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Aggregated
1996 Comic Book Sales Figures
Comics Preordered by North American Comics Shops as Reported by Heroes World Distribution and Diamond Comic Distributors
Comics Preordered by North American Comics Shops as Reported by Heroes World Distribution and Diamond Comic Distributors
In 1996, comics sales to comics shops were mostly handled by three different major distributors: Diamond Comics Distributors, which was the exclusive comics-shop reseller of DC, Image, Dark Horse, and Acclaim comics; Heroes World Distribution, which was the distributor of Marvel comics; and Capital City Distribution, which sold miscellaneous other publishers until its acquisition by Diamond in late July.
In September 1996, with the market down to two distributors, I began a monthly tracking merging data from Heroes World with Diamond's reported figures. Before then, Heroes World did no reporting, and Diamond and Capital City (until its closure) produced their own top-seller lists. Spawn is thus probably not the top-seller in the industry in most months in the first part of the year, but Marvel sales are required before a definite top-seller can be named.
Capital published data through July, when it was purchased by Diamond. Capital City's charts in 1996 no longer ranked comics by unit sales, but rather by dollar sales — and combined with all its other non-comics products. It is difficult to tell which book sold the most units because the titles were not indexed. But the numbers are small in comparison to the rest of the comics market, with Kitchen Sink often the publisher of the top-selling title.
Follow these links to the rankings and, where available, estimates for preorders for the following distributors:
Diamond Comic Distributors
rankings
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Diamond and Heroes World
rankings
My analyses of combined
preorders
from Heroes World
Distribution and Diamond
Comic Distributors for these
months can be found here:
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Diamond's
final rankings for
all comics and
trade paperbacks during the year appear below. Diamond
reported these issues without indexes allowing actual sales estimates
to be calculated. You can find the first-month sales for these issues
in the monthly charts;
click one of the months above or use the search tool at the top of the
page to find the specific issue. But note that those monthly numbers do
not include reorders for the entire year; the rankings below do take
the entire year's sales into account.
Further, note that since Diamond wasn't carrying Marvel, the rankings seen below are incomplete. Only its issues from Amalgam appear, as well. DC versus Marvel #4 probably is the best-seller for the year, but figure on several Marvel books outranking Spawn.
Further, note that since Diamond wasn't carrying Marvel, the rankings seen below are incomplete. Only its issues from Amalgam appear, as well. DC versus Marvel #4 probably is the best-seller for the year, but figure on several Marvel books outranking Spawn.
| Comic-book Title | Issue | Price | Publisher | |
| 1 | DC Versus Marvel | 4 | $3.95 | DC |
| 2 | Spawn | 50 | $3.95 | Image |
| 3 | Spawn | 43 | $1.95 | Image |
| 4 | Spawn | 42 | $1.95 | Image |
| 5 | Superman The Wedding Album Collector's Ed. | $4.95 | DC | |
| 6 | Gen 13 | 8 | $2.50 | Image |
| 7 | DV8 | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 8 | Legends of the Dark Claw | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 9 | Kingdom Come | 4 | $4.95 | DC |
| 10 | Spawn | 44 | $1.95 | Image |
| 11 | Spawn | 51 | $1.95 | Image |
| 12 | Spawn the Impaler | 1 | $2.95 | Image |
| 13 | Spawn | 45 | $1.95 | Image |
| 14 | JLX | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 15 | Spawn | 52 | $1.95 | Image |
| 16 | Spawn | 49 | $1.95 | Image |
| 17 | Spawn | 48 | $1.95 | Image |
| 18 | Amazon | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 19 | Spawn Wildcats | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 20 | Spawn | 46 | $1.95 | Image |
| 21 | Spawn | 47 | $1.95 | Image |
| 22 | Kingdom Come | 3 | $4.95 | DC |
| 23 | Super Soldier | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 24 | Spawn | 53 | $1.95 | Image |
| 25 | Spawn | 55 | $1.95 | Image |
| 26 | Gen 13 | 10 | $2.50 | Image |
| 27 | Spawn | 54 | $1.95 | Image |
| 28 | Gen 13 | 9 | $2.50 | Image |
| 29 | Kingdom Come | 1 | $4.95 | DC |
| 30 | Curse of the Spawn | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 31 | Spawn | 56 | $1.95 | Image |
| 32 | Medieval Spawn Witchblade | 1 | $2.95 | Image |
| 33 | Gen 13 | 11 | $2.50 | Image |
| 34 | Spawn | 57 | $1.95 | Image |
| 35 | Assassins | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 36 | DC/Marvel All Access | 1 | $2.95 | DC |
| 37 | Kingdom Come | 2 | $4.95 | DC |
| 38 | Gen 13 Ordinary Heroes | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 39 | Medieval Spawn Witchblade | 2 | $2.95 | Image |
| 40 | Doctor Strangefate | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 41 | Gen 13 | 12 | $2.50 | Image |
| 42 | Spawn Wildcats | 2 | $2.50 | Image |
| 43 | Medieval Spawn Witchblade | 3 | $2.95 | Image |
| 44 | Curse of the Spawn Dark Future Part II Blood Lust | $1.95 | Image | |
| 45 | Gen 13 | 13A | $1.30 | Image |
| 46 | Spawn the Impaler | 2 | $2.95 | Image |
| 47 | Gen 13 | 13B | $1.30 | Image |
| 48 | Sandman | 75 | $3.95 | DC |
| 49 | Curse of the Spawn | 4 | $1.95 | Image |
| 50 | Gen 13 | 13C | $1.30 | Image |
| 51 | Curse of the Spawn Dark Future Part III Blood Lust | $1.95 | Image | |
| 52 | Spawn the Impaler | 3 | $2.95 | Image |
| 53 | Spawn Wildcats | 3 | $2.50 | Image |
| 54 | Gen 13 Ordinary Heroes | 2 | $2.50 | Image |
| 55 | DC/Marvel All Access | 2 | $1.95 | DC |
| 56 | Deathblow Wolverine | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 57 | Gen 13 | 14 | $2.50 | Image |
| 58 | Spawn Wildcats | 4 | $2.50 | Image |
| 59 | DC/Marvel All Access | 3 | $1.95 | DC |
| 60 | Gen 13 | 15 | $2.50 | Image |
| 61 | Gen 13 The Unreal World | $2.95 | Image | |
| 62 | Gen 13 | 16 | $2.50 | Image |
| 63 | Witchblade | 3 | $2.50 | Image |
| 64 | Gen 13 Bootleg | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 65 | Spawn Bible | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 66 | Wildcats | 26 | $2.50 | Image |
| 67 | JLA | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 68 | Badrock Wolverine | 1 | $4.95 | Image |
| 69 | Lady Death The Odyssey | 1 | $3.50 | Chaos |
| 70 | Wetworks | 4 | $2.50 | Image |
| 71 | X-Files | 14 | $2.95 | Topps |
| 72 | Backlash Spider-Man | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 73 | Death The Time of Your Life | 1 | $2.95 | DC |
| 74 | Deathblow Wolverine | 2 | $2.50 | Image |
| 75 | Grifter Shi | 1 | $2.95 | Image |
| 76 | Adventures of Superman | 541 | $1.95 | DC |
| 77 | Backlash Spider-Man | 2 | $2.50 | Image |
| 78 | Witchblade | 10 | $2.50 | Top Cow |
| 79 | Action Comics | 728 | $1.95 | DC |
| 80 | Lady Death The Crucible | 1 | $3.50 | Chaos |
| 81 | Final Night | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 82 | Superman The Man of Tomorrow | 4 | $1.95 | DC |
| 83 | Gen 13 Bootleg | 2 | $2.50 | Image |
| 84 | Pitt | 10 | $1.95 | Full Bleed |
| 85 | Superman Man of Steel | 63 | $1.95 | DC |
| 86 | Star Wars Shadows of the Empire | 1 | $2.95 | Dark Horse |
| 87 | DC/Marvel All Access | 4 | $2.95 | DC |
| 88 | Prophet Cable | 1 | $4.95 | Image |
| 89 | Tales of the Witchblade | 1 | $2.95 | Top Cow |
| 90 | Detective Comics | 700 Co | $4.95 | DC |
| 91 | Witchblade | 9 | $2.50 | Image |
| 92 | Angela Glory Rage of Angels | $2.50 | Image | |
| 93 | Darkness | 1 | $2.50 | Top Cow |
| 94 | Final Night | 2 | $1.95 | DC |
| 95 | Youngblood X-Force | $4.95 | Image | |
| 96 | Tomoe | 0 | $2.95 | Crusade |
| 97 | Grifter Shi | 2 | $2.95 | Image |
| 98 | Death The Time of Your Life | 3 | $2.95 | DC |
| 99 | Final Night | 3 | $1.95 | DC |
| 100 | Final Night | 4 | $1.95 | DC |
| 101 | Witchblade | 11 | $2.50 | Top Cow |
| 102 | Death The Time of Your Life | 2 | $2.95 | DC |
| 103 | Batman | 533 | $1.95 | DC |
| 104 | Witchblade | 8 | $2.50 | Image |
| 105 | Batman | 528 | $1.95 | DC |
| 106 | Catwoman | 31 | $1.95 | DC |
| 107 | Glory Angela Hell's Angels | $2.50 | Image | |
| 108 | Shi Way of the Warrior | 8 | $2.95 | CRU |
| 109 | Shattered Image | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 110 | Lady Death The Odyssey | 2 | $2.95 | Chaos |
| 111 | Lady Death The Odyssey | 4 | $2.95 | Chaos |
| 112 | Azrael | 15 | $1.95 | DC |
| 113 | Supergirl | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 114 | Crusade Special Shi vs. Tomoe | 1 | $3.95 | Crusade |
| 115 | Batman | 529 | $1.95 | DC |
| 116 | Lady Death The Odyssey | 3 | $2.95 | Chaos |
| 117 | Batman | 532 Co | $1.95 | DC |
| 118 | Batman | 530 Co | $1.95 | DC |
| 119 | Witchblade | 7 | $3.95 | Image |
| 120 | Dreaming | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 121 | Batman | 534 | $2.95 | DC |
| 122 | Wildcats | 29 | $2.50 | Image |
| 123 | Star Wars Shadows of the Empire | 2 | $2.95 | Dark Horse |
| 124 | Shi The Way of the Warrior | 9 | $2.95 | Crusade |
| 125 | Action Comics | 719 | $1.95 | DC |
| 126 | Superman | 110 | $1.95 | DC |
| 127 | Maxx | 22 | $1.95 | Image |
| 128 | Witchblade | 6 | $2.50 | Image |
| 129 | Batman | 531 Co | $2.50 | DC |
| 130 | JLA | 2 | $1.95 | DC |
| 131 | DV8 | 2 | $2.50 | Image |
| 132 | Wildcats | 31 | $2.50 | Image |
| 133 | Detective Comics | 695 | $1.95 | DC |
| 134 | Wildcats | 30 | $2.50 | Image |
| 135 | Batman | 536 St | $1.95 | DC |
| 136 | Adventures of Superman | 533 | $1.95 | DC |
| 137 | Star Wars Shadows of the Empire | 3 | $2.95 | Dark Horse |
| 138 | Superman The Man of Tomorrow | 54 | $1.95 | DC |
| 139 | Wildcats | 27 | $2.50 | Image |
| 140 | Star Wars Shadows of the Empire | 4 | $2.95 | Dark Horse |
| 141 | Green Lantern | 81 Coll | $3.95 | DC |
| 142 | Dawn | 4 | $2.95 | Sirius |
| 143 | X-Files | 22 | $2.95 | Topps |
| 144 | Puragatori The Vampire's Myth | 1 | $3.50 | Chaos |
| 145 | Wildcats | 28 | $2.50 | Image |
| 146 | Superman | 111 | $1.95 | DC |
| 147 | Parallax Emerald Night | 1 | $2.95 | DC |
| 148 | Shi Way of the Wariror | 10 | $2.95 | Crusade |
| 149 | Star Wars Shadows of the Empire | 6 | $2.95 | Dark Horse |
| 150 | Action Comics | 720 | $1.95 | DC |
| 151 | Superman | 112 | $1.95 | DC |
| 152 | Detective Comics | 696 | $1.95 | DC |
| 153 | X-Files | 23 | $2.95 | Topps |
| 154 | Star Wars Shadows of the Empire | 5 | $2.95 | Dark Horse |
| 155 | Shattered IMage | 2 | $2.50 | Image |
| 156 | Detective Comics | 701 | $1.95 | DC |
| 157 | Action Comics | 722 | $1.95 | DC |
| 158 | Ballistic Wolverine | 4 | $2.95 | Top Cow |
| 159 | Batman | 537 | $1.95 | DC |
| 160 | Detective Comics | 698 | $1.95 | DC |
| 161 | Darkness | 2 | $2.50 | Top Cow |
| 162 | Batman | 535 Co | $3.95 | DC |
| 163 | Superman The Man of Steel | 55 | $1.95 | DC |
| 164 | Adventures of Superman | 535 | $1.95 | DC |
| 165 | Batman Black & White | 1 | $2.95 | DC |
| 166 | Action Comics | 32 | $2.50 | Image |
| 167 | Detective Comics | 113 | $1.95 | DC |
| 168 | X-Files | 697 | $1.95 | DC |
| 169 | Detective Comics | 4 | $2.95 | DC |
| 170 | Darkchylde Glory | 723 | $1.95 | DC |
| 171 | Nightwing | 703 | $1.95 | DC |
| 172 | Adventures of Superman | 0 | $3.95 | Topps |
| 173 | Star Wars Heir to the Empire | 699 | $1.95 | DC |
| 174 | Adventures of Superman | 1 | $2.95 | Image |
| 175 | Batman | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 176 | Superman The Man of Steel | 534 | $1.95 | DC |
| 177 | Star Wars Heir to the Empire | 4 | $2.95 | Dark Horse |
| 178 | Adventures of Superman | 536 | $1.95 | DC |
| 179 | Batman | 538 | $1.95 | DC |
| 180 | Superman The Man of Steel | 57 | $1.95 | DC |
| 181 | Fire from Heaven | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 182 | Action Comics | 721 | $1.95 | DC |
| 183 | X-Files | 24 | $2.95 | Topps |
| 184 | Supergirl | 3 | $1.95 | DC |
| 185 | Batman Shadow of the Bat | 48 | $1.95 | DC |
| 186 | Superman | 114 | $1.95 | DC |
| 187 | Witchblade | 4 | $2.50 | Image |
| 188 | Supergirl | 4 | $1.95 | DC |
| 189 | Batman Black & White | 3 | $2.95 | DC |
| 190 | Superman The Man of Steel | 58 | $1.95 | DC |
| 191 | DV8 | 3 | $2.50 | Image |
| 192 | Batman Shadow of the Bat | 53 | $1.95 | DC |
| 193 | Shattered Image | 3 | $2.50 | Image |
| 194 | Superman The Man of Steel | 56 | $1.95 | DC |
| 195 | Shi Way of the Warrior | 11 | $2.95 | Crusade |
| 196 | X-Files | 25 | $2.95 | Topps |
| 197 | X-Files | 15 | $2.95 | Topps |
| 198 | Wildcats | 33 | $2.50 | Image |
| 199 | Action Comics | 724 | $1.95 | DC |
| 200 | Grifter | 9 | $2.50 | Image |
| Trade Paperback Title | Price | Publisher | ||
| 1 | Batman Captain America |  |
$5.95 | DC |
| 2 | Batman: Dark Knight Returns 10th Ann. Slipcase Ed. | |
$100.00 | DC |
| 3 | Sandman The Kindly Ones HC | |
$34.95 | DC |
| 4 | Batman Deadman HC | |
$24.95 | DC |
| 5 | Lady Death The Crucible #1 Lthr. Ltd. Ed. | |
$19.95 | Chaos |
| 6 | Lady Death The Odyssey #1 Premium Ed. | |
$19.95 | Chaos |
| 7 | Death Dealer #2 | |
$6.95 | Verotik |
| 8 | Sandman Wake HC | |
$29.95 | DC |
| 9 | Star Wars: Bounty Hunters Pop Up | |
$17.95 | Dark Horse |
| 10 | Flash Archives Vol. 1 | |
$49.95 | DC |
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