The final sales report for August is now out from Diamond Comic Distributors,
and the sales estimates have been calculated here at Comichron. Click to see the sales estimates for comics ordered in August 2015.
In
general, the third quarter has continued to be the Calm Before the
Marvel Relaunch, with not a whole lot remarkable happening on the
charts. Graphic novels were a lot stronger, helped by a new Walking Dead volume. Secret Wars #5
topped 200,000 copies in sales; two other titles topped 100,000 copies.
The highest-ranking new series launch, House of M, placed 17th. On the
other end of the charts, the 300th-place title sold a smaller number of
copies than has been sold since February 2014, suggesting that the
middle-tier titles aren’t quite as strong this year as they have been.
Overall periodical unit sales were flat, up just 0.02%.
But again, as discussed here Friday,
the market was in significantly better shape this August relative to
the August four years ago, back before the DC relaunch. We’re starting
from a bigger base this time out, so it’ll be interesting to see what
difference that makes.
The aggregate changes are as follows:
TOP 300 COMICS UNIT SALES
August 2015: 6.52 million copies
Versus 1 year ago this month: +2%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +20%
Versus 10 years ago this month: -8%
Versus 15 years ago this month: +14%
YEAR TO DATE: 58.74 million copies, +11% vs. 2014, +27% vs. 2010, +17% vs. 2005, +26% vs. 2000
ALL COMICS UNIT SALES
August 2015 versus one year ago this month: +0.03%
YEAR TO DATE: +10.61%
August 2015: $24.95 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: +5%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +29%
Versus 10 years ago this month: +20%
Versus 15 years ago this month: +54%
YEAR TO DATE: $230.2 million, +16% vs. 2014, +41% vs. 2010, +59% vs. 2005, +81% vs. 2000
ALL COMICS DOLLAR SALES
August 2015 versus one year ago this month: +2.25%
YEAR TO DATE: +11.38%
August 2015: $7.28 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: +16%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +37%
Versus 10 years ago this month, just the Top 100 vs. the Top 100: +20%
Versus 15 years ago this month, just the Top 25 vs. the Top 25: +1%
YEAR TO DATE: $58.65 million, +2% vs. 2014
ALL TRADE PAPERBACK SALES
June 2015 versus one year ago this month: +16.04%
YEAR TO DATE: +6.35%
August 2015: $32.24 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: +7%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +19%
Versus 10 years ago this month, counting just the Top 100 TPBs: +9%
Versus 15 years ago this month, counting just the Top 25 TPBs: +65%
YEAR TO DATE: $288.84 million, +7% vs. 2014
ALL COMICS AND TRADE PAPERBACK SALES
August 2015 versus one year ago this month: +6.45%
YEAR TO DATE: +9.8%
August 2015: approximately $43.81 million (subject to revision)
Versus 1 year ago this month: +6%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +38%
Versus 10 years ago this month: +34%
YEAR TO DATE: $378.11 million, +10% vs. 2014
RELEASES
New comic books released: 436
New graphic novels released: 281
New magazines released: 48
All new releases: 765
The average comic book in the Top 300 cost $3.83; the average comic book
retailers ordered cost $3.82. The median and most common price for comics offered was $3.99. Click to see comics prices across time.
This month completes 19 unbroken years of my monthly reports, which began in 1997 in Comics Retailer magazine and which have continued here since 2006. Usually on time, and always free (though there is that tip jar)! Onward to Year 20…
Comichron founder John Jackson Miller has tracked the comics industry for more than 25 years, including a decade editing the industry’s retail trade magazine; he is the author of several guides to comics, as well as more than a hundred comic books for various franchises.
He is the author of novels including Star Wars: Kenobi, Star Wars: A New Dawn, Star Trek: Discovery – The Enterprise War, and his upcoming release, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The High Country. Read more about them at his fiction site.
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