Broken Frontier

Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion #1 was the best-selling comic book title for 2008 based on total unit sales to comic book specialty shops, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture products . All eight issues of the limited series crossover event placed in the top ten comics of 2008, and were joined by Uncanny X-men #500 (#6) and DC Comics’ first issue of its 2008 mega-event, Final Crisis #1 (#10).

In addition, Marvel Comics closed out 2008 as the top publisher, leading both Retail Dollar and Unit Market Shares, with a 46% Unit Market Share, and a 41% Retail Dollar Market Share. DC Comic’s was the comic book industry’s second leading publisher with 32% Unit Market Share, and a 30% Retail Dollar Market Share.

2008’s top-selling graphic novel was the perennial best-seller, DC Comics’ Watchmen TP, which enjoyed renewed success in the wake of the upcoming feature film in 2009.  DC Comics also dominated graphic novel sales by taking seven of the top ten spots.

“Comic book and graphic novel sales through comic book specialty shops remained strong in 2008, with graphic novel sales increasing five-percent over 2007” remarked Diamond CEO Steve Geppi. “Our publishers did a tremendous job of creating compelling storylines that comic fans wanted to see, and we remain optimistic about the comic book industry heading into 2009.”

2008 TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
 QUANTITY SHARE RETAIL SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 45.82% 40.81%
DC COMICS 31.67% 29.94%
DARK HORSE COMICS 5.05% 6.49%
IMAGE COMICS 3.32% 3.73%
IDW PUBLISHING 2.92% 3.08%
OTHERS 11.22% 15.95%

2008 TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

Quantity Rank Description Price Publisher
1 SECRET INVASION #1 $3.99 Marvel Comics
2 SECRET INVASION #2 $3.99 Marvel Comics
3 SECRET INVASION #3 $3.99 Marvel Comics
4 SECRET INVASION #4 $3.99 Marvel Comics
5 SECRET INVASION #5 $3.99 Marvel Comics
6 SECRET INVASION #6 $3.99 Marvel Comics
7 UNCANNY X-MEN #500 $3.99 Marvel Comics
8 SECRET INVASION #7 $3.99 Marvel Comics
9 FINAL CRISIS #1 $3.99 DC Comics
10 SECRET INVASION #8 $3.99 Marvel Comics

2008 TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

Quantity Rank Description Price Publisher
1 WATCHMEN TP $19.99 DC Comics
2 BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC $17.99 DC Comics
3 JOKER HC $19.99 DC Comics
4 Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS AND WHEREFORES $14.99 DC Comics
5 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER $14.99 Image Comics
6 BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP $14.99 DC Comics
7 FABLES TP VOL 10: THE GOOD PRINCE $17.99 DC Comics
8 WANTED GN $19.99 Image Comics
9 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 8 TP VOL 02: NO FUTURE FOR YOU $15.95 Dark Horse Comics
10 Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 01 UNMANNED $12.99 DC Comics