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Top 100 Comics: December 2012

The Cranberries -- I Still DoTrapped 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.