The third quarter in the comic-book Direct Market closed off about 3% versus the same quarter in 2014, according to data released by Diamond Comic Distributors. Click to see Comichron’s estimates for comics ordered in September.)
That 3% amounts to a drop of about $4 million in orders for the quarter, to $141 million. Marvel’s shipping schedule played a role, and it’s worth noting that while Loot Crate releases added several million dollars to the first half of the year, there were none in the third quarter.
The aggregate changes are as follows:
TOP 300 COMICS UNIT SALES
September 2015: 6.25 million copies
Versus 1 year ago this month: -21%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +3%
Versus 10 years ago this month: -7%
Versus 15 years ago this month: +8%
3rd Quarter 2015: 20.36 million copies, -9% vs. Q3 2014
YEAR TO DATE: 64.99 million copies, +7% vs. 2014, +24% vs. 2010, +14% vs. 2005, +24% vs. 2000
ALL COMICS UNIT SALES
September 2015 versus one year ago this month: -20.15%
3rd Quarter 2015 vs. Q3 2014: -10.07%
YEAR TO DATE: +6.58%
September 2015: $24.18 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: -22%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +12%
Versus 10 years ago this month: +25%
Versus 15 years ago this month: +46%
3rd Quarter 2015: $78.81 million, -8% vs. Q3 2014
YEAR TO DATE: $254.38 million, +10% vs. 2014, +38% vs. 2010, +55% vs. 2005, +77% vs. 2000
ALL COMICS DOLLAR SALES
September 2015 versus one year ago this month: -19.62%
3rd Quarter 2015 vs. Q3 2014: -8.08%
YEAR TO DATE: +7.21%
September 2015: $7.78 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: +5%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +11%
Versus 10 years ago this month, just the Top 100 vs. the Top 100: +27%
Versus 15 years ago this month, just the Top 25 vs. the Top 25: +45%
3rd Quarter 2015: $23.22 million, +4% vs. Q3 2014
YEAR TO DATE: $66.43 million, +3% vs. 2014
ALL TRADE PAPERBACK SALES
September 2015 versus one year ago this month: +12.51%
3rd Quarter 2015 vs. Q3 2014: +9.32% YEAR TO DATE: +7.06%
September 2015: $31.96 million
Versus 1 year ago this month: -17%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +2%
Versus 10 years ago this month, counting just the Top 100 TPBs: +14%
Versus 15 years ago this month, counting just the Top 25 TPBs: +60%
3rd Quarter 2015: $102.05 million, -5% vs. Q3 2014
YEAR TO DATE: $320.8 million, +9% vs. 2014
ALL COMICS AND TRADE PAPERBACK SALES
September 2015 versus one year ago this month: -10.73%
3rd Quarter 2015 vs. Q3 2014: -2.98% YEAR TO DATE: +7.16%
September 2015: approximately $45.33 million (subject to revision)
Versus 1 year ago this month: -11%
Versus 5 years ago this month: +15%
Versus 10 years ago this month: +55%
3rd Quarter 2015: $141.22 million, -3% vs. Q3 2014
YEAR TO DATE: $423.44 million, +7% vs. 2014
RELEASES
New comic books released: 490
New graphic novels released: 337
New magazines released: 52
All new releases: 879
The average comic book in the Top 300 cost $3.76; the average comic book
retailers ordered cost $3.87. The median and most common price for comics offered was $3.99. Click to see comics prices across time.
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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