Top 100 Graphic Novels: April 2012
Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye, the first volume of the best-selling zombie series published by Image Comics and the basis of the top-rated AMC series, was the best-selling graphic novel to comics retailers in April 2012.
In total, Image Comics had eight of the month's top ten best-selling graphic novels, seven of those eight Walking Dead volumes. Miles Behind Us, the second volume, ranked #2; Safety Behind Bars, the third volume, ranked #3; Best Defense, the fifth volume, ranked #7; We Find Ourselves, the fifteenth volume, ranked #8; Hearts Desire, the fourth volume, ranked #9; and Sorrowful Life, the sixth volume, ranked #10. Image Comics' other volume in April's graphic novels top ten was Chew Volume 5: Major League Chew, which ranked #5 for the month.
DC Comics rounded out the top ten with two titles. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's Flex Mentallo: Man of Muscle Mystery ranked #4. Chris Roberson, Bill Willingham, and Shawn McManus' Cinderella: Fables are Forever, released from DC's Vertigo imprint, ranked #6.
Anthony Johnson and Wellington Alves revisited the story of Matt Murdock in Marvel Comics' Daredevil Season One hardcover graphic novel; the publisher's top-selling graphic novel in April, Daredevil Season One ranked #19.
Dark Horse Comics' top graphic novel in April was Abe Sapien Volume 2: The Devil Does Not Jest; the Hellboy spin-off by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and James Harren ranked #23.
IDW Publishing's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimate Collection Volume 2 was the publisher's top-selling graphic novel at #36.
TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in April 2012
QTY RANK |
DOLLAR RANK |
INDEX | ITEM CODE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
1 | 4 | 9.44 | JUL068351 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | IMA |
2 | 2 | 6.86 | SEP088204-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
3 | 5 | 5.38 | NOV082245 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $14.99 | IMA |
4 | 3 | 4.48 | OCT110285 | FLEX MENTALLO MAN OF MUSCLE MYSTERY DLX HC (MR) | $22.99 | DC |
5 | 12 | 4.27 | FEB120425 | CHEW TP VOL 05 MAJOR LEAGUE CHEW (MR) | $12.99 | IMA |
6 | 17 | 3.55 | JAN120331 | CINDERELLA FABLES ARE FOREVER TP (MR) | $14.99 | DC |
7 | 16 | 3.51 | SEP088206-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
8 | 18 | 3.42 | OCT110502 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 15 WE FIND OURSELVES (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
9 | 21 | 3.15 | SEP088205-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
10 | 22 | 3.11 | SEP088207-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
11 | 27 | 2.89 | NOV082242 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
12 | 28 | 2.81 | SEP088208-M | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
13 | 7 | 2.75 | DEC110291 | BATMAN INCORPORATED DELUXE HC VOL 01 | $29.99 | DC |
14 | 29 | 2.66 | JUN090332 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 10 WHAT WE BECOME | $14.99 | IMA |
15 | 30 | 2.53 | FEB082136 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
16 | 32 | 2.44 | APR110444 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 14 NO WAY OUT (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
17 | 35 | 2.33 | OCT090390 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 11 FEAR THE HUNTERS (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
18 | 38 | 2.31 | APR100438 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 12 LIFE AMONG THEM | $14.99 | IMA |
19 | 13 | 2.21 | JAN120730 | DAREDEVIL SEASON ONE PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
20 | 41 | 2.21 | SEP100413 | WALKING DEAD TP VOL 13 TOO FAR GONE (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
21 | 40 | 2.14 | FEB120650 | AVENGERS VS X-MEN ITS COMING TP | $19.99 | MAR |
22 | 9 | 2.13 | JAN120303 | BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 01 | $29.99 | DC |
23 | 31 | 1.99 | JAN120075 | ABE SAPIEN TP VOL 02 DEVIL DOES NOT JEST | $17.99 | DAR |
24 | 50 | 1.90 | FEB120467 | STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE TP VOL 01 (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
25 | 33 | 1.89 | FEB120670 | WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON PREM HC VOL 01 | $19.99 | MAR |
26 | 49 | 1.79 | FEB120684 | ULTIMATE COMICS X ORIGINS TP | $19.99 | MAR |
27 | 64 | 1.79 | JAN120753 | SPIDER-MAN RETURN OF ANTI-VENOM TP | $15.99 | MAR |
28 | 25 | 1.79 | FEB120457 | SEVERED HC (MR) | $24.99 | IMA |
29 | 37 | 1.79 | FEB120683 | ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 04 DOSM | $19.99 | MAR |
30 | 19 | 1.75 | JAN120304 | BATMAN NO MANS LAND TP VOL 02 | $29.99 | DC |
31 | 24 | 1.73 | DEC111207 | HARVEY PEKAR CLEVELAND HC | $21.99 | TOP |
32 | 88 | 1.70 | JAN121283 | BLEACH TP VOL 39 | $9.99 | VIZ |
33 | 42 | 1.67 | DEC110074 | DOLLHOUSE EPITAPHS TP VOL 01 | $18.99 | DAR |
34 | 62 | 1.63 | JAN120305 | BATMAN VENOM TP NEW EDITION | $14.99 | DC |
35 | 48 | 1.46 | JAN120099 | STAR WARS INVASION TP VOL 03 REVELATIONS | $18.99 | DAR |
36 | 6 | 1.46 | SEP110279 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ULT COLL HC VOL 02 | $49.99 | IDW |
37 | 58 | 1.45 | DEC110063 | MASS EFFECT TP VOL 03 INVASION | $16.99 | DAR |
38 | 36 | 1.43 | DEC110318 | BLACK ORCHID DELUXE EDITION HC (MR) | $24.99 | DC |
39 | 107 | 1.38 | FEB120677 | RED HULK HULK OF ARABIA TP | $14.99 | MAR |
40 | 83 | 1.38 | JAN120832 | ARCHIE MEETS KISS TP | $12.99 | ARC |
41 | 54 | 1.38 | JAN120307 | GOTHAM CENTRAL TP BOOK 04 CORRIGAN | $19.99 | DC |
42 | 56 | 1.36 | FEB120686 | PUNISHERMAX FRANK TP | $19.99 | MAR |
43 | 55 | 1.35 | OCT110255 | SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE SPECTRE TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | DC |
44 | 57 | 1.35 | JAN120306 | BATMAN GOTHAM SHALL BE JUDGED TP | $19.99 | DC |
45 | 97 | 1.34 | FEB120688 | X-MEN LEGACY LOST LEGIONS TP | $16.99 | MAR |
46 | 106 | 1.33 | FEB120687 | X-FACTOR TP VOL 13 HARD LABOR | $15.99 | MAR |
47 | 240 | 1.32 | FEB120673 | MU AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES COMIC READER TP #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
48 | 72 | 1.32 | FEB121207 | HIGH SCHOOL OF DEAD GN VOL 06 (MR) | $13.99 | HAC |
49 | 1 | 1.28 | NOV110597-M | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 | $99.99 | MAR |
50 | 251 | 1.26 | FEB120674 | MU AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES COMIC READER TP #2 | $3.99 | MAR |
51 | 60 | 1.24 | JAN120343 | SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING TP BOOK 01 (MR) | $19.99 | DC |
52 | 95 | 1.23 | FEB121204 | BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 09 | $11.99 | HAC |
53 | 104 | 1.23 | DEC110082 | OH MY GODDESS RTL TP VOL 41 | $12.99 | DAR |
54 | 65 | 1.20 | JAN120315 | SHOWCASE PRESENTS ALL STAR SQUADRON TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | DC |
55 | 8 | 1.19 | MAR092419 | WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR) | $59.99 | IMA |
56 | 66 | 1.19 | JAN120313 | SUPERMAN SECRETS OF THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE TP | $19.99 | DC |
57 | 68 | 1.17 | DEC110296 | SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE LOSERS TP VOL 01 | $19.99 | DC |
58 | 119 | 1.15 | JAN120721 | AVENGERS HAWKEYE SOLO TP | $16.99 | MAR |
59 | 70 | 1.15 | FEB120681 | DARK TOWER TP BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL | $19.99 | MAR |
60 | 112 | 1.14 | JAN120845 | SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 05 | $11.99 | ARC |
61 | 87 | 1.12 | FEB120685 | WOLVERINE WOLVERINE'S REVENGE TP | $16.99 | MAR |
62 | 52 | 1.12 | FEB120693 | X-MEN DARK PHOENIX SAGA TP | $24.99 | MAR |
63 | 123 | 1.11 | FEB120679 | DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE BIG BREAK TP | $16.99 | MAR |
64 | 115 | 1.10 | DEC110084 | GANTZ TP VOL 22 | $12.99 | DAR |
65 | 14 | 1.10 | DEC110322 | 100 BULLETS HC BOOK 02 (MR) | $49.99 | DC |
66 | 73 | 1.09 | JAN120314 | TEEN TITANS PRIME OF LIFE TP | $19.99 | DC |
67 | 15 | 1.09 | DEC110283 | LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT JIM APARO HC | $49.99 | DC |
68 | 44 | 1.06 | NOV110204 | I VAMPIRE TP | $29.99 | DC |
69 | 80 | 1.05 | FEB120696 | ESSENTIAL AVENGERS TP VOL 08 | $19.99 | MAR |
70 | 46 | 1.04 | JAN120309 | HITMAN TP VOL 06 FOR TOMORROW | $29.99 | DC |
71 | 90 | 1.04 | JAN120926 | SIMPSONS CONFIDENTIAL TP | $15.99 | BON |
72 | 146 | 1.03 | JAN121284 | ROSARIO VAMPIRE SEASON II TP VOL 08 | $9.99 | VIZ |
73 | 71 | 1.03 | DEC111153 | SIXTH GUN TP VOL 03 | $19.99 | ONI |
74 | 100 | 1.00 | FEB120668 | X-MEN WAR MACHINES PREM HC | $19.99 | MAR |
75 | 84 | 1.00 | FEB120669 | PUNISHERMAX HOMELESS PREM HC | $19.99 | MAR |
76 | 11 | 0.98 | NOV110599-M | MMW CAPTAIN AMERICA HC VOL 06 | $59.99 | MAR |
77 | 39 | 0.98 | JUL108204-M | WALKING DEAD HC VOL 02 (MR) | $34.99 | IMA |
78 | 102 | 0.97 | JAN120094 | FEAR AGENT TP VOL 06 | $16.99 | DAR |
79 | 81 | 0.97 | FEB120663 | FEAR ITSELF WOLVERINE NEW MUTANTS PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
80 | 156 | 0.97 | JAN121282 | BAKUMAN TP VOL 10 | $9.99 | VIZ |
81 | 159 | 0.97 | FEB120678 | SIX GUNS TP | $14.99 | MAR |
82 | 103 | 0.96 | FEB120662 | ASTONISHING X-MEN EXALTED PREM HC | $19.99 | MAR |
83 | 105 | 0.94 | NOV070226 | BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC | $17.99 | DC |
84 | 127 | 0.91 | JAN120322 | GEARS OF WAR TP BOOK 02 | $14.99 | DC |
85 | 166 | 0.89 | JAN121281 | BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 07 | $9.99 | VIZ |
86 | 78 | 0.87 | MAY090178 | BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP | $24.99 | DC |
87 | 134 | 0.86 | FEB120690 | DARKHAWK CLASSIC TP VOL 01 | $24.99 | MAR |
88 | 77 | 0.86 | FEB120666 | FEAR ITSELF UNCANNY X-FORCE DEEP PREM HC | $24.99 | MAR |
89 | 114 | 0.84 | FEB120448 | INFINITE HORIZON TP | $17.99 | IMA |
90 | 10 | 0.84 | DEC110292 | NEW TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 | $75.00 | DC |
91 | 86 | 0.84 | DEC110314 | SHOOTERS HC (MR) | $22.99 | DC |
92 | 47 | 0.83 | JUL108203-M | WALKING DEAD HC VOL 01 (MR) | $34.99 | IMA |
93 | 94 | 0.83 | FEB121219 | GRIMM FAIRY TALES DIFFERENT SEASONS TP VOL 02 | $17.99 | ZEN |
94 | 61 | 0.82 | OCT110250 | STORMWATCH HC VOL 01 | $29.99 | DC |
95 | 96 | 0.80 | DEC111155 | COURTNEY CRUMRIN SPEC ED HC VOL 01 | $19.99 | ONI |
96 | 149 | 0.78 | JAN121286 | NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 20 | $12.99 | VIZ |
97 | 69 | 0.78 | JAN120310 | JACK KIRBYS FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 | $29.99 | DC |
98 | 144 | 0.78 | NOV118095-M | BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP | $19.99 | DC |
99 | 67 | 0.78 | FEB121003 | JERUSALEM CHRONICLES FROM THE HOLY CITY HC (MR) | $24.95 | DRA |
100 | 113 | 0.77 | FEB058406-M | WATCHMEN TP | $19.99 | 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.
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.