Comichron

 

May 1996 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops

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

Kingdom Come was the big event for the month, and while at a $4.95 cover price it couldn't top the fiftieth issue of Spawn, it would be the top dollar book for the next three months.

Diamond was, by May, easily the clear winner of the Distribution Wars. As of May, Viz backlist items were again available through Diamond, thought its new comics were still exclusive with Capital City. Small publishers Angel Entertainment and Goblin Studios saw their exclusive distribution agreements with Diamond begin in May. There weren't many players left to sign.

Diamond's Comic Shop Locator Service went live on May 29, first as a toll-free phone number service. The web version would come along later.

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

—John Jackson Miller


Marvel, new Viz items, 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, Goblin, Angel, 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
11Spawn50$3.95ImageExclusive327.5
22Kingdom Come1$4.95DCExclusive206.6
34Gen1311$2.50ImageExclusive202.5
43Medieval Spawn Witchblade2$2.95ImageExclusive185.1
56Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive115.5
67Lady Death: The Odyssey3$2.95ChaosExclusive100.1
710Batman532$2.50DCExclusive100.0
88Shi: The Way of the Warrior9$2.95CrusadeExclusive99.6
912Witchblade6$2.50ImageExclusive97.5
1013WildC.A.T.S.30$2.50ImageExclusive96.7
115X-Files0$3.95Topps91.0
1227Detective Comics698$1.95DCExclusive90.6
1328Superman113$1.95DCExclusive90.2
1429Action Comics723$1.95DCExclusive89.6
1530Detective Comics699$1.95DCExclusive89.3
1631Adventures of Superman536$1.95DCExclusive88.1
1732Superman: The Man of Steel58$1.95DCExclusive86.7
189X-Files18$2.95Topps85.3
1911Batman Black & White2$2.95DCExclusive83.6
2036Superman: The Man of Tomorrow5$1.95DCExclusive82.0
2114Batman Annual20$2.95DCExclusive79.3
2239Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 84$1.95DCExclusive77.1
2340Batman: Shadow of the Bat52$1.95DCExclusive76.7
2420Wetworks17$2.50ImageExclusive76.6
2521Dreaming2$2.50DCExclusive74.3
2615Adventures of Superman Annual8$2.95DCExclusive72.7
2744Robin31$1.95DCExclusive72.2
2825Fire from Heaven2$2.50ImageExclusive72.2
2926Celestine1$2.50ImageExclusive71.7
3045Pitt11$1.95Full Bleed71.3
3116Sin City: That Yellow Bastard4$2.95Dark HorseExclusive70.9
3264Green Lantern75$1.75DCExclusive70.5
3366Green Lantern76$1.75DCExclusive68.8
3451Catwoman35$1.95DCExclusive68.0
3517Batman Chronicles5$2.95DCExclusive67.5
3618Atomik Angels1$2.95CrusadeExclusive66.8
3733Cyberforce23$2.50ImageExclusive66.3
3854Azrael19$1.95DCExclusive66.3
3934Cyberforce24$2.50ImageExclusive66.0
4035Avengelyne2$2.50Maximum65.9
4119Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron4$2.95Dark HorseExclusive65.7
4270Flash115$1.75DCExclusive64.7
4360Wonder Woman111$1.95DCExclusive64.1
4423Catwoman Annual3$2.95DCExclusive62.3
4538Backlash20$2.50ImageExclusive60.9
4667Maxx24$1.95ImageExclusive60.8
4741Precher15$2.50DCExclusive59.6
4842Weapon Zero4$2.50ImageExclusive59.5
4972Sperboy29$1.95DCExclusive54.9
5046Deathblow28$2.50ImageExclusive54.7
5148Stormwatch36$2.50ImageExclusive54.6
5237Ash Fire Within1$2.95Event54.0
5350Sword of Damocles2$2.50ImageExclusive54.0
5452Gamorra Swimsuit Issue$2.50ImageExclusive52.7
5553Ghost Hellboy Special1$2.50Dark HorseExclusive52.2
5624Glory12$3.50ImageExclusive51.6
5757Defcon 44$2.50ImageExclusive51.5
5882Hazard1$1.75ImageExclusive51.4
5958Lady Supreme1$2.50ImageExclusive51.1
6053Prophet Chapel Supersoldiers1$2.50ImageExclusive50.5
6161Savage Dragon28$2.50ImageExclusive50.0
6284Artemis Requiem2$1.75DCExclusive49.2
6365Sigma3$2.50ImageExclusive49.1
6485Impulse15$1.75DCExclusive48.5
6547Avengelyne Glory Swimsuit Book$2.95Maximum46.3
6689Aquaman22$1.75DCExclusive46.2
6768Prophet Chapel Supersoldiers7$2.50ImageExclusive45.9
6874Hitman3$2.25DCExclusive45.4
6971Ripclaw6$2.50ImageExclusive44.9
7055Impulse Annual1$2.95DCExclusive43.8
7173Books of Magic26$2.50DCExclusive41.9
7277Starman20$2.25DCExclusive41.9
7390Sovereign Seven12$1.95DCExclusive41.2
7476Youngblood8$2.50Maximum39.6
7569Barb Wire1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive38.5
76113Batman & Robin Adventures8$1.75DCExclusive37.5
7778Black Ops5$2.50ImageExclusive37.3
7879Ghost Hellboy Special14$2.50Dark HorseExclusive37.1
7943Razor Areala Warrior Nun Faith1$3.95London NightExclusive37.1
8080Terminal City1$2.50DCExclusive37.0
8187Lobo29$2.25DCExclusive36.3
8288Green Arrow110$2.25DCExclusive36.3
8381Maximage6$2.50ImageExclusive36.0
8493Hellblazer103$2.25DCExclusive35.0
8594Vamps Hollywood & Vein6$2.25DCExclusive34.8
8649Warrior Nun Areala vs. Razor1$3.95Antarctic34.6
8775Nexus Meets Madman1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive34.3
88121Power of Shazam16$1.75DCExclusive33.5
8999Legion of Super-Heroes82$2.25DCExclusive33.0
9056Uncanny X-Men/New Teen Titans$3.95DCExclusive32.7
91103Legionnaires38$2.25DCExclusive32.3
92131Jsutice League America112$1.50DCExclusive31.7
9362Batman vs. The Incredble Hulk1$3.95DCExclusive31.6
9463Superman and Spider-Man1$3.95DCExclusive31.6
9522Superman vs. Amazing Spider-Man1$5.95DCExclusive30.9
9695Vertigo Verite Girl1$2.50DCExclusive30.4
9783Vampirella of Drakulon3$2.95Harris30.3
98107Spectre43$2.25DCExclusive30.2
99108Sandman Mystery Theater40$2.25DCExclusive29.9
100101Body Count3$2.50ImageExclusive29.4
101130Steel28$1.95DCExclusive28.5
102143Pinky and the Brain1$1.75DCExclusive28.4
10391Battlestar Galactica: Apollo's Judgement2$2.95Maximum27.1
104110Supreme39$2.50ImageExclusive26.6
105111Seekers into the Mystery6$2.50DCExclusive26.5
106115Invisibles22$2.50DCExclusive26.0
107116Black & White4$2.50ImageExclusive26.0
10896Concrete Think Like a Mountain3$2.95Dark HorseExclusive25.5
10997Girl Crazy1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive25.2
11098Asylum5$2.95Maximum25.2
111102Grendel Tales the Devil May Care6$2.95Dark HorseExclusive24.8
112133Simpsons comics20$2.25Bongo24.4
11386Martian Manhunter Special1$3.50DCExclusive24.2
114156Takion2$1.75DCExclusive23.9
115158Extreme Justice18$1.75DCExclusive23.3
116124Devlin3$2.50Maximum23.2
117106Showcase6$2.95DCExclusive23.2
118159Justice League Task Force36$1.75DCExclusive23.1
119149Mister Miracle4$1.95DCExclusive22.4
12011222 Brides Married to the Mob2$2.95Event22.3
121129Mike Grell's Maggie the Cat5$2.50ImageExclusive22.3
122109Razor Torture4$3.00London NightExclusive22.3
123162Guy Gardner Warrior44$1.75DCExclusive22.3
124114Guy Gardner Warrior Annual2$2.95DCExclusive22.1
125132Poison Elves13$2.50SiriusExclusive22.0
126117Horseman0$2.95Kevlar22.0
127134Christian3$2.50Maximum21.8
128135Flex Mentallo2$2.50DCExclusive21.5
129100Ray25$3.50DCExclusive21.1
130145Swamp Thing168$2.25DCExclusive21.0
131118Arsenal Special1$2.95DCExclusive20.5
132119Godzilla12$2.95Dark HorseExclusive20.2
133161Batman532$1.95DCExclusive20.1
134140Strikeback5$2.50ImageExclusive20.1
135120Babes of Broadway1$2.95BroadwayExclusive19.9
136142Bone7 (Reprint)$2.50ImageExclusive19.9
137122Fatale5$2.95BroadwayExclusive19.9
138125Vertigo Verite The System3$2.95DCExclusive19.7
139126Space Above & Beyond the Gaunt1$2.95Topps19.6
140164New Gods9$1.95DCExclusive19.4
141123Tommi Gunn Digital Meltdown1$3.00London NightExclusive19.4
142150Hawkman33$2.25DCExclusive19.3
143127Age of Reptiles: The Hunt1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive19.1
144128Predator Jungle Tlaes1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive18.9
145144Killer Instinct Tiger Fury Special1$2.50AcclaimExclusive18.9
146147X-O Manowar68$2.50AcclaimExclusive18.3
147167Big Bang Comics1$1.95ImageExclusive17.9
148136Oh! My Goddess Terrible Master Urder2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive17.8
149137Dominion Conflict 1 No More No1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive17.7
150139Razor Uncut22$3.00London NightExclusive17.2
151141Satanika3$2.95Verotik16.9
152153Slider's Ultimatum2$2.50AcclaimExclusive16.8
15392Elfquest1$4.95Warp16.1
154146Verotika10$2.95Verotik15.8
155148You're Under Arrest6$2.95Dark HorseExclusive14.9
156170Troubleman3$2.25ImageExclusive14.6
157152Powers That Be6$2.95BroadwayExclusive14.5
158165Mask Southern Discomfort2$2.50Dark HorseExclusive14.4
159151Poizon Lost Child3$3.00London NightExclusive14.3
160154Cyberfrog3$2.95Harris14.2
161157Usagi Yojimbo2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive14.0
162190Animaniacs15$1.75DCExclusive14.0
163155Double Impact8$3.00High Impact14.0
164173Leonard Nimoy's Primortals1$2.25Tekno13.9
165176Fate20$2.25DCExclusive13.9
166195Firebrand6$1.75DCExclusive13.7
167160Stray Bullets9$2.95El Capitan13.3
168138Legend of Mother Sarah: City of Children5$3.95Dark HorseExclusive13.1
169182Neil Gaiman's Lady Justice2$2.25Tekno13.1
170163Lone Ranger & Tonto The Velvet2$2.95Topps12.9
171184Mickey Spillane's Mike Danger2$2.25Tekno12.4
172241Dragon3$.99ImageExclusive12.1
173528Spawn50 Promo$.00ImageExclusive12.1
174166Heartbreakers2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive11.9
175187Man Against Time4$2.25ImageExclusive11.7
176188Neil Gaiman's Mr. Hero2$2.25Tekno11.7
177104Magic the Gathering Urza Mishra Vol. 1$5.95AcclaimExclusive11.5
178105Magic the Gathering Urza Mishra Vol. 2$5.95AcclaimExclusive11.5
179168Spirit of Wondre2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive11.5
180169Warrior 1$2.95Ultimate11.2
181185Heroes3$2.50DCExclusive11.1
182191Neil Gaiman's Phage2$2.25Tekno10.9
183181Strangers in Paradise12$2.75Abstract10.7
184172Moebius Comics1$2.95Caliber10.7
185193Gene Roddenberry's Xander in Lost Universe2$2.25Tekno10.7
186194Cerebus206$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim10.7
187174Dragonheart1$2.95Topps10.6
188177Hate23$2.95Fantagraphics10.5
189178Sunglasses After Dark4$2.95Verotik10.3
190198I-Bots2$2.25Tekno10.2
191179Mutant Chronicles Sourcebook1$2.95AcclaimExclusive10.2
192171Culture Clash Teknophage vs. Zeerus1$3.25Tekno10.1
193180Jazz2$3.00High Impact9.9
194189Icon38$2.50DCExclusive9.9
195183Dark Horse Presents109$2.95Dark HorseExclusive9.9
196192Demongate1$2.50SiriusExclusive9.7
197197Punx Redux3$2.50AcclaimExclusive9.3
198186Walter Campaign of Terror4$2.95Dark HorseExclusive9.0
199239Uncle Scrooge299$1.50Gladstone8.5
200232Looney Tunes24$1.75DCExclusive8.4
201203Static37$2.50DCExclusive8.2
202209Joe Psycho and Moo Frog1$2.50GoblinExclusive7.9
203210Vault of Horror16$2.50GemstoneExclusive7.9
204211Sisters of Mercy3$2.50No Mercy7.9
205212Solo2$2.50Dark HorseExclusive7.8
206199Halo2$2.95SiriusExclusive7.8
207213Hardware41$2.50DCExclusive7.7
208216Weird Fantasy16$2.50GemstoneExclusive7.3
209200Deodato Comics Protheus2$2.95Caliber7.3
210249Stargate1$2.95Express7.1
211207Elementals Swimsuit Spectacular1$2.95Comico7.0
212196Adventures of the Mask5$2.50Dark HorseExclusive7.0
213204Akiko3$2.50SiriusExclusive7.0
214208Tex Avery's Comics and Stories2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive6.8
215214Donald Duck Adventures39$1.50Gladstone6.8
216225Elementals Vampire's Revenge1$2.95Comico6.8
217227Stargate1$3.50Express6.8
218215Double Impact Lethal Strike Do1$3.00High Impact6.8
219218Legends of Luxura2$2.95Brainstorm6.7
220261Vamperotica15$2.95Brainstorm6.5
221224Wandering Star12$2.50SiriusExclusive6.4
222228Two Fisted Tales16$2.50GemstoneExclusive6.4
223175Serina2$2.95Antarctic6.3
224217Bad Eggs4$2.95AcclaimExclusive6.1
225231Archie450$1.50Archie5.7
226229Elementals: How The War Was One1$2.95Comico5.5
227230Cauldron3$2.95Realm5.4
228268Walt Disney's Comics & Stories604$5.95Gladstone5.2
229269Claire Voyante1$3.50Lightning5.2
230270Johnny the Homicidal Maniac4$2.95Slave Labor5.0
231224Sinja Deadly Sins1$3.00Lightning5.0
232228Cadence of the Dirge1$3.00Gothic5.0
233175Sonic the Hedgehog37$1.50Archie5.0
234217Betty & Veronica102$1.50Archie4.9
235231Cheryl Blossom2$1.50Archie4.9
236233Widow Bound by Blood2$3.00Ground Zero4.9
237236Nira X Cyberangel2$2.75Express4.8
238277Betty & Veronica40$1.50Archie4.5
239235Fangs of the Widow8$3.00Ground Zero4.5
240279Sonic's Friendly Nemesis Knuckles2$1.50Archie4.4
241280Veronica54$1.50Archie4.4
242238Sinja Deadly Sins1$3.00Lightning4.3
243226Girls of Ninja High School 1996$3.95Antarctic4.1
244242Vampire Bayne2$2.95Redline4.0
245243Fleener1$2.95Bongo4.0
246289Archie & Friends19$1.50Archie3.9
247265Archie's Vacation Special4$2.00Archie3.9
248245Searchers1$2.95Caliber3.7
249296Scooby Doo11$1.50Archie3.6
250299Jughead83$1.50Archie3.6
251246Eddie Campbell's Bacchus13$2.95Eddie Campbell3.6
252253Betty & Veronica Double Digest59$2.75Archie3.6
253247Fem 55$2.95Express3.5
254248Tug & Buster4$2.95Art & Soul3.5
255221Big Big THB9$4.95Horse3.4
256250Sexhibition7$2.95Fantagraphics3.4
257251Spunky Knight1$2.95Fantagraphics3.4
258255Super Taboo6$2.95Fantagraphics3.2
259244Hot Tails3$3.50Fantagraphics3.2
260256Oz Romance in Rags1$2.95Caliber3.1
261295Archie's All Canadian Digest1$1.75Archie3.1
262529Prophet Chapel Supersoldiers1$.00ImageExclusive3.1
263259Vampire Girl California0$2.95Angus3.0
264308Archie Digest142$1.75Archie2.9
265264Jughead Double Digest38$2.75Archie2.9
266328Fluntstones12$1.50Archie2.8
267266Pals-N-Gals Double Digest20$2.75Archie2.8
268283Thieves & Kings11$2.35I Box2.8
269274Sliders1$2.50AcclaimExclusive2.7
270336Hanna Barbera Presents6$1.50Archie2.7
271257Bride of Heavy Metal6$3.50Heavy Metal2.5
272286Futuretech3$2.50Mushroom2.5
273323Archie Andrew's Where Are You Digest107$1.75Archie2.5
274240Fifteen Years of Heavy Metal$4.95Heavy Metal2.5
275252Magician's Village The Series1$3.95Mad Monkey2.5
276271Dragon Ring2$2.95Mad Monkey2.4
277272Hurricane Girls6$2.95Antarctic2.4
278273Genus18$2.95Antarctic2.4
279234Superman Doomsday Hunter Prey $14.95DCExclusive2.3
280275A Bomb12$2.95Antarctic2.3
281292Reverend Ablack1$2.50Cry for Dawn2.2
282281Okara Mutant Boy2$2.95Mad Monkey2.2
283260Negative Burn35$3.95Caliber2.2
284284Robotech II: The Sentinel's Book6$2.95Academy2.2
285285Tales from the Bog3$2.95Aberrant2.2
286301Reverend Ablakc2$2.50Cry for Dawn2.1
287263Dark Town2$3.95Mad Monkey2.1
288205Jazz2$9.95High Impact2.0
289287Palooka Ville9$2.95Dramenon2.0
290290F III Bandit9$2.95Antarctic2.0
291291Double Impact2$3.00High Impact1.9
292282Mangazine44$3.50Antarctic1.9
293294Robotech II: Return to Macrosss32$2.95Academy1.8
294297Silbuster15$2.95Antarctic1.8
295298Rare Bit Fiends20$2.95King Hell1.8
296320Killer Instinct1$2.50AcclaimExclusive1.8
297302Metal Bikini1$2.95Academy1.8
298322Elvira37$2.50Claypool1.8
299304Silent Invasion1$2.95Caliber1.8
300305Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan Mugambi1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive1.7


May 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.

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



UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
11Death Dealer #2$6.95Verotikn.a.
23Nine Princes in Amber$6.95DCn.a.
32Spawn II$9.95Imagen.a.
410Life, The Universe & Everything #3$6.95DCn.a.
54Big Book of Little Criminals$14.95DCn.a.
616Man from Ciguri$6.95Dark Horsen.a.
712Razor Areala War Nun Faith #1 Virgin$10.00London Nightn.a.
813Tommi Gunn Digital Meltdown #1$10.00London Nightn.a.
96Sin City The Big Fat Kill$15.00Dark Horsen.a.
1011Tarzan the Land that Time Forgot$12.95Dark Horsen.a.