It looks like Marvel PR has been leaning on Diamond Comic Distributors’ press folks a little. Do I detect the hand of Marvel SVP David Gabriel in the opening line of their presentation for October direct market sales and marketshare?
Not with the lead that Big Trouble in Little China/Escape from New York #1 from Boom! was the most-ordered comic book through the North American direct market in October (which is was, thanks to Loot Crate) but that “The Marvel universe’s teenaged heroes form their own super-team in the wake of Civil War II in Mark Waid and Humberto Ramos’ Champions #1 from Marvel Comics, the best-selling comic book of October 2016 in terms of dollars invoiced, while BOOM! Studios’ Big Trouble in Little China/Escape from New York #1, a crossover between two classic John Carpenter films starring Kurt Russell, was October’s best-selling comic book by units sold.”
Gabriel!!!!
Because, yes, Marvel was denied the chance of saying that the launch of Champions #1 was the best selling comicin the month of October, despite all the work Marvel did to push numbers up, plenty of exclusive covers for retailers, added to special deals for certain retailers, if they would only up their numbers. Reportedly, Marvel got over 400,000 pre-orders for the comic, and then Loot Crate came along with their half a million subscribers and knocked Champions #1 off its perch with a particularly cutting stare.
Aside from that, though, the Marvel news was stellar!
We’d been reporting how DC Comics had humiliated Marvel Comics in recent months regarding marketshare, taking a lead on them, month after month, after a long period where Marvel had been at the top.
But we also stated that Marvel looked like they were heading to turn things around. And in October, they have done just that.
Marvel Comics was October’s top publisher with a 35.89% dollar share – the money brought in – and a 36.58% unit share – the actual amount of comics sold.
That’s a marked improvement on September’s figures of 31.1% and 30.75%, up four to six points.
While DC Comics drops down to 30.70% dollar share and a 34.76% unit share. In September they were on 39.27% and 44.59% respectively, an eight to ten point drop. This is still a much improved performance from before DC Rebirth but, as the returnable titles start to drop away, this may be more like the ongoing status quo. Marvel ahead but only just…
But it wasn’t just the launch of Champions that did well for Marvel at second place, but Doctor Strange And The Sorcerors Supreme. Ironically, that was included in the Funko Marvel Collectors Corps box… which doesn’t have anywhere near the subscribers that Loot Crate does.
The success of these titles, and Dark Knight III, pushed the traditional chart-topping Batman monthly title down to fifth and sixth place. And with Civil War II and Darth Vader, Marvel took four places in the top ten, far more than they have achieved in recent months. DC were reduced to four, far fewer than in recent month. And The Walking Dead from Image rounded off the top ten. Dark Horse Comics’ Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse #1 was their top book at #73, and IDW Publishing’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #2 was their top book at #130.
Comic book sales were also up 18.38% between September and October, both four week months. And looking at the year to date, comics sales are up almost 3% on 2015.
There looks like there’s some more spin on the graphic novels list with the reprint comic Champions: No Time For Losers #1 priced at $7.99 being counted as a graphic novel, against Diamond’s usual rules, knocking The Wicked + The Divine Vol 4 into second place. Again, I expect that there were “conversations” before this list went public…
There are those that complain that hardly any of the Big Trouble in Little China/Escape from New York #1 copies counted actually sold in comic stores. To which I would counter that, according to retailer reports, it was a similar story with Champions. At least Big Trouble in Little China/Escape from New York will actually get into readers’ hands, rather then holed up in the stock room, ordered for bigger discounts and exclusive variants to flip on eBay.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 35.89% | 36.58% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 30.70% | 34.76% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 9.45% | 8.83% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 4.70% | 3.44% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.47% | 2.27% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.85% | 5.55% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.00% | 1.54% |
| TITAN COMICS | 1.23% | 1.13% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0.88% | 0.29% |
| ONI PRESS | 0.81% | 0.58% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.00% | 5.02% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| OCTOBER 2016 VS. SEPTEMBER 2016 | ||
| COMICS | 18.42% | 18.38% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -7.01% | -9.67% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 10.69% | 16.23% |
| TOYS | -1.07% | -26.26% |
| OCTOBER 2016 VS. OCTOBER 2015 | ||
| COMICS | 5.74% | 13.61% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -10.40% | -5.82% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 1.09% | 12.23% |
| TOYS | -15.81% | -23.92% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2016 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2015 | ||
| COMICS | 3.59% | 2.86% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -0.01% | -1.28% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.48% | 2.52% |
| TOYS | -5.05% | -7.94% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA/ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK #1 | $3.99 | AUG161297-M | BOO |
| 2 | CHAMPIONS #1 | $4.99 | AUG160733-M | MAR |
| 3 | DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME #1 | $3.99 | AUG160798-M | MAR |
| 4 | DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #6 | $5.99 | JUN160290-M | DC |
| 5 | BATMAN #8 | $2.99 | AUG160197-M | DC |
| 6 | BATMAN #9 | $2.99 | AUG160203-M | DC |
| 7 | CIVIL WAR II #6 | $4.99 | JUL160889-M | MAR |
| 8 | DARTH VADER #25 | $5.99 | JUN160929-M | MAR |
| 9 | ALL-STAR BATMAN #3 [*] | $4.99 | AUG160186-M | DC |
| 10 | THE WALKING DEAD #159 (MR) | $2.99 | AUG160675-M | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | CHAMPIONS: NO TIME FOR LOSERS #1 | $7.99 | AUG160750 | MAR |
| 2 | THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOL. 4: RISING ACTION TP (MR) | $14.99 | JUL160868 | IMA |
| 3 | EAST OF WEST VOLUME 6 TP (MR) | $14.99 | JUL160823 | IMA |
| 4 | TOKYO GHOST VOLUME 2 TP (MR) | $14.99 | JUL160853 | IMA |
| 5 | LOW VOLUME 3: SHORE OF THE DYING LIGHT TP (MR) | $14.99 | MAY160689 | IMA |
| 6 | UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL BEATS UP THE MARVEL UNIVERSE HC | $24.99 | JUN160947 | MAR |
| 7 | DOCTOR STRANGE: FLIGHT OF BONES TP | $24.99 | JUL161070 | MAR |
| 8 | COLOR YOUR OWN STAR WARS TP | $9.99 | JUL161075 | MAR |
| 9 | TREES VOLUME 2 TP (MR) | $12.99 | NOV150698 | IMA |
| 10 | BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS BOOK & MASK SET | $39.99 | APR160376 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | SERENITY ADULT COLORING BOOK TP | $14.99 | JUL160124 | DAR |
| 2 | BAIT: OFF-COLOR STORIES FOR YOU TO COLOR HC | $19.99 | AUG160017 | DAR |
| 3 | THE ART OF ATARI HC | $39.99 | JUL161467 | DE |
| 4 | THE WALKING DEAD: RICK GRIMES ADULT COLORING BOOK (MR) | $14.99 | JUL160872 | IMA |
| 5 | AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER ADULT COLORING BOOK TP | $14.99 | JUL160111 | DAR |
| 6 | THE ART OF FIRE EMBLEM: AWAKENING HC | $39.99 | APR160139 | DAR |
| 7 | DC COMICS ENCYCLOPEDIA UPDATED HC | $40.00 | AUG162215 | DK |
| 8 | MOUSE GUARD COLORING BOOK | $14.99 | JUN161233 | BOO |
| 9 | DC SUPER HEROES: BIG BOOK OF GIRL POWER HC | $16.99 | JUN162064 | POC |
| 10 | DC SUPER HEROES: BIG BOOK OF SUPERPOWERS HC | $16.99 | JUN162065 | POC |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES: DELUXE BATMOBILE | FEB160290 | DC |
| 2 | THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK BETWEEN WORLDS: LINK FIGMA DX | NOV158470 | GOO |
| 3 | MARVEL: SPIDER-GWEN BISHOUJO STATUE | MAR162521 | KOT |
| 4 | DC COMICS: THE NEW 52: JUSTICE LEAGUE FIGURE 7-PACK BOX SET | NOV138235 | DC |
| 5 | THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK BETWEEN WORLDS LINK FIGMA | NOV158469 | GOO |
| 6 | MARVEL PREMIUM COLLECTION: SPIDER-GWEN STATUE | APR162612 | DST |
| 7 | MARVEL GALLERY: DEADPOOL PVC FIGURE | JUN162394 | DST |
| 8 | STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS: C-3PO & R2-D2 WITH BB-8 ARTFX+ STATUE 3-PACK | DEC152336 | KOT |
| 9 | BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES: BATMAN & ROBIN WITH BATSIGNAL 2-PACK | JUN160386 | DC |
| 10 | BATMAN V SUPERMAN: SUPERMAN MAF EX FIGURE | NOV158137 | MED |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES HEROCLIX: HEROES IN A HALF SHELL | AUG163181 | NEC |
| 2 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: KALADESH BOOSTER PACKS | AUG163175 | WIZ |
| 3 | BACK TO THE FUTURE: OUTATIME DICE GAME | MAR160336 | IDW |
| 4 | GAME OF THRONES RISK | JUN152759 | USA |
| 5 | GAME OF THRONES MONOPOLY | APR152735 | USA |
| 6 | BED WED DEAD: A GAME OF DIRTY DECISIONS CARD GAME | JUN160573 | IDW |
| 7 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: KALADESH BUNDLE PACK | AUG163176 | WIZ |
| 8 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: NICK FURY AGENT OF SHIELD BOOSTER BRICK | MAY152783 | NEC |
| 9 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES HEROCLIX: HEROES IN A HALF SHELL FAST FORCES 6-PACK | AUG163182 | NEC |
| 10 | ARCANE ACADEMY CARD GAME | JUN160572 | IDW |
Marvel Takes October 2016 Marketshare Lead From DC, But Loot Crate Denies Them Top Spot
via http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/11/11/marvel-takes-october-2016-marketshare-lead-dc-loot-crate-denies-top-spot/
Rich Johnston
