DC Comics may have finally found their niche with Rebirth, which offers fans basically what they’ve wanted from the get go: quality stories at reasonable prices.
For the first time probably since the New 52 was launched back in 2011, DC Comics comes out on top over Marvel as they take the top dollar and unit amount for the month of July.
Following the failure of the New 52, DC Comics recently was forced to take a look at how they’ve been doing business. DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio recently noted they won’t be trying to emulate the movies and realize the comic book audience will never be as big as their film universe, which frees them up to do creative-driven stories. In addition, Geoff Johns has been promoted to President Of DC Entertainment, which now sees him involved in all aspects of DC, which is contrary to Marvel’s business plan that sees their Marvel movie universe run separately from their TV and comics (and sees them butting heads).
DC Comics doesn’t look to be slowing any time soon as DiDio also let it be known that sales for one week in August match the entire month of their April sales.
Regarding Marvel Comics, you can guarantee some sort of reboot or another relaunch will be happening. I think fans are getting tired of Marvel Comics, which basically has been one gimmick after another at high prices. In addition, Marvel Comics has been replacing so many of their characters with politically correct versions that fans are just fed up. If things continue to go downhill for Marvel Comics, I also expect their will be editorial and executive changes as the past five years or so of Marvel Comics has been the worst I’ve ever seen, in my opinion.
Here are the charts and info from Diamond for July:
Diamond Announces Top Products For July 2016
(BALTIMORE, MD) — (August 12, 2016) — 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.
