Updated on December 10, 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 |
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:
- Marvel: 34.95%
- DC: 30.49%
- Image: 10.54%
- Dark Horse: 4.46%
- IDW: 3.63%
The top five publishers by unit share:
- Marvel: 38.23%
- DC: 34.34%
- Image: 9.86%
- Dark Horse: 3.06%
- 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.
