by 
Updated on March 20, 2023
May 2017 comic sales were topped by “Secret Empire” and an expensive anniversary issue of “Venom.” On the trade paperback side, the top seller was a “Deadpool” hardcover.
Comics
Below are the top 10 selling comics for May, according to Diamond.
| Rank | Title | Price | Publisher |
| 1 | SECRET EMPIRE #1 | $4.99 | MAR |
| 2 | VENOM #150 | $5.99 | MAR |
| 3 | BATMAN #22 LENTICULAR EDITION | $3.99 | DC |
| 4 | THE FLASH #22 LENTICULAR EDITION | $3.99 | DC |
| 5 | GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: MISSION BREAKOUT #1 | $4.99 | MAR |
| 6 | SECRET EMPIRE #2 | $4.99 | MAR |
| 7 | BATMAN #23 | $2.99 | DC |
| 8 | SECRET EMPIRE #3 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 9 | ALL-NEW GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 10 | THE WALKING DEAD #167 (MR) | $2.99 | IMA |
“Secret Empire” is selling well, despite some online negative reaction.
Meanwhile, DC’s special covers for “Batman” and “Flash” (and their weird “Watchmen” tie-in) lead to those being their top-sellers. According to Comichron, sales of those two books would top the sales charts, if Diamond didn’t count their special covers separately from the regular covers.
The only non-Big Two book in the top 10 is “The Walking Dead” at #10.
Trade paperbacks/graphic novels
Below are the top selling trade paperbacks and graphic novels for May.
| Rank | Title | Price | Publisher |
| 1 | DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD OGN HC | $24.99 | MAR |
| 2 | BITCH PLANET VOLUME 2: PRESIDENT BITCH TP (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 3 | SAGA VOLUME 7 TP (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 4 | WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 2: YEAR ONE TP | $16.99 | DC |
| 5 | MOONSHINE VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | IMA |
| 6 | THE FLASH VOLUME 2: THE SPEED OF DARKNESS TP | $14.99 | DC |
| 7 | CHAMPIONS VOLUME 1: CHANGE THE WORLD TP | $15.99 | MAR |
| 8 | BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOLUME 2: VICTIM SYNDICATE | $16.99 | DC |
| 9 | THE UNWORTHY THOR TP | $15.99 | MAR |
| 10 | DOOM PATROL VOLUME 1: BRICK BY BRICK TP (MR) | $16.99 | DC |
The top seller this month is a “Deadpool” hardcover. Marvel’s only other top 10 book is the first volume for “Champions,” the book starring Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, and several others as a teenage superhero team.
DC meanwhile has four entries in the top 10, with the Rebirth volume of “Wonder Woman” their highest-seller. While the Rebirth series (by Greg Rucka) has drawn praise, I wonder if the Wonder Woman movie helped draw attention to this title.
Image has three entries; among them is “Moonshine,” a supernatural horror book set during Prohibition.
Comments
The top five publishers by dollar share:
- Marvel: 38.05%
- DC Comics: 27.93%
- Image: 10.25%
- IDW: 4.65%
- Dark Horse: 3.05%
The top five publishers by unit share:
- Marvel: 39.91%
- DC Comics: 30.88%
- Image: 11.83%
- IDW: 3.78%
- Dark Horse: 2.21%
Yes, I still miss the New York Times’ best-seller lists for graphic novels, as the above all just applies to comic shop sales. Publishers Weekly does offer a monthly graphic novel bestseller list; their top seller for May is “Saga,” vol. 7.
