
| 41 | 66 | 1.54 | SEP088205 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 42 | 87 | 1.54 | JAN130325 | TINY TITANS TP VOL 08 AW YEAH TITANS | $12.99 | DC |
| 43 | 32 | 1.49 | JAN130756 | IRON MAN PREM HC BELIEVE VOL 01 | $24.99 | MAR |
| 44 | 189 | 1.49 | JUN110730 | OZ HC OZMA OF OZ | $29.99 | MAR |
| 45 | 111 | 1.46 | JAN131321 | YU-GI-OH 5DS GN VOL 04 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 46 | 57 | 1.42 | SEP120922 | ADVENTURE TIME TP VOL 01 | $14.99 | BOO |
| 47 | 33 | 1.41 | DEC120333 | DC UNIVERSE BY ALAN MOORE TP | $24.99 | DC |
| 48 | 44 | 1.39 | DEC120059 | MIND MGMT HC VOL 01 | $19.99 | DAR |
| 49 | 120 | 1.38 | JAN131324 | BLEACH TP VOL 56 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 50 | 3 | 1.37 | MAR092419 | WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR) | $59.99 | IMA |
| 51 | 316 | 1.36 | AUG110700 | ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN DOSM PREM HC QUESADA CVR | $24.99 | MAR |
| 52 | 29 | 1.35 | JAN120303 | BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 01 | $29.99 | DC |
| 53 | 53 | 1.35 | DEC120068 | ANGEL & FAITH TP VOL 03 FAMILY REUNION | $17.99 | DAR |
| 54 | 143 | 1.35 | JUL110247 | ALL STAR SUPERMAN TP | $29.99 | DC |
| 55 | 37 | 1.34 | JAN130770 | OZ ROAD TO OZ HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 56 | 35 | 1.30 | NOV120014 | STAR WARS DARTH VADER & GHOST PRISON HC | $24.99 | DAR |
| 57 | 71 | 1.29 | MAY110713 | WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 | $99.99 | MAR |
| 58 | 88 | 1.28 | SEP088206 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 59 | 192 | 1.28 | JUN120225 | SUPERMAN EARTH ONE HC VOL 02 | $22.99 | DC |
| 60 | 27 | 1.28 | JAN130773 | AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP X-MEN LEGACY | $29.99 | MAR |
| 61 | 84 | 1.27 | OCT120252 | JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 01 ORIGIN (N52) | $16.99 | DC |
| 62 | 77 | 1.27 | JAN130781 | VENOM DEVILS PACK TP | $16.99 | MAR |
| 63 | 58 | 1.26 | JAN130315 | SUPERMAN SECRET IDENTITY TP NEW PTG | $19.99 | DC |
| 64 | 156 | 1.26 | JAN110820 | DEADPOOL HC VOL 01 | $39.99 | MAR |
| 65 | 80 | 1.25 | JAN130298 | FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE TP VOL 02 SECRETS DEAD (N52) | $16.99 | DC |
| 66 | 209 | 1.25 | JUN100127 | SUPERMAN EARTH ONE HC VOL 01 | $19.99 | DC |
| 67 | 81 | 1.24 | DEC120323 | BATMAN TP VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) | $16.99 | DC |
| 68 | 82 | 1.24 | JAN131306 | X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) TP VOL 02 ENTER NINJAK | $14.99 | VAL |
| 69 | 64 | 1.19 | DEC120051 | STAR WARS KNIGHT ERRANT TP VOL 03 ESCAPE | $18.99 | DAR |
| 70 | 46 | 1.17 | NOV120259 | BATMAN HC VOL 02 THE CITY OF OWLS (N52) | $24.99 | DC |
| 71 | 67 | 1.16 | DEC120747 | SCARLET SPIDER TP VOL 02 LONE STAR | $19.99 | MAR |
| 72 | 1 | 1.15 | JAN120420 | WILL EISNER SPIRIT ARTIST ED HC (NET) | $95.00 | IDW |
| 73 | 55 | 1.15 | FEB130361 | JUDGE DREDD (IDW) TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | IDW |
| 74 | 5 | 1.14 | AUG120324 | TMNT ULT COLL HC VOL 04 | $49.99 | IDW |
| 75 | 96 | 1.14 | JAN130760 | X-MEN LEGACY TP VOL 01 PRODIGAL | $15.99 | MAR |
| 76 | 105 | 1.13 | SEP088207 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (SEP088207) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 77 | 299 | 1.13 | JUL100672 | OZ MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ HC | $29.99 | MAR |
| 78 | 72 | 1.11 | JAN130778 | CAPTAIN AMERICA BY ED BRUBAKER TP VOL 03 | $19.99 | MAR |
| 79 | 154 | 1.10 | FEB131173 | TIGER & BUNNY GN VOL 01 | $9.99 | VIZ |
| 80 | 159 | 1.08 | FEB131168 | SHADOWMAN (VU) TP VOL 01 BIRTH RITES | $9.99 | VAL |
| 81 | 117 | 1.08 | FEB131197 | BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 13 | $11.99 | HAC |
| 82 | 61 | 1.05 | SEP120233 | JUSTICE LEAGUE HC VOL 02 THE VILLAINS JOURNEY (N52) | $24.99 | DC |
| 83 | 215 | 1.05 | DEC090579 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 01 | $39.99 | MAR |
| 84 | 127 | 1.05 | DEC120101 | OH MY GODDESS RTL TP VOL 44 | $12.99 | DAR |
| 85 | 40 | 1.05 | JAN130790 | ROCKET RACCOON AND GROOT COMPLETE COLLECTION TP | $29.99 | MAR |
| 86 | 23 | 1.05 | FEB130422 | INVINCIBLE HC VOL 08 ULTIMATE COLLECTION | $39.99 | IMA |
| 87 | 118 | 1.04 | JAN130780 | PUNISHER NIGHTMARE TP | $14.99 | MAR |
| 88 | 101 | 1.02 | NOV058130 | SUPERMAN RED SON TP | $17.99 | DC |
| 89 | 124 | 0.99 | SEP088208-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE | $14.99 | IMA |
| 90 | 331 | 0.98 | APR120245 | SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS HC VOL 01 SUPERMAN MEN OF STEEL | $24.99 | DC |
| 91 | 136 | 0.96 | OCT060163 | BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC | $14.99 | DC |
| 92 | 204 | 0.96 | MAY110730 | X-MEN X-CUTIONERS SONG HC | $49.99 | MAR |
| 93 | 132 | 0.96 | DEC120102 | GANTZ TP VOL 27 (MR) | $13.99 | DAR |
| 94 | 113 | 0.96 | JAN130316 | SUPERMAN BEYOND MAN OF TOMORROW TP | $16.99 | DC |
| 95 | 18 | 0.95 | DEC120363 | 100 BULLETS HC BOOK 04 (MR) | $49.99 | DC |
| 96 | 89 | 0.94 | JUL080124 | JOKER HC | $19.99 | DC |
| 97 | 142 | 0.94 | JUL120214 | NIGHTWING TP VOL 01 TRAPS AND TRAPEZES (N52) | $14.99 | DC |
| 98 | 310 | 0.94 | APR110693 | X-MEN AGE OF X HC | $29.99 | MAR |
| 99 | 554 | 0.94 | OCT120270 | SUPERMAN LAST SON OF KRYPTON TP | $19.99 | DC |
| 100 | 356 | 0.93 | NOV120270 | SUPERMAN FOR TOMORROW TP | $24.99 | DC |
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.
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.
