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Publisher Market Shares: 2012

Marvel Comics was the leading publisher in both Retail Dollars and Unit Market Share based on total sales of comics, graphic novels and magazines to comic book specialty stores in 2012, according to Diamond Comic Distributors.

PUBLISHER MARKET SHARES
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in Calendar Year 2012

RETAIL MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 34.06%
DC COMICS 31.94%
IMAGE COMICS 7.31%
IDW PUBLISHING 5.57%
DARK HORSE COMICS 4.81%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 3.11%
BOOM! STUDIOS 1.53%
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD 1.15%
VIZ MEDIA 0.93%
AVATAR PRESS INC 0.89%
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 0.78%
RANDOM HOUSE 0.76%
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 0.69%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 0.53%
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS 0.47%
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP USA 0.44%
ONI PRESS INC. 0.41%
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS 0.25%
BONGO COMICS 0.25%
ASPEN MLT INC 0.23%
OTHER NON-TOP 20 3.88%
 
UNIT MARKET SHARE
PUBLISHER SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 37.59%
DC COMICS 36.75%
IMAGE COMICS 6.60%
IDW PUBLISHING 4.36%
DARK HORSE COMICS 3.80%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 3.00%
BOOM! STUDIOS 1.53%
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 0.74%
AVATAR PRESS INC 0.73%
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 0.69%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 0.58%
VIZ MEDIA 0.39%
BONGO COMICS 0.31%
ASPEN MLT INC 0.26%
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD 0.26%
ONI PRESS INC. 0.20%
RANDOM HOUSE 0.19%
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP USA 0.13%
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS 0.09%
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS 0.07%
OTHER NON-TOP 20 1.73%

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in Calendar Year 2012

  DOLLARS UNITS
YEAR 2012 VS. YEAR 2011
COMICS 14.94% 11.41%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 14.26% 13.66%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 14.72% 11.58%

 

Dollar Market Shares for 2012
Dollar Market Share – 2012
Unit Market Shares for 2012
Unit Market Share– 2012

 

This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.

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.