Comichron

 

June 1993 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops

Comics Preordered by North American Comics Shops
Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors


#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

As the summer of 1993 got underway, few in the industry were yet aware that the Direct Market boom had peaked in April 1993. But warning signs were afoot. The top comic book, Deathmate Prologue, kicked off a crossover between Image and Valiant that would be plagued with delays, and which would ultimately be the straw that broke the camel's back for retailers sick of comics not shipping on time. Valiant's were on time, but Image's were very late, tying up retailer funds. In October, Diamond would cut back its window past which late comics became returnable.

Marvel took first place in market share and got back into the Top Five — barely — with Sabertooth #1 in fifth. The top four were again from either Image or Valiant. Seven of the top 10 issues were either first issues or "zero" issues. Gimmicks continued to appear, as Cyberforce #0 had a wraparound cover and Sabertooth's cover was die-cut.

Marvel's market-flooding continued, with 114 releases in the Top 300, just as in May. Image was in second place, and DC remained in third. It still led the other publishers in backlist items — graphic novels, that it — but those were still a very small portion of the market.

Diamond's market shares included magazine publishers, which is why Wizard is in the mix — as was the newcomer this month, Warrior. Part of Sendai, Its Hero Illustrated was a very brief rival to Wizard magazine.

Currently, only the order index numbers Diamond released for each issue are available on this page; they are keyed to Amazing Spider-Man's sales. The order index figure published below is the number of copies retailers altogether preordered from Diamond for every 100 copies they ordered of Amazing Spider-Man #380. Our back-of-the-envelope estimate suggests every point on the chart may equal 1,900 copies, but remember that Diamond was only one of several distributors. More detailed estimates are forthcoming.

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. If you don't see a book, Diamond released no data for it.
Distributor charts are regional commodity reports, not measures of a work's total reach. Read our FAQ.
The links lead to current listings for each issue on eBay. You can also find the books at your comics shop.

UnitsDollarsComic-book TitleIssuePricePublisherOrder Index
11Deathmate Prologue0$2.95Valiant288.8
27Spawn14$1.95Image194.1
38Shadowhawk II: The Secret Revealed 2$1.95Image189.6
49Cyberforce0$1.95Image173.7
53Sabretooth1$2.95Marvel169.1
612Savage Dragon1$1.95Image165.6
713Union1$1.95Image162.1
84Doom's V1$2.50Image158.9
910Secret Weapons1$2.25Valiant148.9
102X-Force25$3.50Marvel142.7
115Venom: Funeral Pyre1$2.95Marvel134.1
1211Deathblow3$2.50Image129.7
1318Youngblood: Strike File4$1.95Image123.5
1440Uncanny X-Men303$1.25Marvel120.9
1542X-Men23$1.25Marvel114.6
1643Batman498$1.25DC110.5
1721Maxx4$1.95Image108.0
1815WildC.A.T.S. Sourcebook1$2.50Image107.6
1916Deadpool1$2.50Marvel107.1
2033Adventures of Superman503$1.50DC106.5
2135Action Comics690$1.50DC106.1
2222Bloodstrike3$1.95Image105.6
2336Superman80$1.50DC105.6
2423Catwoman1$1.95DC105.2
2524Brigade3$1.95Image103.9
2648Detective Comics665$1.25DC102.9
2738Superman: The Man of Steel24$1.50DC102.6
2853Amazing Spider-Man380$1.25Marvel100.0
296Spider-Man Unlimited2$3.95Marvel96.8
3032Spider-Man37$1.75Marvel91.8
31724Ultra-Monthly Magazine1$.00Malibu91.1
3219Shamans Tears2$2.50Image88.6
3320Turok: Dinosaur Hunter3$2.50Valiant88.3
3458Web of Spider-Man103$1.25Marvel87.6
3527Supreme8$1.95Image86.9
3628Tribe4$1.95Image86.5
3729Showcase 937$1.95DC85.7
3861Spectacular Spider-Man203$1.25Marvel84.4
3930Showcase 938$1.95DC84.2
4034Phantom Force3$1.95Image81.8
4125Solar, Man of the Atom25$2.25Valiant81.4
4237Canle4$2.00Marvel77.4
4379Arcadia Week One: X0$1.00Dark Horse73.3
4431Bloodshot8$2.25Valiant72.7
4583Arcadia Week Three: Ghost0$1.00Dark Horse69.3
4672X-Factor93$1.25Marvel68.8
4785Arcadia Week Four: Monster0$1.00Dark Horse67.9
4856Wolverine72$1.75Marvel67.7
4986Arcadia Week Two: Pit Bulls0$1.00Dark Horse67.6
5073Spider-Man 209910$1.25Marvel67.0
5155Trencher2$1.95Image62.2
5239Infinity Crusade3$2.50Marvel60.5
5326Night Thrasher1$2.95Marvel60.0
5445H.A.R.D. Corps10$2.25Valiant59.9
5546X-O Manowar20$2.25Valiant59.0
5649Magnus: Robot Fighter28$2.25Valiant57.0
5752Rai & The Future Force13$2.25Valiant55.8
585919633$1.95Image55.6
5914Batman/Grendel1$4.95DC55.5
6054Eternal Warrior14$2.25Valiant54.0
6147Harbinger21$2.50Valiant53.1
6270Ren & Stimpy9$1.75Marvel52.8
6357Ghost Rider40$2.25Marvel52.0
6463Strangers1$1.95Malibu50.4
6550Archer & Armstrong14$2.50Valiant50.4
6651Shadowman17$2.50Valiant50.2
6717Batman/Grendel2$4.95DC79.9
6866Prime1$1.95Malibu49.7
6941Jurassic Park1 Direct$2.95Topps49.4
7067Hardcase1$1.95Malibu49.4
7164Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance12$2.25Marvel43.4
72100Punisher 20997$1.25Marvel43.1
73102Doom 20998$1.25Marvel42.5
7462Batman Annual17$2.50DC40.3
7571Morbius12$2.25Marvel39.5
7644New Titans100$3.50DC38.6
7760DC Universe: Trinity1$2.95DC35.8
78119Silver Surfer83$1.25Marvel35.6
79720Thunderstrike3$.00Marvel35.1
80122Incredible Hulk408$1.25Marvel34.8
81124Avengers365$1.25Marvel34.4
8265Incredible Hulk Annual19$2.95Marvel33.0
8397Batman Legends of the Dark Knight48$1.75DC32.9
8488Warlock Chronicles2$2.00Marvel32.7
8580Nightstalkers10$2.25Marvel32.3
8698Batman Legends of the Dark Knight49$1.75DC32.2
8794Sandman52$1.95DC32.1
8875Robin Annual2$2.50DC31.8
8969Guardians of the Galaxy39$2.95Marvel31.4
9081Darkhold11$2.25Marvel31.1
91127X-Men Adventures10$1.25Marvel30.6
92105Lobo: Unamerican Gladiators3$1.75DC30.0
93109Batman: Shadow of the Bat15$1.75DC29.6
9474Punisher War Zone Annual1$2.95Marvel28.0
95133Ravage 20999$1.25Marvel27.6
96134Thor465$1.25Marvel27.4
9784Predator: Race War3$2.50Dark Horse27.3
98136Iron Man295$1.25Marvel27.1
99137Fantastic Four379$1.25Marvel26.8
10076Deaths Head II: Die Cut1$2.95Marvel26.5
10177Iron Man Annual14$2.95Marvel26.4
102117Excalibur68$1.75Marvel26.3
10378Thor Annual18$2.95Marvel26.2
104118Warlock & The Infinity Watch19$1.75Marvel26.1
10591Justice League International Annual4$2.50DC25.4
106113Mr. T and the T-Force1 (Dir. Mkt.)$1.95now25.2
10793Aliens: Colonial Marines6$2.50Dark Horse25.2
108121Secret Defenders6$1.75Marvel25.2
109120Punisher War Zone18$1.75Marvel25.2
110141Punisher81$1.25Marvel24.7
11195Aliens: Rogue3$2.50Dark Horse24.4
112144New Warriors38$1.25Marvel24.4
11368Vertigo Jam1$3.95DC24.3
11482Secret City Saga2$2.95Topps23.5
115147What If?52$1.25Marvel23.5
11696Green Lantern Annual2$2.50DC23.2
117148Justice League America79$1.25DC22.6
118152Justice League America78$1.25DC22.3
11989Guardians of the Galaxy Annual3$2.95Marvel22.1
12090Marvel Masterpieces Collection4$2.95Marvel21.6
12192Deaths Head II/Killpower: Batt II1$2.92Marvel21.5
122157Darkhawk30$1.25Marvel21.5
123103Armor3$2.50Continuity21.1
124158Avengers West Coast97$1.25Marvel21.1
125104Megalith3$2.50Continuity21.0
126106Ms. Mystic3$2.50Continuity21.0
127107Hybrids3$2.50Continuity21.0
128130Punisher War Journal57$1.75Marvel20.8
129108Earth 43$2.50Continuity20.8
130162Daredevil319$1.25Marvel20.7
131110Cyberrad3$2.50Continuity20.6
132131Punisher: Origin of Micro Chip2$1.75Marvel20.5
133126Deaths Head II9$1.95Marvel20.2
134145Metamorpho1$1.50DC20.1
135112Punisher Summer Special3$2.50Marvel20.0
136114John Byrnes Next Men15$2.50Dark Horse19.4
13787Grendel: War Child10$3.50Dark Horse19.3
138172Namor41$1.25Marvel19.2
139128Hellstorm5$2.00Marvel19.0
14099Last Action Hero1$2.95Topps18.9
141178Batman Adventures11$1.25DC18.6
142479Justice League Task Force3$1.25DC18.5
143139Alpha Flight123$1.75Marvel18.4
144182Captain America418$1.25Marvel18.3
145101Killpower: The Early Years1$2.95Marvel18.2
146132Sandman Mystery Theatre5$1.95DC18.0
147187Green Lantern44$1.25DC17.4
148143Dr. Strange56$1.75Marvel17.4
149125Flash79$2.50DC17.1
150165Marvel Comics Presents134$1.50Marvel17.1
151166Marvel Comics Presents135$1.50Marvel16.8
152194Legionnaires5$1.25DC16.3
153115Satans Six3$2.95Topps16.2
154150Cyberspace 30002$1.75Marvel16.0
155142Hellblazer68$1.95DC15.7
156116Cain2$2.95Harris15.7
157155Star Trek: The Next Gen.49$1.75DC15.5
158183Hardware6$1.50DC15.2
159199Silver Sable15$1.25Marvel15.0
160160L.E.G.I.O.N. 9357$1.75DC14.9
161161Darkstars11$1.75DC14.9
162200Justice League International53$1.25DC14.8
163138Street Fighter2$2.25marl14.8
164129Enigma6$2.50DC14.7
165123Jonah Hex: Two Gun Mojo1$2.95DC14.7
166163Invaders4$1.75Marvel14.7
167164Ragman: Cry of the Dead1$1.75DC14.7
168189Blood Syndicate5$1.50DC14.3
169167Spectre9$1.75DC14.3
170168Team Titans11$1.75DC14.2
171169Deathlok26$1.75Marvel14.2
172192Icon4$1.50DC14.0
173170U.S. Agent3$1.75Marvel13.9
174171Star Trek51$1.75DC13.8
175159Kid Eternity4$1.95DC13.4
176176Wild Thing5$1.75Marvel13.4
177217Cage17$1.25Marvel13.3
178181Shadow Riders3$1.75Marvel13.1
179180Nomad16$1.75Marvel13.1
180185Legion of Super-Heroes46$1.75DC12.9
181184Deathstroke, the Terminator27$1.75DC12.9
182140Classic Star Wars10$2.50Dark Horse12.5
183175Shade the Changing Man38$1.95DC12.1
184156Cerebus0$2.25Aardvark-Vanahheim12.0
185222Quasar49$1.25Marvel12.0
186177Morbius Revisited1$1.95Marvel12.0
187207Static3$1.50DC11.8
188231X-Men Classic86$1.25Marvel11.3
189186Animal Man62$1.95DC11.3
190151Last One2$2.50DC11.2
191233Meteor Man1 (Res)$1.25Marvel11.1
192154Skin raft2$2.50DC10.9
193235Wonder Man24$1.25Marvel10.9
194234Spider-Man Classics5$1.25Marvel10.9
195190Doom Patrol69$1.95DC10.8
196191Swamp Thing134$1.95DC10.8
197236G.I. Joe139$1.25Marvel10.8
198202She-Hulk54$1.75Marvel10.4
199240Sleepwalker27$1.25Marvel10.2
200146Ray Bradbury Comics3$2.95Topps10.1
201244Guy Gardner11$1.25DC10.1
202208William Shatner's Tekworld12$1.75Marvel10.0
203209Moon Knight53$1.75Marvel10.0
204198Mignight Men3$1.95Marvel10.0
205210Incomplete Deaths Head8$1.75Marvel9.9
206212Green Arrow77$1.75DC9.8
207149Vampirella8$2.95Harris9.5
208216Warheads: Black Dawn2$1.75Marvel9.5
209218Super Soldiers5$1.75Marvel9.4
210203Dragon Lines4$1.95Marvel9.3
211206Feud2$1.95Marvel9.1
212258Valor10$1.25DC9.0
213260Eclipso10$1.25DC8.9
214211Spyke2$1.95Marvel8.8
215197 Faust 10$2.25Rebel8.8
216220Demon38$1.75DC8.8
217213Zatanna2$1.95DC8.7
218214Untamed3$1.95Marvel8.6
219221Chain Gang War2$1.75DC8.6
220224Kamandi: At Earths End3$1.75DC8.4
221266Green Lantern: Mosaic15$1.25DC8.4
222228Black Axe5$1.75Marvel8.3
223268Mad Dog4$1.25Marvel8.2
224204Groo the Wanderer103$2.25Marvel8.0
225174Evil Ernie: The Resurrection2$2.95Chaos8.0
226196Dinosaurs for Hire5$2.50Malibu7.9
227153Bloodfire1$3.50Lightning7.9
228271Wonder Woman77$1.25DC7.9
229290Marvel Age127$1.00Marvel7.9
230275Conan271$1.25Marvel7.6
231230Lawdog4$1.95Marvel7.4
232226Elfquest: New Blood6$2.00Warp7.3
233243Dark Angel13$1.75Marvel7.2
234135Akira35$4.95Marvel6.9
235237Offcastes2$1.95Marvel6.8
236215Ferret2$2.50Malibu6.7
237223Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles60$2.25Mirage6.6
238252Scarlett8$1.75DC6.5
239242Mighty Magnor4$1.95Malibu6.5
240255Original Ghost Rider14$1.75Marvel6.4
241256Black Canary8$1.75DC6.4
242219Jurassic Park1$2.50Topps6.3
243201Darkman5$2.95Marvel6.2
244195New Tick1$3.25New England6.2
245249Mr. T and the T-Force1 Newsstand$1.95Now5.9
246225Tank Girl II1$2.50Dark Horse5.9
247250Raver3$1.95Malibu5.9
248238Dark Horse Presents75$2.25Dark Horse5.9
249251Ex-Mutants8$1.95Malibu5.8
250227Protectors10$2.50Malibu5.8
251229Dirty Pair: Sim Hell2$2.50Dark Horse5.8
252269Warheads14$1.75Marvel5.7
253298Marvel Tales276$1.25Marvel5.6
254262Trouble with Girls3$1.95Marvel5.6
255270Namor83$1.75Marvel5.6
256232Interview with the Vampire9$2.50Innovation5.6
257193Universal Monsters: Frankenstein0$3.95Dark Horse5.2
258239Necroscope5$2.50Malibu5.2
259282Pendragon II14$1.75Marvel5.0
260254Cerebus171$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim5.0
261247Man of War3$2.50Malibu4.8
262173Alien Legion: One Planet at a Time2$4.95Marvel4.8
263257Redblade3$2.50Dark Horse4.5
264188Strike Force America Special Ed.2$4.95Comico4.4
265263Dark Shadows: Book Two3$2.50Innovation4.3
266307Uncle Scrooge Adventures22$1.50Gladstone4.2
267692Valeria the She-Bat2$.00Continuity4.1
268246Quantum Keao Tune & Space Spec1$2.95Innovation4.1
269312Donald Duck280$1.50Gladstone4.1
270315Donald & Mickey19$1.50Gladstone3.9
271265Macross II10$2.75Viz3.9
272253Ninja High School/Speed Racer1$2.95Eternal3.8
273273Beauty and the Beast4$2.50Innovation3.8
274274Beauty and the Beast5$2.50Innovation3.8
275111Sabretooth1 S&N$13.50Marvel3.8
276259Zen Intergalactic Ninja0$2.95Parody3.8
277261Urban Legends1$2.95Dark Horse3.8
278205Lost in Space: Arrival1 Collector$4.95Innovation3.6
279264Lost in Space: Arrival1 Regular$2.95Innovation3.6
280299Haunt of Fear4$2.00Russ Cochran3.5
281325Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt12$1.50DC3.4
282301Weird Science-Fantasy4$2.00Russ Cochran3.4
283295Pink Panther Giant-Size1$2.25Harris3.3
284342Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures48$1.25Archie3.3
285343Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures49$1.25Archie3.3
286285Airtight Garage2$2.50Marvel3.2
287287Elvira2$2.50Eclipse3.2
288276Ranma 1/2 Part 26$2.95Viz3.2
289345Barbie32$1.25Marvel3.2
290291Speed Racer With Ninja High School1$2.50Now3.1
291245Blue Lily4$3.95Dark Horse3.1
292292Elementals29$2.50Comico3.1
293279True Crime Comics2$2.95Eclipse3.0
294293Safest Place0$2.50Dark Horse3.0
295280Arcomics Premiere Issue1$2.95Archie3.0
296294Caravan Kidd Part 22$2.50Dark Horse3.0
297317Green Hornet22$1.95Now3.0
298284Battle Angel Alita Pt. Two3$2.75Viz3.0
299314Crime SuspenStories4$2.00Russ Cochran3.0
300296Accident Man2$2.50Dark Horse2.9




June 1993 Graphic Novel Sales to Comics Shops

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.

Diamond did not publish order index numbers for graphic novels in this era, so units cannot be determined.

UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
11X-Men Survival Guide to the Mansion$6.95Marveln/a
22Batman: Sword of Azrael TP$9.95DCn/a
33Spider-Man: Carnage TP$6.95Marveln/a
46Marvel Universe Master Edition Vol. 33$4.95Marveln/a
510Superman: Man of Steel TP$7.50DCn/a
69Carl Barks Library Album #18$8.95Gladstonen/a
74Star Trek: Who Killed Captain Kirk TP$16.95DCn/a
85Ghost Rider: Midnight Sons TP$19.95Marveln/a
97Captain America: Bloodstone Hunt TP$15.95Marveln/a
108Akira TP Vol. 9$16.95Marveln/a
1112Best of Dark Horse Presents Vol. 3$12.95Dark Horsen/a
1215Invisible People TP$9.95Kitchen Sinkn/a
1311Aliens II Collection-3rd Printing$13.95Dark Horsen/a
1426In the Days/Ace Rock N Roll Club$4.95Fantagraphicsn/a
1517Lever La Jambe, Moi Poisson Est Morte$10.95Dramenonn/a
1618Liz and Beth Book One$11.95Fantagraphicsn/a
1714Flash Gordon VI.6: Triumph/Tropica SX$21.95Kitchen Sinkn/a
1816Eva Medusa$14.95Tundran/a
1928Pictopia #4$7.95Fantagraphicsn/a
2022Desert Peach: Peach Slices$9.95Mun/a
2123Complete Birdland-2nd Printing$9.95Fantagraphicsn/a
2229Dinosaur Rex Graphic Album (Res.)$8.95Applen/a
2331Tapping the Vein Book VI$8.95Eclipsen/a
2413Flash Gordon V. 6: Triumph/Tropica Dlx.$34.95Kitchen Sinkn/a
2527Justine Vol. 2$12.95NBMn/a