“Secret Empire” #0 tops April 2017 comic sales

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Last updated on December 10th, 2021

Marvel’s kickoff issue of its latest (controversial) crossover, “Secret Empire,” was the top selling comic of April 2017. On the trade paperback side, a “Batman” trade paperback is the top seller.

Comics

Below are the top 10 selling comics for April, according to Diamond.

Rank Title Price Publisher
1 SECRET EMPIRE #0 $4.99 MAR
2 BATMAN #21 LENTICULAR EDITION (THE BUTTON) $3.99 DC
3 X-MEN GOLD #1 $4.99 MAR
4 X-MEN BLUE #1 $4.99 MAR
5 THE FLASH #21 LENTICULAR EDITION (THE BUTTON) $3.99 DC
6 BATMAN #20 $2.99 DC
7 BATMAN #21 (THE BUTTON) $2.99 DC
8 STAR WARS #30 $3.99 MAR
9 WEAPON X #1 $3.99 MAR
10 THE WALKING DEAD #166 (MR) $2.99 IMA

Despite a (from what I’ve seen) largely negative reception, “Secret Empire” still topped the sales charts.

That said, the real sales champ might be “Batman” #21. For various reasons (which Comichron explains), Diamond counts sales of “Batman” #21’s special edition (a special cover for a dollar extra) separately from the regular issue. However, both are the exact same contents/story otherwise. Granted, “Batman” (and “Flash” are part of a storyline that (improbably) ties “Watchmen” into the DC Universe; this decision’s also gotten controversy, and for good reason.

Elsewhere, several new “X-Men” titles and “Star Wars” are also top sellers. “The Walking Dead” also cracked the top 10 as the sole non-Big Two title.

Trade paperbacks/graphic novels

Below are the top selling trade paperbacks, according to Diamond.

Rank Title Price Publisher
1 BATMAN VOLUME 2: I AM SUICIDE TP $16.99 DC
2 HELLBOY: INTO THE SILENT SEA HC $14.99 DAR
3 SAGA VOLUME 7 TP (MR) $14.99 IMA
4 SUPERMAN VOL. 2: TRIALS OF THE SUPER SON TP $16.99 DC
5 ALL-STAR BATMAN VOL. 1: MY OWN WORST ENEMY HC $24.99 DC
6 SAGA DELUXE EDITION VOLUME 2 HC (MR) $49.99 IMA
7 BATMAN VOLUME 10: EPILOGUE TP $16.99 DC
8 JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 2: OUTBREAK TP $16.99 DC
9 AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER VOL. 15 TP $10.99 DAR
10 RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS VOL. 1: DARK TRINITY TP $16.99 DC
Saga, vol. 7 TPB cover
“Saga,” vol. 7 TPB (March 2017). Art by Fiona Staples.

The top seller’s a volume of “Batman.” DC put in six of the top 10 slots. Image and Dark Horse took two slots each; Image’s entries are both volumes of “Saga,” while Dark Horse comes in at #2 with a “Hellboy” hardcover.

Miscellaneous

The top five publishers by dollar share:

  1. Marvel: 34.95%
  2. DC: 30.49%
  3. Image: 10.54%
  4. Dark Horse: 4.46%
  5. IDW: 3.63%

The top five publishers by unit share:

  1. Marvel: 38.23%
  2. DC: 34.34%
  3. Image: 9.86%
  4. Dark Horse: 3.06%
  5. IDW: 2.95%

Marvel doesn’t have any $10 comics this month, but they’re still leading in dollar share, albeit a bit narrowly over DC.

Anthony Dean

Anthony Dean is the owner of Diverse Tech Geek and Diverse Media Notes.

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