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DECEMBER 1998 Comic Book Preorders from Diamond Comic Distributors
Comic-book Title Issue Price Publisher Est. preorders
1 Witchblade Tomb Raider 1 $2.95 Image 190,700
2 X-Men 85 $1.99 Marvel 135,600
3 Uncanny X-Men 365 $1.99 Marvel 134,700
4 X-Men 84 $1.99 Marvel 131,200
5 Gambit 1 $2.99 Marvel 117,400
6 Spawn 81 $1.95 Image 103,400
7 Amazing Spider-Man 2 $1.99 Marvel 102,500
8 Kingdom 1 $2.95 DC 101,100
9 Peter Parker Spider-Man 2 $1.99 Marvel 96,500
10 Wolverine 134 $1.99 Marvel 95,900
11 Kingdom 2 $2.95 DC 95,600
12 Wolverine 135 $1.99 Marvel 94,900
13 Avengers 13 $1.99 Marvel 94,800
14 JLA 26 $1.99 DC 89,300
15 Daredevil 4 $2.50 Marvel 83,400
16 Aria 1 $2.50 Image 81,400
17 Fantastic Four 14 $1.99 Marvel 78,700
18 Captain America 14 $1.99 Marvel 72,700
19 Spider-Man Chapter 1 4 $2.50 Marvel 71,900
20 Mutant X 5 $1.99 Marvel 70,900
21 Thor 8 $1.99 Marvel 70,700
22 Avengers Forever 3 $2.99 Marvel 70,100
23 JLA Titans 3 $2.95 DC 69,700
24 Iron Man 13 $2.99 Marvel 69,600
25 Kingdom Son of the Bat 1 $1.99 DC 68,200
26 Kingdom Planet Krypton 1 $1.99 DC 65,800
27 Kingdom Nightstar 1 $1.99 DC 65,700
28 Kingdom Kid Flash 1 $1.99 DC 65,500
29 Webspinners Tales Of Spider-Man 2 $2.50 Marvel 64,200
30 Kingdom Offspring 1 $1.99 DC 61,600
31 Tomb Raider Witchblade Revisited 1 $2.95 Image 59,600
32 Generation X 48 $1.99 Marvel 54,500
33 Spider-Girl 5 $1.99 Marvel 54,400
34 X-Force 87 $1.99 Marvel 53,200
35 Curse of the Spawn 28 $1.95 Image 52,800
36 Inhumans 4 $2.99 Marvel 52,100
37 Green Lantern 109 $1.99 DC 52,100
38 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 4 $2.95 Dark Horse 51,800
39 Wolverine Winter Special $2.99 Marvel 50,900
40 Star Wars 1 $2.50 Dark Horse 49,300
41 X-Men Liberators 4 $2.99 Marvel 49,300
42 Black Panther 4 $2.50 Marvel 48,800
43 X-Man 48 $1.99 Marvel 48,200
44 Doctor Strange 1 $2.99 Marvel 47,700
45 Superman 142 $1.99 DC 47,400
46 Punisher 4 $2.99 Marvel 47,300
47 Cable 64 $1.99 Marvel 47,200
48 Kiss Psycho Circus 16 $2.25 Image 47,100
49 Fantastic Four & Fantastic Four 98 $3.50 Marvel 47,100
50 Captain America Sentinel Of Liberty 6 $2.99 Marvel 45,500
51 Coven Vol 2 1 $2.50 Awesome 45,300
52 Legends of the DC Universe Crisis On Infinite Earths $4.95 DC 45,200
53 Batman Hellboy Starman 2 $2.50 DC 44,800
54 Incredible Hulk 473 $1.99 Marvel 44,500
55 Action Comics 751 $1.99 DC 43,400
56 Batman 562 $1.99 DC 43,400
57 Nightwing 28 $1.99 DC 43,400
58 Adventures Of Superman 564 $1.99 DC 43,100
59 Thunderbolts 23 $1.99 Marvel 43,100
60 Team X 2000 $3.50 Marvel 42,700
61 Superman Man Of Steel 86 $1.99 DC 42,600
62 Detective Comics 729 $1.99 DC 42,400
63 Gen 13 36 $2.50 Image 42,200
64 Flash 145 $1.99 DC 41,600
65 Clerks Holiday Special $2.95 Oni 41,000
66 Young Justice 5 $2.50 DC 40,400
67 Preacher 46 $2.50 DC 40,100
68 A Next 5 $1.99 Marvel 39,800
69 Deadpool 25 $2.99 Marvel 39,700
70 Ascension 12 $2.50 Image 39,700
71 Superman & Batman Generations 2 $4.95 DC 38,500
72 Darkminds 6 $2.50 Image 37,800
73 Star Wars Crimson Empire II 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 36,500
74 J2 5 $1.99 Marvel 36,000
75 Spirit Of Tao 6 $2.50 Image 35,900
76 Batman Shadow of the Bat 82 $1.99 DC 35,400
77 Slingers 3 $1.99 Marvel 34,900
78 Earth X Sketchbook $3.99 Marvel 34,000
79 X-Men Universe Past Present & Future $2.99 Marvel 34,000
80 Alpha Flight 19 $1.99 Marvel 33,500
81 Catwoman 65 $1.99 DC 33,400
82 Lady Pendragon 2 $2.50 Image 33,400
83 Generation X Holiday Special $3.50 Marvel 33,300
84 Robin 61 $1.99 DC 33,300
85 Batman Legends of the Dark Knight 115 $1.99 DC 32,500
86 Martian Manhunter 3 $1.99 DC 32,400
87 Supergirl 29 $1.99 DC 31,700
88 Superman 80 Page Giant 1 $4.95 DC 31,700
89 Moon Knight 1 $2.99 Marvel 31,700
90 Legends of the DC Universe 13 $1.99 DC 31,300
91 Starman 50 $3.95 DC 30,600
92 Wonder Woman 141 $1.99 DC 30,400
93 Star Wars Mara Jade By The Emperors Hand 5 $2.95 Dark Horse 30,100
94 Gen 13 Magical Drama Queen Roxy 3 $3.50 Image 28,800
95 Birds Of Prey 2 $1.99 DC 28,600
96 Batman Beyond 1 $1.99 DC 28,400
97 Moon Knight 2 $2.99 Marvel 28,400
98 Pitt 20 $2.50 Full Bleed 27,700
99 Superman A Nation Divided $4.95 DC 27,700
100 Moon Knight 3 $2.99 Marvel 27,400
101 Lady Death 12 $2.95 Chaos 27,000
102 Moon Knight 4 $2.99 Marvel 26,900
103 Star Wars Jedi Academy Leviathan 3 $2.95 Dark Horse 26,900
104 Batman Beyond 2 $1.99 DC 26,500
105 Aquaman 52 $1.99 DC 25,500
106 Batman Reign Of Terror $4.95 DC 24,500
107 Star Wars The Jabba Tape $2.95 Dark Horse 24,300
108 Superboy 59 $1.99 DC 23,900
109 Hitman 34 $2.50 DC 23,900
110 Marvel Remix Fantastic Four Fireworks 2 $2.99 Marvel 23,700
111 Wildcore 10 $2.50 Image 23,600
112 DC Universe Heroes Secret Files 1 $4.95 DC 23,300
113 Azrael Agent of the Bat 49 $2.25 DC 23,100
114 Purgatori 4 $2.95 Chaos 22,900
115 Hellcop 3 $2.50 Image 22,900
116 Batman Toyman 4 $2.25 DC 21,300
117 Savage Dragon 56 $2.50 Image 21,300
118 Warlock 4 $2.99 Marvel 21,200
119 Gifts of the Night 1 $2.95 DC 20,800
120 Grendel Black White & Red 2 $3.95 Dark Horse 20,400
121 Legion Of Super Heroes 112 $2.50 DC 20,400
122 Hellblazer 134 $2.50 DC 20,300
123 Girl Who Would Be Death 3 $2.50 DC 20,200
124 Chastity Rocked 3 $2.95 Chaos 20,200
125 Legionnaires 68 $2.50 DC 20,100
126 Giant Sized Gambit $3.99 Marvel 19,800
127 Batman The Gotham Adventures 9 $1.99 DC 19,500
128 Simpsons Comics 40 $2.50 Bongo 19,500
129 Dv8 25 $2.50 Image 19,500
130 Jonah Hex Shadows West 1 $2.95 DC 19,400
131 Strangers In Paradise Vol III 20 $2.75 Abstract 18,800
132 Dreaming 33 $2.50 DC 18,400
133 Power Of Shazam 46 $2.50 DC 18,100
134 Books Of Magic 57 $2.50 DC 18,100
135 Union Jack 3 $2.99 Marvel 17,700
136 Impulse 45 $2.25 DC 17,500
137 Ash Fire & Crossfire 1 $2.95 Event 17,200
138 Sailor Moon 3 $2.95 Mixx 16,900
139 Resurrection Man 21 $2.50 DC 16,800
140 Re Gex 3 $2.50 Awesome 16,600
141 Invisibles Volume 2 22 $2.50 DC 16,600
142 Sergio Aragones Groo & Rufferto 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 16,400
143 Transmetropolitan 18 $2.50 DC 16,400
144 Evil Ernie 7 $2.95 Chaos 15,800
145 Smiley Anti Holiday Special $2.95 Chaos 14,300
146 Deity Vol 2 $4.00 $2.95 Awesome 14,300
147 Superman Adventures 28 $1.99 DC 14,000
148 Deity II Catseye 2 $2.95 Awesome 14,000
149 Cremator Hells Guardian 2 $2.95 Chaos 13,700
150 Ghost Vol 2 The Devil Inside (1 Of 3) 4 $2.95 Dark Horse 13,600
151 Conan Scarlet Sword 3 $2.99 Marvel 13,500
152 Fighting American Dogs Of War 4 $2.50 Awesome 13,500
153 Vamps Pumpkin Time 3 $2.50 DC 13,200
154 Lobo 59 $2.50 DC 13,000
155 Sandman Mystery Theatre 70 $2.50 DC 12,700
156 Dragonball Z Part Two 1 $2.95 Viz 12,300
157 House Of Secrets 25 (Res) $2.50 DC 12,100
158 Oh My Goddess The Devil In Miss Urd 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 12,100
159 Spirit New Adventures 9 $3.50 Kitchen Sink 11,900
160 J Obarrs The Crow A Cycle Of Shattered Lives 0 $3.50 Kitchen Sink 11,900
161 Heart Throbs 2 $2.95 DC 11,700
162 Minx 5 $2.50 DC 11,700
163 More Than Mortal Truths & Legends 4 $2.95 Liar 11,700
164 Ghost Special Scary Monsters 3 $3.95 Dark Horse 11,400
165 Stray Bullets 18 $2.95 El Capitan 11,300
166 Dragonball 10 $2.95 Viz 10,200
167 Blade of the Immortal On Silent Wings (8 Of 8) 28 $2.95 Dark Horse 10,200
168 Masakazu Katsuras Shadow Lady I Dangerous Love 3 $2.50 Dark Horse 9,600
169 Poison Elves Color Special 1 $2.95 Sirius 9,500
170 Ranma 1/2 Part Seven 11 $2.95 Viz 9,500
171 The Terminator 4 $2.95 Dark Horse 9,500
172 Chronos Final Issue 11 $2.50 DC 9,400
173 Pokemon The Electric Tale Of Pikachu 2 $3.25 Viz 9,200
174 Tick Luny Bin Trilogy 3 $3.50 New England 9,000
175 Cerebus 237 $2.25 Aardvark-Vanaheim 9,000
176 Neon Genesis Evangelion Book Three 5 $2.95 Viz 8,900
177 Poison Elves 42 $2.50 Sirius 8,500
178 Daring Escapes 4 $2.50 Image 8,300
179 Elfquest 31 $4.95 Warp 8,100
180 Shevas War 5 $2.95 DC 7,700
181 Subhuman 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 7,600
182 Sonic The Hedgehog 68 $1.75 Archie 7,500
183 Faust 777 The Wrath 0 $3.00 Avatar 7,200
184 Battlestar Galactica Search For Sanctuary 3 $2.99 Realm 7,000
185 Sonic Super Special 8 $2.25 Archie 6,800
186 Lenore 4 $2.95 Slave Labor 6,800
187 Drakuun The Hidden War 3 $2.95 Dark Horse 6,700
188 Scud Tales From The Vending Machine 5 $2.50 Fireman 6,500
189 Essential Vertigo The Sandman 31 $2.25 DC 6,200
190 Satanika 10 (Res) $3.50 Verotik 5,900
191 Nio 2 $2.50 Acclaim 5,900
192 Knuckles 22 $1.75 Archie 5,900
193 Inu Yasha A Feudal Fairy Tale Part Two 6 $3.25 Viz 5,800
194 Oni Double Feature 10 $2.95 Oni 5,700
195 Slayers 3 $2.95 CPM 5,700
196 Sabrina The Teenage Witch 23 $1.75 Archie 5,600
197 Lodoss War Grey Witch 2 $2.95 CPM 5,600
198 Nightwarriors Darkstalkers Revenge 2 $3.25 Viz 5,600
199 Secret Plot Deep 7 $3.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 5,500
200 Scooby-Doo 19 $1.99 DC 5,400
201 Dark Horse Presents 138 $2.95 Dark Horse 5,400
202 No Need For Tenchi Part Six 2 $2.95 Viz 5,300
203 Black Hole 6 $4.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 5,300
204 Tattered Banners 4 $2.95 DC 5,300
205 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 20 $2.95 Image 5,200
206 Dark Ones Third Eye Vol 2 $4.95 Sirius 5,200
207 Stargods Visions $2.95 Antarctic 5,100
208 Penny Century 4 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,900
209 Animaniacs 45 $1.99 DC 4,900
210 Silky Whip 9 $3.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,900
211 Savage Dragon Archives 4 $2.95 Image 4,800
212 Mixxzine 2/4 $4.99 Mixx 4,800
213 Carvers 3 $2.95 Image 4,600
214 Luba 4 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,500
215 Maison Ikkoku Part Eight 5 $3.25 Viz 4,400
216 Robotech Final Fire 1 $2.95 Antarctic 4,400
217 Archie 481 $1.75 Archie 4,300
218 A Distant Soil 28 $2.95 Image 4,300
219 Betty & Veronica 133 $1.75 Archie 4,200
220 Voice Of Submission 7 $3.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,200
221 Haunt Of Fear 26 $2.50 Gemstone 4,200
222 Robotech Class Reunion 1 $3.95 Antarctic 4,200
223 Bulletproof Monk 2 $2.95 Image 4,100
224 Original Bondage Fairies 2 $3.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,000
225 Looney Tunes 49 $1.99 DC 3,900
226 Betty & Veronica Double Digest 78 $2.95 Archie 3,900
227 Geisha 4 $2.95 Oni 3,900
228 Betty 71 $1.75 Archie 3,800
229 Crime Suspenstories 26 $2.50 Gemstone 3,700
230 Archie Double Digest 106 $2.95 Archie 3,700
231 Frontline Combat 15 $2.50 Gemstone 3,700
232 Valor 5 $2.50 Gemstone 3,700
233 Legend Of Lemnear 12 $2.95 CPM 3,600
234 Supermodels In The Rainforest 2 $2.95 Sirius 3,600
235 Veronica 85 $1.75 Archie 3,600
236 Cheryl Blossom 20 $1.75 Archie 3,500
237 Akiko 31 $2.50 Sirius 3,500
238 Spider-Man Manga 27 $2.99 Marvel 3,400
239 Raw Media Quarterly 2 $4.95 Avatar 3,400
240 Spider-Man Manga 26 $2.99 Marvel 3,300
241 New Vampire Miyu Vol 3 3 $2.95 Ironcat 3,300
242 X-Men Manga 21 $2.99 Marvel 3,300
243 Pals N Gals Double Digest 39 $2.95 Archie 3,200
244 Everette Hartsoes Razor Darkest Night 1 $4.95 London Night 3,200
245 Betty & Veronica Spectacular 34 $1.75 Archie 3,200
246 Mechanical Man Blues 1 $2.95 Radio 3,200
247 Midnight Panther Feudal Fantasy 4 $2.95 CPM 3,200
248 Ninja High School 66 $2.95 Antarctic 3,200
249 Knights of the Dinner Table 26 $2.95 Kenzer 3,100
250 X-Men Manga 22 $2.99 Marvel 3,100
251 Archie Digest 161 $1.95 Archie 3,100
252 Faust 777 The Wrath Wraparound Cover 0 $3.95 Avatar 3,100
253 Big Bang Comics 24 $2.95 Image 3,000
254 Urotsukidoji Legend of the Overfiend 6 $2.95 CPM 3,000
255 Warhammer Monthly 10 $2.95 Games Workshop 2,900
256 Young Witches Empire Of Sin 3 $3.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 2,900
257 Desperate Times 4 $2.95 Image 2,900
258 Jughead 114 $1.75 Archie 2,800
259 Flintstones And The Jetsons 18 $1.99 DC 2,800
260 Dark Horse Classics Terror Of Godzilla 5 $2.95 Dark Horse 2,800
261 Dark Horse Classics Godzilla King of the Monsters 6 $2.95 Dark Horse 2,800
262 Cartoon Network Presents 18 $1.99 DC 2,800
263 Jinx Special $3.95 Image 2,700
264 Nobody 2 $2.95 Oni 2,700
265 Virtex 1 $2.50 Oktomica 2,600
266 Laugh Digest 147 $1.95 Archie 2,600
267 Futabakun Change 6 $2.95 Ironcat 2,400
268 High Stakes Adventure Reg Ed 1 $2.95 Antarctic 2,400
269 Genus 33 $2.95 Radio 2,300
270 Dragon Wars 9 $2.95 Ironcat 2,300
271 Ogenki Clinic Vol 3 4 $2.95 Ironcat 2,300
272 Poe Color Special 1 $2.95 Sirius 2,200
273 Tigress 2 $2.95 Basement 2,200
274 Femme Kabuki 2 $2.95 Ironcat 2,200
275 Demon Beast Invasion The Fallen 4 $2.95 CPM 2,100
276 Threshold 11 $4.95 Avatar 2,100
277 Pete The Pod Postal Worker 7 $2.95 Sharkbait 2,100
278 Eddie Campbells Bacchus 40 $2.95 Eddie Campbell 2,100
279 Jailbait 1 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 2,100
280 Channel Zero 6 $2.95 Image 2,100
281 Children of the Dead 2 $2.95 Midnight 2,000
282 Burner 2 $1.99 JNCO 2,000
283 Coven Menace San Diego Preview Book $5.00 Awesome 2,000
284 Virtual Bang 5 $2.95 Ironcat 2,000
285 Erotic Art Of Armando Huerta 1 $3.00 ABC 1,900
286 Gear 2 $2.95 Fireman 1,900
287 Harvey Magazine For Kids 2 $2.95 Harvey 1,900
288 Stargods Current Printing 1 $2.95 Antarctic 1,900
289 Hyper Dolls 5 $2.95 Ironcat 1,900
290 Captain Gravity 1 $2.75 Penny Farthing 1,900
291 Rat Bastard 6 $1.95 Crucial 1,800
292 Furrlough 72 $2.95 Radio 1,800
293 Alley Oop Adv 3 $2.95 Antarctic 1,800
294 Munsters Golden Age Adventure $2.95 TV 1,700
295 Horrible Truth About Comics $2.95 Alternative 1,700
Some items were dropped from the list due to mis-classification.
DECEMBER 1998 Trade Paperback Preorders from Diamond Comic Distributors
Trade Paperback title Price Publisher Est. preorders
1 Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Manga #1 $9.95 Dark Horse 13,500
2 Justice League Of America The Nail $12.95 DC 6,100
3 Big Book Of Vice $14.95 DC 4,100
4 Uncle Scrooge #318 $6.95 Gladstone 3,500
5 Plastic Man Archives Vol. 1 HC $49.95 DC 3,200
6 Dynamic Forces Gambit Alt Cvr #1 $6.95 Dynamic Forces 3,200
7 Mage The Hero Defined Vol. 2 $9.95 Image 3,200
8 Vampirella 2999 A D Manga Ashcan $7.95 Harris 3,000
9 Walt Disney Comics #633 $6.95 Gladstone 3,000
10 Coven Vol. 2 Chrome Edition #1 $14.95 Awesome 2,800
11 Wildcats X-Men $19.95 Image 2,400
12 Leave It To Chance Vol. 2 $12.95 Image 2,300
13 Castle Waiting Curse O/Brambly Hedge Rev Ed $9.00 Olio 2,100
14 Lost Heroes #5 6 $7.95 Davdez 2,100
15 Dynamic Forces Danger Girl Gold Foil Ed #6 $10.00 Dynamic Forces 2,000
16 Faust 777 The Wrath Nude Cvr #0 $6.00 Avatar 2,000
17 Book Of Ballads HC $12.95 Green Man 2,000
18 Wolverine Not Dead Yet $14.95 Marvel 1,900
19 Astro City Confession New Ptg $19.95 Image 1,800
20 Women Of Manara $16.95 Heavy Metal 1,800
21 Dynamic Forces Coven #1 Alternate Cover $6.95 Dynamic Forces 1,800
22 Dynamic Forces Buffy The Vampire Slayer #2 Bldchrome Cvr $14.95 Dynamic Forces 1,700
23 Kingdom Come $14.95 DC 1,700
24 Caravan Kidd Vol. 3  $19.95 Dark Horse 1,700
25 Inu Yasha Vol. 3 $15.95 Viz 1,600
DECEMBER 1998 Publisher Market Shares of Diamond's FINAL comic book, TPB, and magazine sales
DIAMOND OVERALL SHARES DOLLARS
Marvel 28.73%
DC 24.66%
Image 14.69%
Dark Horse 7.51%
Wizard 3.45%
Viz 2.52%
Dynamic Forces 1.70%
Chaos 1.22%
Oni 1.19%
Fantagraphics 0.70%
Others 13.63%
CBG Market Estimates
Note: These figures were preorders, meaning (a) initial orders may have been higher and (b) some of these comics may not have come out. The actual sales for the month may be higher or lower (usually, higher).

 

Unit Sales for Diamond's Top 300 Comic Books (est.):

7.29 million copies

 

Dollar Sales for Diamond's Top 300 Comic Books (est.):

$18.54 million

 

Dollar Sales for Diamond's Top 25 Trade Paperbacks (est.):

$990,000

 

Combined Dollar Sales for Diamond's Top 300 Comics and Top 25 TPBs (est.) :

$19.53 million

 

Minimum Dollar Value for ALL Diamond's Trade Paperback preorders (est.):

$2.28 million

 

Minimum Combined Dollar Sales for Diamond's Top 300 Comics and all TPBs (est.) :

$20.82 million

 

Average price of comic books in Diamond's Top 300:

$2.76

 

Average price of comic books in Diamond's Top 300, weighted by orders:

$2.54

 

Source: Initial reports provided by Diamond Comic Distributors

CBG calculations by John Jackson Miller