Comichron

 

2003 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops

Estimated Comics Shipped to North American Comics Shops
Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors

OVERALL North American Dollar Sales for
Diamond's Comics, Graphic Novels, and Magazines for the year

around $310.6 Million

 

#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

Covers and issue links on this page lead to current eBay listings. This site may be compensated if you make a purchase.

Jim Lee's Batman led the way in a January that started off 2003 weakly in comparison with 2002. Diamond began reporting final order sales figures in February, rather than preorders. The first quarter of the year finished down in March; the 1980s nostalgia revival of 2002 seemed to have peaked.

Comic book unit sales continued to struggle in April, but Jim Lee's Batman sales began to really catch fire, pointing the way to better numbers in the summer. The relaunched Wolverine helped the market move into positive territory for the year in May. But in June the first half of the year ended basically flat versus the first half of 2002.

Fantastic Four was restored to its original numbering in a slightly up July. Comics and trade paperback sales lagged behind a year earlier in August but a number of new title launches set up the fall for improvement. Jim Lee's Batman continued to help DC top the charts in September — and the long-awaited JLA/Avengers crossover finally came out.

October was way up above 2002; Marvel restored the numbering for Amazing Spider-Man, not coincidentally just in time for #500. Marvel took a massive 21 out of the Top 25 slots in November. December's sales meant 2003 closed out only slightly better than 2002 in the wider categories, but the industry kept its string of growth years going nonetheless.

The final rankings for all comics and trade paperbacks during the year appear below. Diamond Comic Distributors reported these issues without indexes, so no sales estimates are calculated. You can find the first-month sales for these issues in the monthly charts; click one of the months at the bottom or use the search tool at the top of the page to find the specific issue. But note that those monthly numbers do not include reorders for the entire year; the rankings below do take the entire year's sales into account.

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

—John Jackson Miller


This list includes all items on Diamond's end-of-year 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.
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.


UnitsDollarsComic-book TitleIssuePricePublisher
14Batman619$2.25DC
21JLA/Avengers1$5.95Marvel
313Ultimate Fantastic Four1$2.25Marvel
42Avengers/JLA2$5.50DC
515Batman614$2.25DC
68Superman/Batman1$2.95DC
716Batman612$2.25DC
817Batman617$2.25DC
918Wolverine1$2.25Marvel
1019Batman615$2.25DC
1120Batman618$2.25Marvel
1222Batman616$2.25DC
135Amazing Spider-Man500$3.50DC
146Marvel 16021$3.50DC
153Justice League America/Avengers3$5.95Marvel
1625Batman613$2.25Marvel
1729Batman611$2.25Marvel
187Marvel 16022$3.50DC
1912Ultimate Six1$2.99DC
209Marvel 16023$3.50Marvel
2110Marvel 16024$3.50Marvel
2239Spectacular Spider-Man1$2.25Marvel
2340Ultimate Six2$2.25Marvel
2421Wolverine End1$2.99Marvel
2523Superman/Batman2$2.95DC
2624Transformers Generation One Vol. 21$2.95Dreamwave
2711Marvel 16025$3.50Marvel
2841Ultimate War3$2.25Marvel
2942Ultimate X-Men36$2.25Marvel
3043Ultimate War4$2.25Marvel
3144Batman620$2.25DC
3237Teen Titans1$2.50DC
3345Ultimate X-Men34$2.25Marvel
3446Ultimate Spider-Man37$2.25Marvel
3547Ultimate Spider-Man38$2.25Marvel
3614New X-Men150$3.50Marvel
3749Ultimate Six3$2.25Marvel
3827Superman/Batman3$2.95DC
3926Ultimate Spider-Man50$2.99Marvel
4050Ultimate X-Men35$2.25Marvel
4151Ultimate X-Men37$2.25Marvel
4253Ultimate X-Men38$2.25Marvel
4354Amazing Spider-Man50$2.25Marvel
4455Ultimates10$2.25Marvel
4556New X-Men146$2.25Marvel
4657Ultimate Six4$2.25Marvel
4728Ultimate Spider-Man46$2.99Marvel
4858Ultimates8$2.25Marvel
4959New X-Men147$2.25Marvel
5060Ultimate X-Men39$2.25Marvel
5161Ultimate Spider-Man36$2.25Marvel
5263Ultimates12$2.25Marvel
5364Ultimate X-Men40$2.25Marvel
5465Ultimates9$2.25Marvel
5566Ultimate Spider-Man39$2.25Marvel
5667Ultimate Spider-Man44$2.25Marvel
5768Ultimate Spider-Man40$2.25Marvel
5869Ultimates11$2.25Marvel
5970New X-Men148$2.25Marvel
6071Ultimate Spider-Man41$2.25Marvel
6172New X-Men149$2.25Marvel
6231Superman/Batman4$2.95DC
6373Ultimate Spider-Man45$2.25Marvel
6475New X-Men145$2.25Marvel
6576New X-Men144$2.25Marvel
6677Wolverine2$2.25Marvel
6778Ultimate Spider-Man43$2.25Marvel
6879Ultimate Spider-Man42$2.25Marvel
6980Batman621$2.25DC
7081Ultimate Six5$2.25Marvel
7182Ultimate Spider-Man47$2.25Marvel
7283New X-Men143$2.25Marvel
7386Ultimate Spider-Man48$2.25Marvel
7489New X-Men142$2.25Marvel
7590Amazing Spider-Man52$2.25Marvel
7691New X-Men141$2.25Marvel
7792Amazing Spider-Man51$2.25Marvel
7893New X-Men139$2.25Marvel
7994Amazing Spider-Man53$2.25Marvel
8095Ultimate Spider-Man51$2.25Marvel
8196New X-Men140$2.25Marvel
8234GI Joe/Transformers1$2.95Image
8397Uncanny X-Men424$2.25Marvel
8498New X-Men136$2.25Marvel
8599Ultimate Spider-Man35$2.25Marvel
86101Ultimate Spider-Man49$2.25Marvel
8735Superman/Batman5$2.95DC
88102Ultimate Spider-Man34$2.25Marvel
89103Amazing Spider-Man57$2.25Marvel
90104New X-Men137$2.25Marvel
91105Amazing Spider-Man55$2.25Marvel
92106Uncanny X-Men429$2.25Marvel
93107New X-Men138$2.25Marvel
94109Uncanny X-Men430$2.25Marvel
95110Amazing Spider-Man501$2.25Marvel
96111Amazing Spider-Man54$2.25Marvel
97112Ultimate Xmen33$2.25Marvel
98114Uncanny X-Men431$2.25Marvel
99115Amazing Spider-Man58$2.25Marvel
100116Amazing Spider-Man56$2.25Marvel




2003 Graphic Novel Sales to Comics Shops

Estimated Graphic Novels and Trade Paperbacks Shipped to 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 Sandman: Endless Nights hardcover was the top dollar volume of the year.


UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisher
14Justice League Liberty & Justice$9.95DC
22 League of Extraordinary Gentleman Book One$14.95DC
31Sandman Endless Nights HC$24.95DC
4330 Days of Night$17.99IDW
526Death at Death's Door$9.95DC
68Origin$14.99Marvel
713Y The Last Man Vol. 1 Unmanned$12.95DC
85Batman Hush Vol. 1$19.95DC
927Ultimate X-Men Vol. 5 Ultimate War$10.99Marvel
1021Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 5 Public Scrutiny$11.99Marvel
1122Ultimate X-Men Vol. 4 Hellfire & Brimstone$12.99Marvel
1229Ultimates Vol. 1$12.99Marvel
1344Lone Wolf & Cub Vol. 29 Lotus Throne$9.95Marvel
1419Ultimate X-Men Vol. 1 Tomorrow People$14.95Marvel
1516Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 6 Venom$15.99Marvel
1624Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 Power & Responsibility$14.95Marvel
1767Fables Vol. 1 Legends in Exile$9.95DC
1831Ultimate X-Men Vol. 2 Return to Weapon X$14.95Marvel
1915Batman Hush Vol. 2 HC$19.95DC
2023Ultimate X-Men Vol. 3 World Tour$17.99Marvel
216Marvel Encyclopedia Vol. 2 X-men HC$29.99Marvel
2238Trigun Vol. 1$14.95Dark Horse
2318Watchmen$19.95DC
2410Batman Child of Dreams HC$24.95DC
2539Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 4 Legacy$14.99Marvel
2649Y The Last Man Vol. 2 Cycles$12.95DC
2733Ultimate X-Men Vol. 6 Return of the King$16.99Marvel
28105Twisted Toyfare Theater Vol. 3$9.99Wizard
2956Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 2 Learning Curve$12.99Marvel
3032Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3 Double Trouble$17.95Marvel
31274Vampires Christmas$5.95Image
3212League of Extraordinary Gentleman Two HC$24.95DC
3328Sandman Vol. 1 Preludes & Nocturnes$19.95DC
3463Fables Vol. 2 Animal Farm$12.95DC
3546Kingdom Come$14.95DC
3673100 Bullets Vol. 5 Counteriffth Detective$12.95DC
3725Matrix Comics Vol. 1$21.95Red Pill
3896Ultimate Daredevil & Elektra$11.99Marvel
3935Johnny the Homicidal Maniac Directors Cut$19.95Slave Labor
4017Orbiter HC$24.95DC
4137Across Universe DC Universe Stores of Alan Moore$19.95DC
4260Daredevil Legends Vol. 1 Yellow$14.99Marvel
4397Batman Bruce Wayne Fugitive Vol. 2$12.95DC
4445Hellboy Vol. 1 Seed of Destruction$17.95Dark Horse
45102Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 67 Irresponsible$12.99Marvel
4677Transmetropolitan Vol. 8 Dirge$14.95DC
4765Chronicles of Conan Vol. 1$15.95Dark Horse
4830Sgt. Rock Between Hell & a Hard Place HC$24.95DC
4983Top Ten Book Two$14.95DC
50115100 Bullets Vol. 6 Six Feet Under Gun$12.95DC
51119New X-Men Vol. 1 E is for Extinction$12.95Marvel
5234Batman Hong Kong HC$24.95DC
53100Batman Dark Knight Returns$14.95DC
5447Batman Detective$19.95DC
5548X-Men Legends Vol. 2 Dark Phoenix Saga$19.95Marvel
5669Mike Mignola's B.P.R.D. Collectors$17.95Dark Horse
5750Sandman Vol. 2 Doll's House$19.95DC
5820Midnight Nation$29.99Image
5952Powers Vol. 4 Supergroup$19.95Image
60106Dark Horse Book of Hauntings$14.95Dark Horse
6155Marvel Encyclopedia Vol. 3 Hulk HC$19.99Marvel
6276JLA JSA Virtue & Vice$17.95DC
63217100 Bullets Vol. 1 First Shot Last Call$9.95DC
64101Squee$15.95Slave Labor
65139Daredevil Movie$12.99Marvel
66157New X-Men Vol. 4 Riot at Xavier's$11.99Marvel
6761Daredevil Vol. 5 Out$19.99Marvel
68114Sandman Vol. 3 Dream Country$14.95DC
69343Donald Duck Adventures Vol. 1$7.95Gemstone
70117Essential Tomb of Dracula Vol. 1$14.99Marvel
717Hellboy Mike Mignola Art of Hellboy HC$49.95Dark Horse
72151Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 Transfer of Power$12.99Marvel
73122Transmetropolitan Vol. 9 Cure$14.95DC
74123Preacher Vol. 1 Gone to Texas$14.95DC
75125Crisis of Multiple Earths Vol. 2$14.95DC
7675New X-Men Vol. 2 Impereial$19.99Marvel
77271Chobits Vol. 4$9.99TokyoPop
78129New X-Men Vol. 3 New Worlds$14.99Marvel
79275Chobits Vol. 5$9.99TokyoPop
8081Daredevil Vol. 1 Guardian Devil$19.95Marvel
81171Incredible Hulk Vol. 1 Return of the Monster$12.99Marvel
82103Wonder Woman Hiketeia$17.95DC
83135Total Sell Out$14.95Image
84294Love Hina Vol. 8$9.99TokyoPop
85202Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 Life & Death of Spiders$11.99Marvel
86144Alan Moore Portrait of an Extraordinary Gentleman$14.95Abiogenesis
8789Sandman Vol. 4 Season of Mists$19.95DC
88187X-Men 2 Movie$12.99Marvel
89164Berserk Vol. 1 Black Swordsman$13.95Dark Horse
90312Love Hina Vol. 9$9.99TokyoPop
91192Justice League America Vol. 11 Obsidian Age Book One$12.95DC
92138Chronicles of Conan Vol. 2 Rogues in the House$15.95Dark Horse
9357Marvel Encyclopedia Vol. 4 Spider-Man HC$24.99Marvel
94152New X-Men Vol. 5 Assault of Weapon Plus$14.99Marvel
9540Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 2 HC$29.99Marvel
96156Punisher Vol. 3 Business as Usual$14.99Marvel
97437Alan Moore's Another Suburban Romance$7.95Avatar
98118Exiles Vol. 3 Out of Time$17.99Marvel
99332Love Hina Vol. 11$9.99TokyoPop
100214Justice League America Vol. 10 Golden Perfect$12.95DC


My analyses of preorders from Diamond Comic Distributors for individual months can be found here: