Comic Industry: Diamond, Penguin Random House UK Expand Doctor Who Book Distribution Deal

Penguin Random House UK has expanded its distribution deal with Diamond Comic Distributors (DCD) to sell and promote its entire line of Doctor Who books and novels to comic book specialty stores, bookstores, mass-market merchandisers, libraries and other outlets in the United States. Previously, Diamond represented only Penguin Random House’s young adult and children's line of Doctor Who books and novels, but the deal has now been expanded to include its adult line of Doctor Who titles.

Robert Waddington, International Sales Director, Penguin Random House UK comments: “Diamond Comic Distributors have proven themselves a strong partner on our young adult Doctor Who range, and we are delighted to now be selling our adult list through them as well. We feel very positive about our relationship moving forward, and 2017 will be a big year for Doctor Who with the series returning to television.”

Penguin Random House UK has published hundreds of books and novels in its Doctor Who line and releases coming soon include reprints of the 60’s classic tales, Doctor Who and the Crusaders, Doctor Who and the Daleks, and Doctor Who and the Zarbi. Penguin Random House UK also boasts a strong backlist of Doctor. Who titles, led by Doctor Who: Who-ology, Doctor Who: The Official Quiz Book, and Doctor Who: Beautiful Chaos."Doctor Who has always been an important brand license for Diamond and we’re happy expand our deal with Penguin Books UK to represent their entire line of Doctor Who books in the United States," said Tim Leneghan, Executive Director-Purchasing for Diamond Comic Distributors.

"Doctor Who has always been an important brand license for Diamond and we’re happy expand our deal with Penguin Books UK to represent their entire line of Doctor Who books in the United States," said Tim Leneghan, Executive Director-Purchasing for Diamond Comic Distributors.

Comic Industry: July Sales -- You Done Did DC... You Took The Month

If there is one fucking month of sales you want to "win" at it's July. It's the middle of the year, it's Comic-Con, it's... summer. Whatever that means. DC's rebirth gamble paid off and showed that you can soft reboot your way to the top of the sales chart the Marvel way. That's right, soft reboot which basically just means numbering and status quo shake ups. If you read comics you should be used to this by now. What's surprising to me is the turd that took the top spot... Justice League. I mean I guess everyone didn't know it was a turd when they ordered/bought it, but I can only hope that issue 2 will drop significantly. If that maintains then clearly I am not meant to read mainstream comics and will just cease any effort in doing so. From Diamond:

Alien machines threaten Earth and the Justice League reforms to defeat them in Bryan Hitch, Tony S. Daniel, and Sandu Florea's Justice League #1 from DC Entertainment, the best-selling comic book of July 2016 according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.

Their sales powered by Rebirth, DC Entertainment was July's top publisher with a 35.36% dollar share and a 40.96% unit share. Marvel Comics was the month's number two publisher with a 34.20% dollar share and a 35.69% unit share. At number three was Image Comics with a 8.15% dollar share and a 7.56% unit share. IDW Publishing was fourth with a 4.49% dollar share and a 3.00% unit share, followed by Dark Horse Comics with a 2.83% dollar share and 1.98% units share.

DC Entertainment had eight of the month's top ten best-selling comics; beyond Justice League #1, Justice League Rebirth #1 ranked #2, Batman #2 ranked #3, Batman #3 ranked #5, Nightwing Rebirth #1 ranked #6, New Super-Man #1 ranked #8, Nightwing #1 ranked #9, and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #1 ranked #10. Marvel Comics had two titles in the top ten; Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez's Civil War II #3 ranked #4, and Civil War II #4 ranked #7. Among the premier publishers, Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's The Walking Dead #156 was Image Comics' best-selling book in July at #32. Chris Ryall, Christos Gage, and David Messina's ROM #1 was IDW Publishing's top book at #75. Finally, Dark Horse Comics' top book, Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston's Black Hammer #1, ranked #117.

Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda's steampunk kaiju story Monstress Volume 1 from Image Comics was July's best-selling graphic novel and one of the four titles from Image Comics among the top ten. DC Entertainment had two titles among the top ten, led by Harley Quinn's Greatest Hits, a collection of stories featuring the fan-favorite character, at #2. Charles Soule and Marco Checchetto's Star Wars: Obi-Wan and Anakin was Marvel Comics' best-selling book at #4 and one of their three titles among the top ten.

The softcover edition of Gemstone Publishing's The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 46 was July's best-selling book.

Good Smile's The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D: Link Nendoroid, a recreation of the beloved Nintendo hero, was July's best-selling toy product. Diamond Select Toys had four titles among the month's top ten, led by Marvel Select: Carnage Action Figure at #2. Also in the top ten, DC Collectibles had two titles in the top ten, with the DC Comics Blueline: Superman Action Figure, a unique figure based on Jim Lee's pencil artwork, their best-selling product at #5.

USAopoly's Risk: The Walking Dead Survival Edition, a specialized edition of the venerable board game inspired by Image Comics' The Walking Dead, returned to the top of the sales charts as July's best-selling game product. IDW Publishing's IDW Games division also had a strong showing in July with five products among the top ten, led by the Machi Koro Deluxe Edition Card Game at #2.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER DOLLAR

SHARE

UNIT

SHARE

DC ENTERTAINMENT 35.36% 40.96%
MARVEL COMICS 34.20% 35.69%
IMAGE COMICS 8.15% 7.56%
IDW PUBLISHING 4.49% 3.00%
DARK HORSE COMICS 2.83% 1.98%
BOOM! STUDIOS 2.05% 1.68%
ARCHIE COMICS 1.36% 1.26%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 1.19% 0.95%
ONI PRESS INC. 1.14% 0.84%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 1.06% 1.03%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 8.18% 5.06%
     

 

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

  DOLLARS UNITS
JULY 2016 VS. JUNE 2016
COMICS -8.15% -3.24%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -26.54% -35.83%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -13.77% -6.16%
JULY 2016 VS. JULY 2015
COMICS 4.32% 12.01%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -19.12% -28.26%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -3.01% 8.28%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2016 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2015
COMICS -2.59% -5.39%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 2.42% 0.26%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -1.08% -4.94%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER COMICS SHIPPED GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED MAGAZINES SHIPPED TOTAL

SHIPPED

MARVEL COMICS 97 33 0 130
DC ENTERTAINMENT 63 31 0 94
IMAGE COMICS 61 11 1 73
IDW PUBLISHING 37 13 0 50
DARK HORSE COMICS 21 18 0 39
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT 21 10 0 31
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 19 7 0 26
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 11 5 0 16
ONI PRESS INC. 13 2 0 15
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 10 1 0 11
OTHER NON-TOP 10 102 144 23 269

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 [*] $2.99 MAY160206-M DC
2 JUSTICE LEAGUE REBIRTH #1 [*] $2.99 MAY160204-M DC
3 BATMAN #2 [*] $2.99 MAY160234-M DC
4 CIVIL WAR II #3 $4.99 APR160862-M MAR
5 BATMAN #3 [*] $2.99 MAY160236-M DC
6 NIGHTWING REBIRTH #1 [*] $2.99 MAY160216-M DC
7 CIVIL WAR II #4 $4.99 MAY160747-M MAR
8 NEW SUPER MAN #1 [*] $2.99 MAY160224-M DC
9 NIGHTWING #1 [*] $2.99 MAY160218-M DC
10 HAL JORDAN & THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS REBIRTH #1 [*] $2.99 MAY160208-M DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 MONSTRESS VOLUME 1 TP (MR) $9.99 APR160803-M IMA
2 HARLEY QUINN'S GREATEST HITS TP $9.99 MAR168712 DC
3 BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL EDITION HC $17.99 NOV070226 DC
4 STAR WARS: OBI-WAN AND ANAKIN TP $16.99 APR161092 MAR
5 HUCK TP $14.99 APR160798-M IMA
6 SOUTHERN BASTARDS VOLUME 3: HOMECOMING TP (MR) $14.99 FEB160707 IMA
7 SAGA VOLUME 6 TP (MR) $14.99 MAR160684 IMA
8 BONE CODA 25TH ANNIVERSARY TP $14.95 MAY161334 CAR
9 WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN VOLUME 1: BERZERKER TP $16.99 APR161078 MAR
10 AGENTS OF SHIELD VOLUME 1: COULSON PROTOCOLS TP $17.99 APR161086 MAR

TOP 10 BOOKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 46 SC $29.95 APR161667-M GEM
2 THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 46 HC $35.00 APR161668-M GEM
3 STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK: I AM A PRINCESS $4.99 MAY162079 RAN
4 STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK: I AM A SITH $4.99 MAY162080 RAN
5 ERIC POWELL COLORING BOOK VOLUME 1 SC $10.99 MAY161048 ALB
6 DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: SUPERGIRL AT SUPER HERO HIGH HC $13.99 MAY162038 RAN
7 DC COMICS COLORING BOOK SC $15.99 MAY162059 POC
8 LITTLE GRUMPY CAT THAT WOULDN'T LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK $4.99 MAY162041 RAN
9 BIG BIG OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 46 $47.50 MAY161536 GEM
10 THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 46 HALL-OF-FAME EDITION SC $29.95 MAY161534 GEM

TOP 10 TOYS

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA'S MASK 3D: LINK NENDOROID JUL158281 GOO
2 MARVEL SELECT: CARNAGE ACTION FIGURE NOV142179 DST
3 X-MEN LEGENDS 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES APR168678 HAS
4 MARVEL SELECT: VENOM ACTION FIGURE AUG121762 DST
5 DC COMICS BLUELINE: SUPERMAN ACTION FIGURE MAR160334 DC
6 MOVIE REALIZATION STAR WARS: AKAZONAE ROYAL GUARD FIGURE AUG158040 BLU
7 THE X-FILES 2016 SELECT ACTION FIGURES JAN162247 DST
8 DC COMICS COVER GIRLS: POWER GIRL STATUE OCT150298 DC
9 METAL GEAR SOLID: SNIPER WOLF BISHOUJO STATUE DEC152338 KOT
10 MARVEL SELECT CAPTAIN AMERICA CIVIL WAR: IRON MAN MK. 45 FIG. JAN162254 DST

 

TOP 10 GAMES

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 RISK: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION OCT128267 USA
2 MACHI KORO DELUXE EDITION CARD GAME JUN152743 IDW
3 MACHI KORO CARD GAME MAY142831 IDW
4 THE GAME CARD GAME SEP152625 IDW
5 RANDOM ENCOUNTER CARD GAME FEB160459 IDW
6 FINDING DORY: DON'T WAKE GAME JUL158674 BAN
7 MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: SHADOWS OVER INNISTRAD BOOSTERS FEB162979 WIZ
8 MUNCHKIN CTHULHU: KATIE COOK GUEST ARTIST EDITION APR163153 PSI
9 AWESOME KINGDOM: MINES AND LABYRINTHS BOARD GAME EXPANSION MAR160508 IDW
10 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES HEROCLIX JAN162805 NEC