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March 1997 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops

Estimated Comics Preordered by North American Comics Shops
Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors
and Heroes World Distribution


#1 Most Ordered Issue
#1
#2 Most Ordered Issue
#2
#3 Most Ordered Issue
#3
#4 Most Ordered Issue
#4
#5 Most Ordered Issue
#5

Covers and issue links on this page lead to current eBay listings. This site may be compensated if you make a purchase.

The brief but tumultuous Heroes World era of comics distribution ended this month, bringing an end to the Distribution Wars. Hereafter, Marvel comics would be included again on the Diamond charts.

March saw DC launch the "blue Superman" editorial event.

Click to skip to the Top Graphic Novels for the month.

—John Jackson Miller


This list includes all items on Diamond's Top 300 chart and all comics offered by Heroes World.
Items marked (resolicitation) were offered in an earlier month but never shipped; disregard any previously reported figure, as earlier orders were canceled when the books were resolicited.
Click to read the methodology for this table's estimates.
Distributor charts are regional commodity reports, not measures of a work's total reach. Read our FAQ.
Title links below lead to current listings for the issues on eBay. As an eBay Partner, this site may be compensated if you make a purchase.


UnitsDollarsComic-book TitleIssuePricePublisherEst. units
11Superman (Collector's Edition)123$1.95DC213,481
24Uncanny X-Men344$1.95Marvel175,306
35X-Men64$1.95Marvel172,821
46Fantastic Four7$1.95Marvel153,457
57Spawn60$1.95Image140,759
68Wolverine113$1.95Marvel137,261
79Iron Man7$1.95Marvel133,706
810Avengers7$1.95Marvel118,560
93X-Men '97$2.99Marvel115,704
1014Generation X27$1.95Marvel111,830
1115Captain America7$1.95Marvel109,134
1216X-Man27$1.95Marvel104,349
1318Adventures of Superman546$1.95DC100,614
1419X-Factor134$1.95Marvel98,816
1520X-Force66$1.95Marvel98,421
1621Curse of the Spawn7$1.95Image98,257
1723Action Comics733$1.95DC96,929
1811Witchblade13$2.50Image90,928
1925Cable43$1.95Marvel90,306
2026Superman: The Man of Steel67$1.95DC88,415
2113Darkness4$2.50Image87,835
2227JLA5$1.95DC87,637
2332Excalibur109$1.95Marvel80,026
2433Amazing Spider-Man423$1.95Marvel79,818
2535Incredible Hulk453$1.95Marvel75,794
2622Beast1$2.50Marvel75,703
2724Arcanum1$2.50Image74,415
2836Spider-Man80$1.95Marvel74,207
292Batman vs. Aliens1$4.95Dark Horse73,763
3039Spectacular Spider-Man246$1.95Marvel69,097
3141Sensational Spider-Man16$1.95Marvel65,824
3231Gen13: Bootleg5$2.50Image64,496
3343Deadpool5$1.95Marvel64,157
3446Batman542$1.95DC59,829
3548Thunderbolts2$1.95Marvel59,589
3628Sin City: Sex & Violence$2.95Dark Horse56,335
3729X-Files28$2.95Topps55,832
3851Detective Comics709$1.95DC54,450
3938Darkchylde5$2.50Image54,235
4030Incredible Hulk '97$2.99Marvel53,999
4153Supergirl9$1.95DC53,325
4240WildC.A.T.S36$2.50Image53,236
4334Batman: The Long Halloween6$2.95DC52,697
4454Ka-Zar1$1.95Marvel50,727
4557Superman (Newsstand Edition)123$1.95DC49,963
4644Preacher25$2.50DC49,532
4761Elektra7$1.95Marvel48,552
4864Pitt13$1.95Full Bleed48,072
4937Spider-Man Unlimited16$2.99Marvel47,299
5065Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight94$1.95DC46,690
5147DV86$2.50Image46,517
5277Green Lantern86$1.75DC45,757
5312Azrael/Ash$4.95DC45,554
5466Batman: Shadow of the Bat62$1.95DC44,608
5569Nightwing8$1.95DC44,220
5650Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 28$2.50Image44,208
5755Batman/Wildcat2$2.25DC43,579
58159Untold Tales of Spider-Man21$.99Marvel42,216
5942Spider-Man/Badrock1$2.99Maximum42,084
6075Catwoman45$1.95DC41,276
6178Robin41$1.95DC40,929
6287Flash125$1.75DC40,516
6345Spider-Man/Badrock2$2.99Maximum40,480
6456Tenth2$2.50Image39,170
6583Silver Surfer128$1.95Marvel38,866
6660Unknown Soldier2$2.50DC38,033
6762Savant Garde1$2.50Image37,788
6863Cyberforce32$2.50Image37,596
6949Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition3$2.95Dark Horse37,507
70102Adventures in the DC Universe1$1.75DC37,076
7186Wonder Woman121$1.95DC36,926
7290Daredevil364$1.95Marvel35,905
7391Venom: On Trial3$1.95Marvel35,828
7468Dreaming12$2.50DC34,515
7598Journey into Mystery509$1.95Marvel34,157
7699Azrael29$1.95DC34,090
7717Code of Honor4$5.95Marvel33,904
7872Hellshock3$2.50Image33,145
79106Maxx29$1.95Image32,972
8058Classic Star Wars: Han Solo at Star's End1$2.95Dark Horse32,810
8159Suspira: The Great Working1$2.95Chaos32,559
8276Wetworks27$2.50Image32,152
83110Teen Titans8$1.95DC31,961
84121Adventures in the DC Universe2$1.75DC31,865
8579Resurrection Man1$2.50DC31,691
86124Impulse25$1.75DC31,015
8780Anarky1$2.50DC30,818
88114Superboy39$1.95DC30,459
89128Aquaman32$1.75DC30,303
9097Hitman14$2.25DC29,765
91118What If?97$1.95Marvel29,476
92100Starman30$2.25DC29,454
9367Shi Rekishi2$2.95Crusade29,406
9470Bone28$2.95Cartoon29,101
9571Chastity2$2.95Chaos28,945
9689Savage Dragon37$2.50Image28,149
97123Star Trek: Voyager7$1.95Marvel27,837
9892Books of Magic36$2.50DC27,731
9974Star Trek Unlimited4$2.99Marvel27,269
10093Mars Attacks the Image Universe4$2.50Image27,240
10184Strangers in Paradise Vol. 35$2.75Image27,085
10294Books of Faerie3$2.50DC27,001
103129Star Trek: Early Voyages4$1.95Marvel26,975
10496Backlash30$2.50Image26,809
105132Jack Kirby's Fourth World3$1.95DC26,761
106133Star Trek: Deep Space Nine7$1.95Marvel26,712
107113Legion of Super-Heroes92$2.25DC26,696
108134Star Fleet Academy6$1.95Marvel26,172
109104Grifter9$2.50Image25,762
110105Stormwatch46$2.50Image25,726
111137Punisher19$1.95Marvel25,655
112107House of Secrets8$2.50DC25,619
113117Legionnaires48$2.25DC25,547
11481Avengelyne13$2.99Maximum25,541
11582Avengelyne12$2.99Maximum25,481
116146Ghost Rider85$1.95Marvel24,366
117158Batman & Robin Adventures18$1.75DC24,021
118202Uncanny Origins9$.99Marvel23,957
119161Superman Adventures7$1.75DC23,794
120126Shade2$2.25DC23,776
1211312020 Visions1$2.25DC23,202
122116Trinity Angels1$2.50Acclaim23,070
12395Aliens: Pig1$2.95Dark Horse22,831
124120Leave It to Chance5$2.50Image22,795
125135Hellblazer113$2.25DC22,478
126103Angel Fire1$2.95Crusade21,987
127125Untold Tales of Captain Marvel2$2.50Marvel21,411
128160Superboy & the Ravers9$1.95DC21,395
129109Crow: Waking Nightmares3$2.95Kitchen Sink21,377
130127Invisibles Vol. 24$2.50DC21,377
13152Titans: Scissors, Paper, Stone$4.95DC21,066
132130Savage Dragon: Red Horizon2$2.50Image21,000
13385Vampirella vs. Pantha (Vampirella edition)1$3.50Harris20,797
134172Power of Shazam!26$1.75DC20,797
135111Painkiller Jane vs. Darkness (Silvestri)1$2.95Event20,731
136164Lobo Chained1$1.95DC20,689
137112Elric Stormbringer1$2.95Dark Horse20,533
138148Lobo39$2.25DC20,503
13988Sandman Mystery Theatre50$3.50DC20,216
140136Wynonna Earp4$2.50Image20,102
141188Marvel Adventures2$1.50Marvel20,031
142139Bloodshot1$2.50Acclaim19,785
143141Spectre53$2.50DC19,678
144119Homicide1$2.95Chaos19,462
145143Siege3$2.50Image19,397
146145X-O Manowar6$2.50Acclaim19,044
147181Xero1$1.75DC19,002
148122Painkiller Jane vs. Darkness (Quesada)1$2.95Event18,864
149101Batman Chronicles Gallery1$3.50DC18,744
150157Green Arrow120$2.25DC18,685
151147Fault Lines1$2.50DC18,535
152173Sovereign Seven22$1.95DC18,344
153108Vampirella vs. Pantha (Pantha edition)1$3.50Harris18,236
154150Shadowman5$2.50Acclaim18,176
155151Wildstorm Spotlight2$2.50Image18,008
156154Glory21$2.50Maximum17,608
157155Predator: Kindred4$2.50Dark Horse17,608
158156Supreme47$2.50Maximum17,536
159182Steel38$1.95DC16,812
160140Mars Attacks the Savage Dragon4$2.95Topps16,740
161163Ghost23$2.50Dark Horse16,585
16273BWS: Storyteller6$4.95Dark Horse16,507
163142Stray Bullets13$2.95El Capitan16,459
164144Painkiller Jane vs. Darkness (Hildebrandt)1$2.95Event16,435
165175Challengers of the Unknown4$2.25DC15,771
166149Painkiller Jane vs. Darkness (Connor)1$2.95Event15,490
167152Lady Rawhide5$2.95Topps15,173
168167Magnus Robot Fighter3$2.50Acclaim15,137
169153Freak Force1$2.95Image15,065
170196Aztek the Ultimate Man10$1.75DC15,059
171193Essential Vertigo: The Sandman10$1.95DC14,514
172162Mars Attacks High School Special1$2.95Topps14,096
173176Cyberpunx1$2.50Maximum13,994
174165Dark Horse Classics: Classic Star Wars - Dark Empire1$2.95Dark Horse13,132
175166A Touch of Silver2$2.95Image13,120
176168Warrior Nun Dei Aftertime2$2.95Antarctic12,791
177184Poison Elves22$2.50Sirius12,791
178138Turok Quarterly: Spring Break in the Lost Land$3.95Acclaim12,552
179170Warrior Nun Areala/Scorpio Rose4$2.95Antarctic12,409
180171Oh My Goddess!: Trials of Morisato3$2.95Dark Horse12,343
181174Soulwind1$2.95Image12,115
182195Book of Fate4$2.25DC12,097
183115Elfquest10$4.95Warp11,822
184177Ranma 1/2 Part Six4$2.95Viz11,822
185189Ninjak5$2.50Acclaim11,798
186191Troublemakers4$2.50Acclaim11,535
187178Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles8$2.95Image11,421
188179Bone17$2.95Image11,362
189180Dark Horse Presents119$2.95Dark Horse11,314
190183Verotika15$2.95Verotik10,871
191185Robotech1$2.95Antarctic10,679
192186Drakuun: Rise of the Dragon Princess2$2.95Dark Horse10,548
193197Quantum & Woody2$2.50Acclaim10,416
194200Cabbot Bloodhunter3$2.50Maximum10,243
195187Cybrid2$2.99Maximum10,231
196210Cerebus216$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim10,129
197190Tarzan9$2.95Dark Horse9,848
198201Time Breakers5$2.50DC9,728
199192Adventures of Aaron1$2.95Image9,674
200232Pinky and the Brain11$1.75DC9,662
201203Newmen23$2.50Maximum9,429
202194Razor4$3.00London Night9,256
203216Night Force6$2.25DC9,226
204209Brainbanx3$2.50DC9,118
205211Cyberella9$2.50DC8,891
206231Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing7$1.95DC8,795
207199Usagi Yojimbo11$2.95Dark Horse8,741
208204Cyberfrog0$2.95Harris7,963
209205Roswell3$2.95Bongo7,939
210206Battle Angel Alita Part Seven6$2.95Viz7,933
211249Animaniacs25$1.75DC7,927
212207Essential Wolverine2$2.95Marvel7,918
213208Razor Uncut33$3.00London Night7,646
214247Uncle Scrooge304$1.95Gladstone7,604
215273Sisters of Mercy0$1.50London Night7,532
216222Vermillion8$2.50DC7,515
217212Age of Heroes3$2.95Image7,323
218213Chronowar8$2.95Dark Horse7,305
219214Asylum13$2.99Maximum7,162
220250Uncle Scrooge Adventures47$1.95Gladstone7,090
221281Sabrina the Teenage Witch2$1.50Archie7,048
222218A Distant Soil19$2.95Image6,832
223219New Bondage Fairies5$2.95Fantagraphics6,803
224217Poizon Cadillacs & Green Tomatoes1$3.00London Night6,737
225258Donald Duck Adventures44$1.95Gladstone6,659
226244Scare Tactics6$2.25DC6,647
227221Dark Horse Classics: Aliens vs. Predator2$2.95Dark Horse6,629
228220Double Impact2$3.00High Impact6,587
229198Razor & Ladies of London Night$3.95London Night6,569
230290Sonic the Hedgehog47$1.50Archie6,360
231223Albino Spider of Dajette2$2.95Verotik6,354
232169Comic Book3$5.95Dark Horse6,300
233224No Need for Tenchi Part Two5$2.95Viz6,270
234235Gemini Blood9$2.50DC6,258
235330WDC&S Penny Pincher2$.99Gladstone6,246
236225Optic Nerve4$2.95Drawn & Quarterly6,150
237240Icon45$2.50DC6,120
238226Tenchi Muyo1$2.95Pioneer6,109
239227Big Bang Comics9$2.95Image6,067
240663Free Trinity Angels1$.00Acclaim6,060
241228Ultimate Strike3$3.00London Night5,959
242229Horseman3$2.95Kevlar5,953
243285Looney Tunes29$1.75DC5,726
244238Dork4$2.75Slave Labor5,636
245233Maison Ikkoku Part Six8$2.95Viz5,612
246234Hari Kari Possessed by Evil1$2.95Blackout5,576
247255Haunt of Fear19$2.50Gemstone5,343
248674Free Bloodshot1$.00Acclaim5,315
249236Luftwaffe 19461$2.95Antarctic5,289
250237Lords of Misrule3$2.95Dark Horse5,259
251241Metal Guardian Faust1$2.95Viz5,145
252242Hepcats4$2.95Antarctic5,139
253239Tommi Gunn2$3.00London Night5,121
254243New Love4$2.95Fantagraphics5,073
255314Archie460$1.50Archie4,834
256261Static47$2.50DC4,816
257248La Blue Girl9$2.95CPM4,786
258315Knuckles: The Dark Legion3$1.50Archie4,762
259265Crime Suspenstories19$2.50Gemstone4,715
260251Return of Lum Part Three11$2.95Viz4,619
261252Vamperotica25$2.95Brainstorm4,613
262269Hardware51$2.50DC4,607
263253Ninja High School56$2.95Antarctic4,583
264318Cheryl Blossom3$1.50Archie4,559
265254CreeD: Cranial Disorder3$2.95Lightning4,553
266272Frontline Combat8$2.50Gemstone4,523
267256Elflord3$2.95Warp4,517
268321Betty and Veronica112$1.50Archie4,493
269257Moebius Comics6$2.95Caliber4,439
270259Sexcapades4$2.95Fantagraphics4,332
271215Footsoldiers Giant Sized1$4.95Maximum4,278
272325Betty50$1.50Archie4,266
273270Betty & Veronica Double Digest65$2.75Archie4,176
274283Hall of Heroes0$2.50Hall of Heroes4,080
275263Misty Girl Extreme3$2.95Fantagraphics4,032
276668Free Wizard68$.00Wizard3,992
277267Reality Check7$2.95Sirius3,931
278268Bio Booster Armor Guyver Part Six4$2.95Viz3,913
279333Veronica64$1.50Archie3,823
280245Ninth Gland$3.95Dark Horse3,781
281246Horny Biker Sluts11$3.95Last Gasp3,769
282274Pandora0$3.00Avatar3,763
283294Akiko13$2.50Sirius3,709
284336Archie & Friends23$1.50Archie3,709
285279Bratpack/Maximortal Super Special2$2.95King Hell3,685
286280Eddie Campbell's Bacchus23$2.95Eddie Campbell3,620
287338Scooby Doo21$1.50Archie3,548
288230Manga Vizion Vol. 33$4.95Viz3,494
289327Betty & Veronica Digest88$1.79Archie3,494
290282Phantom Quest Corp1$2.95Pioneer3,488
291328Archie Digest148$1.79Archie3,488
292262Vampirella vs. Hemorrhage1$3.50Harris3,440
293284Fist of the North Star Part Four4$2.95Viz3,434
294305Thieves & Kings16$2.35I Box3,404
295286Sanctuary Part Five13$2.95Viz3,386
296339Archie's Pal, Jughead93$1.50Archie3,386
297287One Pound Gospel Part Two3$2.95Viz3,374
298288St. Germaine — Version L1$2.95Caliber3,303
299297Jughead's Double Digest44$2.75Archie3,291
300289Lost3$2.95Caliber3,273
301323Archie Spring Break Special2$2.00Archie3,249
302292All New Elementals Sex Special1$2.95Comico3,207
303275Cybersexation1$3.50Antarctic3,177
304260Daemonstorm Oz1$3.95Caliber3,147
305295St. Germaine — Version S1$2.95Caliber3,135
306296CreeD: Cranial Disorder3B$2.95Lightning3,099
307309Joe Psycho & Moo Frog3$2.50Goblin3,057
308298Esc3$2.95Comico3,027
309276Palookaville10$3.75Drawn & Quarterly2,956
310266Vamperotica25$3.95Brainstorm2,938
311300Scud Disposable Assassin (reoffered)1$2.95Fireman2,860
312301Naughty Bits22$2.95Fantagraphics2,842
313302Johnny the Homicidal Maniac (reoffered)4$2.95Slave Labor2,824
314306Bad Apples2$2.95High Impact2,710
315293Antietam: The Fiery Trial$3.50Heritage2,656
316307Bitch in Heat1$2.95Fantagraphics2,632
317308Jungle Comics1$2.95A List2,621
318310Warrior of Waverly Street: Broodstorm1$2.95Dark Horse2,561
319326Demongate11$2.50Sirius2,507
320299Triple-X Cinema: A Cartoon History1$3.50Re-Visionary2,495
321312Oz20$2.95Caliber2,489
322313Oz: Straw and Sorcery1$2.95Caliber2,471
323316Red Fury1$2.95High Impact2,411
324264Macbeth Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,363
325317Scud Disposable Assassin (reoffered)6$2.95Fireman2,321
326341Flintstones22$1.50Archie2,321
327319Chirality to the Promised Land1$2.95CPM2,309
328303Brandi Five One Freak Show1$3.50Ground Zero2,303
329271Les Miserables Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,268
330322Forbidden Angels1$2.95Angel2,262
331340Little Archie Digest19$1.79Archie2,214
332277Connecticut Yankee Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,208
333278Oliver Twist Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,202
334324Tales from the Bog5$2.95Aberration2,202
335311Fangs of the Widow11$3.50Ground Zero2,118
336329Land of Nod3$2.95Black Eye2,112
337304Vampfire Pinup Special Nude Edition3$3.95Brainstorm2,034
338331Wrath of the Furies1$3.00Avatar1,992
339337Stargate: One Nation Under Ra1$2.75Entity1,986
340332Monkeyman & O'Brien Special (reoffered)1$2.95Dark Horse1,974
341334Tick Karma Tornado (reoffered)5$2.95New England1,938
342320Awakening2$3.50Kitchen Sink1,926
343335Sin City: Silent Night (reoffered)$2.95Dark Horse1,926
344291Femforce: Yesterday Syndrome1$4.95AC1,921




March 1997 Graphic Novel Sales to Comics Shops

Estimated Graphic Novels and Trade Paperbacks Preordered by North American Comics Shops Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors

This list includes all items on Diamond's Top Graphic Novel charts. If you don't see a book, Diamond released no data for it.

The links lead to title details on Amazon (paid links). You can also find the books at your comics shop.

Marvel did not report graphic novel sales.



UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
15Death: The Time of Your Life HC$19.95DCn/a
23Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 10th Anniv$14.95DCn/a
36Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire$17.95Dark Horsen/a
44Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Special Ed.$9.95Dark Horsen/a
510Top Cow Fan Club Std. Premiere Memb Box$19.95Dynamicn/a
68Poison Elves Vol. 3$14.95Siriusn/a
79House of Secrets Foundations$14.95DCn/a
815Battle Angel Alita: Angel of Chaos$15.95Vizn/a
911Batman/Man-Bat$14.95DCn/a
1016Blade of the Immortal: Blood/Thousand$12.95Dark Horsen/a