Comichron

 

December 1996 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops

Estimated Comics Preordered by North American Comics Shops
Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors
and Heroes World Distribution


#1 Most Ordered Issue
#1
#2 Most Ordered Issue
#2
#3 Most Ordered Issue
#3
#4 Most Ordered Issue
#4
#5 Most Ordered Issue
#5

Covers and issue links on this page lead to current eBay listings. This site may be compensated if you make a purchase.

Holiday sales were barely completed when Marvel, burdened by a large debt following many expensive acquisitions in trading-card and other tangentially related fields, filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 27. It may have been consequential for its Heroes World Distribution arm, which only had three more months to exist.

It is not absolutely clear whether the Heroes World data includes United Kingdom sales; it's presumed that it doesn't, but if it did, the Marvel figures below would be reduced by somewhat less than 10%. That would still give Marvel domination of the rankings.

Diamond computed dollar rankings while Heroes World did not; the chart below estimates likely dollar rankings for the Marvel issues.

Click to skip to the Top Graphic Novels for the month.

—John Jackson Miller


This list includes all items on Diamond's Top 300 chart and all comics offered by Heroes World.
Items marked (resolicitation) were offered in an earlier month but never shipped; disregard any previously reported figure, as earlier orders were canceled when the books were resolicited.
Click to read the methodology for this table's estimates.
Distributor charts are regional commodity reports, not measures of a work's total reach. Read our FAQ.
Title links below lead to current listings for the issues on eBay. As an eBay Partner, this site may be compensated if you make a purchase.


UnitsDollarsComic-book TitleIssuePricePublisherEst. units
12Uncanny X-Men341$1.95Marvel190,955
24X-Men61$1.95Marvel187,537
37Wolverine110$1.95Marvel160,075
48Fantastic Four4$1.95Marvel153,255
59Spawn57$1.95Image153,051
614Curse of the Spawn4$1.95Image133,491
715Iron Man4$1.95Marvel133,364
83Spawn The Impaler3$2.95Image125,198
917Generation X24$1.95Marvel123,244
105Onslaught Epilogue$2.95Marvel122,804
1118Avengers4$1.95Marvel118,622
1219X-Man24$1.95Marvel117,830
1320Captain America4$1.95Marvel117,733
1422X-Force63$1.95Marvel113,173
1512Gen1316$2.50Image111,548
1625X-Factor131$1.95Marvel107,806
1727Cable40$1.95Marvel106,340
1834Magneto4$1.95Marvel93,705
1961Amazing Spider-Man420$1.50Marvel92,153
2038Excalibur106$1.95Marvel90,566
2121Gen13 Bootleg2$2.50Image89,619
2213DC/Marvel: All Access4$2.95DC88,851
2316Incredible Hulk450$2.95Marvel84,239
2445Deadpool2$1.95Marvel81,871
2547Spider-Man77$1.95Marvel81,166
2675Spectacular Spider-Man243$1.50Marvel75,468
2756JLA2$1.95DC74,517
2857X.S.E.4$1.95Marvel72,355
2958Sensational Spider-Man13$1.95Marvel72,312
3060Mystique & Sabretooth3$1.95Marvel71,468
311Tales of the Age of Apocalypse Oversized1$5.95Marvel70,570
3228Ballistic/Wolverine$2.95Top Cow69,779
3342Darkness2$2.50Top Cow69,499
3463Domino2$1.95Marvel67,916
3531X-Files25$2.95Topps66,062
3664Batman539$1.95DC65,092
3732Dawn5$2.95Sirius63,211
3833Daredevil/Shi$2.95Marvel62,468
3935Ghost Rider/Cyblade$2.95Marvel61,356
4037Weapon Zero/Silver Surfer$2.95Top Cow60,497
4170Elektra4$1.95Marvel60,475
4272Supergirl6$1.95DC59,872
4339Shi/Daredevil$2.95Crusade59,755
4440Ghost Rider/Ballistic$2.95Marvel59,570
4573Detective Comics706$1.95DC59,429
4641Lady Death: The Crucible2$2.95Chaos59,338
476Logan: Shadow Society$5.95Marvel58,720
4874Superman120$1.95DC58,127
4911Catwoman/Vampirella: Furies$4.95DC56,448
5076Gen13 Zine1$1.95Image56,389
5159Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives2$2.50Marvel56,334
5244Sin City: Lost, Lonely, and Lethal1$2.95Dark Horse56,266
5377Adventures of Superman543$1.95DC56,135
5478Action Comics730$1.95DC55,843
5548Batman: The Long Halloween3$2.95DC53,454
5649Marvel Universe1$2.95Marvel53,309
5783Pitt12$1.95Full Bleed52,699
5884Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight91$1.95DC51,931
5951Star Wars: Golden Age of the Sith3$2.95Dark Horse51,403
6086Superman: Man of Tomorrow7$1.95DC50,824
6130X-Files Season One6$3.95Topps50,700
6287Nightwing5$1.95DC50,512
6389Venom: Tooth & Claw3$1.95Marvel50,113
64100Green Lantern83$1.75DC50,075
6552Supergirl Plus1$2.95DC49,880
6653Batman Plus1$2.95DC49,848
6766Preacher22$2.50DC49,835
6854Superman Plus1$2.95DC49,835
6955Spider-Man Unlimited15$2.95Marvel49,536
7090Batman: Shadow of the Bat59$1.95DC49,086
7192Imperial Guard1$1.95Marvel48,500
7210Code of Honor1$5.95Marvel47,625
7371Mars Attacks The Image Universe1$2.50Image46,918
7496Robin38$1.95DC46,515
75107Flash122$1.75DC45,981
76101Catwoman42$1.95DC44,718
7765Star Wars: X-Wing RS: Warrior Princess2$2.95Dark Horse42,818
7880Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 25$2.50Image42,785
7924Green Lantern/Flash: Faster Friends1$4.95DC42,570
8026Flash/Green Lantern: Faster Friends2$4.95DC42,225
81136Journey into Mystery506$1.50Marvel41,578
8229Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy3$4.95DC41,164
8382Thrillkiller2$2.50DC41,106
84140What If?94$1.50Marvel41,074
85186Untold Tales of Spider-Man18$.99Marvel40,413
86109Wonder Woman118$1.95DC40,338
8769Silver Surfer125$2.95Marvel40,061
8891The Dreaming9$2.50DC38,020
89148Daredevil361$1.50Marvel37,242
90115Azrael26$1.95DC37,135
9123Wolverine Encyclopedia2$5.95Marvel36,952
92118Teen Titans5$1.95DC36,595
9394Wetworks24$2.50Image36,452
94122The Osborn Journals1$1.95Marvel35,805
95125Star Trek: Deep Space Nine4$1.95Marvel35,366
9681Star Trek: Early Voyages1$2.95Marvel35,223
97156Abominations3$1.50Marvel34,990
98103Wynonna Earp1$2.50Image34,460
99104Savage Dragon34$2.50Image34,427
100130Superboy36$1.95DC34,356
101206Professor X and the X-Men16$.99Marvel33,870
10285Star Trek DS9: Operation Assimilation1$2.95Marvel33,805
103134Star Trek: Voyager4$1.95Marvel33,760
104166Evil Ernie's Baddest Battles1$1.50Chaos33,334
105113Hitman11$2.25DC32,793
106145Aquaman29$1.75DC32,566
10793Marvel Shadow & Light1$2.95Marvel31,575
108141Star Fleet Academy3$1.95Marvel31,247
109151Impulse22$1.75DC31,238
11067Star Trek: Mirror Mirror$3.95Marvel30,752
11195Avengelyne: Armageddon1$2.99Maximum30,379
11299Crow: Wild Justice3$2.95Kitchen Sink30,274
11398Avengelyne8$2.99Maximum30,105
114112Supreme45$2.50Image30,053
115144Batman: Gordon's Law3$1.95DC29,435
116133Starman27$2.25DC29,324
117178Punisher16$1.50Marvel29,300
118114House of Secrets5$2.50DC29,174
119116Books of Magic33$2.50DC28,940
120162Superman Adventures4$1.75DC28,855
121119Backlash27$2.50Image28,497
122105Warrior Nun Areala/Avengelyne1$2.95Antarctic28,380
123121Grifter6$2.50Image28,178
12443The Xavier Alumni Yearbook$5.95Marvel28,064
125123Daily Bugle3$2.50Marvel27,883
126181Ghost Rider82$1.50Marvel27,727
127124Ka-Zar of the Savage Land Oversized$2.50Marvel27,601
128139Legion of Super-Heroes89$2.25DC27,495
129106Ash/22 Brides2$2.95Event27,417
130127Shadowman2$2.50Acclaim27,261
131226Uncanny Origins6$.99Marvel27,092
13279Books of Magic Annual1$3.95DC27,085
133129Stormwatch43$2.50Image27,033
134108Bloodhunter2$2.95Image26,824
13546Justice Riders$5.95DC26,629
1361322099 World of Tomorrow6$2.50Marvel26,579
137229Marvel Fanfare6$.99Marvel26,540
138159Superboy & the Ravers6$1.95DC26,427
13936Death Dealer3$6.95Verotik25,959
140110Mars Attacks The Savage Dragon1$2.95Topps25,894
141143Legionnaires45$2.25DC25,835
14250Spider-Man Unmasked$5.95Marvel25,700
143135X-O Manowar3$2.50Acclaim25,653
144176Batman & Robin Adventures15$1.75DC25,484
145146Challengers of the Unknown1$2.25DC25,060
146137Invisibles Vol. 21$2.50DC24,820
147102Vampirella Lives (Die-Cut)1$3.50Harris24,624
148117Aliens: Lovesick1$2.95Dark Horse24,377
149142Predator: Kindred1$2.50Dark Horse23,824
150155Hellblazer110$2.25DC23,492
151126Friends of Maxx3$2.95Image23,199
15262Lobo/Mask1$5.95DC23,108
15397Turok1$3.95Acclaim22,847
154188Power of Shazam!23$1.75DC22,834
155131Vampirella Strikes Annual1$2.95Harris22,600
156163Lobo36$2.25DC22,340
157149Glory18$2.50Maximum22,301
158150Leave It to Chance4$2.50Image21,923
159209Ultragirl2$1.50Marvel21,858
160152Spectre50$2.50DC21,624
161153Ninjak2$2.50Acclaim21,487
162154Wildstorm Universe 972$2.50Image21,155
163183Sovereign Seven19$1.95DC21,025
164138Sovereign Seven Plus1$2.95DC21,012
165185New Gods15$1.95DC20,856
166197Tempest4$1.75DC20,784
167158Kid Supreme8$2.50Image20,719
168170Simpsons Comics27$2.25Bongo20,491
16968Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow$5.95DC20,406
170173Green Arrow117$2.25DC20,231
171120Question Returns1$3.50DC20,153
172164Troublemakers1$2.50Acclaim20,081
173165Sandman Mystery Theatre47$2.50DC20,074
174175Book of Fate1$2.25DC19,983
17588BWS: Storyteller3$4.95Dark Horse19,755
176128Vampirella Lives (Deluxe)1$3.50Harris19,410
177193Spawn9$1.95Image19,300
178168Ghost20$2.50Dark Horse18,955
179196Steel35$1.95DC18,701
180169Youngblood15$2.50Maximum18,616
181262Adventures of the X-Men11$.99Marvel18,374
182171Terminal City8$2.50DC18,336
183172Power Rangers Zeo4$2.50Image18,323
184201Evil Ernie3$1.95Chaos18,232
185174Black Lamb4$2.50DC18,096
186177Beetleborgs2$2.50Image17,829
187157Body Bags4$2.95Dark Horse17,705
188160Lady Rawhide3$2.95Topps17,321
189161Stray Bullets12$2.95El Capitan17,119
190207Essential Vertigo: The Sandman7$1.95DC16,989
191184Howard the Duck Holiday Special1$2.50Marvel16,334
192222Aztek The Ultimate Man7$1.75DC16,273
193167Passover1$2.99Maximum16,273
194187Star Lord3$2.50Marvel16,001
195276Adventures of Spider-Man11$.99Marvel15,880
196195Seekers into the Mystery13$2.50DC14,626
197179Oh My Goddess! Robot Wars1$2.95Dark Horse14,561
198198Poison Elves19$2.50Sirius14,503
199210Night Force3$2.25DC14,372
200147Mars Attacks: The Official Movie Adaptation2$3.95Topps14,229
201182Fatale8$2.95Broadway14,092
202180Santa the Barbarian1$2.99Maximum14,073
203189Species: Human Race2$2.95Dark Horse13,396
204190Ranma 1/2 Part Six1$2.95Viz13,298
205191Satanika6$2.95Verotik13,188
206208Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles6$2.50Image13,129
207192Black Pearl4$2.95Dark Horse12,895
208212Blindside3$2.50Maximum12,862
209213Time Breakers2$2.50DC12,849
210111Mythos: The Final Tour3$5.95DC12,817
211241Spawn15$1.95Image12,732
212259UltraForce15$1.50Marvel12,586
213194Blood: A Tale4$2.95DC12,413
214216Cyberella6$2.50DC12,328
215199Gunsmith Cats: The Return of Gray5$2.95Dark Horse12,075
216218Ultraverse: Future Shock1$2.50Marvel12,009
217204Blade of the Immortal Fanatic1$2.95Dark Horse11,834
218202Razor Vol. 23$3.00London Night11,743
219203Bionix3$2.99Maximum11,678
220205Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan6$2.95Dark Horse11,671
221245Spawn14$1.95Image11,547
222221Newmen25$2.50Maximum11,521
223235Cerebus213$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim11,469
224237Scare Tactics3$2.25DC11,365
225273Prime15$1.50Marvel10,778
226215Bone (reprint)14$2.95Image10,558
227261Pinky and the Brain8$1.75DC10,538
228277Cartoon Network Presents1$1.50Archie10,441
229233Vermillion5$2.50DC10,350
230200Warrior Winter Wonderland$3.50Ultimate10,174
231219Roswell: Little Green Man2$2.95Bongo10,102
232256Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing4$1.95DC9,894
233220Asylum10$2.99Maximum9,757
234214Book of Ballads and Sagas4$3.25Green Man9,595
235224Heretic2$2.95Dark Horse9,432
236250Hazard8$2.25Image9,399
237223Razor Uncut30$3.00London Night9,354
238225Ultimate Strike1$3.00London Night9,145
239227Usagi Yojimbo8$2.95Dark Horse8,931
240228Armature2$2.95Olyoptics8,924
241230Double Impact0$2.95High Impact8,879
242247Gemini Blood6$2.50DC8,833
243231Vanguard: Strange Visitors3$2.95Image8,826
244232Battle Angel Alita Part Seven3$2.95Viz8,820
245234Chronowar5$2.95Dark Horse8,748
246236Knights on Broadway6$2.95Broadway8,742
247284Animaniacs22$1.75DC8,664
248255Mickey Spillane's Mike Danger9$2.25Big8,605
249238Traveller2$2.99Maximum8,527
250258Leonard Nimoy's Primortals8$2.25Big8,468
251242Labman2$2.95Image8,312
252211Legend of Mother Sarah: City of the Angels3$3.95Dark Horse8,143
253243The Grackle4$2.95Acclaim8,097
254244Real Adventures of Jonny Quest4$2.95Dark Horse8,039
255246Footsoldiers2$2.75Maximum8,032
256278Spawn12$1.95Image8,013
257279Spawn10$1.95Image8,000
258265Neil Gaiman's Lady Justice9$2.25Big7,896
259252Fang Testament3$2.50Sirius7,889
260310Uncle Scrooge Adventures44$1.50Gladstone7,837
261217S.R. Bissette's Tyrant6$3.95Spiderbaby7,720
262288Spawn11$1.95Image7,440
263248New Bondage Fairies2$2.95Fantagraphics7,388
264249Hari Kari Live Bloodshed1$2.95Blackout7,238
265324Donald Duck301$1.50Gladstone7,206
266253No Need for Tenchi Part Two2$2.95Viz6,600
267254Dark Horse Presents116$2.95Dark Horse6,574
268331Sonic the Hedgehog44$1.50Archie6,535
269257Big Bang Comics7$2.95Image6,477
270300Sonic Blast Special1$2.00Archie6,457
271251Beach High1$3.25Big6,418
272263Hot Tails1$2.95Fantagraphics6,125
273283Icon42$2.50DC6,080
274266Maison Ikkoku Part Six5$2.95Viz6,021
275339Disney Comic HIts17$1.50Marvel6,016
276267Morbid Angel: To Hell and Back3$3.00London Night5,767
277268Armed and Dangerous: When Irish Eyes are Dying1$2.95Acclaim5,722
278649Free Curse of the Spawn Promo4$.00Image5,701
279269China Christmas Special$2.95High Impact5,683
280270New Love3$2.95Fantagraphics5,650
281272Warrior of Waverly Street2$2.95Dark Horse5,539
282305Isaac Asimov's I-Bots9$2.25Big5,494
283293Haunt of Fear18$2.50Gemstone5,481
284271Pandora1$3.00Avatar5,461
285274Hepcats1$2.95Antarctic5,390
286275Cherry19$2.95Kitchen Sink5,377
287348Archie457$1.50Archie5,305
288280Sexcapades1$2.95Fantagraphics5,272
289281Return of Lum Part Three8$2.95Viz5,220
290282Donna Mia1$3.00Avatar5,116
291286Sin City: The Babe Wore Red1$2.95Dark Horse5,006
292287Bio Booster Armor Guyver Part Six1$2.95Viz4,986
293239Embrace: Kill Me Softly NC17 Edition1$5.00London Night4,980
294285Hellborne3$3.00London Night4,954
295307Static44$2.50DC4,901
296355Betty and Veronica109$1.50Archie4,875
297308Goblin Lord2$2.50Goblin4,830
298309Crime Suspenstories18$2.50Gemstone4,791
299294Fist of the North Star Part Four1$2.95Viz4,582
300356Betty47$1.50Archie4,550
301295Reid Fleming World's Toughest Milkman7$2.95Deep Sea4,537
302296Esc0$2.95Comico4,537
303318Hardware48$2.50DC4,511
304303Snowman 19442$2.75Express4,504
305299THB Special: The Wingtip Caper1$2.95Horse4,491
306321Frontline Combat7$2.50Gemstone4,439
307322Wise Son: The White Wolf4$2.50DC4,413
308301Primal Rage3$2.95Sirius4,361
309358Veronica61$1.50Archie4,342
310302Vamperotica Dare to Bare Special -- Nude$2.95Brainstorm4,335
311326Akiko10$2.50Sirius4,218
312304Vamperotica22$2.95Brainstorm4,192
313240Lost Girls3$5.95Kitchen Sink4,179
314306Eddie Campbell's Bacchus20$2.95Eddie Campbell4,166
315648Free Wizard65$.00Wizard4,055
316311Star Blazers9$2.95Argo3,964
317312Ninja High School Swimsuit Special 1996$2.95Antarctic3,964
318313Reality Check4$2.95Sirius3,958
319359Betty & Veronica Spectacular22$1.50Archie3,945
320314X-Files Bug Hunt1$2.95Twist and Shout3,919
321315Gold Digger33$2.95Antarctic3,873
322317Vamperotica (Nude)22$2.95Brainstorm3,847
323297Sanctuary Part Five10$3.50Viz3,821
3243346 Lethal Origins3$2.50Byron Preiss3,814
325319Cud Comics6$2.95Dark Horse3,814
326316Razor Angel in Black2$3.00London Night3,801
327260Manga Vizion Vol. 212$4.95Viz3,782
328336Wandering Star19$2.50Sirius3,769
329362Jughead90$1.50Archie3,749
330323War of the Worlds3$2.95Caliber3,736
331363Scooby Doo18$1.50Archie3,717
332337They Call Me The Skul3$2.50Byron Preiss3,697
333330Betty and Veronica Double Digest63$2.75Archie3,600
334332Archie's Double Digest91$2.75Archie3,554
335366World of Archie22$1.50Archie3,535
336327Mister X4$2.95Caliber3,476
337342The Suit3$2.50Byron Preiss3,469
338329Crystal Breeze2$2.95High Impact3,391
339360Archie Digest146$1.79Archie3,294
340333Hellina X-Mas in Hell1$2.95Lightning3,261
341346Demongate8$2.50Sirius3,229
342335Antarctic Press Jam1$2.95Antarctic3,209
343320Widow Bound by Blood4$3.50Ground Zero3,203
344343Archie's Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest24$2.75Archie3,144
345338Harpy Prize of the Overlord1$3.00Ground Zero3,072
346340Vamperotica Dare to Bare Special1$2.95Brainstorm3,033
347341Lost2$2.95Caliber3,001
348264Ultimate Strike (Nude)1$6.00London Night2,981
349361Simpsons Comics2$1.95Bongo2,968
350344Albedo1$2.95Antarctic2,923
351328Melty Feeling2$3.50Antarctic2,903
352289Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,897
353290Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,890
354367Jughead with Archie Digest132$1.79Archie2,884
355364Simpsons Comics3$1.95Bongo2,858
356365Simpsons Comics4$1.95Bongo2,838
357291Pandora (Nude)1$5.00Avatar2,792
358345Hilly Rose8$2.95Astro2,792
359292Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,792
360349Dreamwalker1$2.95Caliber2,695
361325Five Years of Pain1$3.95Bongo2,675
362357Adventures of the Mask12$2.50Dark Horse2,669
363298Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,669
364347Sade/Rose & Gunn: Confederate Dead1$3.00London Night2,656
365350Stargate Doomsday World2$2.95Express2,636
366647Free Evil Ernie Vs Santa Claus Promo$.00Chaos2,630
367351Rust1$2.95Caliber2,623
368352Replacement God7$2.95Slave Labor2,623
369353Fleener2$2.95Bongo2,610
370354Johnny the Homicidal Maniac1$2.95Slave Labor2,591




December 1996 Graphic Novel Sales to Comics Shops

Estimated Graphic Novels and Trade Paperbacks Preordered by North American Comics Shops Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors

This list includes all items on Diamond's Top Graphic Novel charts. If you don't see a book, Diamond released no data for it.

The links lead to title details on Amazon (paid links). You can also find the books at your comics shop.

While Heroes World titles were not reported, Marvel had a piece of the top item in the graphic novel charts with Batman/Captain America.



UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
11Batman/Captain America$5.95DCn/a
22Batman/Deadman HC$24.95DCn/a
33Preacher: Until the End of the World$14.95DCn/a
44Hitman$9.95DCn/a
513Wolfriders: Guide to Elfquest$19.95Warpn/a
69Gullivera$13.95NBMn/a
716Lady Death: The Odyssey Signed #1$25.00Chaosn/a
86Strangers in Paradise: It's a Good Life$8.95Abstractn/a
95Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #609$6.95Gladstonen/a
1015Bodycount: Casey Jones & Raphael$17.95Imagen/a