1993 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops
Comics Ordered by North American Comics Shops as Reported
by Diamond Comic Distributors and Capital City Distribution
Covers and issue links on this page lead to current eBay listings. This site may be compensated if you make a purchase.
An industry which began in 1935 reached its sales pinnacle in 1993, with a record number of comic books selling for a record number of dollars. Thousands of comics shops ordered tens of millions of comic books a month, peaking in April with 48 million comic books moved to the Direct Market. But many of those books were for the speculator market, and many were never sold to consumers. The number of shops had swollen due to the easy credit terms offered by a dozen different distributors carrying all publishers' products; approximately 11,000 accounts were ordering comics, although the number of stores was smaller, somewhere above 6,000.
Many of the comics ordered in the year were never paid for, as failing retailers began leaving the scene just as fast as they entered it. The bubble had popped, but it would be 1994 before the downturn would become painfully obvious. The crash of the 1990s was underway.
The two largest distributors, Diamond Comic Distributors and Capital City Distribution, split on what they said the top-selling comic book for the year was: Diamond had Action #687, while Capital had Adventures of Superman #500 in the top spot. But Diamond had split up the variants into separate listings, so really Adventures was the top book for it, too. That issue began the storyline bringing Superman back from the dead, and the top four slots of the year were all issues from that storyline.
Diamond's Top Sellers for the year can be found immediately below. Diamond and Capital's monthly top-sellers can be found at the bottom of the page. Diamond did not publish aggregated unit shares for the year, only dollar shares; these appear in the column at left, along with Capital City's unit and dollar shares.
Click to skip to the Top Graphic Novels for the year.
—John Jackson Miller
Listed are all items on Diamond's end-of-year chart. If you don't see a book, Diamond released no data for it.
The links lead to listings for each issue on eBay. You can also find the books at your comics shop.
| Units | Comic-book Title | Issue | Price | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Action Comics | 687 Collector's Ed. | $1.95 | DC |
| 2 | Adventures of Superman | 501 Collector's Ed. | $1.95 | DC |
| 3 | Superman | 78 Collector's Ed. | $1.95 | DC |
| 4 | Superman: The Man of Steel | 22 Collector's Ed. | $1.95 | DC |
| 5 | Adventures of Superman | 500 Collector's Ed. | $2.95 | DC |
| 6 | Turok: Dinosaur Hunter | 1 | $3.50 | Valiant |
| 7 | Batman | 500 Collector's Ed. | $3.95 | DC |
| 8 | Darker Image | 1 | $2.50 | Malibu |
| 9 | Deatblow | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 10 | Deatmate Prologue | 0 | $2.95 | Valiant |
| 11 | Stormwatch | 1 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 12 | Maxx | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 13 | Spawn | 11 | $1.95 | Image |
| 14 | Uncanny X-Men | 300 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 15 | Spawn | 8 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 16 | Youngblood: Strike File | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 17 | Spawn | 12 | $1.95 | Image |
| 18 | Cable | 1 | $3.50 | Marvel |
| 19 | Superman | 82 Collector's Ed. | $3.50 | DC |
| 20 | Spawn | 10 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 21 | Amazing Spider-Man | 375 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 22 | Spider-Man Unlimited | 1 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 23 | Cyberforce | 4 | $2.50 | Malibu |
| 24 | Magnus: Robot Fighter | 25 | $2.95 | Valiant |
| 25 | Spawn | 9 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 26 | Adventures of Superman | 500 Newsstand Ed. | $2.50 | DC |
| 27 | Stormwatch | 2 | $1.95 | Image |
| 28 | X-Men 2099 | 1 | $1.50 | Marvel |
| 29 | Tribe | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 30 | Spectacular Spider-Man | 200 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 31 | Pitt | 1 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 32 | Adventures of Superman | 505 Collector's Ed. | $2.50 | DC |
| 33 | Brigade: The Series | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 34 | Shadowhawk II: The Secret Revealed | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 35 | X-Men | 25 | $3.50 | Marvel |
| 36 | WildC.A.T.S. Trilogy | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 37 | Shadowhawk II | 1 | $3.50 | Image |
| 38 | X-O Manowar | 0 | $3.50 | Valiant |
| 39 | Bloodstrike | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 40 | Brigade: The Series | 4 | $2.50 | Malibu |
| 41 | Uncanny X-Men | 304 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 42 | Web of Spider-Man | 100 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 43 | Spawn | 15 | $1.95 | Image |
| 44 | Venom | 2 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 45 | Venom | 3 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 46 | Rai & The Future Force | 9 | $2.50 | Valiant |
| 47 | Pitt | 2 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 48 | Sabretooth | 1 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 49 | Shadowhawk | 3 | $2.50 | Malibu |
| 50 | 1963: Mystery, Inc. | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 51 | Savage Dragon | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 52 | Wildstar: Sky Zero | 1 | $2.50 | Malibu |
| 53 | Union | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 54 | Deathmate Yellow | 0 | $4.95 | Valiant |
| 55 | Deathmate Black | 0 | $4.95 | Image |
| 56 | Venom | 4 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 57 | Deathmate Blue | 0 | $4.95 | Valiant |
| 58 | Stormwatch | 3 | $1.95 | Image |
| 59 | X-Factor | 92 | $3.50 | Marvel |
| 60 | Spawn | 13 | $1.95 | Image |
| 61 | Spawn | 14 | $1.95 | Image |
| 62 | Maxx | 2 | $1.95 | Image |
| 63 | Plasm | 1 | $2.95 | Defiant |
| 64 | Secret Weapons | 1 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 65 | Wolverine | 75 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 66 | X-Men Unlimited | 1 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 67 | Superman | 77 | $1.25 | DC |
| 68 | X-Force | 25 | $3.50 | Marvel |
| 69 | Spawn | 16 | $1.95 | Image |
| 70 | Spawn | 7 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 71 | Superman: The Man of Steel | 21 | $1.25 | DC |
| 72 | Venom: Funeral Pyre | 1 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 73 | Cyberforce | 0 | $1.95 | Image |
| 74 | Brigade | 2 | $2.95 | Image |
| 75 | Superman | 79 | $1.50 | DC |
| 76 | Superman: The Man of Steel | 23 | $1.50 | DC |
| 77 | Adventures of Superman | 502 | $1.50 | DC |
| 78 | Secret Defenders | 1 | $2.50 | Marvel |
| 79 | Action Comics | 688 | $1.50 | DC |
| 80 | Shaman's Tears | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 81 | X-Men | 26 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 82 | Bloodstrike | 2 | $1.95 | Image |
| 83 | X-Men | 18 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 84 | Action Comics | 689 | $1.50 | DC |
| 85 | The Maxx | 3 | $1.95 | Image |
| 86 | Batman | 497 | $1.25 | DC |
| 87 | Youngblood Yearbook | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 88 | Deathmate Epilogue | 0 | $2.95 | Image |
| 89 | X-Men | 19 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 90 | Venom | 5 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 91 | X-Men | 24 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 92 | Infinity Crusade | 1 | $3.50 | Marvel |
| 93 | Turok: Dinosaur Hunter | 2 | $2.50 | Valiant |
| 94 | Tribe | 2 | $1.95 | Axis |
| 95 | Uncanny X-Men | 308 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 96 | Gambit | 1 | $2.50 | Marvel |
| 97 | X-Men | 28 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 98 | Adventures of Superman | 501 Newsstand Ed. | $1.50 | DC |
| 99 | Uncanny X-Men | 303 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 100 | Action Comics | 687 Newsstand Ed. | $1.50 | DC |
| 101 | Uncanny X-Men | 299 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 102 | Superman | 78 Newsstand Ed. | $1.50 | DC |
| 103 | Stormwatch | 0 | $2.50 | Image |
| 104 | Superman | 22 Newsstand Ed. | $1.50 | DC |
| 105 | X-Men | 27 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 106 | X-Men | 20 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 107 | Brigade | 0 | $1.95 | Image |
| 108 | Wildstar: Sky Zero | 2 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 109 | Prophet | 1 | $2.50 | Image |
| 110 | Uncanny X-Men | 298 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 111 | Magnus: Robot Fighter | 24 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 112 | X-Men | 23 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 113 | Amazing Spider-Man | 378 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 114 | WildC.A.T.S. Trilogy | 2 | $1.95 | Image |
| 115 | Uncanny X-Men | 307 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 116 | Youngblood: Strike File | 2 | $2.50 | Image |
| 117 | X-Men 2099 | 2 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 118 | Hellstorm | 1 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 119 | Youngblood: Battlezone | 1 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 120 | Wolverine | 73 | $1.75 | Marvel |
| 121 | Cyberforce | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 122 | X-Men | 21 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 123 | Second Life of Doctor Mirage | 1 | $2.50 | Valiant |
| 124 | Cable | 2 | $2.00 | Marvel |
| 125 | Uncanny X_Men | 305 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 126 | Venom | 6 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 127 | Uncanny X-Men | 306 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 128 | Batman | 498 | $1.25 | DC |
| 129 | Ninjak | 1 | $3.50 | Valiant |
| 130 | Fantastic Four | 375 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 131 | Uncanny X-Men | 301 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 132 | X-Men | 22 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 133 | Shadowhawk | 3 | $2.95 | Image |
| 134 | Deadpool | 1 | $2.50 | Marvel |
| 135 | Thunderstrike | 1 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 136 | Deathblow | 2 | $1.75 | Image |
| 137 | Adventures of Superman | 503 | $1.50 | DC |
| 138 | Action Comics | 690 | $1.50 | DC |
| 139 | Batman | 501 | $1.50 | DC |
| 140 | Superman: The Man of Steel | 24 | $1.50 | DC |
| 141 | Superman | 80 | $1.50 | DC |
| 142 | Spider-Man Unlimited | 35 | $1.75 | Marvel |
| 143 | Savage Dragon | 2 | $2.95 | Image |
| 144 | Team Youngblood | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 145 | Detective Comics | 665 | $1.25 | DC |
| 146 | Detective Comics | 666 | $1.25 | DC |
| 147 | Uncanny X-Men | 302 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 148 | Batman | 499 | $1.25 | DC |
| 149 | Web of Spider-Man | 101 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 150 | X-Force | 20 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 151 | Image Swimsuit Special | 1 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 152 | Amazing Spider-Man | 380 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 153 | Supreme | 3 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 154 | Amazing Spider-Man | 379 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 155 | WildC.A.T.S. | 5 | $1.95 | Image |
| 156 | X-Force | 21 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 157 | X-Men 2099 | 3 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 158 | Uncanny X-Men | 309 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 159 | Youngblood: Strike File | 3 | $2.50 | Image |
| 160 | Spider-Man Unlimited | 2 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 161 | X-Force | 26 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 162 | Legacy of Superman | 1 | $2.50 | DC |
| 163 | Catwoman | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 164 | Rai & The Future Force | 10 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 165 | Superman: The Man of Steel | 25 | $1.50 | DC |
| 166 | Punisher 2099 | 2 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 167 | Stormwatch | 4 | $1.95 | Image |
| 168 | Spectacular Spider-Man | 201 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 169 | Spider-Man 2099 | 5 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 170 | Batman | 502 | $1.50 | DC |
| 171 | Detective Comics | 667 | $1.25 | DC |
| 172 | 2099 Unlimited | 1 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 173 | Venom: The Madness | 1 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 174 | Youngblood : Strike File | 4 | $2.50 | Image |
| 175 | Supemran | 81 | $1.50 | DC |
| 176 | Uncanny X-Men Annual | 17 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 177 | 1963: The Fury | 2 | $1.95 | Image |
| 178 | Spider-Man | 37 | $1.75 | Marvel |
| 179 | Adventures of Superman | 504 | $1.50 | DC |
| 180 | Superman: The Man of Steel | 26 | $2.95 | DC |
| 181 | Spider-Man | 36 | $1.95 | Marvel |
| 182 | Silver Surfer/Warlock: Ressurection | 1 | $1.75 | Marvel |
| 183 | Superpatriot | 1 | $1.50 | Image |
| 184 | Union | 2 | $1.50 | Image |
| 185 | Bloodshot | 5 | $1.75 | Valiant |
| 186 | WildC.A.T.S. | 6 | $2.50 | Image |
| 187 | Maxx | 5 | $1.95 | Image |
| 188 | Cable | 4 | $1.95 | Marvel |
| 189 | Bloodstrike | 4 | $2.25 | Image |
| 190 | Action Comics | 691 | $1.95 | DC |
| 191 | Rai & The Future Force | 11 | $1.95 | Valiant |
| 192 | WildC.A.T.S. Sourcebook | 1 | $2.00 | Image |
| 193 | Aliens vs. Predator: Deadlies of the Species | 1 | $1.95 | Dark Horse |
| 194 | Shaman's Tears | 2 | $1.50 | Image |
| 195 | Batman | 496 | $2.25 | DC |
| 196 | Turok: Dinosaur Hunter | 3 | $2.50 | Valiant |
| 197 | Avengers | 363 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 198 | Avengers | 360 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 199 | Spider-Man 2099 | 6 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 200 | Trencher | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 201 | Web of Spider-Man | 103 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 202 | Cyberforce | 3 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 203 | Cable | 3 | $2.00 | Marvel |
| 204 | Iron Man | 290 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 205 | Death: High Cost of Living | 1 | $1.95 | DC |
| 206 | Showcase 93 | 8 | $1.95 | DC |
| 207 | X-Men 2099 | 4 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 208 | X-Factor | 94 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 209 | Showcase 93 | 93 | $1.95 | DC |
| 210 | Spectacular Spider-Man | 203 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 211 | Bloodshot | 6 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 212 | Maxx | 4 | $1.95 | Image |
| 213 | H.A.R.D. Corps | 7 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 214 | Spider-Man 2099 | 7 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 215 | Savage Dragon | 3 | $1.95 | Image |
| 216 | Sabretooth | 2 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 217 | Detective Comics | 668 | $1.25 | DC |
| 218 | X-Force | 28 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 219 | Detective Comics | 664 | $1.25 | DC |
| 220 | Batman | 500 | $2.50 | DC |
| 221 | X-Force | 23 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 222 | Web of Spider-Man | 102 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 223 | X-Force | 22 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 224 | X-Men Unlimited | 2 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 225 | Arcadia Week One: X | 0 | $1.00 | Dark Horse |
| 226 | Action Comics | 692 | $1.50 | DC |
| 227 | Detective Comics | 669 | $1.50 | DC |
| 228 | Brigade | 3 | $1.95 | Image |
| 229 | Detective Comics | 663 | $1.25 | DC |
| 230 | Cyberforce | 2 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 231 | X-Force | 24 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 232 | X-Force | 27 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 233 | Solar, Man of the Atom | 25 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 234 | Wolverine | 69 | $1.75 | Marvel |
| 235 | Superman | 84 | $1.50 | DC |
| 236 | Plasm | 2 | $2.95 | Defiant |
| 237 | Robin | 1 Collector's Ed. | $2.95 | DC |
| 238 | Venom: Funeral Pyre | 2 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 239 | Bloodstrike | 3 | $1.95 | Image |
| 240 | Solar, Man of the Atom | 22 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 241 | Solar, Man of the Atom | 23 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 242 | Sabretooth | 3 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 243 | Secret Weapons | 2 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 244 | X-Force | 29 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 245 | Shadowhawk | 4 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 246 | Adventures of Superman | 507 | $1.50 | DC |
| 247 | Magnus: Robot Fighter | 26 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 248 | X-Men Unlimited | 3 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 249 | Brigade | 4 | $1.95 | Image |
| 250 | Spider-Man 2099 | 8 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 251 | Harbinger | 19 | $2.50 | Valiant |
| 252 | Savage Dragon | 4 | $1.95 | Image |
| 253 | Harbinger | 18 | $2.50 | Valiant |
| 254 | Maxx | 6 | $1.95 | Image |
| 255 | X-Men Annual | 2 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 256 | Vanguard | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 257 | Superman: The Man of Steel | 28 | $1.50 | DC |
| 258 | Superman | 85 | $1.50 | DC |
| 259 | Adventures of Superman | 508 | $1.50 | DC |
| 260 | X-Force | 30 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 261 | Supreme | 4 | $1.95 | Image |
| 262 | Batman | 503 | $1.50 | DC |
| 263 | Punisher 2099 | 3 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 264 | X-O Manowar | 18 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 265 | Spectacular Spider-Man | 202 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 266 | Shadowhawk III | 1 | $1.95 | Image |
| 267 | Gambit | 2 | $2.00 | Marvel |
| 268 | Action Comics | 694 | $1.50 | DC |
| 269 | Darkhawk | 25 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 270 | Wild Thing | 1 | $2.50 | Marvel |
| 271 | Eternal Warrior | 12 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 272 | Bloodstrike | 5 | $1.95 | Image |
| 273 | Superman: The Man of Steel Annual | 2 | $2.50 | DC |
| 274 | X-Factor | 89 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 275 | Brigade | 3 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 276 | Punisher 2099 | 75 | $2.75 | Marvel |
| 277 | Wolverine | 76 | $1.75 | Marvel |
| 278 | Doom 2099 | 3 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 279 | Amazing Spider-Man | 382 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 280 | Stormwatch | 5 | $1.95 | Image |
| 281 | X-Factor | 88 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 282 | Amazing Spider-Man Annual | 27 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 283 | Excalibur | 71 | $3.95 | Marvel |
| 284 | Shadowman | 15 | $2.50 | Valiant |
| 285 | Namor the Sub-Mariner | 37 | $2.00 | Marvel |
| 286 | Spider-Man 2099 | 9 | $1.25 | Marvel |
| 287 | Supreme | 2 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 288 | Sabretooth | 4 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 289 | X-O Manowar | 17 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 290 | Savage Dragon vs. Savage Megaton Man | 1 | $1.95 | Malibu |
| 291 | Superman: The Man of Steel | 29 | $1.50 | DC |
| 292 | Wolverine | 68 | $1.75 | Marvel |
| 293 | Bloodshot | 8 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 294 | Bloodshot | 7 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 295 | Venom: Funeral Pyre | 3 | $2.95 | Marvel |
| 296 | Detective Comics | 670 | $1.50 | DC |
| 297 | H.A.R.D. Corps | 8 | $2.25 | Valiant |
| 298 | Superman | 83 | $1.50 | DC |
| 299 | Image Plus | 1 | $2.25 | Image |
| 300 | Eternal Warrior | 11 | $2.25 | Valiant |
1993 Graphic Novel Sales to Comics Shops
Graphic Novels and Trade Paperbacks Ordered By North American Comics Shops Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors
The links lead to title details on Amazon (paid links). You can also find the books at your comics shop.
Very early days for the graphic novel business, but the WildC.A.T.S collection proved a winner for Image
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.
Follow the links to search for each title on Amazon. You can also find the books at your comics shop.
My analyses of preorders from Diamond Comic Distributors for individual months can be found here:
My analyses of preorders from Capital City Distribution for individual months can be found here:
