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BG 4C.jpgNORTH AMERICAN

COMICS MARKET ESTIMATES FOR

MAY 1997  

Initial reports provided by Diamond Comic Distributors

Calculations by John Jackson Miller

MAY 1997 Comic Book Preorders from Diamond Comic Distributors
Comic-book Title Issue Price Publisher Est. preorders
1 Spawn 62 $1.95 Image 167,400
2 Uncanny X-Men -1 $1.95 Marvel 162,900
3 X-Men -1 $1.95 Marvel 160,400
4 Fantastic Four 9 $1.95 Marvel 142,300
5 Curse of the Spawn 9 $1.95 Image 133,900
6 Wolverine -1 $1.95 Marvel 127,400
7 Iron Man 9 $1.95 Marvel 122,400
8 Captain America 9 $1.95 Marvel 107,800
9 Avengers -1 $1.95 Marvel 107,600
10 Generation X -1 $1.95 Marvel 104,100
11 JLA 7 $1.95 DC 103,500
12 X-Man -1 $1.95 Marvel 96,400
13 Gen13 19 $2.50 Image 95,700
14 X-Factor -1 $1.95 Marvel 90,000
15 X-Force -1 $1.95 Marvel 89,900
16 Cable -1 $1.95 Marvel 84,400
17 Tales of the Witchblade 2 $2.95 Image 76,800
18 Gen13 Annual 1 $2.95 Image 75,400
19 Excalibur -1 $1.95 Marvel 75,000
20 Amazing Spider-Man -1 $1.95 Marvel 74,400
21 Superman 125 $1.95 DC 73,700
22 Incredible Hulk -1 $1.95 Marvel 72,500
23 Action Comics 735 $1.95 DC 70,000
24 Adventures of Superman 548 $1.95 DC 69,800
25 Superman: Man of Steel 69 $1.95 DC 69,500
26 Spider-Man -1 $1.95 Marvel 69,100
27 Spectacular Spider-Man -1 $1.95 Marvel 64,900
28 Sensational Spider-Man -1 $1.95 Marvel 63,600
29 Deadpool -1 $1.95 Marvel 62,700
30 Star Wars: Dark Force Rising 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 60,100
31 Batman 544 $1.95 DC 58,500
32 Gen13 Bootleg 7 $2.50 Image 54,900
33 Superman Annual 9 $3.95 DC 54,300
34 Beast 3 $2.50 Marvel 53,800
35 Detective 711 $1.95 DC 52,700
36 Batman: The Long Halloween 8 $2.95 DC 51,900
37 Supergirl 11 $1.95 DC 50,900
38 X-Files 30 $2.95 Topps 50,500
39 Heroes for Hire 1 $2.99 Marvel 50,500
40 Batman Annual 21 $3.95 DC 47,600
41 Darkchylde: The Diary 1 $2.50 Image 47,200
42 Green Lantern 88 $1.75 DC 47,200
43 WildC.A.T.S 38 $2.50 Image 47,100
44 Thunderbolts 4 $1.95 Marvel 46,400
45 Alpha Flight: In the Beginning $1.95 Marvel 46,100
46 Preacher 27 $2.50 DC 45,700
47 Arcanum 3 $2.50 Image 44,400
48 Elektra -1 $1.95 Marvel 44,300
49 Thunderbolts: A Distant Rumbling $1.95 Marvel 44,200
50 Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 96 $1.95 DC 43,900
51 Batman/Batgirl $4.95 DC 43,900
52 Nightwing 10 $1.95 DC 43,300
53 Batman: Shadow of the Bat 64 $1.95 DC 43,000
54 DV8 8 $2.50 Image 42,800
55 Batman/Bane $4.95 DC 41,900
56 Batman/Poison Ivy $4.95 DC 41,600
57 Ka-Zar 3 $1.95 Marvel 41,600
58 Batman/Mr. Freeze $4.95 DC 41,300
59 Unknown Soldier 4 $2.50 DC 41,000
60 Untold Tales of Spider-Man -1 $0.99 Marvel 40,900
61 Catwoman 47 $1.95 DC 40,400
62 Robin 43 $1.95 DC 40,200
63 Flash 127 $1.75 DC 40,000
64 Silver Surfer -1 $1.95 Marvel 39,900
65 Tenth 4 $2.50 Image 39,000
66 Nightwing Annual 1 $3.95 DC 38,800
67 Daredevil -1 $1.95 Marvel 38,600
68 What If -1 $1.95 Marvel 38,400
69 Wonder Woman 123 $1.95 DC 37,100
70 Batman Chronicles 9 $2.95 DC 36,300
71 Venom: Seed of Darkness $1.95 Marvel 36,300
72 Ka-Zar: Sibling Rivalry $1.95 Marvel 36,300
73 Star Wars Rogue Squadron 18 $2.95 Dark Horse 35,900
74 Pride & Joy 1 $2.50 DC 35,500
75 Journey into Mystery -1 $1.95 Marvel 34,800
76 Untold Tales of Spider-Man '97 $1.95 Marvel 34,700
77 Weapon Zero 13 $2.50 Image 32,800
78 Venom: License to Kill 2 $1.95 Marvel 32,600
79 Wonder Woman Annual 6 $3.95 DC 32,600
80 Azrael 31 $1.95 DC 32,600
81 Judgment Day Alpha $2.50 Maximum 32,500
82 Chastity 3 $2.95 Chaos 32,000
83 Conan 1 $2.50 Marvel 31,500
84 Hellshock 5 $2.50 Image 31,300
85 Evil Ernie Destroyer 1 $2.95 Chaos 31,200
86 Silver Surfer '97 $2.99 Marvel 31,100
87 Maxx 30 $1.95 Image 31,000
88 Aquaman 34 $1.75 DC 30,700
89 Dreaming 14 $2.50 DC 30,500
90 Impulse 27 $1.75 DC 30,400
91 Teen Titans 10 $1.95 DC 30,400
92 Starman 32 $2.25 DC 30,200
93 Wetworks 29 $2.50 Image 29,900
94 Superboy 41 $1.95 DC 29,400
95 Weird War Tales 2 $1.95 DC 28,700
96 Hitman 16 $2.25 DC 28,600
97 Legionnaires 50 $3.95 DC 28,300
98 Aquaman Annual 3 $3.95 DC 27,800
99 Classic Star Wars: Han Solo at Star's End 3 $2.95 Dark Horse 27,700
100 Savage Dragon 39 $2.50 Image 27,700
101 Ghost Rider -1 $1.95 Marvel 27,600
102 Strangers in Paradise Vol. 3 6 $2.75 Image 27,100
103 Adventures in the DC Universe 4 $1.75 DC 26,900
104 Legion of Super-Heroes 94 $2.25 DC 26,500
105 Books of Magic 38 $2.50 DC 26,200
106 Manga Shi 2000 3 $2.95 Crusade 26,200
107 Ash: Cinder & Smoke 1 $2.95 Event 26,200
108 Bone 29 $2.95 Cartoon 25,600
109 Stormwatch 48 $2.50 Image 25,300
110 Backlash 32 $2.50 Image 25,100
111 Jack Kirby's Fourth World 5 $1.95 DC 25,100
112 Avengelyne 15 $2.99 Maximum 25,000
113 Shade 4 $2.25 DC 24,900
114 Darkness Collected Edition 1 $4.95 Image 24,700
115 Grifter 11 $2.50 Image 23,800
116 Savant Garde 3 $2.50 Image 23,700
117 Crimson Plague 1 $2.95 Event 23,600
118 Vampirella vs. Hemmorhage 2 $3.50 Harris 23,300
119 Leave it to Chance 7 $2.00 Image 23,200
120 Batman and Robin Adventures 20 $1.75 DC 23,100
121 Star Trek: Unlimited 5 $2.99 Marvel 23,100
122 Star Trek: Voyager 9 $2.00 Marvel 23,000
123 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 9 $1.95 Marvel 22,500
124 Anarky 3 $2.50 DC 22,500
125 Resurrection Man 3 $2.50 DC 22,400
126 Superman Adventures 9 $1.75 DC 22,400
127 House of Secrets 10 $2.50 DC 22,300
128 Star Trek: Early Voyages 6 $1.95 Marvel 22,200
129 Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 8 $1.95 Marvel 21,800
130 Power of Shazam 28 $1.75 DC 20,900
131 Superboy and The Ravers 11 $1.95 DC 20,400
132 Invisibles Vol. 2 6 $2.50 DC 20,100
133 Suspira: The Great Working 3 $2.95 Chaos 20,100
134 Spectre 55 $2.50 DC 20,000
135 Hellblazer 115 $2.25 DC 19,600
136 Lobo 41 $2.25 DC 19,400
137 Young Heroes in Love 2 $1.75 DC 19,200
138 Green Arrow 122 $2.25 DC 18,900
139 Starship Troopers: Insect Touch 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 18,800
140 Sandman Mystery Theatre 52 $2.50 DC 18,500
141 Tick's Back 0 $2.95 New England 18,400
142 Predator: Hell and Hot Water 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 18,200
143 Uncanny Origins 11 $0.99 Marvel 18,100
144 X-O Manowar 8 $2.50 Acclaim 17,700
145 Sovereign Seven 24 $1.95 DC 17,600
146 Supreme 49 $2.50 Maximum 17,100
147 Immortal 2 1 $2.50 Image 17,000
148 Ghost 25 $3.95 Dark Horse 16,900
149 Glory 23 $2.50 Maximum 16,900
150 Junk Culture 1 $2.50 DC 16,500
151 Lost World: Jurassic Park 1 $2.95 Topps 16,500
152 2020 Visions 3 $2.25 DC 16,300
153 Steel 40 $1.95 DC 16,200
154 Shadowman 7 $2.50 Acclaim 15,500
155 Stray Bullets 14 $3.50 El Capitan 15,400
156 Gunsmith Cats: Shades of Gray 1 $2.95 Dark Horse 15,400
157 Elric Stormbringer 3 $2.95 Dark Horse 15,200
158 Barry Windsor Smith Storyteller 7 $4.95 Dark Horse 15,000
159 Badger 1 $2.95 Image 14,500
160 Wildstorm Spotlight 4 $2.50 Image 14,400
161 Marvel Adventures 4 $1.50 Marvel 14,300
162 A Man Called Ax 1 $2.50 DC 14,200
163 Angel Fire 2 $2.95 Crusade 14,100
164 Batman & Robin Modie Adaptation Standard Edition $3.95 DC 14,100
165 Turok/Timewalker 2 $2.50 Acclaim 14,000
166 Dr. Tomorrow 1 $2.50 Acclaim 13,800
167 Magnus Robot Fighter 5 $2.50 Acclaim 13,600
168 Challengers of the Unknown 6 $2.25 DC 13,600
169 Lady Rawhide 7 $2.95 Topps 13,600
170 Trinity Angels 3 $2.50 Acclaim 13,500
171 Oh My Goddess Mara Strikes Back 1 $3.95 Dark Horse 13,400
172 Nexus God Coin 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 13,200
173 Crimson Nun 1 $2.95 Antarctic 13,000
174 Poison Elves 24 $2.50 Sirius 12,900
175 Jackie Chan's Spartan X 1 $2.95 Topps 12,900
176 Essential Vertigo: The Sandman 12 $1.95 DC 12,600
177 Bloodshot 3 $2.50 Acclaim 12,500
178 Eternal Warriors Digital Alchemy $3.95 Acclaim 12,200
179 Dark Horse Classics: Star Wars Dark Empire 3 $2.95 Dark Horse 12,100
180 Fault Lines 3 $2.50 DC 11,800
181 Elfquest 12 $4.95 Warp 11,700
182 Xero 3 $1.75 DC 11,500
183 Ranma 1/2 Part Six 6 $2.95 Viz 11,500
184 Tick Special $4.50 Acclaim 11,200
185 Freak Force 3 $2.95 Image 11,100
186 Pantha Haunted Passion $2.95 Harris 11,100
187 Troublemakers 6 $2.50 Acclaim 10,900
188 Cerebus 218 $2.25 Aardvark-Vanaheim 10,800
189 Book of Fate 6 $2.25 DC 10,700
190 Verotika 16 $3.95 Verotik 10,600
191 Blade of the Immortal Call of the Worm 2 $3.95 Dark Horse 10,600
192 Ninjak 7 $2.50 Acclaim 10,500
193 Nameless 1 $2.95 Image 10,400
194 Bone 19 $2.95 Image 10,400
195 Edgar Rice Burroughs Return/Tarzan 2 $2.95 Dark Horse 10,300
196 A Touch of Silver 3 $2.95 Image 9,900
197 Strangers in Paradise Gold Logo Edition 1 $2.75 Abstract 9,900
198 Quantum & Woody 4 $2.50 Acclaim 9,800
199 Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan 10 $2.95 Dark Horse 9,500
200 Drakuun Rise of the Dragon Princess 4 $2.95 Dark Horse 9,500
201 Headhunters 2 $2.95 Image 9,300
202 Newmen 25 $2.50 Maximum 9,100
203 Pinky and the Brain 13 $1.75 DC 9,000
204 Replacement God 1 $2.95 Image 9,000
205 Igrat The Fall of Uriel $4.95 Verotik 8,800
206 Venus Domina 3 $3.95 Verotik 8,700
207 Full Metal Fiction 2 $3.95 London Night 8,500
208 Night Force 8 $2.25 DC 8,500
209 Uncle Scrooge 305 $1.95 Gladstone 8,100
210 Robotech 2 $2.95 Antarctic 8,100
211 Star Crossed 2 $2.50 DC 8,100
212 Razor Vol. 2 6 $3.00 London Night 8,000
213 Adventures of Aaron 2 $2.95 Image 7,900
214 Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing 9 $1.95 DC 7,800
215 Inu Yasha 2 $2.95 Viz 7,700
216 Battle Angel Alita Part Seven 8 $2.95 Viz 7,500
217 Razor Uncut 35 $3.00 London Night 7,400
218 New Bondage Fairies 7 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 7,300
219 Animaniacs 27 $1.75 DC 7,300
220 Oink: Blood and Circus 1 $4.95 Kitchen Sink 7,300
221 Steohen R. Bissette's Tyrant 5 $2.95 Spiderbaby 7,300
222 Cyberella 11 $2.50 DC 7,200
223 Scare Tactics 8 $2.25 DC 7,200
224 Soulwind 3 $2.95 Image 7,100
225 Sonic the Hedgehog 49 $1.50 Archie 7,000
226 Uncle Scrooge Adventures 49 $1.95 Gladstone 7,000
227 Dark Horse Presents 121 $2.95 Dark Horse 6,900
228 Brainbanx 5 $2.50 DC 6,900
229 Donald Duck Adventures 45 $1.95 Gladstone 6,700
230 Waterworld 2 $2.50 Acclaim 6,600
231 Cavewoman: Rain 7 $2.95 Caliber 6,600
232 Age of Heroes 4 $2.95 Image 6,400
233 Sabrina the Teenage Witch 4 $1.50 Archie 6,400
234 A Distant Soil 20 $2.95 Image 6,300
235 Vermillion 10 $2.50 DC 6,200
236 No Need for Tenchi Part Two 7 $2.95 Viz 6,200
237 Araknis: Retribution 1 $2.50 Morningstar 6,200
238 Warrior 5 $2.95 Ultimate 6,100
239 Acme Novelty Library 9 $4.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 6,100
240 Self-Loathing Comics 2 $3.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 6,100
241 Walt Disney Comics & Stories Penny Pincher 4 $0.99 Gladstone 6,100
242 Vampirella: Sad Wings of Destiny/Gold Emblem $3.95 Harris 6,100
243 Comic Book 4 $4.95 Dark Horse 6,000
244 Dark Horse Classics: Aliens vs. Predator 4 $2.95 Dark Horse 6,000
245 Vault of Horror 20 $2.50 Gemstone 5,600
246 Ultimate Strike 5 $3.00 London Night 5,600
247 Real Adventures of Jonny Quest 8 $2.95 Dark Horse 5,500
248 American Splendor on the Job $2.95 Dark Horse 5,500
249 Looney Tunes 30 $1.75 DC 5,500
250 Poizon Cadillacs & Green Tomatoes 2 $3.00 London Night 5,400
251 Big Bang Comics 11 $2.95 Image 5,400
252 Knuckles 4 $1.50 Archie 5,400
253 Maison Ikkoku Part Six 10 $2.95 Viz 5,300
254 Weird Fantasy 20 $2.50 Gemstone 5,300
255 Luftwaffe 1946 3 $2.95 Antarctic 5,300
256 La Femme Vamprique 1 $3.50 Brainstorm 5,300
257 Tenchi Muyo 3 $2.95 Pioneer 5,000
258 Cheryl Blossom 4 $1.50 Archie 4,900
259 Sisters of Mercy 2 $2.50 London Night 4,900
260 Archie 462 $1.50 Archie 4,900
261 Hepcats 6 $2.95 Antarctic 4,800
262 Betty & Veronica 114 $1.50 Archie 4,800
263 Tommi Gunn 3 $3.00 London Night 4,800
264 Sexcapades 6 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,800
265 Vamperotica 27 $2.95 Brainstorm 4,700
266 Ninja High School 57 $2.95 Antarctic 4,700
267 Two Fisted Tales 20 $2.50 Gemstone 4,600
268 Jurassic Jane 1 $3.00 London Night 4,600
269 Razor Archives 1 $5.00 London Night 4,500
270 Veronica 66 $1.50 Archie 4,500
271 Betty & Veronica Double Digest 66 $2.79 Archie 4,500
272 Misty Girl Extreme Special 3.5 $3.50 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,500
273 Betty 52 $1.50 Archie 4,400
274 Archie Double Digest 94 $2.79 Archie 4,300
275 Lust 2 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 4,300
276 Archie & Friends 24 $1.50 Archie 4,200
277 Griffin 1 $2.95 Slave Labor 4,200
278 Reality Check 9 $2.95 Sirius 4,100
279 Razor Archives 2 $5.00 London Night 4,100
280 Star Blazers 11 $2.95 Voyager 4,000
281 La Cosa Nostroid 3 $2.95 Fireman 3,900
282 El Hazard 2 $2.95 Pioneer 3,800
283 Archie's Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest 27 $2.79 Archie 3,700
284 Girls of Ninja High School '97 $3.95 Antarctic 3,700
285 Steve Ditko's Strange Avenging Tales 2 $2.95 Fantagraphics/Eros 3,700
286 Akiko 15 $2.50 Sirius 3,700
287 Metal Guardian Faust 3 $2.95 Viz 3,600
288 Tormentress: Mistress of Hell 0 $2.95 Blackout 3,600
289 Lords of Misrule 5 $2.95 Dark Horse 3,600
290 Double Impact Collector's Gallery Reg. Ed. 1 $3.00 High Impact 3,600
291 Jughead 95 $1.50 Archie 3,600
292 Bio Booster Guyver Part Six 6 $2.95 Viz 3,600
293 Moldiver 2 $2.95 Pioneer 3,600
294 Betty & Veronica Annual Digest 16 $1.79 Archie 3,600
295 Disney's Action Club $4.50 Acclaim 3,500
296 Midnight Panther 2 $2.95 CPM 3,500
297 Archie Digest 149 $1.79 Archie 3,500
298 Archi's Vacation Special 5 $2.00 Archie 3,500
299 Thieves & Kings 17 $2.35 I Box 3,400
300 Donna Mia Giant Size Regular 2 $3.95 Avatar 3,400
MAY 1997 Publisher Market Shares of Diamond's Top 300 Comic Books
TOP 300 MARKET SHARES DOLLARS
DC 31.64%
Marvel 29.01%
Image 16.94%
Dark Horse 5.65%
Acclaim 2.43%
Topps 1.45%
Maximum 1.39%
Chaos 1.30%
London Night 1.04%
Event 0.77%
Harris 0.73%
Viz 0.71%
Archie 0.68%
Fantagraphics/Eros 0.65%
Antarctic 0.63%
Verotik 0.63%
Crusade 0.63%
Cartoon 0.40%
Warp 0.31%
New England 0.29%
Others 2.71%
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.):

7.9 million copies

 

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

$18.96 million

 

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

$3.18 million

 

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

$22.14 million

 

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

$2.63

 

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

$2.40

 

Source: Initial reports provided by Diamond Comic Distributors

CBG calculations by John Jackson Miller