Comichron

 

March 1996 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops by Diamond

Estimated 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

Titles for Amalgam, a fused-universe crossover mini-line from Marvel and DC, shipped during the last week of February, but as the issues appeared in the March retail catalogs, their rankings appear below. Retailers had been given the chance to order those comics later than usual, in order to preserve the surprise of the Amalgam project.

Marvel published half the Amalgam titles and retailers had to order them through Heroes World, so only half the line is represented below in any event.

Two more publishers' comics were exclusively available through Diamond in March: Sirius and Chaos. Diamond had already passed critical mass by this point, bagging most all the larger and mid-sized non-Marvel publishers as exclusives.

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.

Marvel, Viz, Kitchen Sink, and Coppervale were not distributed by Diamond this month.
Diamond was the only distributor carrying DC, Dark Horse, Image, Acclaim, Chaos, Sirius, Crusade, Gemstone, London Night, and Broadway comics, as well as Wizard's magazines.
True industry-wide rankings would greatly differ.
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 item on eBay. You can also find the books at your comics shop.



UnitsDollarsComic-book TitleIssuePricePublisherDiamond Exclusive?Order Index
11DC vs. Marvel4$3.95DCExclusive369.2
22Legends of the Dark Claw1$1.95DCExclusive267.9
35JLX1$1.95DCExclusive221.3
46Amazon1$1.95DCExclusive218.8
57Spawn47$1.95ImageExclusive217.9
68Spawn46$1.95ImageExclusive217.7
79Super Soldier1$1.95DCExclusive214.0
83Gen139$2.50ImageExclusive207.8
912Assassins1$1.95DCExclusive197.8
1014Doctor Strangefate1$1.95DCExclusive181.2
1110Gen13 Ordinary Heroes2$2.50ImageExclusive166.8
1211Spawn Wildcats3$2.50ImageExclusive162.4
134Lady Death: The Odyssey1$3.50ChaosExclusive127.3
1413Grifter Shi1$2.95ImageExclusive123.8
1517Angela Glory Rage of Angels$2.50ImageExclusive111.6
1615Death: The Time of Your Life2$2.95DCExclusive106.0
1719Batman530 Collector's Ed.$2.50DCExclusive100.0
1822Wildcats28$2.50ImageExclusive93.2
1928Adventures of Superman534$1.95DCExclusive88.6
2016Fire from Heaven1$3.50ImageExclusive88.3
2129Action Comics721$1.95DCExclusive88.0
2231Superman The Man of Steel56$1.95DCExclusive86.6
2318X-Files16$2.95Topps85.3
2423Witchblade5$2.50ImageExclusive85.1
2520Star Wars: Heir to the Empire5$2.95Dark HorseExclusive84.2
2621Tomoe3$2.95CrusadeExclusive80.0
2736Batman: Shadow of the Bat50$1.95DCExclusive79.7
2837Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight82$1.95DCExclusive76.1
2927Cyberforce21$2.50ImageExclusive70.5
3039Robin29$1.95DCExclusive70.0
3124Sin City: That Yellow Bastard2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive68.6
3230Sigma1$2.50ImageExclusive68.0
3325Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive67.1
3432Sword of Damocles1$2.50ImageExclusive66.8
3544Catwoman33$1.95DCExclusive65.9
3645Azrael17$1.95DCExclusive65.2
3746Wonder Woman109$1.95DCExclusive65.1
3833Weapon Zero2$2.50ImageExclusive64.0
3926Star Wars: Tales from Mos Eisley2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive62.9
4035Deathblow26$2.50ImageExclusive62.6
4158Flash113$1.75DCExclusive59.8
4256Superboy 27$1.95DCExclusive56.1
4340Team 7 III: Dead Reckoning3$2.50ImageExclusive54.5
4441Backlash18$2.50ImageExclusive53.3
4543Glory10$2.50ImageExclusive52.7
4647Ripclaw5$2.50ImageExclusive49.4
4748Deathblow25$2.50ImageExclusive48.2
4849Savage Dragon27$2.50ImageExclusive48.0
4950Stormwatch34$2.50ImageExclusive47.1
5075Impulse13$1.75DCExclusive46.9
5151Youngblood6$2.50ImageExclusive46.3
5276Aquaman20$1.75DCExclusive46.1
5353Defcon2$2.50ImageExclusive44.5
5454213$2.50ImageExclusive44.3
5557Maximage4$2.50ImageExclusive43.1
5659Books of Magic24$2.50DCExclusive40.5
5760Body Count1$2.50ImageExclusive40.4
5861Tarzan vs. Predator: At Earth's Core3$2.50Dark HorseExclusive38.9
59106Lady Death Odyssey Sneak Preview$1.50ChaosExclusive38.9
6062Team Youngblood21$2.50ImageExclusive38.6
6163Ghost12$2.50Dark HorseExclusive38.6
6270Vamps Hollywood & Vein4$2.25DCExclusive38.4
6364Cybernary5$2.50ImageExclusive38.1
6452Vengeance of Vampirella24$2.95Harris37.7
6565Black Ops3$2.50ImageExclusive37.5
6696Batman & Robin Adventures6$1.75DCExclusive37.1
6774Lobo27$2.25DCExclusive36.5
6838Bettie Page Comics1$3.95Dark HorseExclusive36.0
6968Lady Pendragon2$2.50Maximum35.4
7069Cyberpunx2$2.50ImageExclusive34.9
7179Hellblazer101$2.25DCExclusive34.2
7242Barb Wire Movie Special$3.95Dark HorseExclusive33.5
7373Dart2$2.50ImageExclusive33.2
7483Legion of Super-Heroes80$2.25DCExclusive32.7
7534X-Files Special Edition3$4.95Topps32.0
7677Devlin1$2.50Maximum31.9
7786Legionnaires36$2.25DCExclusive31.8
7866Vampirella of Drakulon2$2.95Harris31.3
796722 Brides Married to the Mob1$2.95Event31.1
80103GI Joe3$1.95Dark HorseExclusive31.0
8178Kid Supreme1$2.50ImageExclusive31.0
8288Ballistic Imagery2$2.25ImageExclusive30.8
8390Spectre41$2.25DCExclusive30.6
8480Lethal2$2.50ImageExclusive30.5
8581Bloodpool2$2.50ImageExclusive30.2
8682Black & White2$2.50ImageExclusive29.5
87165Dragon1$.99ImageExclusive29.2
8895Sandman Mystery Theater38$2.25DCExclusive29.2
89109Steel26$1.95DCExclusive29.0
9071Asylum3$2.95Maximum29.0
9172Concrete Think Like a Mountain1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive29.0
92100Green Arrow108$2.25DCExclusive27.9
9391Supreme37$2.50ImageExclusive27.2
9494Christian1$2.50Maximum26.5
9598New Man3$2.50ImageExclusive25.2
9699Invisibles20$2.50DCExclusive25.2
97101New Force3$2.50ImageExclusive24.7
9884Grendel Tales The Devil May Care4$2.95Dark HorseExclusive24.7
99121Mister Miracle2$1.95DCExclusive24.6
100110Simpsons Comics18$2.25Bongo24.5
10185Vertigo Verite: The System1$2.95DCExclusive24.4
102102Mike Grell's Maggie the Cat3$2.50ImageExclusive24.3
10387Thunder Agents2$2.95Maximum24.2
104132Justice League Task Force34$1.75DCExclusive24.2
105135Extreme Justice16$1.75DCExclusive23.8
106105New Shadowhawk7$2.50ImageExclusive23.5
10789Lady Rawhide5$2.95Topps23.4
108115Troubleman1$2.25ImageExclusive23.2
10992Bone5 Image Version$2.95ImageExclusive22.7
110138Guy Gardner Warrior42$1.75DCExclusive22.7
111179Star Wars: Dark Empire$.99Dark HorseExclusive22.7
11293Razor Torture2$3.00London NightExclusive22.3
11397Poizon: Lost Child1$3.00London NightExclusive21.5
114123Swamp Thing166$2.25DCExclusive20.9
115116Strikeback3$2.50ImageExclusive20.7
116104Dominion Conflict 1: No More No1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive20.4
117124Ray23$2.25DCExclusive20.4
118117Godzilla10$2.50Dark HorseExclusive20.2
119140Batman530$1.95DCExclusive20.0
120119X-O Manowar66$2.50AcclaimExclusive19.8
121120Poison Elves11$2.50SiriusExclusive19.7
122122Fatale3$2.50BroadwayExclusive18.9
123134Man Against Time2$2.25ImageExclusive18.6
12455Blood & Shadows3$5.95DCExclusive18.5
125112Space Above & Beyond3$2.95Topps18.1
126127Heroes1$2.50DCExclusive18.0
127113Razor Uncut20$3.00London NightExclusive17.6
128161Firebrand4$1.75DCExclusive17.3
129118Oh! My Goddess Valentine Rhapsody4$2.95Dark HorseExclusive17.0
130133Indiana Jones & the Sargasso Pirates4$2.50Dark HorseExclusive16.8
131148Crush4$2.25ImageExclusive16.1
132141Sliders2$2.50AcclaimExclusive15.5
133149Leonard Nimoy's Primortals15$2.25Tekno15.5
134142Turok: Dinosaur Hunter46$2.50AcclaimExclusive15.4
135126Verotika9$2.95Verotik15.3
136143Mask13$2.50Dark HorseExclusive15.3
137144Killer Instinct2$2.50AcclaimExclusive15.1
138125Double Impact7$3.00High Impact15.1
139128Jazz Solo1$3.00High Impact14.9
140145Shadow State4$2.50BroadwayExclusive14.9
141146X-O Manowar24$2.50Dark HorseExclusive14.9
142129You're Under Arrest4$2.95Dark HorseExclusive14.8
143107Warrior Nun Portraits4$3.95Antarctic14.7
144130Goth3$2.95Verotik14.7
145154Deathstroke59$2.25DCExclusive14.5
14655Neil Gaiman's Lady Justice11$2.25Tekno14.4
147173Animaniacs13$1.75DCExclusive14.0
148136Mike Deodato's Ramthar1$2.95Caliber13.9
149159Mickey Spillane's Mike Danger11$2.25Tekno13.7
150139Dark Horse Presents107$2.95Dark HorseExclusive13.5
151162Fate18$2.25DCExclusive13.4
152131Neil Gaiman's Wheel of Worlds1$3.25Tekno13.3
153114Legend of Mother: Sarah City of Children3$3.95Dark HorseExclusive13.3
154163Casual Heroes3$2.25ImageExclusive13.1
155164Neil Gaiman's Mr Hero the Newmatic Man17$2.25Tekno13.0
156157Bloodshot50$2.50AcclaimExclusive12.6
157147Mutant Chronicles Golgotha3$2.95AcclaimExclusive12.3
158170Gene Roddenberry's Xander in Lost Universe8$2.25Tekno12.0
159150Space Usagi3$2.95Dark HorseExclusive11.7
160166Punx Redux1$2.50AcclaimExclusive11.4
161152Foot Soldiers3$2.95Dark HorseExclusive11.2
162168Walter Campaign of Terror2$2.50Dark HorseExclusive11.2
163182Wildstorms Player's Guide1$1.95ImageExclusive11.1
164153Serina1$2.95Antarctic11.0
165172Cerebus204$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim11.0
166158High Voltage0$2.95Blackout10.5
167177Elfquest Hidden Years29$2.25Warp10.4
168160Sunglasses After Dark3$2.95Verotik10.3
169178Elfquest Shards16$2.25Warp10.0
170176Adventures of the Mask3$2.50Dark HorseExclusive9.2
171111Poizon: Lost Child1$5.95London NightExclusive8.9
172207Uncle Scrooge298$1.50Gladstone8.8
173189Elfquest Kahvi6$2.25Warp8.6
174183Static35$2.50DCExclusive8.5
175171Andrew Vachss Cross5$2.95Dark HorseExclusive8.5
176184Akiko1$2.50SiriusExclusive8.5
177174Armed & Dangerous4$2.95AcclaimExclusive8.3
178197Spawn11$1.95ImageExclusive8.2
179187Araknis0$2.50Mushroom8.2
180205Looney Tunes23$1.75DCExclusive8.1
181188Hardware39$2.50DCExclusive8.0
182200Haunt of Fear15$2.00GemstoneExclusive7.6
183185Catfight Dream into Action1 Reprint$2.75Lightning7.5
184180Vampire Bayne1$2.95Redline7.4
185181Stephen R. Bissette's Tyrant5$2.95Spiderbaby7.4
186220Donald Duck Adventures38$1.50Gladstone7.2
187167CFD Book of Lingerie96 Adult$3.95Cry for Dawn7.2
188186Bad Eggs2$2.95AcclaimExclusive7.0
189206Spawn32$1.95ImageExclusive6.9
190169Vampire Miyu6$3.95Antarctic6.8
191137Project1$5.95DCExclusive6.8
192208Crime Suspensestories15$2.00GemstoneExclusive6.6
193196Snowman2$2.50Hall of Heroes6.5
194212Pitt5$1.95Full Bleed6.3
195190Elementals4$2.95Comico6.2
196175Tekno-Comix Handbook1$3.95Tekno6.1
197216Pitt6$1.95Full Bleed6.0
198214Frontline Combat 4$2.00GemstoneExclusive6.0
199191Vamperotica13$2.95Brainstorm6.0
200195Nira X Cyberangel0$2.75Express6.0
201192Luxura Leather Special1$2.95Brainstorm5.9
202193Widow Metal Gypsies3$3.00Ground Zero5.8
203108Morbid Angel1$9.95London NightExclusive2.8
204201Too Much Coffee Man5$2.50Adhesive5.8
205194Cud Comics3$2.95Dark HorseExclusive5.8
206151James Bond Goldeneye Special1$5.95Topps5.7
207238Betty & Veronica 100$1.50Archie5.5
208156Walt Disney's Comics & Stories603$5.95Gladstone5.4
209242Archie448$1.50Archie5.2
210198Simpsons Comics & Stories1$2.95Welsh5.2
211199Fangs of the Widow6$3.00Ground Zero5.1
212250Sonic the Hedgehog35$1.50Archie4.5
213233Archie's Spring Break Special1$2.00Archie4.4
214210Primer4$2.95Comico4.3
215257Betty & Veronica 38$1.50Archie4.2
216217Nightcry Volume V$2.75Cry for Dawn4.2
217213Red Dragon2$2.95Comico4.1
218215Eddie Vampbell's Bacchus11$1.50Eddie Campbell4.1
219262Veronica52$3.75Archie4.0
220202CFD Book of Lingerie96$2.95Cry for Dawn3.9
221219Fem 53$2.95Express3.7
222221Countdown Sex Bombs5$3.95Fantagraphics3.6
223204Black Raven1$1.50Mad Monkey3.6
224272Scooby Doo9$3.50Archie3.6
225211Hot Tails1$2.95Fantagraphics3.5
226222Oblivion4$2.95Comico3.5
227223Vortex: The Second Coming1$2.95Express3.4
228224Oz15$2.95Caliber3.3
229225Vortex: The Second Coming1A$2.95Express3.3
230226Strike Force America2$2.95Comico3.3
231278World of Archie19$1.50Archie3.3
232282Jughead81$1.50Archie3.3
233209Horny Biker Sluts10$3.95Last Gasp3.2
234218Stray Bullets5$3.50El Capitan3.2
235227Distant Soil14$2.95Aria3.2
236245Thieves & Kings10$2.35I Box3.2
237228Tug & Buster3$2.95Art & Soul3.2
238234Tick1 Reprint$2.75New England3.2
239229Stray Bullets6$2.95El Capitan3.1
240235Betty & Veronica Double Digest58$2.75Archie3.1
241230Sexhibition5$2.95Fantagraphics3.0
242203Batman Spawn War Devil$4.95DCExclusive2.9
243236Super Taboo4$2.95Fantagraphics2.9
244294Flintstones10$1.50Archie2.8
245240Stray Bullets7$2.95El Capitan2.7
246241Replacement God4$2.95Slave Labor2.7
247243MD Geist Ground Zero1$2.95Central Park2.7
248305Hanna-Barbera All-Stars5$1.50Archie2.6
249288Betty & Veronica Digest81$1.75Archie2.6
250289Archie Digest141$1.75Archie2.6
251232Heritage Collection2$3.50Heritage2.5
252244Hurricane Girls5$2.95Antarctic2.5
253237Jim Vol. II6$3.50Fantagraphics2.4
254246Robotech II: The Sentinels 4$2.95Academy2.4
255318Jetsons10$1.50Archie2.4
256247La Cosa Nostroid1$2.95Fireman2.4
257266Death by Chocolate1$2.50Sleeping Giant2.4
258253Jughead's Double Digest37$2.75Archie2.4
259239Young Witches II: London Babylon5$3.50Fantagraphics2.3
260258Tick10 Reprint$2.75New England2.3
261231Negative Burn33$3.95Caliber2.3
262249A-Bomb11$2.95Antarctic2.3
263251Jinx1$2.95Caliber2.2
264252Sade Rose & Gun Confederate1$3.00Bishop2.2
265255Robotech Macross Saga Booby Trap1$2.95Academy2.2
266256F-III Bandit8$2.95Antarctic2.2
267259Jimbo4$2.95Bongo2.1
268260Chesty Sanchez2$2.95Antarctic2.1
269261Robotech Return to Macross30$2.95Academy2.1
270263Vampire Verses3$2.95Cry for Dawn2.0
271264Rare Bit Fiends18$2.95King Hell2.0
272265Misstrx1$2.95Doom Theater2.0
273309Superman: The Man of Tomorrow1$3.00DCExclusive2.0
274248Shadowhawk Special1$1.95ImageExclusive2.0
275284Elvira35$3.50Claypool1.9
276267Naked Angels1$2.50Fantagraphics1.9
277268Robotech Mechanagel2$2.95Academy1.9
278370Femforce92$2.95AC1.9
279273Strangehaven4$2.95Abiogenesis1.8
280275Visions of a Distant Soil$2.95Aria1.0
281310Faust Love of the Damned Act Four$2.25Rebellion1.7
282276Vampirella Strikes1$2.95Harris1.7
283277Furrlough39$2.95Antarctic1.7
284279Carnal Comics Superstars of ER2$2.95Revolutionary1.7
285312Faust Love of the Damned Act One$2.25Rebellion1.7
286280Carnal Comics Porn Star Fantasy5$2.95Revolutionary1.7
287281X-Files Conspiracy$2.95Topps1.7
288302Wildcats 21$2.50ImageExclusive1.6
289369Appleseed Databook1$3.50Dark HorseExclusive1.6
290285Devil-Jack4$3.00Doom Theater1.6
291271Appleseed Databook2$3.50Dark HorseExclusive1.6
292286Fantastic Panic Vol. 23$2.95Antarctic1.6
293287Bushwacked$2.95Fantagraphics1.6
294291Legendlore2$2.95Caliber1.5
295293Land of Nod1$2.95Blackout1.4
296295Yuppies, Rednecks, & Lesbian Bit4$2.95Fantagraphics1.4
297296Shanda14$2.95Antarctic1.4
298297Appraition2$2.95Caliber1.4
299298Raven Chronicles7$2.95Caliber1.4
300300Countdown Sex Bombs1$2.95Fantagraphics1.4


March 1996 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.

For some reason, Diamond cut its Top 25 graphic novel chart down to the Top 10; it would remain this way until June 1998. Diamond did not publish order index numbers for graphic novels in this era, so units cannot be determined.



UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
15 Magic the Gathering: The Uzra-Mishra War$5.95Acclaimn.a.
22Vertigo Verite Seven Miles A Second$7.95DCn.a.
36Life, The Universe, & Everything$6.95DCn.a.
41Signal to Noise $14.95Dark Horsen.a.
54Shi Senryaku$13.95Crusaden.a.
63Posion Elves Requiem for an Elf$14.95Siriusn.a.
79Catwoman The Catfile$9.95DCn.a.
87Superman Batman Alternate Histories$14.95DCn.a.
98Black Dragon$17.95Dark Horsen.a.
1015Uncle Scrooge Adventures in Color$8.95Gladstonen.a.