Updated on December 10, 2021
DC’s Batman-centric “Dark Nights: Metal” event topped October 2017 direct-market comic sales. Meanwhile, “The Walking Dead” topped graphic novel/trade paperback direct market and bookstore sales.
Comics
Here’s a look at October’s top-selling direct market comics, according to Diamond.
| Rank | Title | Price | Publisher |
| 1 | DARK NIGHTS: METAL #3 | $3.99 | DC |
| 2 | THE MIGHTY THOR #700 | $5.99 | MAR |
| 3 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #789 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 4 | BATMAN #32 | $2.99 | DC |
| 5 | BATMAN #33 | $2.99 | DC |
| 6 | THE DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #287 | $3.99 | MAR |
| 7 | BATMAN: THE DROWNED #1 | $3.99 | DC |
| 8 | BATMAN: THE DAWNBREAKER #1 | $3.99 | DC |
| 9 | BATMAN: THE MERCILESS #1 | $3.99 | DC |
| 10 | BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT #1 | $3.99 | DC |
DC took seven of the top 10 slots this month, all for Batman-related titles, including tie-ins to “Dark Nights: Metal.” Marvel takes up the other three entries with Thor’s 700th issue, Spider-Man, and Deadpool.
Graphic novels/trade paperbacks
Here’s October’s top-selling direct market trade paperbacks and graphic novels.
| Rank | Title | Price | Publisher |
| 1 | THE WALKING DEAD: HERE’S NEGAN HC (MR) | $19.99 | IMA |
| 2 | BATMAN/THE FLASH: THE BUTTON DELUXE EDITION HC | $19.99 | DC |
| 3 | SEVEN TO ETERNITY VOLUME 2 TP (MR) | $16.99 | IMA |
| 4 | RAT QUEENS VOLUME 4: HIGH FANTASIES TP (MR) | $14.99 | IMA |
| 5 | SUPER SONS VOLUME 1: WHEN I GROW UP TP | $12.99 | DC |
| 6 | I HATE FAIRYLAND VOLUME 3: GOOD GIRL TP (MR) | $16.99 | IMA |
| 7 | REDNECK TP VOL 01 DEEP IN THE HEART (MR) | $16.99 | IMA |
| 8 | STAR WARS: THE SCREAMING CITADEL TP | $17.99 | MAR |
| 9 | BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOLUME 3: LEAGUE TP | $19.99 | DC |
| 10 | LOW VOL. 4: OUTER ASPECTS OF INNER ATTITUDES TP (MR) | $16.99 | IMA |
Image has six of the top 10 selling trades, including “The Walking Dead,” “Rat Queens,” and “Seven to Eternity.”
DC has three entries (led by the “Watchmen”-tied “The Button”), while Marvel has just one (a “Star Wars” title).
Dollar share and unit share
The top five publishers by dollar share:
- Marvel: 36.38%
- DC Comics: 30.58%
- Image: 11.46%
- IDW: 4.33%
- Dark Horse: 2.82%
The top five publishers by unit share:
- Marvel: 38.63%
- DC Comics: 35.48%
- Image: 9.84%
- IDW: 3.31%
- Dynamite: 1.96%
Publishers Weekly graphic novel best sellers
Outside of the direct market (and Diamond), Publishers Weekly reports that (as of the five-week period ending November 5, 2017), the top-selling trade paperback/graphic novel is “The Walking Dead,” volume 28. Other top sellers include the manga series “Tokyo Ghoul” and three other “Walking Dead” volumes.
The only superhero titles in the top 10 are two Batman books: a deluxe edition of “The Button,” and “The Dark Knight III: The Master Race.”
Comments
Despite the demise of the New York Times’ best-sellers’ lists for comics, I thought I’d try to include non-direct market comics sales figures. Comics are sold at venues besides local comic shops, after all, plus it’s more reflective of what’s actually selling.
Publishers Weekly offers a top 10 graphic novel sales list, based on Bookscan sales data (i.e., sales through Amazon, Walmart, bookstores, and other non-comic shop venues).
