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COMICS MARKET ESTIMATES FOR

APRIL 1997  

Initial reports provided by Diamond Comic Distributors

Calculations by John Jackson Miller

APRIL 1997 Comic Book Preorders from Diamond Comic Distributors
Comic-book Title Issue Price Publisher Est. preorders
1 Uncanny X-Men 345 $1.95 Marvel 179,400
2 X-Men 65 $1.95 Marvel 177,800
3 Fantastic Four 8 $1.95 Marvel 154,900
4 Spawn 61 $1.95 Image 141,100
5 Wolverine 114 $1.95 Marvel 139,600
6 Exciting X-Patrol 1 $1.95 Marvel 135,300
7 Iron Lantern 1 $1.95 Marvel 135,300
8 JLX Unleashed 1 $1.95 DC 134,500
9 Magnetic Men Featuring Magneto 1 $1.95 Marvel 134,300
10 Challengers of the Fantastic 1 $1.95 Marvel 133,800
11 Spider-Boy Team-Up 1 $1.95 Marvel 131,100
12 Iron Man 8 $1.95 Marvel 130,700
13 Dark Claw Adventures 1 $1.95 DC 130,400
14 Super Soldier: Man of War 1 $1.95 DC 127,800
15 Bat Thing 1 $1.95 DC 123,300
16 Thorion of the New Asgods 1 $1.95 Marvel 121,700
17 Generation Hex 1 $1.95 DC 121,400
18 Avengers 8 $1.95 Marvel 120,900
19 Captain America 8 $1.95 Marvel 114,700
20 Generation X 28 $1.95 Marvel 112,900
21 Lobo the Duck 1 $1.95 DC 108,600
22 X-Man 28 $1.95 Marvel 103,900
23 X-Men Unlimited 15 $2.99 Marvel 99,200
24 JLA 6 $1.95 DC 98,800
25 X-Factor 135 $1.95 Marvel 98,500
26 Gen13 18 $2.50 Image 98,300
27 X-Force 67 $1.95 Marvel 96,400
28 Curse of the Spawn 8 $1.95 Image 94,000
29 Witchblade 14 $2.50 Image 93,300
30 Darkness 5 $2.50 Image 90,900
31 Cable 44 $1.95 Marvel 90,000
32 Incredible Hulk 454 $1.95 Marvel 83,800
33 Excalibur 110 $1.95 Marvel 80,100
34 Amazing Spider-Man 424 $1.95 Marvel 79,100
35 Superman 124 $1.95 DC 77,000
36 Action Comics 734 $1.95 DC 74,300
37 Spider-Man 81 $1.95 Marvel 74,100
38 Adventures of Superman 547 $1.95 DC 74,000
39 Superman: The Man of Steel 68 $1.95 DC 72,300
40 Cable and X-Force '97 1 $2.99 Marvel 72,000
41 Spectacular Spider-Man 247 $1.95 Marvel 69,500
42 Sensational Spider-Man 17 $1.95 Marvel 66,800
43 Batman vs. Aliens 2 $4.95 Dark Horse 64,900
44 Deadpool 6 $1.95 Marvel 64,600
45 Beast 2 $2.50 Marvel 60,800
46 Batman 543 $1.95 DC 59,700
47 Gen13: Bootleg 6 $2.50 Image 55,500
48 Detective Comics 710 $1.95 DC 55,400
49 X-Files 29 $2.95 Topps 54,200
50 Batman: The Long Halloween 7 $2.95 DC 53,700
51 Supergirl 10 $1.95 DC 52,100
52 Lady Death: The Crucible 4 $2.95 Chaos 51,400
53 WildC.A.T.S 37 $2.50 Image 50,400
54 Preacher 26 $2.50 DC 47,700
55 Green Lantern 87 $1.75 DC 47,100
56 Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 95 $1.95 DC 46,800
57 Elektra 8 $1.95 Marvel 46,600
58 Arcanum (resolicitation) 2 $2.50 Image 46,300
59 Thunderbolts 3 $1.95 Marvel 46,100
60 Batman: Shadow of the Bat 63 $1.95 DC 45,800
61 Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 2 9 $2.50 Image 45,100
62 Nightwing 9 $1.95 DC 44,600
63 Darkchylde Remastered 1 $2.50 Image 44,500
64 Batman/Wildcat 3 $2.25 DC 44,400
65 Crypt of Dawn 2 $2.95 Sirius 44,300
66 DV8 7 $2.50 Image 42,000
67 Catwoman 46 $1.95 DC 41,300
68 Flash 126 $1.75 DC 41,200
69 Robin 42 $1.95 DC 40,400
70 Unknown Soldier 3 $2.50 DC 39,200
71 Spider-Man Team-Up 7 $2.99 Marvel 39,200
72 Untold Tales of Spider-Man 22 $0.99 Marvel 39,000
73 Silver Surfer 129 $1.95 Marvel 38,900
74 Venom: License to Kill 1 $1.95 Marvel 38,800
75 What If? 98 $1.95 Marvel 38,500
76 Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition 4 $2.95 Dark Horse 38,500
77 Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Requiem for a Rogue 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 38,100
78 Tenth 3 $2.50 Image 37,800
79 Weird War Tales 1 $2.50 DC 37,600
80 Wonder Woman 122 $1.95 DC 37,300
81 Cyberforce 33 $2.50 Image 36,000
82 Daredevil 365 $1.95 Marvel 34,700
83 Azrael 30 $1.95 DC 34,500
84 Weapon Zero 12 $2.50 Image 34,100
85 Dreaming 13 $2.50 DC 33,500
86 Journey into Mystery 510 $1.95 Marvel 33,300
87 Hellshock 4 $2.50 Image 32,400
88 Teen Titans 9 $1.95 DC 32,000
89 Wetworks 28 $2.50 Image 31,500
90 Impulse 26 $1.75 DC 31,400
91 Stormwatch 47 $2.50 Image 31,200
Adventures in the DC Universe 3 $1.75 DC 31,100
93 Aquaman 33 $1.75 DC 31,000
94 Starman 31 $2.25 DC 30,600
95 Superboy 40 $1.95 DC 30,500
96 Hitman 15 $2.25 DC 30,000
97 Ka-Zar 2 $1.95 Marvel 30,000
98 Classic Star Wars: Han Solo at Stars End 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 28,500
99 Savage Dragon 38 $2.50 Image 28,300
100 Books of Magic 37 $2.50 DC 27,400
101 Savant Garde 2 $2.50 Image 27,400
102 Legion of Super-Heroes 93 $2.25 DC 27,200
103 Punisher 20 $1.95 Marvel 27,200
104 Jack Kirby's Fourth World 4 $1.95 DC 27,200
105 Star Trek: Voyager 8 $1.95 Marvel 26,700
106 Young Heroes in Love 1 $1.75 DC 26,500
Legionnaires 49 $2.25 DC 26,300
108 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 8 $1.95 Marvel 26,100
109 Anarky 2 $2.50 DC 26,000
110 Manga Shi 2000 2 $2.95 Crusade 26,000
111 Star Trek: Early Voyages 5 $1.95 Marvel 25,600
112 Backlash 31 $2.50 Image 25,600
113 Avengelyne 14 $2.99 Extreme 25,300
114 Shade 3 $2.25 DC 25,300
115 Suspira: The Great Working 2 $2.95 Chaos 24,900
116 Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 7 $1.95 Marvel 24,800
117 House of Secrets 9 $2.50 DC 24,800
118 Grifter 10 $2.50 Image 24,700
119 Batman and Robin Adventures 19 $1.75 DC 24,700
120 Leave it to Chance 6 $2.50 Image 24,000
121 Ghost Rider 86 $1.95 Marvel 24,000
122 Superman Adventures 8 $1.75 DC 23,800
123 Ka-Zar (variant cover) 2 $1.95 Marvel 23,700
124 Vampirella vs. Hemmorhage 1 $3.50 Harris 23,400
125 Hellblazer 114 $2.25 DC 22,900
126 Invisibles Vol. 2 5 $2.50 DC 22,600
127 Predator: Hell & Hot Water 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 22,300
Simpsons Comics 30 $2.25 Bongo 22,300
129 Resurrection Man 2 $2.50 DC 22,000
130 Superboy & the Ravers 10 $1.95 DC 21,800
131 Power of Shazam! 27 $1.75 DC 21,700
132 Uncanny Origins 10 $0.99 Marvel 21,600
133 Spectre 54 $2.50 DC 21,300
134 Lobo 40 $2.25 DC 20,800
135 Crow: Waking Nightmares 4 $2.95 Kitchen Sink 20,800
136 Untold Tales of Captain Marvel 3 $2.50 Marvel 20,400
137 Savage Dragon: Red Horizon 3 $2.95 Image 20,300
138 Sandman Mystery Theatre 51 $2.50 DC 19,700
139 2020 Visions 2 $2.25 DC 19,600
140 Green Arrow 121 $2.25 DC 19,500
141 Marvel Adventures 3 $1.50 Marvel 19,100
142 X-O Manowar 7 $2.50 Acclaim 18,900
143 Supreme 48 $2.50 Extreme 18,800
144 Wynonna Earp 5 $2.50 Image 18,600
145 Sovereign Seven 23 $1.95 DC 18,000
146 Siege 4 $2.50 Image 17,900
147 Shadowman 6 $2.50 Acclaim 17,600
148 Glory 22 $2.50 Extreme 17,600
149 Operation Stormbringer $3.95 Acclaim 17,500
150 Elric: Stormbringer 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 17,100
151 Ghost 24 $2.50 Dark Horse 16,700
152 Steel 39 $1.95 DC 16,700
153 ESPers Vol. 3 1 $2.95 Image 15,800
154 Turok Timewalker 1 $2.50 Acclaim 15,600
155 Nexus God Con 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 15,600
156 Wildstorm Spotlight 3 $2.50 Image 15,600
157 Trinity Angels 2 $2.50 Acclaim 15,600
158 Dicks 1 $2.95 Caliber 15,400
159 Challengers of the Unknown 5 $2.25 DC 14,700
160 Magnus Robot Fighter 4 $2.50 Acclaim 14,700
161 Devil Dinosaur Spring Fling 1 $2.99 Marvel 14,700
162 Firstman 1 $2.50 Image 14,600
163 Lady Rawhide 6 $2.95 Topps 14,600
164 Glory 16 $2.50 Extreme 14,400
165 Fault Lines 2 $2.50 DC 14,200
166 Bloodshot 2 $2.50 Acclaim 14,100
167 Head Hunters 1 $2.95 Image 14,100
168 Essential Vertigo: The Sandman 11 $1.95 DC 14,100
169 Oh My Goddess!: The Queen of Vengeance $2.95 Dark Horse 13,500
170 Xero 2 $1.75 DC 13,400
171 Poison Elves 23 $2.50 Sirius 13,200
172 Hate 27 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 13,000
173 Jaguar God 8 $2.95 Verotik 12,800
174 Freak Force 2 $2.95 Image 12,400
175 Dark Horse Classics - Star Wars: Dark Empire 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 12,300
176 Ranma 1/2 Part Six 5 $2.95 Viz 12,100
177 TCB 1 $2.95 Crusade 11,800
178 Troublemakers 5 $2.50 Acclaim 11,700
179 Elfquest 11 $4.95 Warp 11,500
180 Mars Attacks High School Special 2 $2.95 Topps 11,500
181 Blade of the Immortal: Call of the Worm 1 $3.95 Dark Horse 11,400
182 Ninjak 6 $2.50 Acclaim 11,400
183 Edgar Rice Burroughs Return of Tarzan 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 11,400
184 Star Crossed 1 $2.50 DC 11,400
185 Book of Fate 5 $2.25 DC 11,400
186 Squee 1 $2.95 Slave Labor 11,300
187 Quantum Leap Special $3.95 Acclaim 11,100
188 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 9 $2.95 Image 11,100
189 Bone 18 $2.95 Image 10,900
190 Dusty Star 0 $2.95 Image 10,900
191 Vampirella Silver Ann. Coll. (Silkie cover) 4 $2.50 Harris 10,800
192 Amanda and Gunn 1 $2.95 Image 10,400
193 Drakuun: Rise of the Dragon Princess 3 $2.95 Dark Horse 10,300
194 Warrior Nun Black and White 2 $2.95 Antarctic 10,300
195 Santa Barbarian vs. Easter Bunny Spring Special $2.99 Extreme 10,300
196 Cerebus 217 $2.25 Aardvark-Vanaheim 10,300
197 Eightball 18 $3.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 9,900
198 Inu Yasha 1 $2.95 Viz 9,800
199 Vampirella Silver Ann. Coll. (Beachum cover) 4 $2.50 Harris 9,800
200 Quantum & Woody 3 $2.50 Acclaim 9,700
201 Scud: Disposable Assassin 15 $2.95 Fireman 9,700
202 Pinky and the Brain 12 $1.75 DC 9,600
203 Newmen 24 $2.50 Extreme 9,500
204 Dark Horse Presents 120 $2.95 Dark Horse 9,300
205 Cabbot Bloodhunter 4 $2.95 Extreme 9,200
206 Usagi Yojimbo 12 $2.95 Dark Horse 9,000
207 Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing 8 $1.95 DC 8,900
208 Aaron Strips 1 $2.95 Image 8,800
209 Legends of the Dark Claw (2nd) (O/A) 1 $1.95 DC 8,700
210 Razor Vol. 2 5 $3.00 London Night 8,700
211 Night Force 7 $2.25 DC 8,600
212 Kabuki: Skin Deep 3 $2.95 Caliber 8,600
213 Cyberella 10 $2.50 DC 8,500
214 Waterworld 1 $2.50 Acclaim 8,200
215 Battle Angel Alita Part Seven 7 $2.95 Viz 8,100
216 Brainbanx 4 $2.50 DC 7,900
217 Shotgun Mary: Blood Lore 2 $2.95 Antarctic 7,900
218 Animaniacs 26 $1.75 DC 7,900
219 Black Cross: Dirty Work $2.95 Dark Horse 7,800
220 Razor Uncut 34 $3.00 London Night 7,700
221 Soulwind 2 $2.95 Image 7,600
222 Uncle Scrooge Adventures 48 $1.95 Gladstone 7,600
223 GE Rouge 2 $2.95 Verotik 7,500
224 New Bondage Fairies 6 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 7,300
225 Vermillion 9 $2.50 DC 7,200
226 Chronowar 9 $2.95 Dark Horse 7,200
227 Sonic the Hedgehog 48 $1.50 Archie 6,800
228 Tales from the Crypt 20 $2.50 Gemstone 6,700
229 Sabrina the Teenage Witch 3 $1.50 Archie 6,600
230 Igrat Illustrations $3.95 Verotik 6,600
231 Scare Tactics 7 $2.25 DC 6,600
232 Donald Duck 303 $1.95 Gladstone 6,400
233 Sonic vs. Knuckles Battle Royal Special $2.00 Archie 6,400
234 Dark Horse Classics: Aliens vs. Predator 3 $2.95 Dark Horse 6,300
235 No Need for Tenchi Part Two 6 $2.95 Viz 6,300
236 Spider-Boy (O/A) 1 $1.95 Marvel 6,200
237 WDC&S Penny Pincher 3 $0.99 Gladstone 6,100
238 Sisters of Mercy Vol. 2 1 $2.50 London Night 6,000
239 Icon (resolicitation) 45 $2.50 DC 5,900
240 Big Bang Comics 10 $2.95 Image 5,800
241 Warrior (resolicitation) 4 $2.50 Ultimate 5,700
242 Weird Science 20 $2.50 Gemstone 5,700
243 Maison Ikkoku Part Six 9 $2.95 Viz 5,700
244 Double Impact Assassins for Hire (Regular) 1 $2.95 High Impact 5,600
245 Diesel 1 $2.95 Antarctic 5,600
246 Real Adventures of Jonny Quest 7 $2.95 Dark Horse 5,400
247 JLX (O/A) 1 $1.95 DC 5,400
248 Ultimate Strike 4 $3.00 London Night 5,400
249 X-Patrol (O/A) 1 $1.95 Marvel 5,300
250 Hepcats 5 $2.95 Antarctic 5,300
251 Luftwaffe 1946 2 $2.95 Antarctic 5,200
252 Magneto & the Magnetic Men (O/A) 1 $1.95 Marvel 5,100
253 Midnight Panther 1 $2.95 CPM 5,100
254 Super Soldier (O/A) 1 $1.95 DC 5,000
255 La Blue Girl 10 $2.95 CPM 5,000
256 Kurt Busiek's Astro City (second printing) 1 $2.25 Image 5,000
257 Archie 461 $1.50 Archie 5,000
258 Lust 1 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 5,000
259 Berlin (resolicitation) 4 $2.50 Black Eye 4,900
260 Tenchi Muyo 2 $2.95 Pioneer 4,900
261 Speed Demon (O/A) 1 $1.95 Marvel 4,900
262 Betty and Veronica 113 $1.50 Archie 4,800
263 Tommi Gunn 3 $3.00 London Night 4,800
264 Xenozoic Tales 14 $2.95 Kitchen Sink 4,700
265 Sexcapades 5 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,700
266 Lady Vampre in the Flesh 1 $2.95 Blackout 4,700
267 Marquis 1 $2.95 Caliber 4,700
268 Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (O/A) 1 $1.95 Marvel 4,600
269 Darkchylde Remastered (variant cover) 1 $2.50 Image 4,600
270 What's Michael $5.95 Dark Horse 4,500
271 Panic 2 $2.50 Gemstone 4,400
272 Misty Girl Extreme 4 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,400
273 Bullets & Bracelets (O/A) 1 $1.95 Marvel 4,400
274 Lords of Misrule 4 $2.95 Dark Horse 4,300
275 Betty 51 $1.50 Archie 4,300
276 Elflord 4 $2.95 Warp 4,300
277 Moldiver 1 $2.95 Pioneer 4,300
278 Metal Guardian Faust 2 $2.95 Viz 4,200
279 Doctor Strangefate (O/A) 1 $1.95 DC 4,200
280 El Hazard 1 $2.95 Pioneer 4,200
281 Amazon (O/A) 1 $1.95 DC 4,100
282 Mythography 3 $3.95 Bardic 4,100
283 Reality Check 8 $2.95 Sirius 4,100
284 Veronica 65 $1.50 Archie 4,000
285 Vamperotica 26 $2.95 Brainstorm 4,000
286 Bio Booster Armor Guyver Part Six 5 $2.95 Viz 4,000
287 Archie's Double Digest 93 $2.75 Archie 3,900
288 Gold Digger 35 $2.95 Antarctic 3,900
289 Otis Goes Hollywood 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 3,800
290 Book of Angels 1 $3.95 Caliber 3,800
291 Donna Mia Giant-Size 1 $3.95 Avatar 3,800
292 Art of Usagi Yojimbo 1 $3.95 Radio 3,800
293 Assassins (O/A) 1 $1.95 DC 3,800
294 Goblin Lord 4 $2.50 Goblin 3,800
295 Betty & Veronica Spectacular 24 $1.50 Archie 3,700
296 Cud Comics 7 $2.95 Dark Horse 3,700
297 Manga Vizion Vol. 3 4 $4.95 Viz 3,600
298 Akiko 14 $2.50 Sirius 3,600
299 Archie's Pal Jughead Comics 94 $1.50 Archie 3,600
One item was dropped from the list due to mis-classification.
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.):

9.32 million copies

 

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

$20.62 million

 

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

$1.81 million

 

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

$22.43 million

 

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

$2.47

 

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

$2.21

 

Source: Initial reports provided by Diamond Comic Distributors

CBG calculations by John Jackson Miller

APRIL 1997 Publisher Market Shares of Diamond's Top 300 Comic Books
TOP 300 MARKET SHARES DOLLARS
Marvel 36.66%
DC 29.47%
Image 14.91%
Dark Horse 4.81%
Acclaim 2.22%
Extreme 1.38%
Topps 1.15%
Chaos 0.98%
Viz 0.80%
Sirius 0.80%
Harris 0.65%
Antarctic 0.54%
Crusade 0.54%
Caliber 0.48%
London Night 0.46%
Verotik 0.42%
Archie 0.40%
Fantagraphics 0.37%
Kitchen Sink 0.36%
Warp 0.34%
Others 2.26%
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