These records detail the high and low points observed on the charts published by Diamond Comic Distributors during the period in which it was the sole distributor for the North American comic-book store market, from April 1997 onward.
These totals do not reflect comics that might have been sold in the newsstand, bookstore, or overseas markets — and for individual books, those sales may be substantial. For example, Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu #1 is reported to have had sales topping 1 million copies across multiple printings in 1999 — almost entirely outside the comics shop market.
And, of course, if you go further back, you reach many higher sales records — the top-selling comic book ever, X-Men Vol. 2, #1 in 1991, had sales over 8 million copies. But the records here for average prices represent all-time averages (for obvious reasons).
Highest Orders for a Comic Book
in Single Month, 1997-present
357,000 copies
Darkness #11, Image Comics
December 1997
Lowest Number of Copies Ordered for the #1 Comic Book in a Single Month, 1997-present
94,400 copies
New Avengers #53, Marvel Comics
May 2009
Fewest Titles Selling More than 100,000 Copies in a Single Month, 1997-present
0
March 2009 May 2009
Most Comic Books in the Top 300 Comics List by Publisher, 1997-present
119
Marvel Comics
December 2008
Most Comic Books Ordered in a Single Month (Top 300 Comics), 1997-present
9,340,000 copies
April 1997
Fewest Comic Books Ordered in a Single Month (Top 300 Comics), 1997-present
4,800,000 copies
April 2001
Highest Dollar Volume for Comic Books Ordered in a Single Month (Top 300 Comics) 1997-present
$24.9 million
October 2008
Lowest Dollar Volume for Comic Books Ordered in a Single Month (Top 300 Comics)
$13,000,000
May 2001
Highest Dollar Volume for Top 300 Comic Books and Top 100 Trade Paperbacks Ordered in a Single Month
$30.69 million
October 2008
Highest Dollar Volume for All Comic Books, Trade Paperbacks, and Magazines Ordered from Diamond in a Single Month, 2003-present
$42.05 million
October 2008
Lowest Dollar Volume for All Comic Books, Trade Paperbacks, and Magazines Ordered from Diamond in a Single Month, 2003-present
$21.9 million
January 2004
Most Consecutive Months for a Publisher to Have the #1 Comic Book, 1996-present
27 months
Marvel Comics
January 2007 - March 2009
Number of Different Publishers with the #1 Comic Book, 1996-present
4
Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image, Dreamwave
Most Consecutive Months for a Title at #1, 1996-present
10
Uncanny X-Men #366-375, Marvel Comics
January 1999 - October 1999
Highest Average Price for Comics in Diamond’s Top 300 Comics List
$3.59
December 2009
Highest Weighted Average Price for All Comics Ordered within Diamond’s Top 300 Comics List
$3.57
December 2009
Highest Final Order Dollar Market Shares registered for the Following Companies, 1997-present:
Marvel: 45.31%, September 2008
DC: 40.88%, December 1999
Image: 17.09%, May 1998
Dark Horse: 13.62%, May 1999
IDW: 5.01%, March 2009
CrossGen: 4.58%, June 2002
357,000 copies
Darkness #11, Image Comics
December 1997
Lowest Number of Copies Ordered for the #1 Comic Book in a Single Month, 1997-present
94,400 copies
New Avengers #53, Marvel Comics
May 2009
Fewest Titles Selling More than 100,000 Copies in a Single Month, 1997-present
0
March 2009 May 2009
Most Comic Books in the Top 300 Comics List by Publisher, 1997-present
119
Marvel Comics
December 2008
Most Comic Books Ordered in a Single Month (Top 300 Comics), 1997-present
9,340,000 copies
April 1997
Fewest Comic Books Ordered in a Single Month (Top 300 Comics), 1997-present
4,800,000 copies
April 2001
Highest Dollar Volume for Comic Books Ordered in a Single Month (Top 300 Comics) 1997-present
$24.9 million
October 2008
Lowest Dollar Volume for Comic Books Ordered in a Single Month (Top 300 Comics)
$13,000,000
May 2001
Highest Dollar Volume for Top 300 Comic Books and Top 100 Trade Paperbacks Ordered in a Single Month
$30.69 million
October 2008
Highest Dollar Volume for All Comic Books, Trade Paperbacks, and Magazines Ordered from Diamond in a Single Month, 2003-present
$42.05 million
October 2008
Lowest Dollar Volume for All Comic Books, Trade Paperbacks, and Magazines Ordered from Diamond in a Single Month, 2003-present
$21.9 million
January 2004
Most Consecutive Months for a Publisher to Have the #1 Comic Book, 1996-present
27 months
Marvel Comics
January 2007 - March 2009
Number of Different Publishers with the #1 Comic Book, 1996-present
4
Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image, Dreamwave
Most Consecutive Months for a Title at #1, 1996-present
10
Uncanny X-Men #366-375, Marvel Comics
January 1999 - October 1999
Highest Average Price for Comics in Diamond’s Top 300 Comics List
$3.59
December 2009
Highest Weighted Average Price for All Comics Ordered within Diamond’s Top 300 Comics List
$3.57
December 2009
Highest Final Order Dollar Market Shares registered for the Following Companies, 1997-present:
Marvel: 45.31%, September 2008
DC: 40.88%, December 1999
Image: 17.09%, May 1998
Dark Horse: 13.62%, May 1999
IDW: 5.01%, March 2009
CrossGen: 4.58%, June 2002
Updated: Jan. 11, 2010
