It’s been a while (5 years) since we looked at Diamond’s monthly backlist chart, and now, as then, it reveals a VERY DIFFERENT ranking for publishers. In the backlist, DC is king by a wide margin, with about 30% of the market. Marvel is only a tich above Image in units, while Image books dominate the top ten with Saga, Walking Dead, and Sex Criminals. On the manga side, Attack on Titan rules, no surprise given the way it’s single handedly revitalized the category.
Backlist charts reflect perennial graphic novel sellers that sell out over time rather than the more volatile monthly periodicals. It’s also a source of steady income for publishers; once you get ahit on the backlist you just sit back and fill order.
Marvel actually charts with a bunch of Deadpool books, and DC has fewer tites, mostly Batman. Why the discrepancy? While I’ll have to investigate the chart more fully in months to come, its no secret that DC has the most well developed backlist of any publisher. Although they aren’t showing up in this particular chart, I’d guess that classics like Watchmen, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman, and the ongoing New 52 program is doing very well. They are much more focused on this particular channel.
It’s interesting to see Marvel books here given all their well documented problems keeping books in print. Thanks to Diamond for permission to reprint this information.
SEPTEMBER 2014 BACKLIST MARKET SHARES
Vendor |
Dollar Share |
|
Vendor |
Unit Share |
DC COMICS |
30.51% |
DC COMICS |
29.76% |
|
MARVEL COMICS |
19.02% |
MARVEL COMICS |
17.40% |
|
IMAGE COMICS |
10.98% |
IMAGE COMICS |
15.28% |
|
DARK HORSE COMICS |
10.71% |
DARK HORSE COMICS |
10.58% |
|
IDW PUBLISHING |
4.35% |
VIZ LLC |
3.72% |
|
RANDOM HOUSE |
3.27% |
IDW PUBLISHING |
3.38% |
|
VIZ LLC |
2.55% |
RANDOM HOUSE |
3.34% |
|
FUNKO |
1.50% |
FUNKO |
1.93% |
|
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT |
1.42% |
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT |
1.67% |
|
DIAMOND SELECT TOYS LLC |
1.28% |
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS |
1.17% |
|
OTHER |
14.43% |
OTHER |
11.77% |
|
TOTAL |
0.94% |
TOTAL |
100.00% |
SEPTEMBER 2014 BACKLIST TOP SELLERS
TOP 25 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS |
|||||
Qty Rank |
Rtl Rank |
Item Code |
Description |
Price |
Vendor |
1 |
6 |
SAGA TP VOL 01 (MR) |
$9.99 |
IMA |
|
2 |
1 |
SAGA TP VOL 03 (MR) |
$14.99 |
IMA |
|
3 |
2 |
SAGA TP VOL 02 (MR) |
$14.99 |
IMA |
|
4 |
15 |
SEX CRIMINALS TP VOL 01 (MR) |
$9.99 |
IMA |
|
5 |
7 |
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE |
$14.99 |
IMA |
|
6 |
8 |
DEADPOOL TP VOL 01 DEAD PRESIDENTS NOW |
$15.99 |
MAR |
|
7 |
34 |
EAST OF WEST TP VOL 01 THE PROMISE |
$9.99 |
IMA |
|
8 |
14 |
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 21 ALL OUT WAR PT 2 (MR) |
$14.99 |
IMA |
|
9 |
13 |
BATMAN TP VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) |
$16.99 |
DC |
|
10 |
12 |
BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC |
$17.99 |
DC |
|
11 |
3 |
BRYAN LEE O MALLEY SECONDS GN (C: 1-1-0) |
$25.00 |
RAN |
|
12 |
43 |
DEADLY CLASS TP VOL 01 REAGAN YOUTH (MR) |
$9.99 |
IMA |
|
13 |
17 |
BATMAN TP VOL 02 THE CITY OF OWLS (N52) |
$16.99 |
DC |
|
14 |
49 |
RAT QUEENS TP VOL 01 SASS & SORCERY (MR) |
$9.99 |
IMA |
|
15 |
4 |
DEADPOOL BY DANIEL WAY COMPLETE COLL TP VOL 01 |
$34.99 |
MAR |
|
16 |
16 |
BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP |
$19.99 |
DC |
|
17 |
9 |
INFINITY GAUNTLET TP |
$24.99 |
MAR |
|
18 |
11 |
BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP |
$24.99 |
DC |
|
19 |
27 |
DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE TP |
$14.99 |
MAR |
|
20 |
57 |
BLACK SCIENCE TP VOL 01 HOW TO FALL FOREVER (MR) |
$9.99 |
IMA |
|
21 |
29 |
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (NEW PTG) |
$14.99 |
IMA |
|
22 |
24 |
BATMAN TP VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY (N52) |
$16.99 |
DC |
|
23 |
35 |
SERENITY SHEPHERDS TALE HC (C: 0-1-2) |
$14.99 |
DAR |
|
24 |
36 |
EAST OF WEST TP VOL 02 WE ARE ALL ONE |
$14.99 |
IMA |
|
25 |
22 |
SERENITY HC VOL 01 THOSE LEFT BEHIND 2ND ED |
$17.99 |
DAR |
|
TOP 10 MANGA |
|||||
Qty Rank |
Rtl Rank |
Item Code |
Description |
Price |
Vendor |
1 |
1 |
ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 01 (C: 1-1-2) |
$10.99 |
RAN |
|
2 |
6 |
ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 02 (C: 1-1-2) |
$10.99 |
RAN |
|
3 |
5 |
DEATH NOTE BLACK ED TP VOL 01 (C: 1-0-1) |
$14.99 |
VIZ |
|
4 |
8 |
ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 09 (C: 1-1-1) |
$10.99 |
RAN |
|
5 |
9 |
SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2) |
$10.99 |
RAN |
|
6 |
11 |
ATTACK ON TITAN BEFORE THE FALL GN VOL 01 (C: 1-0-0) |
$10.99 |
RAN |
|
7 |
3 |
UZUMAKI 3IN1 DLX ED HC (C: 1-0-1) |
$27.99 |
VIZ |
|
8 |
13 |
ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 03 (C: 1-1-2) |
$10.99 |
RAN |
|
9 |
14 |
ATTACK ON TITAN NO REGRETS GN VOL 01 (C: 1-0-0) |
$10.99 |
RAN |
|
10 |
16 |
ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 12 (C: 1-1-0) |
$10.99 |
RAN |
|
TOP 10 BOOKS |
|||||
Qty Rank |
Rtl Rank |
Item Code |
Description |
Price |
Vendor |
1 |
3 |
OVERSTREET COMIC BK PG SC VOL 44 BATMAN CVR |
$29.95 |
GEM |
|
2 |
4 |
LEGEND OF ZELDA HYRULE HISTORIA HC (C: 1-1-2) |
$34.99 |
DAR |
|
3 |
2 |
MARVEL ENCYCLOPEDIA HC 75TH ANNIV ED (C: 0-1-0) |
$40.00 |
DK |
|
4 |
5 |
OVERSTREET COMIC BK PG HC VOL 44 BATMAN |
$35.00 |
GEM |
|
5 |
10 |
ADVENTURE TIME ENCYCLOPEDIA HC |
$19.95 |
ABR |
|
6 |
1 |
MIKE MIGNOLA HELLBOY ARTIST ED (NET) |
$95.00 |
IDW |
|
7 |
16 |
DARTH VADER AND SON HC (C: 0-1-1) |
$14.95 |
CHR |
|
8 |
20 |
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE STAR WARS HC (C: 0-1-1) |
$14.95 |
RAN |
|
9 |
9 |
OVERSTREET COMIC BK PG SC VOL 44 VAMPIRELLA CVR |
$29.95 |
GEM |
|
10 |
21 |
GOODNIGHT DARTH VADER HC (C: 0-1-0) |
$14.95 |
CHR |
|
TOP 10 TOYS |
|||||
Qty Rank |
Rtl Rank |
Item Code |
Description |
Price |
Vendor |
1 |
2 |
DC COMICS NEW 52 SUPERMAN ACTION FIGURE |
$24.95 |
DC |
|
2 |
6 |
DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS HARLEY QUINN AF |
$24.95 |
DC |
|
3 |
8 |
DC COMICS NEW 52 RED HOOD AF |
$24.95 |
DC |
|
4 |
25 |
POP TMNT MICHELANGELO VINYL FIG (C: 1-1-2) |
$10.99 |
FUN |
|
5 |
27 |
POP TMNT DONATELLO VINYL FIG (C: 1-1-2) |
$10.99 |
FUN |
|
6 |
10 |
DC COMICS NEW 52 STARFIRE AF |
$24.95 |
DC |
|
7 |
1 |
DC COMICS NEW 52 JUSTICE LEAGUE 7 PACK AF BOX SET |
$99.95 |
DC |
|
8 |
9 |
DOCTOR WHO 11TH DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVER (C: 1-1-3) |
$34.99 |
UND |
|
9 |
7 |
DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS ARMORED LEX LUTHOR DLX AF |
$49.95 |
DC |
|
10 |
18 |
DC COMICS NEW 52 BATMAN ACTION FIGURE |
$24.95 |
DC |
|
TOP 10 GAMES |
|||||
Qty Rank |
Rtl Rank |
Item Code |
Description |
Price |
Vendor |
1 |
1 |
RISK LEGACY (C: 1-1-4) |
$32.99 |
HAS |
|
2 |
2 |
WALKING DEAD COMIC ED PX MONOPOLY (C: 1-1-2) |
$39.99 |
USA |
|
3 |
4 |
GAME OF THRONES PLAYING CARDS (C: 1-0-0) |
$4.99 |
DAR |
|
4 |
3 |
WALKING DEAD COMIC ED PX RISK (C: 1-1-2) |
$49.99 |
USA |
|
5 |
12 |
DC DECK BUILDING GAME CRISIS EXP PK 1 (C: 1-1-2) |
$20.00 |
CRY |
|
6 |
6 |
SETTLERS OF CATAN NEW ED (C: 0-1-2) |
$42.00 |
ALL |
|
7 |
5 |
FIREFLY BOARD GAME (C: 0-1-2) |
$49.99 |
ALL |
|
8 |
9 |
BATMAN ARKHAM CITY ESCAPE BOARD GAME (C: 1-1-3) |
$45.00 |
CRY |
|
9 |
10 |
TICKET TO RIDE (C: 4) |
$50.00 |
DOW |
|
10 |
7 |
DC HEROCLIX BATMAN CLASSIC TV 24 CT GRAVITY FEED DS |
$71.76 |
NEC |
|
TOP 5 PRINTS & POSTERS |
|||||
Qty Rank |
Rtl Rank |
Item Code |
Description |
Price |
Vendor |
1 |
1 |
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #18 BY ALEX ROSS POSTER |
$8.99 |
MAR |
|
2 |
2 |
ROCKET RACCOON #1 POSTER |
$8.99 |
MAR |
|
3 |
3 |
CAPTAIN AMERICA #22 75TH ANNIV BY ROSS POSTER |
$8.99 |
MAR |
|
4 |
4 |
AVENGERS VS X-MEN BY YOUNG POSTER NEW PTG |
$8.99 |
MAR |
|
5 |
5 |
DEADPOOL WEDDING BY KOBLISH POSTER |
$8.99 |
MAR |
|
TOP 5 APPAREL |
|||||
Qty Rank |
Rtl Rank |
Item Code |
Description |
Price |
Vendor |
1 |
1 |
ADVENTURE TIME DLX FINN HAT (NET) (C: 1-1-2) |
$9.95 |
ZOO |
|
2 |
2 |
GAME OF THRONES PIN HAND OF KING (C: 3) |
$12.99 |
DAR |
|
3 |
3 |
BATMAN SYMBOL I BLK T/S LG |
$18.95 |
GRA |
|
4 |
5 |
SUPERMAN 52 SYMBOL T/S MED (C: 1-1-3) |
$18.95 |
GRA |
|
5 |
6 |
FANTASTIC FOUR FOURRIOR BLK T/S XL (C: 0-1-3) |
$16.99 |
MAD |
|
TOP 5 NOVELTIES |
|||||
Qty Rank |
Rtl Rank |
Item Code |
Description |
Price |
Vendor |
1 |
2 |
SW DEATH STAR SILICONE TRAY (C: 1-1-4) |
$9.99 |
KOT |
|
2 |
16 |
COOP KEEP EM HONEST PLAYING CARDS (C: 0-1-2) |
$4.99 |
DAR |
|
3 |
6 |
GAME OF THRONES COASTER SET HOUSE SIGIL (C: 1-0-0) |
$9.99 |
DAR |
|
4 |
22 |
MASS EFFECT PLAYING CARDS (C: 0-1-2) |
$4.99 |
DAR |
|
5 |
10 |
GAME OF THRONES COASTER SET SEASON 2 |
$9.99 |
DAR |
Looks like this is still where Dark Horse makes its money, too.
Elephant in the Room:
DC has developed almost no new backlist titles since the New 52.
Batman sells, partly because there is an architect writing the series.
Otherwise, superhero backlist titles expire after a year, at best.
For DC, their backlist strength is in Vertigo, Elseworlds, and done-in-one DCU titles, all which began before 2011.
I suspect that Brian Hibb’s BookScan review will prove this.
I don’t know what sandpile Torsten’s head’s been buried, but he’s wrong. My shop welcomed just this week DC trades and/or HCs of Batman ’66, Earth 2 N52, Justice League 3000 N52, and restocked Essential Batman 1 N52, Flash Gorilla Warfare N52 . . . well, between Forever Evil, Green Arrow and Lantern, and Red Lantern about a dozen MORE N52 titles. That’s all in the one week, dude. Plus DC recently released all the Before Watchman trades too.
I suspect that Torsten Adair is a Marvel fan.
Torsten is a fan…of COMICS. And a very smart guy. New 52 collections have been pretty successful, however, with Batman leading the way. I doubt they’ll surpass the greats, but there is interest in them, according to the figures I’ve seen.
Also, DC IS leading the backlist. It has to be with something.
Mr. Sturgeon,
The titles you mention are new. These are known as FRONTLIST in the book trade.
A publisher makes its money in BACKLIST, older titles which sell consistently, methodically, even mathematically year after year. This is why Stephen King makes millions per title; his publishers know that new readers will want to read his older work, and those sales will eventually make a profit.
Go to a Barnes & Noble and check the graphic novel shelves. How many of the fifty-two New 52 Volume One volumes are on the shelf?
How many does your local comics shop stock?
Okay… Scratched the itch…
I went to Edelweiss, which posts online catalogs from publishers.
I searched DC Comics for: new 52 vol.1
102 titles were found. These include 8 new titles not yet published, as well as paperback editions of hardcovers.
90 are still active. 10 are currently out of stock (7 are hardcovers). One has been cancelled (The Green Team).
You can do the same at BN.com:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/-The-New-52-Vol-1-?store=allproducts&keyword=%22The+New+52%22+%22Vol.1%22
Sort by “bestselling”. Usually, when you scroll down on each title’s page, you’ll see a sales rank.
Batman is the top seller, at #18,790 of all titles sold.
Interesting… DC has not made any DCU titles published after June 2011 out-of-print. That could be a result of their partnership with Random House.
So I don’t understand, has DC developed new backlist or not?
Thou I’d say thats way too early to say that considering that most of first arcs of new52 concluded in 2012 and were published in collected addition later. That makes them, 2 years old?
I think it depends on what Diamond considers BACKLIST. I’m guessing it’s whatever is not being offered currently in the catalog? Maybe someone with knowledge can step in.
DC was smart to let Karen Berger start up Vertigo and spend over a decade having top tier talent writing and drawing good stories with a beginning, middle, and end to sell on the bookstore market forever. They also have a lot of super contained, single book sized super-hero stories from top creators to sell, many of which (coincidentally I’m sure) star their most popular character. Stuff like Dark Knight Returns, Killing Joke, Batman Year One, etc.
Much as I’m ambivalent about his writing, it does seem like Snyder’s New 52 Batman will turn into a perennial seller, at least the earlier volumes. Will Zero Year collections keep pace with Year One collections five years from now? I doubt it. But I think there have been a handful of New 52 titles (including Johns’ Justice League and Azzarello’s Wonder Woman) that will see at least moderate backlist action in the next decade.
When comparing that activity to DC classics like Dark Knight Returns, Killing Joke, Watchmen, Sandman, Preacher… Well, I’m not sure it matters. What DC caught lightning with what Frank Miller and Alan Moore did for them for a couple years in the mid-’80s. Faulting DC (or anyone else) for not (re)capturing that kind of magic golden goose is kind of harsh. DC struck gold again with Vertigo, which has given them several titles that sell very well on a longterm basis.
Honestly the only time I’ve seen that sort of stable duplicated to any comparable extent is with Image, right now, with Saga, Walking Dead, East of West and a couple others. If Image keeps the winning streak going for a few more years, maybe they’ll have a murderer’s row comparable to Sandman, Preacher, Invisibles, Transmet, Fables, American Vampire, etc. Vertigo’s catalogue is just so deep and so strong.
It’s no surprise to me that DC is continuing to rule the backlist roost. It’s not easy to put together what Karen Berger was able to put together over there for a time. And it’s not easy to happen upon Alan Moore and Frank Miller at the peak of their powers when both of them want to work for the same company.
But, really, I think the lead is kinda getting buried here: Deadpool has clearly emerged as Marvel’s premier backlist property, and he’s a major player now on this level.
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