We're now in the second week of 2014 but Diamond Comic Distributors have revealed the Top-Selling Comics and Publisher Market Share of 2013. I dont know about you but I like data. Big thanks to Diamond for sharing this information.
It turns out Marvel was the top publisher of the year.
Marvel may be the top publisher but they did not have the top selling single issue comic of the year. Although they did have an impressive six of the top ten.
THE WALKING DEAD #115 was the best selling comic. It marked the 10th-anniversary of the series and was the first issue of the current All Out War storyline. There were also twelve different covers so that might have helped a little.
What's interesting is if you look at the graphic novels and trade paperback sales. Marvel and DC Comics may control the single issue market but we all know not everyone buys comics by the single issues and at comic shops. Diamond also provided a list of the top ten graphic novels and trades.
How do they calculate this information?
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 comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, and other specialty stores.
Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during January to December 2013, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.
What are your thoughts on this information? Would you like to see us post this data more often as Diamond makes it available?