Monthly Comics Sales > 1998 > December
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December 1998 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 #2 Most Ordered Issue #3 Most Ordered Issue #4 Most Ordered Issue #5 Most Ordered Issue
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5

Witchblade/Tomb Raider finally broke Uncanny X-Men's hold on the top spot in a year that closed down considerably.

As in November, Billy Tucci's Battlebooks, which were comics-sized games were not classed with games by Diamond, but rather with comics — and under the name of their Marvel licensor. While their original locations have been retained below, only comics have been counted toward the aggregated comics and market share figures at left.

Diamond did release dollar rankings for the Top 250 comics; these will be added at a later date.

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.
Items marked (resolicitation) were offered in an earlier month but never shipped; disregard any previously reported figure, as earlier orders were canceled when the books were resolicited.
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 TitleIssuePricePublisherEst. units
1-Witchblade Tomb Raider1$2.95Image190,720
2-X-Men85$1.99Marvel135,558
3-Uncanny X-Men365$1.99Marvel134,677
4-X-Men84$1.99Marvel131,203
5-Gambit1$2.99Marvel117,437
6-Spawn81$1.95Image103,368
7-Amazing Spider-Man2$1.99Marvel102,477
8-Kingdom1$2.95DC101,097
9-Peter Parker Spider-Man2$1.99Marvel96,489
10-Wolverine134$1.99Marvel95,890
11-Kingdom2$2.95DC95,556
12-Wolverine135$1.99Marvel94,887
13-Avengers13$1.99Marvel94,752
14-JLA26$1.99DC89,255
15-Daredevil4$2.50Marvel83,414
16-Aria1$2.50Image81,425
17-Fantastic Four14$1.99Marvel78,655
18-Captain America14$1.99Marvel72,727
19-Spider-Man Chapter 14$2.50Marvel71,920
20-Mutant X5$1.99Marvel70,934
21-Thor8$1.99Marvel70,730
22-Avengers Forever3$2.99Marvel70,113
23-JLA Titans3$2.95DC69,696
24-Iron Man13$2.99Marvel69,566
25-Kingdom Son of the Bat1$1.99DC68,224
26-Kingdom Planet Krypton1$1.99DC65,832
27-Kingdom Nightstar1$1.99DC65,680
28-Kingdom Kid Flash1$1.99DC65,541
29-Webspinners Tales of Spider-Man2$2.50Marvel64,181
30-Kingdom Offspring1$1.99DC61,641
31-Tomb Raider Witchblade Revisited1$2.95Image59,622
32-Generation X48$1.99Marvel54,519
33-Spider-Girl5$1.99Marvel54,450
34-X-Force87$1.99Marvel53,182
35-Curse of the Spawn28$1.95Image52,774
36-Inhumans4$2.99Marvel52,101
37-Green Lantern109$1.99DC52,079
38-Buffy The Vampire Slayer4$2.95Dark Horse51,805
39-Wolverine Winter Special$2.99Marvel50,854
40-Star Wars1$2.50Dark Horse49,322
41-X-Men Liberators4$2.99Marvel49,274
42-Black Panther4$2.50Marvel48,774
43-X-Man48$1.99Marvel48,171
44-Doctor Strange1$2.99Marvel47,702
45-Superman142$1.99DC47,407
46-Punisher4$2.99Marvel47,285
47-Cable64$1.99Marvel47,202
48-Kiss Psycho Circus16$2.25Image47,146
49-Fantastic Four & Fantastic Four 98$3.50Marvel47,098
50-Captain America Sentinel of Liberty6$2.99Marvel45,457
51-Coven Vol. 21$2.50Awesome45,296
52-Legends of the DC Universe Crisis On Infinite Earths$4.95DC45,157
53-Batman Hellboy Starman2$2.50DC44,779
54-Incredible Hulk473$1.99Marvel44,501
55-Action Comics751$1.99DC43,424
56-Batman562$1.99DC43,424
57-Nightwing28$1.99DC43,377
58-Adventures of Superman564$1.99DC43,077
59-Thunderbolts23$1.99Marvel43,064
60-Team X 2000$3.50Marvel42,734
61-Superman Man of Steel86$1.99DC42,621
62-Detective Comics729$1.99DC42,408
63-Gen 1336$2.50Image42,187
64-Flash145$1.99DC41,605
65-Clerks Holiday Special$2.95Oni41,036
66-Young Justice5$2.50DC40,433
67-Preacher46$2.50DC40,120
68-A Next5$1.99Marvel39,794
69-Deadpool25$2.99Marvel39,703
70-Ascension12$2.50Image39,690
71-Superman & Batman Generations2$4.95DC38,548
72-Darkminds6$2.50Image37,810
73-Star Wars Crimson Empire II2$2.95Dark Horse36,459
74-J25$1.99Marvel35,973
75-Spirit of Tao6$2.50Image35,908
76-Batman Shadow of the Bat82$1.99DC35,443
77-Slingers3$1.99Marvel34,918
78-Earth X Sketchbook$3.99Marvel34,040
79-X-Men Universe Past Present & Future$2.99Marvel33,984
80-Alpha Flight19$1.99Marvel33,506
81-Catwoman65$1.99DC33,350
82-Lady Pendragon2$2.50Image33,350
83-Generation X Holiday Special$3.50Marvel33,311
84-Robin61$1.99DC33,281
85-Batman Legends of the Dark Knight115$1.99DC32,547
86-Martian Manhunter3$1.99DC32,412
87-Supergirl29$1.99DC31,709
88-Superman 80 Page Giant1$4.95DC31,704
89-Moon Knight1$2.99Marvel31,687
90-Legends of the DC Universe13$1.99DC31,274
91-Starman50$3.95DC30,623
92-Wonder Woman141$1.99DC30,432
93-Star Wars Mara Jade By The Emperors Hand5$2.95Dark Horse30,098
94-Gen 13 Magical Drama Queen Roxy3$3.50Image28,760
95-Birds of Prey2$1.99DC28,552
96-Batman Beyond1$1.99DC28,369
97-Moon Knight2$2.99Marvel28,352
98-Pitt20$2.50Full Bleed27,661
99-Superman A Nation Divided$4.95DC27,657
100-Moon Knight3$2.99Marvel27,383
101-Lady Death12$2.95Chaos27,001
102-Moon Knight4$2.99Marvel26,945
103-Star Wars Jedi Academy Leviathan3$2.95Dark Horse26,919
104-Batman Beyond2$1.99DC26,489
105-Aquaman52$1.99DC25,503
106-Batman Reign of Terror$4.95DC24,470
107-Star Wars The Jabba Tape$2.95Dark Horse24,344
108-Superboy59$1.99DC23,949
109-Hitman34$2.50DC23,910
110-Marvel Remix Fantastic Four Fireworks2$2.99Marvel23,679
111-Wildcore10$2.50Image23,584
112-DC Universe Heroes Secret Files1$4.95DC23,276
113-Azrael Agent of the Bat49$2.25DC23,137
114-Purgatori4$2.95Chaos22,924
115-Hellcop3$2.50Image22,906
116-Batman Toyman4$2.25DC21,334
117-Savage Dragon56$2.50Image21,308
118-Warlock4$2.99Marvel21,161
119-Gifts of the Night1$2.95DC20,779
120-Grendel Black White & Red2$3.95Dark Horse20,423
121-Legion of Super Heroes112$2.50DC20,388
122-Hellblazer134$2.50DC20,310
123-Girl Who Would Be Death3$2.50DC20,231
124-Chastity Rocked3$2.95Chaos20,188
125-Legionnaires68$2.50DC20,097
126-Giant Sized Gambit$3.99Marvel19,832
127-Batman The Gotham Adventures9$1.99DC19,532
128-Simpsons Comics40$2.50Bongo19,485
129-DV825$2.50Image19,472
130-Jonah Hex Shadows West1$2.95DC19,354
131-Strangers In Paradise Vol. III20$2.75Abstract18,755
132-Dreaming33$2.50DC18,438
133-Power of Shazam46$2.50DC18,112
134-Books of Magic57$2.50DC18,086
135-Union Jack3$2.99Marvel17,704
136-Impulse45$2.25DC17,530
137-Ash Fire & Crossfire1$2.95Event17,213
138-Sailor Moon3$2.95Mixx16,875
139-Resurrection Man21$2.50DC16,827
140-Re Gex3$2.50Awesome16,614
141-Invisibles Volume 222$2.50DC16,579
142-Sergio Aragones Groo & Rufferto1$2.95Dark Horse16,449
143-Transmetropolitan18$2.50DC16,445
144-Evil Ernie7$2.95Chaos15,802
145-Smiley Anti Holiday Special$2.95Chaos14,287
146-Deity Vol. 2$4.00$2.95Awesome14,256
147-Superman Adventures28$1.99DC14,013
148-Deity II Catseye2$2.95Awesome13,996
149-Cremator Hells Guardian2$2.95Chaos13,683
150-Ghost Vol. 2 The Devil Inside (1 of 3)4$2.95Dark Horse13,566
151-Conan Scarlet Sword3$2.99Marvel13,535
152-Fighting American Dogs of War4$2.50Awesome13,505
153-Vamps Pumpkin Time3$2.50DC13,158
154-Lobo59$2.50DC13,036
155-Sandman Mystery Theatre70$2.50DC12,697
156-Marvel Mar 99 Consumer Ed (misfile)$1.25Marvel12,332
157-Dragonball Z Part Two1$2.95Viz12,259
158-House of Secrets (resolicited)25$2.50DC12,133
159-Oh My Goddess The Devil In Miss Urd2$2.95Dark Horse12,128
160-Spirit New Adventures9$3.50Kitchen Sink11,937
161-J. O'Barr's The Crow: A Cycle of Shattered Lives0$3.50Kitchen Sink11,916
162-Heart Throbs2$2.95DC11,707
163-Minx5$2.50DC11,707
164-More Than Mortal Truths & Legends4$2.95Liar11,672
165-Ghost Special Scary Monsters3$3.95Dark Horse11,386
166-Stray Bullets18$2.95El Capitan11,251
167-Dragonball10$2.95Viz10,244
168-Blade of the Immortal On Silent Wings 28$2.95Dark Horse10,200
169-Masakazu Katsuras Shadow Lady I Dangerous Love3$2.50Dark Horse9,605
170-Poison Elves Color Special1$2.95Sirius9,549
171-Ranma 1/2 Part Seven11$2.95Viz9,540
172-The Terminator4$2.95Dark Horse9,536
173-Chronos Final Issue11$2.50DC9,375
174-Pokemon The Electric Tale of Pikachu2$3.25Viz9,210
175-Tick Luny Bin Trilogy3$3.50New England9,032
176-Cerebus237$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim8,985
177-Neon Genesis Evangelion Book Three5$2.95Viz8,885
178-Poison Elves42$2.50Sirius8,476
179-Daring Escapes4$2.50Image8,285
180-Elfquest31$4.95Warp8,146
181-Shevas War5$2.95DC7,686
182-Subhuman2$2.95Dark Horse7,573
183-Sonic The Hedgehog68$1.75Archie7,547
184-Faust 777 The Wrath0$3.00Avatar7,204
185-Battlestar Galactica Search For Sanctuary3$2.99Realm6,987
186-Sonic Super Special8$2.25Archie6,831
187-Lenore4$2.95Slave Labor6,796
188-Drakuun The Hidden War3$2.95Dark Horse6,653
189-Scud Tales From The Vending Machine5$2.50Fireman6,492
190-Battlebooks Gambit (misfile)$3.99Marvel6,323
191-Battlebooks Rogue (misfile)$3.99Marvel6,249
192-Essential Vertigo The Sandman31$2.25DC6,223
193-Satanika (resolicitation)10$3.50Verotik5,927
194-Battlebooks Storm (misfile)$3.99Marvel5,910
195-Nio2$2.50Acclaim5,910
196-Knuckles22$1.75Archie5,862
197-Inu Yasha A Feudal Fairy Tale Part Two6$3.25Viz5,819
198-Oni Double Feature10$2.95Oni5,741
199-Slayers3$2.95CPM5,658
200-Sabrina The Teenage Witch23$1.75Archie5,606
201-Lodoss War Grey Witch2$2.95CPM5,589
202-Nightwarriors Darkstalkers Revenge2$3.25Viz5,571
203-Secret Plot Deep7$3.50Fantagraphics5,502
204-Battlebooks Colossus (misfile)$3.99Marvel5,476
205-Scooby-Doo19$1.99DC5,432
206-Dark Horse Presents138$2.95Dark Horse5,406
207-No Need For Tenchi Part Six2$2.95Viz5,350
208-Black Hole6$4.50Fantagraphics5,302
209-Tattered Banners4$2.95DC5,263
210-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles20$2.95Image5,241
211-Dark Ones Third Eye Vol. 2$4.95Sirius5,198
212-Stargods Visions$2.95Antarctic5,133
213-Penny Century4$2.95Fantagraphics4,924
214-Animaniacs45$1.99DC4,898
215-Silky Whip9$3.50Fantagraphics4,864
216-Savage Dragon Archives4$2.95Image4,846
217-Mixxzine2/4$4.99Mixx4,833
218-Carvers3$2.95Image4,646
219-Luba4$2.95Fantagraphics4,486
220-Maison Ikkoku Part Eight5$3.25Viz4,429
221-Robotech Final Fire1$2.95Antarctic4,399
222-Archie481$1.75Archie4,295
223-A Distant Soil28$2.95Image4,260
224-Betty & Veronica133$1.75Archie4,243
225-Voice of Submission7$3.50Fantagraphics4,243
226-Haunt of Fear26$2.50Gemstone4,230
227-Robotech Class Reunion1$3.95Antarctic4,190
228-Bulletproof Monk2$2.95Image4,091
229-Original Bondage Fairies2$3.50Fantagraphics4,008
230-Looney Tunes49$1.99DC3,930
231-Betty & Veronica Double Digest78$2.95Archie3,917
232-Geisha4$2.95Oni3,913
233-Betty71$1.75Archie3,843
234-Crime Suspenstories26$2.50Gemstone3,748
235-Archie Double Digest106$2.95Archie3,687
236-Frontline Combat15$2.50Gemstone3,661
237-Valor5$2.50Gemstone3,661
238-Legend of Lemnear12$2.95CPM3,600
239-Supermodels In The Rainforest2$2.95Sirius3,583
240-Veronica85$1.75Archie3,578
241-Cheryl Blossom20$1.75Archie3,539
242-Akiko31$2.50Sirius3,496
243-Spider-Man Manga27$2.99Marvel3,418
244-Raw Media Quarterly2$4.95Avatar3,370
245-Spider-Man Manga26$2.99Marvel3,331
246-New Vampire Miyu Vol. 33$2.95Ironcat3,270
247-X-Men Manga21$2.99Marvel3,270
248-Pals N Gals Double Digest39$2.95Archie3,244
249-Everette Hartsoes Razor Darkest Night1$4.95London Night3,218
250-Betty & Veronica Spectacular34$1.75Archie3,192
251-Mechanical Man Blues1$2.95Radio3,192
252-Midnight Panther Feudal Fantasy4$2.95CPM3,187
253-Ninja High School66$2.95Antarctic3,174
254-Knights of the Dinner Table26$2.95Kenzer3,101
255-X-Men Manga22$2.99Marvel3,096
256-Archie Digest161$1.95Archie3,087
257-Faust 777 The Wrath Wraparound Cover0$3.95Avatar3,061
258-Big Bang Comics24$2.95Image3,048
259-Urotsukidoji Legend of the Overfiend6$2.95CPM2,979
260-Warhammer Monthly10$2.95Games Workshop2,935
261-Young Witches Empire of Sin3$3.50Fantagraphics2,875
262-Desperate Times4$2.95Image2,870
263-Jughead114$1.75Archie2,840
264-Flintstones and The Jetsons18$1.99DC2,810
265-Dark Horse Classics Terror of Godzilla5$2.95Dark Horse2,801
266-Dark Horse Classics Godzilla King of the Monsters6$2.95Dark Horse2,792
267-Cartoon Network Presents18$1.99DC2,766
268-Jinx Special$3.95Image2,727
269-Nobody2$2.95Oni2,666
270-Virtex1$2.50Oktomica2,636
271-Laugh Digest147$1.95Archie2,618
272-Futabakun Change6$2.95Ironcat2,401
273-High Stakes Adventure Reg Ed1$2.95Antarctic2,367
274-Genus33$2.95Radio2,328
275-Dragon Wars9$2.95Ironcat2,319
276-Ogenki Clinic Vol. 34$2.95Ironcat2,275
277-Poe Color Special1$2.95Sirius2,241
278-Tigress2$2.95Basement2,206
279-Femme Kabuki2$2.95Ironcat2,154
280-Demon Beast Invasion The Fallen4$2.95CPM2,145
281-Threshold11$4.95Avatar2,119
282-Pete The Pod Postal Worker7$2.95Sharkbait2,089
283-Eddie Campbells Bacchus40$2.95Eddie Campbell2,076
284-Jailbait1$2.95Fantagraphics2,071
285-Channel Zero6$2.95Image2,067
286-Children of the Dead2$2.95Midnight2,015
287-Burner2$1.99JNCO1,963
288-Coven Menace San Diego Preview Book$5.00Awesome1,958
289-Virtual Bang5$2.95Ironcat1,954
290-Erotic Art of Armando Huerta1$3.00ABC1,945
291-Gear2$2.95Fireman1,945
292-Harvey Magazine For Kids2$2.95Harvey1,945
293-Stargods Current Printing1$2.95Antarctic1,876
294-Hyper Dolls5$2.95Ironcat1,872
295-Captain Gravity1$2.75Penny Farthing1,854
296-Rat Bastard6$1.95Crucial1,789
297-Furrlough72$2.95Radio1,776
298-Alley Oop Adventures3$2.95Antarctic1,759
299-Munsters Golden Age Adventure$2.95TV1,724
300-Horrible Truth About Comics$2.95Alternative1,715



December 1998 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 chart. If you don't see a book, Diamond released no data for it.

The links lead to details about each title on Amazon. You can also find the books at your comics shop.

#1 #2 #3 #5

We don't have year-to-year comparatives on graphic novels, but the category saw more emphasis in 1998.

UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
12Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Manga #1$9.95Dark Horse13,488
23Justice League of America The Nail $12.95DC6,110
34Big Book of Vice$14.95DC4,108
420Uncle Scrooge #318$6.95Gladstone3,548
51Plastic Man Archives Vol. 1 HC $49.95DC3,248
626Dynamic Forces Gambit Alt Cvr #1$6.95Dynamic Forces3,192
711Mage The Hero Defined Vol. 2$9.95Image3,161
821Vampirella 2999 A D Manga Ashcan$7.95Harris3,009
927Walt Disney Comics #633$6.95Gladstone2,988
107Coven Vol. 2 Chrome Edition #1$14.95Awesome2,779
115Wildcats X-Men$19.95Image2,406
1214Leave It To Chance Vol. 2$12.95Image2,267
1330Castle Waiting Curse ofBrambly Hedge Rev Ed $9.00Olio2,110
1434Lost Heroes #5 6$7.95Davdez2,084
1528Dynamic Forces Danger Girl Gold Foil Ed #6$10.00Dynamic Forces1,998
1640Faust 777 The Wrath Nude Cvr #0$6.00Avatar1,954
1717Book of Ballads HC$12.95Green Man1,954
1815Wolverine Not Dead Yet $14.95Marvel1,872
198Astro City Confession New Ptg$19.95Image1,828
2013Women of Manara$16.95Heavy Metal1,772
2138Dynamic Forces Coven #1 Alternate Cover$6.95Dynamic Forces1,754
2216Dynamic Forces Buffy The Vampire Slayer #2 Bldchrome Cvr$14.95Dynamic Forces1,698
2318Kingdom Come$14.95DC1,659
2410Caravan Kidd Vol. 3 $19.95Dark Horse1,654
2519Inu Yasha Vol. 3 $15.95Viz1,550

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