May 1997 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops
Estimated Comics Preordered by North American Comics Shops
Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors
Covers and issue links on this page lead to current eBay listings. This site may be compensated if you make a purchase.
May 1997 was "Flashback" month at Marvel, a promotion in which negative-numbered issues for its series were published.
Read more in our preliminary post. You can also click to skip to the Top Graphic Novels for the month.
—John Jackson Miller
This list includes all items on Diamond's Top 300 charts, plus any post-#300 items from its Top Independent Publisher charts.
If you don't see a book, Diamond released no data for it.
Items marked (resolicited) 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.
| Units | Dollars | Comic-book Title | Issue | Price | Publisher | Est. units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Spawn | 62 | $1.95 | Image | 167,373 |
| 2 | 2 | Uncanny X-Men | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 162,890 |
| 3 | 3 | X-Men | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 160,365 |
| 4 | 4 | Fantastic Four | 9 | $1.95 | Marvel | 142,321 |
| 5 | 5 | Curse of the Spawn | 9 | $1.95 | Image | 133,934 |
| 6 | 6 | Wolverine | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 127,428 |
| 7 | 8 | Iron Man | 9 | $1.95 | Marvel | 122,436 |
| 8 | 13 | Captain America | 9 | $1.95 | Marvel | 107,765 |
| 9 | 14 | Avengers | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 107,567 |
| 10 | 18 | Generation X | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 104,059 |
| 11 | 19 | JLA | 7 | $1.95 | DC | 103,498 |
| 12 | 21 | X-Man | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 96,391 |
| 13 | 7 | Gen13 | 19 | $2.50 | Image | 95,666 |
| 14 | 23 | X-Factor | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 89,979 |
| 15 | 24 | X-Force | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 89,914 |
| 16 | 25 | Cable | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 84,397 |
| 17 | 9 | Tales of the Witchblade | 2 | $2.95 | Image | 76,827 |
| 18 | 10 | Gen13 Annual | 1 | $2.95 | Image | 75,354 |
| 19 | 30 | Excalibur | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 74,998 |
| 20 | 31 | Amazing Spider-Man | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 74,425 |
| 21 | 32 | Superman | 125 | $1.95 | DC | 73,694 |
| 22 | 33 | Incredible Hulk | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 72,543 |
| 23 | 35 | Action Comics | 735 | $1.95 | DC | 69,959 |
| 24 | 36 | Adventures of Superman | 548 | $1.95 | DC | 69,802 |
| 25 | 37 | Superman: Man of Steel | 69 | $1.95 | DC | 69,504 |
| 26 | 38 | Spider-Man | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 69,071 |
| 27 | 41 | Spectacular Spider-Man | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 64,874 |
| 28 | 42 | Sensational Spider-Man | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 63,641 |
| 29 | 43 | Deadpool | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 62,717 |
| 30 | 22 | Star Wars: Dark Force Rising | 1 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 60,146 |
| 31 | 48 | Batman | 544 | $1.95 | DC | 58,451 |
| 32 | 34 | Gen13 Bootleg | 7 | $2.50 | Image | 54,897 |
| 33 | 12 | Superman Annual | 9 | $3.95 | DC | 54,283 |
| 34 | 39 | Beast | 3 | $2.50 | Marvel | 53,798 |
| 35 | 55 | Detective | 711 | $1.95 | DC | 52,746 |
| 36 | 27 | Batman: The Long Halloween | 8 | $2.95 | DC | 51,922 |
| 37 | 57 | Supergirl | 11 | $1.95 | DC | 50,893 |
| 38 | 29 | X-Files | 30 | $2.95 | Topps | 50,513 |
| 39 | 28 | Heroes for Hire | 1 | $2.99 | Marvel | 50,466 |
| 40 | 20 | Batman Annual | 21 | $3.95 | DC | 47,596 |
| 41 | 45 | Darkchylde: The Diary | 1 | $2.50 | Image | 47,205 |
| 42 | 70 | Green Lantern | 88 | $1.75 | DC | 47,152 |
| 43 | 46 | WildC.A.T.S | 38 | $2.50 | Image | 47,076 |
| 44 | 62 | Thunderbolts | 4 | $1.95 | Marvel | 46,416 |
| 45 | 63 | Alpha Flight: In the Beginning | 0 | $1.95 | Marvel | 46,071 |
| 46 | 47 | Preacher | 27 | $2.50 | DC | 45,720 |
| 47 | 50 | Arcanum | 3 | $2.50 | Image | 44,417 |
| 48 | 65 | Elektra | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 44,323 |
| 49 | 66 | Thunderbolts: A Distant Rumbling | 0 | $1.95 | Marvel | 44,218 |
| 50 | 67 | Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight | 96 | $1.95 | DC | 43,949 |
| 51 | 11 | Batman/Batgirl | 0 | $4.95 | DC | 43,914 |
| 52 | 68 | Nightwing | 10 | $1.95 | DC | 43,259 |
| 53 | 69 | Batman: Shadow of the Bat | 64 | $1.95 | DC | 42,961 |
| 54 | 53 | DV8 | 8 | $2.50 | Image | 42,833 |
| 55 | 15 | Batman/Bane | 0 | $4.95 | DC | 41,856 |
| 56 | 16 | Batman/Poison Ivy | 0 | $4.95 | DC | 41,611 |
| 57 | 75 | Ka-Zar | 3 | $1.95 | Marvel | 41,588 |
| 58 | 17 | Batman/Mr. Freeze | 0 | $4.95 | DC | 41,278 |
| 59 | 56 | Unknown Soldier | 4 | $2.50 | DC | 41,038 |
| 60 | 158 | Untold Tales of Spider-Man | -1 | $.99 | Marvel | 40,945 |
| 61 | 77 | Catwoman | 47 | $1.95 | DC | 40,448 |
| 62 | 78 | Robin | 43 | $1.95 | DC | 40,237 |
| 63 | 95 | Flash | 127 | $1.75 | DC | 40,027 |
| 64 | 80 | Silver Surfer | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 39,922 |
| 65 | 58 | Tenth | 4 | $2.50 | Image | 39,016 |
| 66 | 26 | Nightwing Annual | 1 | $3.95 | DC | 38,835 |
| 67 | 85 | Daredevil | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 38,642 |
| 68 | 87 | What If | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 38,361 |
| 69 | 91 | Wonder Woman | 123 | $1.95 | DC | 37,081 |
| 70 | 52 | Batman Chronicles | 9 | $2.95 | DC | 36,327 |
| 71 | 93 | Venom: Seed of Darkness | 0 | $1.95 | Marvel | 36,321 |
| 72 | 94 | Ka-Zar: Sibling Rivalry | 0 | $1.95 | Marvel | 36,298 |
| 73 | 54 | Star Wars Rogue Squadron | 18 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 35,889 |
| 74 | 64 | Pride & Joy | 1 | $2.50 | DC | 35,509 |
| 75 | 100 | Journey into Mystery | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 34,790 |
| 76 | 101 | Untold Tales of Spider-Man '97 | 0 | $1.95 | Marvel | 34,690 |
| 77 | 71 | Weapon Zero | 13 | $2.50 | Image | 32,826 |
| 78 | 105 | Venom: License to Kill | 2 | $1.95 | Marvel | 32,615 |
| 79 | 40 | Wonder Woman Annual | 6 | $3.95 | DC | 32,610 |
| 80 | 106 | Azrael | 31 | $1.95 | DC | 32,580 |
| 81 | 74 | Judgment Day Alpha | 0 | $2.50 | Maximum | 32,498 |
| 82 | 59 | Chastity | 3 | $2.95 | Chaos | 32,002 |
| 83 | 76 | Conan | 1 | $2.50 | Marvel | 31,546 |
| 84 | 79 | Hellshock | 5 | $2.50 | Image | 31,259 |
| 85 | 61 | Evil Ernie Destroyer | 1 | $2.95 | Chaos | 31,230 |
| 86 | 60 | Silver Surfer '97 | 0 | $2.99 | Marvel | 31,137 |
| 87 | 109 | Maxx | 30 | $1.95 | Image | 30,961 |
| 88 | 127 | Aquaman | 34 | $1.75 | DC | 30,733 |
| 89 | 83 | Dreaming | 14 | $2.50 | DC | 30,517 |
| 90 | 129 | Impulse | 27 | $1.75 | DC | 30,447 |
| 91 | 112 | Teen Titans | 10 | $1.95 | DC | 30,429 |
| 92 | 99 | Starman | 32 | $2.25 | DC | 30,184 |
| 93 | 86 | Wetworks | 29 | $2.50 | Image | 29,933 |
| 94 | 117 | Superboy | 41 | $1.95 | DC | 29,430 |
| 95 | 92 | Weird War Tales | 2 | $1.95 | DC | 28,699 |
| 96 | 104 | Hitman | 16 | $2.25 | DC | 28,612 |
| 97 | 49 | Legionnaires | 50 | $3.95 | DC | 28,319 |
| 98 | 51 | Aquaman Annual | 3 | $3.95 | DC | 27,799 |
| 99 | 72 | Classic Star Wars: Han Solo at Star's End | 3 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 27,711 |
| 100 | 97 | Savage Dragon | 39 | $2.50 | Image | 27,694 |
| 101 | 125 | Ghost Rider | -1 | $1.95 | Marvel | 27,600 |
| 102 | 89 | Strangers in Paradise Vol. 3 | 6 | $2.75 | Image | 27,144 |
| 103 | 137 | Adventures in the DC Universe | 4 | $1.75 | DC | 26,916 |
| 104 | 110 | Legion of Super-Heroes | 94 | $2.25 | DC | 26,472 |
| 105 | 103 | Books of Magic | 38 | $2.50 | DC | 26,227 |
| 106 | 81 | Manga Shi 2000 | 3 | $2.95 | Crusade | 26,203 |
| 107 | 82 | Ash: Cinder & Smoke | 1 | $2.95 | Event | 26,174 |
| 108 | 84 | Bone | 29 | $2.95 | Cartoon | 25,584 |
| 109 | 107 | Stormwatch | 48 | $2.50 | Image | 25,251 |
| 110 | 108 | Backlash | 32 | $2.50 | Image | 25,110 |
| 111 | 134 | Jack Kirby's Fourth World | 5 | $1.95 | DC | 25,105 |
| 112 | 88 | Avengelyne | 15 | $2.99 | Maximum | 25,005 |
| 113 | 120 | Shade | 4 | $2.25 | DC | 24,894 |
| 114 | 44 | Darkness Collected Edition | 1 | $4.95 | Image | 24,660 |
| 115 | 111 | Grifter | 11 | $2.50 | Image | 23,754 |
| 116 | 114 | Savant Garde | 3 | $2.50 | Image | 23,667 |
| 117 | 96 | Crimson Plague | 1 | $2.95 | Event | 23,637 |
| 118 | 73 | Vampirella vs. Hemmorhage | 2 | $3.50 | Harris | 23,328 |
| 119 | 115 | Leave it to Chance | 7 | $2.00 | Image | 23,187 |
| 120 | 159 | Batman and Robin Adventures | 20 | $1.75 | DC | 23,141 |
| 121 | 98 | Star Trek: Unlimited | 5 | $2.99 | Marvel | 23,123 |
| 122 | 139 | Star Trek: Voyager | 9 | $2.00 | Marvel | 22,994 |
| 123 | 144 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | 9 | $1.95 | Marvel | 22,492 |
| 124 | 118 | Anarky | 3 | $2.50 | DC | 22,457 |
| 125 | 119 | Resurrection Man | 3 | $2.50 | DC | 22,433 |
| 126 | 162 | Superman Adventures | 9 | $1.75 | DC | 22,410 |
| 127 | 121 | House of Secrets | 10 | $2.50 | DC | 22,328 |
| 128 | 147 | Star Trek: Early Voyages | 6 | $1.95 | Marvel | 22,194 |
| 129 | 151 | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 8 | $1.95 | Marvel | 21,808 |
| 130 | 168 | Power of Shazam | 28 | $1.75 | DC | 20,931 |
| 131 | 161 | Superboy and The Ravers | 11 | $1.95 | DC | 20,434 |
| 132 | 132 | Invisibles Vol. 2 | 6 | $2.50 | DC | 20,113 |
| 133 | 113 | Suspira: The Great Working | 3 | $2.95 | Chaos | 20,107 |
| 134 | 133 | Spectre | 55 | $2.50 | DC | 20,037 |
| 135 | 143 | Hellblazer | 115 | $2.25 | DC | 19,563 |
| 136 | 145 | Lobo | 41 | $2.25 | DC | 19,365 |
| 137 | 181 | Young Heroes in Love | 2 | $1.75 | DC | 19,201 |
| 138 | 152 | Green Arrow | 122 | $2.25 | DC | 18,880 |
| 139 | 123 | Starship Troopers: Insect Touch | 1 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 18,798 |
| 140 | 138 | Sandman Mystery Theatre | 52 | $2.50 | DC | 18,470 |
| 141 | 124 | Tick's Back | 0 | $2.95 | New England | 18,412 |
| 142 | 126 | Predator: Hell and Hot Water | 2 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 18,231 |
| 143 | 233 | Uncanny Origins | 11 | $.99 | Marvel | 18,120 |
| 144 | 142 | X-O Manowar | 8 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 17,705 |
| 145 | 176 | Sovereign Seven | 24 | $1.95 | DC | 17,564 |
| 146 | 148 | Supreme | 49 | $2.50 | Maximum | 17,132 |
| 147 | 150 | Immortal 2 | 1 | $2.50 | Image | 17,009 |
| 148 | 102 | Ghost | 25 | $3.95 | Dark Horse | 16,886 |
| 149 | 153 | Glory | 23 | $2.50 | Maximum | 16,881 |
| 150 | 157 | Junk Culture | 1 | $2.50 | DC | 16,489 |
| 151 | 135 | Lost World: Jurassic Park | 1 | $2.95 | Topps | 16,454 |
| 152 | 167 | 2020 Visions | 3 | $2.25 | DC | 16,302 |
| 153 | 185 | Steel | 40 | $1.95 | DC | 16,220 |
| 154 | 164 | Shadowman | 7 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 15,484 |
| 155 | 128 | Stray Bullets | 14 | $3.50 | El Capitan | 15,355 |
| 156 | 140 | Gunsmith Cats: Shades of Gray | 1 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 15,355 |
| 157 | 141 | Elric Stormbringer | 3 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 15,238 |
| 158 | 90 | Barry Windsor Smith Storyteller | 7 | $4.95 | Dark Horse | 14,952 |
| 159 | 149 | Badger | 1 | $2.95 | Image | 14,513 |
| 160 | 170 | Wildstorm Spotlight | 4 | $2.50 | Image | 14,396 |
| 161 | 216 | Marvel Adventures | 4 | $1.50 | Marvel | 14,326 |
| 162 | 172 | A Man Called Ax | 1 | $2.50 | DC | 14,180 |
| 163 | 156 | Angel Fire | 2 | $2.95 | Crusade | 14,127 |
| 164 | 122 | Batman & Robin Modie Adaptation Standard Edition | 0 | $3.95 | DC | 14,104 |
| 165 | 173 | Turok/Timewalker | 2 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 14,016 |
| 166 | 174 | Dr. Tomorrow | 1 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 13,794 |
| 167 | 177 | Magnus Robot Fighter | 5 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 13,584 |
| 168 | 189 | Challengers of the Unknown | 6 | $2.25 | DC | 13,566 |
| 169 | 160 | Lady Rawhide | 7 | $2.95 | Topps | 13,561 |
| 170 | 179 | Trinity Angels | 3 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 13,496 |
| 171 | 130 | Oh My Goddess Mara Strikes Back | 1 | $3.95 | Dark Horse | 13,385 |
| 172 | 163 | Nexus God Coin | 2 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 13,186 |
| 173 | 165 | Crimson Nun | 1 | $2.95 | Antarctic | 12,958 |
| 174 | 184 | Poison Elves | 24 | $2.50 | Sirius | 12,947 |
| 175 | 166 | Jackie Chan's Spartan X | 1 | $2.95 | Topps | 12,882 |
| 176 | 202 | Essential Vertigo: The Sandman | 12 | $1.95 | DC | 12,614 |
| 177 | 186 | Bloodshot | 3 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 12,491 |
| 178 | 136 | Eternal Warriors Digital Alchemy | 0 | $3.95 | Acclaim | 12,187 |
| 179 | 171 | Dark Horse Classics: Star Wars Dark Empire | 3 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 12,088 |
| 180 | 192 | Fault Lines | 3 | $2.50 | DC | 11,807 |
| 181 | 116 | Elfquest | 12 | $4.95 | Warp | 11,702 |
| 182 | 223 | Xero | 3 | $1.75 | DC | 11,491 |
| 183 | 178 | Ranma 1/2 Part Six | 6 | $2.95 | Viz | 11,456 |
| 184 | 131 | Tick Special | 0 | $4.50 | Acclaim | 11,223 |
| 185 | 182 | Freak Force | 3 | $2.95 | Image | 11,106 |
| 186 | 183 | Pantha Haunted Passion | 0 | $2.95 | Harris | 11,076 |
| 187 | 198 | Troublemakers | 6 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 10,924 |
| 188 | 204 | Cerebus | 218 | $2.25 | Aardvark-Vanaheim | 10,790 |
| 189 | 205 | Book of Fate | 6 | $2.25 | DC | 10,720 |
| 190 | 154 | Verotika | 16 | $3.95 | Verotik | 10,644 |
| 191 | 155 | Blade of the Immortal Call of the Worm | 2 | $3.95 | Dark Horse | 10,562 |
| 192 | 201 | Ninjak | 7 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 10,474 |
| 193 | 187 | Nameless | 1 | $2.95 | Image | 10,387 |
| 194 | 188 | Bone | 19 | $2.95 | Image | 10,357 |
| 195 | 190 | Edgar Rice Burroughs Return/Tarzan | 2 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 10,252 |
| 196 | 193 | A Touch of Silver | 3 | $2.95 | Image | 9,872 |
| 197 | 199 | Strangers in Paradise Gold Logo Edition | 1 | $2.75 | Abstract | 9,861 |
| 198 | 203 | Quantum & Woody | 4 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 9,802 |
| 199 | 194 | Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan | 10 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 9,492 |
| 200 | 195 | Drakuun Rise of the Dragon Princess | 4 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 9,463 |
| 201 | 197 | Headhunters | 2 | $2.95 | Image | 9,259 |
| 202 | 210 | Newmen | 25 | $2.50 | Maximum | 9,148 |
| 203 | 247 | Pinky and the Brain | 13 | $1.75 | DC | 9,019 |
| 204 | 200 | Replacement God | 1 | $2.95 | Image | 8,960 |
| 205 | 146 | Igrat The Fall of Uriel | 0 | $4.95 | Verotik | 8,750 |
| 206 | 175 | Venus Domina | 3 | $3.95 | Verotik | 8,715 |
| 207 | 180 | Full Metal Fiction | 2 | $3.95 | London Night | 8,540 |
| 208 | 226 | Night Force | 8 | $2.25 | DC | 8,516 |
| 209 | 246 | Uncle Scrooge | 305 | $1.95 | Gladstone | 8,148 |
| 210 | 208 | Robotech | 2 | $2.95 | Antarctic | 8,101 |
| 211 | 222 | Star Crossed | 2 | $2.50 | DC | 8,072 |
| 212 | 206 | Razor Vol. 2 | 6 | $3.00 | London Night | 8,019 |
| 213 | 209 | Adventures of Aaron | 2 | $2.95 | Image | 7,879 |
| 214 | 253 | Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing | 9 | $1.95 | DC | 7,768 |
| 215 | 211 | Inu Yasha | 2 | $2.95 | Viz | 7,698 |
| 216 | 214 | Battle Angel Alita Part Seven | 8 | $2.95 | Viz | 7,493 |
| 217 | 213 | Razor Uncut | 35 | $3.00 | London Night | 7,382 |
| 218 | 215 | New Bondage Fairies | 7 | $2.95 | Fantagraphics | 7,312 |
| 219 | 269 | Animaniacs | 27 | $1.75 | DC | 7,312 |
| 220 | 169 | Oink: Blood and Circus | 1 | $4.95 | Kitchen Sink | 7,300 |
| 221 | 217 | Steohen R. Bissette's Tyrant | 5 | $2.95 | Spiderbaby | 7,271 |
| 222 | 232 | Cyberella | 11 | $2.50 | DC | 7,230 |
| 223 | 243 | Scare Tactics | 8 | $2.25 | DC | 7,166 |
| 224 | 219 | Soulwind | 3 | $2.95 | Image | 7,061 |
| 225 | 288 | Sonic the Hedgehog | 49 | $1.50 | Archie | 7,020 |
| 226 | 263 | Uncle Scrooge Adventures | 49 | $1.95 | Gladstone | 7,008 |
| 227 | 221 | Dark Horse Presents | 121 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 6,915 |
| 228 | 237 | Brainbanx | 5 | $2.50 | DC | 6,897 |
| 229 | 267 | Donald Duck Adventures | 45 | $1.95 | Gladstone | 6,658 |
| 230 | 239 | Waterworld | 2 | $2.50 | Acclaim | 6,611 |
| 231 | 225 | Cavewoman: Rain | 7 | $2.95 | Caliber | 6,570 |
| 232 | 227 | Age of Heroes | 4 | $2.95 | Image | 6,435 |
| 233 | 299 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | 4 | $1.50 | Archie | 6,383 |
| 234 | 228 | A Distant Soil | 20 | $2.95 | Image | 6,324 |
| 235 | 251 | Vermillion | 10 | $2.50 | DC | 6,225 |
| 236 | 230 | No Need for Tenchi Part Two | 7 | $2.95 | Viz | 6,219 |
| 237 | 252 | Araknis: Retribution | 1 | $2.50 | Morningstar | 6,167 |
| 238 | 231 | Warrior | 5 | $2.95 | Ultimate | 6,143 |
| 239 | 196 | Acme Novelty Library | 9 | $4.50 | Fantagraphics | 6,126 |
| 240 | 218 | Self-Loathing Comics | 2 | $3.50 | Fantagraphics | 6,102 |
| 241 | 348 | Walt Disney Comics & Stories Penny Pincher | 4 | $.99 | Gladstone | 6,067 |
| 242 | 207 | Vampirella: Sad Wings of Destiny/Gold Emblem | 0 | $3.95 | Harris | 6,055 |
| 243 | 191 | Comic Book | 4 | $4.95 | Dark Horse | 6,032 |
| 244 | 234 | Dark Horse Classics: Aliens vs. Predator | 4 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 5,974 |
| 245 | 260 | Vault of Horror | 20 | $2.50 | Gemstone | 5,582 |
| 246 | 238 | Ultimate Strike | 5 | $3.00 | London Night | 5,553 |
| 247 | 241 | Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | 8 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 5,494 |
| 248 | 242 | American Splendor on the Job | 0 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 5,483 |
| 249 | 298 | Looney Tunes | 30 | $1.75 | DC | 5,477 |
| 250 | 240 | Poizon Cadillacs & Green Tomatoes | 2 | $3.00 | London Night | 5,430 |
| 251 | 244 | Big Bang Comics | 11 | $2.95 | Image | 5,418 |
| 252 | 316 | Knuckles | 4 | $1.50 | Archie | 5,401 |
| 253 | 248 | Maison Ikkoku Part Six | 10 | $2.95 | Viz | 5,337 |
| 254 | 266 | Weird Fantasy | 20 | $2.50 | Gemstone | 5,325 |
| 255 | 250 | Luftwaffe 1946 | 3 | $2.95 | Antarctic | 5,284 |
| 256 | 229 | La Femme Vamprique | 1 | $3.50 | Brainstorm | 5,278 |
| 257 | 254 | Tenchi Muyo | 3 | $2.95 | Pioneer | 5,009 |
| 258 | 323 | Cheryl Blossom | 4 | $1.50 | Archie | 4,927 |
| 259 | 274 | Sisters of Mercy | 2 | $2.50 | London Night | 4,886 |
| 260 | 326 | Archie | 462 | $1.50 | Archie | 4,863 |
| 261 | 258 | Hepcats | 6 | $2.95 | Antarctic | 4,840 |
| 262 | 328 | Betty & Veronica | 114 | $1.50 | Archie | 4,805 |
| 263 | 257 | Tommi Gunn | 3 | $3.00 | London Night | 4,799 |
| 264 | 259 | Sexcapades | 6 | $2.95 | Fantagraphics | 4,775 |
| 265 | 261 | Vamperotica | 27 | $2.95 | Brainstorm | 4,682 |
| 266 | 262 | Ninja High School | 57 | $2.95 | Antarctic | 4,670 |
| 267 | 278 | Two Fisted Tales | 20 | $2.50 | Gemstone | 4,641 |
| 268 | 264 | Jurassic Jane | 1 | $3.00 | London Night | 4,553 |
| 269 | 212 | Razor Archives | 1 | $5.00 | London Night | 4,530 |
| 270 | 333 | Veronica | 66 | $1.50 | Archie | 4,518 |
| 271 | 271 | Betty & Veronica Double Digest | 66 | $2.79 | Archie | 4,495 |
| 272 | 249 | Misty Girl Extreme Special | 3.5 | $3.50 | Fantagraphics | 4,466 |
| 273 | 335 | Betty | 52 | $1.50 | Archie | 4,442 |
| 274 | 275 | Archie Double Digest | 94 | $2.79 | Archie | 4,331 |
| 275 | 270 | Lust | 2 | $2.95 | Fantagraphics | 4,314 |
| 276 | 341 | Archie & Friends | 24 | $1.50 | Archie | 4,173 |
| 277 | 272 | Griffin | 1 | $2.95 | Slave Labor | 4,156 |
| 278 | 273 | Reality Check | 9 | $2.95 | Sirius | 4,150 |
| 279 | 220 | Razor Archives | 2 | $5.00 | London Night | 4,132 |
| 280 | 276 | Star Blazers | 11 | $2.95 | Voyager | 4,010 |
| 281 | 277 | La Cosa Nostroid | 3 | $2.95 | Fireman | 3,940 |
| 282 | 279 | El Hazard | 2 | $2.95 | Pioneer | 3,799 |
| 283 | 291 | Archie's Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest | 27 | $2.79 | Archie | 3,700 |
| 284 | 255 | Girls of Ninja High School '97 | 0 | $3.95 | Antarctic | 3,694 |
| 285 | 280 | Steve Ditko's Strange Avenging Tales | 2 | $2.95 | Fantagraphics | 3,694 |
| 286 | 305 | Akiko | 15 | $2.50 | Sirius | 3,677 |
| 287 | 282 | Metal Guardian Faust | 3 | $2.95 | Viz | 3,641 |
| 288 | 283 | Tormentress: Mistress of Hell | 0 | $2.95 | Blackout | 3,630 |
| 289 | 284 | Lords of Misrule | 5 | $2.95 | Dark Horse | 3,618 |
| 290 | 281 | Double Impact Collector's Gallery Reg. Ed. | 1 | $3.00 | High Impact | 3,606 |
| 291 | 361 | Jughead | 95 | $1.50 | Archie | 3,601 |
| 292 | 285 | Bio Booster Guyver Part Six | 6 | $2.95 | Viz | 3,595 |
| 293 | 289 | Moldiver | 2 | $2.95 | Pioneer | 3,554 |
| 294 | 337 | Betty & Veronica Annual Digest | 16 | $1.79 | Archie | 3,554 |
| 295 | 245 | Disney's Action Club | 0 | $4.50 | Acclaim | 3,536 |
| 296 | 290 | Midnight Panther | 2 | $2.95 | CPM | 3,513 |
| 297 | 344 | Archie Digest | 149 | $1.79 | Archie | 3,466 |
| 298 | 330 | Archie's Vacation Special | 5 | $2.00 | Archie | 3,466 |
| 299 | 271 | Thieves & Kings | 17 | $2.35 | I Box | 3,443 |
| 300 | 265 | Donna Mia Giant Size Regular | 2 | $3.95 | Avatar | 3,384 |
May 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.
The Batman & Robin movie did poorly with critics and at the box office in June, but retailers had hope, as advance orders for the film adaptation topped the graphic novel charts.
| Units | Dollars | Trade Paperback title | Price | Publisher | Est. units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Batman & Robin Movie Adaptation Collected | $5.95 | DC | n/a |
| 2 | 5 | Medieval Spawn/Witchblade | $9.95 | Image | n/a |
| 3 | 3 | Sandman: The Wake | $19.95 | DC | n/a |
| 4 | 1 | Kingdom Come Deluxe Slipcase | $89.95 | DC | n/a |
| 5 | 14 | JLA: New World Order | $5.95 | DC | n/a |
| 6 | 6 | Batman/Deadman: Death and Glory | $12.95 | DC | n/a |
| 7 | 15 | Walt Disney Comics & Stories #614 | $6.95 | Gladstone | n/a |
| 8 | 7 | Hellboy: Wake the Devil | $17.95 | Dark Horse | n/a |
| 9 | 12 | Simpsons Comics Wing Ding | $11.95 | Bongo | n/a |
| 10 | 9 | Dirty Pair: Dangerous Acquaintances | $12.95 | Dark Horse | n/a |
