Top 100 Comics: December 2012
Trapped in Doctor Octopus' body, Peter Parker wages a desperate final battle against his old enemy in Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos' Amazing Spider-Man #700, the oversized anniversary issue of the long-running series from Marvel Comics and the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in December 2012.
In total, Marvel Comics had six titles in December's top ten, all save Amazing Spider-Man #700 part of the Marvel NOW! initiative. Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena's Avengers #1 ranked #2, and their Avengers #2 ranked #6. Dennis Hopeless and Salvador Larroca's Cable and X-Force #1 ranked #7. Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen's All-New X-Men #3 ranked #9, and Daniel Way and Steve Dillon's Thunderbolts #1 ranked #10.
DC Comics rounded out the top ten with four titles. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman #15, part of the "Death of the Family" storyline, was the publisher's top book at #3. Geoff Johns and Ivas Reis' Justice League #15, the first chapter of the "Throne of Atlantis" crossover, ranked #4. John Layman and Jason Fabok's Detective Comics #15 ranked #5. Finally, Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's Batman and Robin #15 ranked #8.
Among other Premier Publishers, Dark Horse Comics' top book for December was Mike Mignola's Hellboy at Hell #1 at #76 for the month.
IDW Publishing's My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #2, based on the Hasbro property and fan-favorite cartoon, ranked #54.
Finally, Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead #105 was Image Comics' top-selling book in December at #28.
TOP 100 COMIC BOOKS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in December 2012
QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
1 | 1 | 132.59 | OCT120626-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700 | $7.99 | MAR |
2 | 2 | 123.37 | SEP120526-M | AVENGERS #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
3 | 3 | 100.00 | OCT120183-M | BATMAN #15 | $3.99 | DC |
4 | 4 | 75.92 | OCT120147-M | JUSTICE LEAGUE #15 | $3.99 | DC |
5 | 5 | 70.20 | OCT120187-M | DETECTIVE COMICS #15 | $3.99 | DC |
6 | 6 | 61.95 | OCT120565-M | AVENGERS #2 | $3.99 | MAR |
7 | 8 | 59.60 | OCT120568-M | CABLE AND X-FORCE #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
8 | 11 | 59.30 | OCT120192 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #15 | $2.99 | DC |
9 | 7 | 55.29 | OCT120589-M | ALL NEW X-MEN #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
10 | 16 | 55.02 | OCT120559-M | THUNDERBOLTS #1 | $2.99 | MAR |
11 | 9 | 53.22 | OCT120591-M | ALL NEW X-MEN #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
12 | 13 | 50.11 | OCT120152-M | AQUAMAN #15 | $2.99 | DC |
13 | 17 | 49.71 | OCT120193 | BATGIRL #15 | $2.99 | DC |
14 | 10 | 49.42 | OCT120623 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #699 | $3.99 | MAR |
15 | 20 | 49.09 | OCT120199 | NIGHTWING #15 | $2.99 | DC |
16 | 19 | 49.06 | OCT120201-M | GREEN LANTERN #15 | $2.99 | DC |
17 | 27 | 45.33 | OCT120229-M | TEEN TITANS #15 | $2.99 | DC |
18 | 29 | 43.71 | OCT120624 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #699.1 | $2.99 | MAR |
19 | 38 | 42.64 | OCT120577-M | AVENGERS ARENA #1 | $2.99 | MAR |
20 | 14 | 42.47 | OCT120599-M | CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 | $3.99 | MAR |
21 | 31 | 42.29 | OCT120200 | RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15 | $2.99 | DC |
22 | 15 | 42.00 | OCT120609-M | INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #2 | $3.99 | MAR |
23 | 12 | 40.44 | OCT120168-M | ACTION COMICS #15 | $3.99 | DC |
24 | 35 | 39.96 | OCT120190-M | BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #15 | $2.99 | DC |
25 | 41 | 39.73 | OCT120597-M | DEADPOOL #3 | $2.99 | MAR |
26 | 18 | 38.95 | OCT120603-M | IRON MAN #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
27 | 43 | 38.54 | OCT120593-M | FANTASTIC FOUR #2 | $2.99 | MAR |
28 | 36 | 38.12 | OCT120547 | WALKING DEAD #105 (MR) | $2.99 | IMA |
29 | 23 | 38.08 | OCT120575-M | CABLE AND X-FORCE #2 | $3.99 | MAR |
30 | 39 | 37.69 | OCT120228 | SUICIDE SQUAD #15 | $2.99 | DC |
31 | 21 | 37.41 | OCT120606-M | IRON MAN #4 | $3.99 | MAR |
32 | 22 | 37.41 | OCT120583-M | A PLUS X #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
33 | 25 | 36.65 | OCT120611-M | THOR GOD OF THUNDER #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
34 | 42 | 35.90 | OCT120162-M | EARTH 2 #7 | $2.99 | DC |
35 | 24 | 35.23 | SEP120131-M | BEFORE WATCHMEN RORSCHACH #3 (MR) | $3.99 | DC |
36 | 44 | 34.73 | OCT120179-M | BATMAN INCORPORATED #6 | $2.99 | DC |
37 | 45 | 33.80 | OCT120172-M | SUPERMAN #15 | $2.99 | DC |
38 | 47 | 33.58 | OCT120563-M | THUNDERBOLTS #2 | $2.99 | MAR |
39 | 28 | 33.04 | AUG120143-M | BEFORE WATCHMEN COMEDIAN #4 (MR) | $3.99 | DC |
40 | 30 | 32.27 | SEP120134-M | BEFORE WATCHMEN DR MANHATTAN #3 (MR) | $3.99 | DC |
41 | 48 | 31.56 | OCT120204-M | GREEN LANTERN CORPS #15 | $2.99 | DC |
42 | 33 | 31.49 | OCT120662-M | UNCANNY X-FORCE #35 | $3.99 | MAR |
43 | 32 | 31.42 | OCT120134-M | BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #5 (MR) | $3.99 | DC |
44 | 26 | 30.96 | OCT120144-M | BEFORE WATCHMEN NITE OWL #4 (RES) (MR) | $3.99 | DC |
45 | 53 | 30.41 | OCT120595-M | FF #2 | $2.99 | MAR |
46 | 49 | 30.30 | OCT120158-M | FLASH #15 | $2.99 | DC |
47 | 34 | 30.12 | OCT120660 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #22 | $3.99 | MAR |
48 | 54 | 29.96 | OCT120601-M | X-MEN LEGACY #3 | $2.99 | MAR |
49 | 52 | 29.78 | OCT120206-M | GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #15 | $2.99 | DC |
50 | 57 | 28.38 | OCT120581-M | AVENGERS ARENA #2 | $2.99 | MAR |
51 | 55 | 27.92 | OCT120541 | SAGA #8 (MR) | $2.99 | IMA |
52 | 56 | 27.47 | OCT120156-M | WONDER WOMAN #15 | $2.99 | DC |
53 | 58 | 27.38 | OCT120625 | AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #15.1 | $2.99 | MAR |
54 | 37 | 26.29 | OCT120361-M | MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #2 | $3.99 | IDW |
55 | 61 | 25.78 | OCT120208-M | RED LANTERNS #15 | $2.99 | DC |
56 | 40 | 24.66 | OCT120140-M | BEFORE WATCHMEN MOLOCH #2 (MR) [*] | $3.99 | DC |
57 | 46 | 24.37 | OCT120639 | ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #18 | $3.99 | MAR |
58 | 65 | 23.65 | OCT120647 | DAREDEVIL #21 | $2.99 | MAR |
59 | 66 | 23.11 | OCT120198 | CATWOMAN #15 | $2.99 | DC |
60 | 69 | 23.07 | OCT120194-M | BATWOMAN #15 | $2.99 | DC |
61 | 71 | 22.69 | OCT120620 | HAWKEYE #5 | $2.99 | MAR |
62 | 50 | 22.67 | OCT120665-M | WOLVERINE #317 | $3.99 | MAR |
63 | 51 | 22.46 | OCT120615-M | AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #10 | $3.99 | MAR |
64 | 72 | 22.38 | OCT120217 | SWAMP THING #15 | $2.99 | DC |
65 | 73 | 22.06 | OCT120621 | HAWKEYE #6 | $2.99 | MAR |
66 | 76 | 21.12 | OCT120216 | ANIMAL MAN #15 | $2.99 | DC |
67 | 75 | 21.12 | OCT120164-M | WORLDS FINEST #7 | $2.99 | DC |
68 | 68 | 20.80 | OCT120176-M | TALON #3 [*] | $2.99 | DC |
69 | 224 | 20.42 | OCT120874-M | DEATHMATCH #1 | $1.00 | BOO |
70 | 77 | 20.33 | OCT120175 | SUPERGIRL #15 | $2.99 | DC |
71 | 59 | 20.29 | OCT120619 | SECRET AVENGERS #35 | $3.99 | MAR |
72 | 60 | 19.35 | OCT120674 | X-MEN #39 | $3.99 | MAR |
73 | 62 | 19.31 | OCT120648-M | DAREDEVIL END OF DAYS #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
74 | 80 | 18.98 | SEP120504-M | HAPPY #3 | $2.99 | IMA |
75 | 63 | 18.63 | OCT120634 | AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #15 | $3.99 | MAR |
76 | 85 | 18.54 | OCT120009-M | HELLBOY IN HELL #1 | $2.99 | DAR |
77 | 81 | 18.28 | OCT120214 | JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #15 | $2.99 | DC |
78 | 83 | 18.25 | OCT120640 | ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #18.1 | $2.99 | MAR |
79 | 82 | 18.22 | OCT120174 | SUPERBOY #15 | $2.99 | DC |
80 | 64 | 17.79 | OCT120641 | ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #19 | $3.99 | MAR |
81 | 84 | 17.58 | OCT120635 | SCARLET SPIDER #12 | $2.99 | MAR |
82 | 67 | 17.33 | OCT120664 | ASTONISHING X-MEN #57 | $3.99 | MAR |
83 | 87 | 17.00 | OCT120636 | SCARLET SPIDER #12.1 | $2.99 | MAR |
84 | 70 | 16.96 | OCT120245 | LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #3 | $3.99 | DC |
85 | 89 | 16.87 | OCT120633 | VENOM #28 | $2.99 | MAR |
86 | 90 | 16.80 | SEP120640 | PUNISHER WAR ZONE #2 | $2.99 | MAR |
87 | 74 | 16.36 | OCT120638 | ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #20 | $3.99 | MAR |
88 | 98 | 15.85 | OCT120197 | BIRDS OF PREY #15 | $2.99 | DC |
89 | 99 | 15.82 | OCT120671 | GAMBIT #7 | $2.99 | MAR |
90 | 100 | 15.80 | SEP120644 | WINTER SOLDIER #13 | $2.99 | MAR |
91 | 96 | 15.77 | OCT120017-M | BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #16 | $2.99 | DAR |
92 | 120 | 14.85 | OCT120613-M | JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #647 | $2.99 | MAR |
93 | 105 | 14.29 | OCT120669 | X-FACTOR #248 | $2.99 | MAR |
94 | 109 | 14.10 | OCT120239-M | JSA LIBERTY FILES THE WHISTLING SKULL #1 | $2.99 | DC |
95 | 113 | 13.99 | OCT120670 | X-FACTOR #249 | $2.99 | MAR |
96 | 101 | 13.88 | OCT120210-M | PHANTOM STRANGER #3 [*] | $2.99 | DC |
97 | 112 | 13.86 | NOV120039 | HELLBOY IN HELL #2 | $2.99 | DAR |
98 | 125 | 13.72 | OCT120617-M | RED SHE-HULK #60 | $2.99 | MAR |
99 | 114 | 13.64 | OCT120166 | GREEN ARROW #15 | $2.99 | DC |
100 | 116 | 13.58 | OCT120622 | DARK AVENGERS #184 | $2.99 | 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.