Comichron

 

January 1996 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops by Diamond

Estimated Comics Preordered by North American Comics Shops
Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors


#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.

A little over a year after Marvel announced it was taking its distribution business away from the Direct Market distributors, most everyone had chosen up sides. Starting in January, Crusade and London Night comics were exclusively available through Diamond, while Viz comics became exclusively available through Capital City, whose lineup was smaller by far.

The top-seller for the month was Marvel Vs. DC #2, which, published by Marvel, could not be ordered through Diamond, even though the first issue could be. There's little doubt that issue was the true top-seller for the month.

Diamond temporarily stopped publishing its Product Category share data in its monthly magazine.

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.
Marvel, Viz, Kitchen Sink, and Coppervale were not distributed by Diamond this month.
Diamond was the only distributor carrying DC, Dark Horse, Image, Acclaim, Crusade, Gemstone, London Night, and Broadway comics, as well as Wizard's magazines.
True industry-wide rankings would greatly differ.
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 TitleIssuePricePublisherDiamond Exclusive?Order Index
14Spawn43$1.95ImageExclusive227.3
25Spawn42$1.95ImageExclusive227.1
31Gen138$2.50ImageExclusive213.9
42Spawn WildC.A.T.s1$2.90ImageExclusive211.6
53Sandman75$3.95DCExclusive121.2
66Tomoe0$2.95CrusadeExclusive106.0
714Batman528$1.95DCExclusive100.0
810WildC.A.T.s26$2.50ImageExclusive99.1
917Superman110$1.95DCExclusive94.9
1018Action Comics719$1.95DCExclusive94.8
1111Witchblade3$2.50ImageExclusive94.1
1219Detective Comics695$1.95DCExclusive93.7
1320Adventures of Superman533$1.95DCExclusive92.9
1422Superman: The Man of Steel54$1.95DCExclusive91.7
158X-Files14$2.95Topps86.6
169Star Wars: Heir to the Empire4$2.95Dark HorseExclusive85.8
1725Batman Shadow of the Bat48$1.95DCExclusive85.0
1813Wetworks14$2.50ImageExclusive84.2
1926Superman: The Man of Tomorrow4$1.95DCExclusive83.7
2028Robin27$1.95DCExclusive79.1
2130Batman: Legend of the Dark Knight81$1.95DCExclusive78.4
2231Pitt10$1.95Full Bleed78.0
2315Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi: Sith Wars6$2.50Dark HorseExclusive76.3
2412Avengelyne Deadly Sins1$2.95Maximum76.2
2532Catwoman31$1.95DCExclusive75.9
2616Cyberforce19$2.50ImageExclusive75.8
2733Azrael15$1.95DCExclusive75.1
2835Robin26$1.95DCExclusive72.0
2938Wonder Woman107$1.95DCExclusive70.2
3023211$2.50ImageExclusive69.2
3143Azrael14$1.95DCExclusive68.0
3224Team 7 III Dead Reckoning1$2.50ImageExclusive67.9
3346Catwoman30$1.95DCExclusive67.3
3448Maxx22$1.95ImageExclusive65.2
3558Green Lantern72$1.75DCExclusive64.8
367Batman Scar of the Bat$4.95DCExclusive62.2
3729Grifter9$2.50ImageExclusive61.4
3821Superboy25$2.95DCExclusive61.0
3934Glory9$2.50ImageExclusive58.1
4070Flash11$1.75DCExclusive57.5
4136Backlash16$2.50ImageExclusive56.0
4237Maximage2$2.50ImageExclusive55.1
4339Black Ops1$2.50ImageExclusive54.6
4453Man-Bat2$2.25DCExclusive54.0
4565SoveReign Seven9$1.95DCExclusive53.5
4642Stormwatch32$2.50ImageExclusive53.0
4747Extreme Destroyer Prologue$2.50ImageExclusive51.6
4850Youngblood4$2.50ImageExclusive49.6
4951Tarzan vs. Predator: At the Earth's Core1$2.50Dark HorseExclusive48.9
5054Extreme Destroyer Epilogue$2.50ImageExclusive48.4
5155Deathblow24$2.50ImageExclusive47.7
5256Preacher12$2.50DCExclusive46.5
5367Vamps Hollywood & Vein2$2.25DCExclusive46.2
5440Evil Ernie: Straight to Hell4$2.95Chaos46.0
5557Cybernary3$2.50ImageExclusive45.9
5681Aquaman18$1.75DCExclusive45.8
5744Vampirella of Drakulon1$2.95Harris44.8
5859New Man1$2.50ImageExclusive44.6
5960New Force1$2.50ImageExclusive44.0
6061Ghost10$2.50Dark HorseExclusive43.1
6163Aliens vs. Predator Booty Special$2.50Dark HorseExclusive42.6
6249Vengeance of Vampirella22$2.95Harris42.4
6364Knightstrike1$2.50ImageExclusive41.9
6475Kurt Busiek's Astro City6$2.25ImageExclusive41.8
6566Black Anvil1$2.50ImageExclusive41.7
6692Impulse 12$1.75DCExclusive41.6
6780GI Joe2$1.95Dark HorseExclusive41.6
6852Asylum2$2.95Maximum41.4
6969Books of Magic22$2.50DCExclusive40.6
7076Lobo25$2.25DCExclusive39.4
7177Starman17$2.25DCExclusive39.0
7272Supreme35$2.50ImageExclusive38.7
7341Ash0$3.50Event38.0
7497Batman & Robin Adventures5$1.75DCExclusive38.0
7545Ash0$3.50Event37.6
7662Hellboy: The Corpse & the Iron$2.95Dark HorseExclusive36.4
77105Power of Shazam13$1.75DCExclusive34.0
78106Justice League America109$1.75DCExclusive33.9
7985Hellblazer99$2.25DCExclusive33.8
8078Mike Grell's Maggie the Cat1$2.50ImageExclusive33.5
8171Battlestar Galactica: The Enemy3$2.95Maximum33.2
8288Legion of Super-Heroes78$2.25DCExclusive33.0
8374Battlestar Galactica Starbuck2$2.95Maximum32.5
8493Legionnaires35$2.25DCExclusive32.1
8583Strikeback1$2.50ImageExclusive31.5
86103Steel25$1.95DCExclusive31.3
8795Spectre39$2.25DCExclusive31.2
8884Union11$2.50ImageExclusive30.6
8986Sisters of Merc2$2.50Maximum30.3
9091Combat2$2.50ImageExclusive29.3
9198Crush2$2.25ImageExclusive29.0
92100Green Arrow106$2.25DCExclusive28.9
9394Seekers into the Mystery3$2.50DCExclusive28.7
94101Sandman Mystery Theater36$2.25DCExclusive28.4
9579Bone 3$2.95ImageExclusive27.8
9696Fatale1$2.50BroadwayExclusive27.4
9782Space Above & Beyond1$2.95Topps26.8
9827Blood & Shadows1$5.95DCExclusive26.7
9999Invisibles 18$2.50DCExclusive26.1
100128Firebrand2$1.75DCExclusive25.5
101100Tazarn John Carter Warlords1$2.50Dark HorseExclusive26.6
10283Grendel Tales the Devil May Care1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive26.5
103121Mister Miracle2$1.95DCExclusive26.3
104133Guy Gardner Warrior39$1.75DCExclusive25.9
105103Egypt7$2.50DCExclusive25.6
106115Simpsons Comics15$2.25Bongo25.2
107105Invisibles17$2.50DCExclusive25.1
10889Warrior Nun Areala Book Two3$2.95Antarctic24.9
109139Extreme Justice13$1.75DCExclusive24.9
110106Allies3$2.50ImageExclusive24.7
11191Showcase2$2.95DCExclusive24.2
112142Justice League Task Force32$1.75DCExclusive24.2
113109X-O Manowar61$2.50AcclaimExclusive23.7
114110X-O Manowar62$2.50AcclaimExclusive23.6
115132New Gods5$1.95DCExclusive23.5
116114Industrial Gothic3$2.50DCExclusive23.0
11799High Impact Lingerie Edition$3.00High Impact22.6
118116Godzilla7$2.50Dark HorseExclusive22.2
119117Law & Order4$2.50Maximum22.2
120102Bone 2 Image Vers.$2.95ImageExclusive22.0
121118Shadow1$2.50BroadwayExclusive21.9
122125Ray21$2.25DCExclusive21.5
123120Alliance4$2.50ImageExclusive21.3
124128Hawkman29$2.25DCExclusive21.1
125130Swamp Thing163$2.25DCExclusive20.7
126122Mask10$2.50Dark HorseExclusive20.2
127108Vanguard Strange Visitors4$2.95ImageExclusive20.1
128111You're Under Arrest1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive19.9
129138Tank Girl Apocalypse4$2.25DCExclusive19.4
130127Indiana Jones & the Sargasso Pirates1$2.50Dark HorseExclusive19.0
131141Shade the Changing Man68$2.25DCExclusive18.9
132129Powers That Be2$2.50BroadwayExclusive18.9
133143Rebels 9616$2.25DCExclusive18.7
134119Chiaroscuro Private Lives of daVinci8$2.95DCExclusive18.4
135147Leonard Nimoy's Primortals Original2$2.25Tekno17.9
136152Neil Gaiman's Lady Justice8$2.25Tekno17.3
137140Magic the Gathering: Legend of the Elder Dragon1$2.50AcclaimExclusive17.2
138123Satanika3$2.95Verotik17.1
139144Turok: Dinosaur Hunter42$2.50AcclaimExclusive16.8
140145Turok: Dinosaur Hunter41$2.50AcclaimExclusive16.8
141146X-O Manowar21$2.50Dark HorseExclusive16.8
142124Kabuki Color Special$2.95Caliber16.4
143126Oh! My Goddess Love Potion9$2.95Dark HorseExclusive16.3
144149Vigilante City Lights Prairie4$2.50DCExclusive16.0
145150Magic the Gathering: Shandalar2$2.50AcclaimExclusive16.0
146151Magic the Gathering: Legend of Jedit Ojanen2$2.50AcclaimExclusive15.7
147131Igrat2$2.95Verotik15.6
148158Deathstroke56$2.25Tekno15.5
149159Mickey Spillane's Mike Danger8$2.25AcclaimExclusive15.3
150160Neil Gaiman's Mr. Hero the Newmatic Man14$2.25Tekno15.3
151155Solar: Man of the Atom60$2.50AcclaimExclusive15.1
152134James Bond Goldeneye1$2.95Topps15.0
153135Armed & Dangerous1$2.95AcclaimExclusive15.0
154137Gunsmith Cats8$2.95Dark HorseExclusive14.9
155165Isaac Asmiov's I-Bots5$2.25Tekno14.8
156136Creed2$3.00Lightning14.7
157166Neil Gaiman's Teknophage9$2.25Tekno14.3
158167Gene Roddenberry's Xander in Lost5$2.25Tekno14.3
159170Fate16$2.25DCExclusive14.1
160148Mars Attacks5$2.95Topps13.7
161162Posion Elves8$2.50Sirius13.7
162163Bloodshot46$2.50AcclaimExclusive13.7
163201Animaniacs10$1.50DCExclusive13.5
1641533 x 3 Eyes3$2.95Dark HorseExclusive13.1
165154Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God4$2.95Dark HorseExclusive13.0
166156Jugular0$2.95Blackout12.6
167172Black Lightning13$2.25DCExclusive12.3
168157Dark Horse Presents104$2.95Dark HorseExclusive11.9
169161Brinke of Destruction1$2.95High Impact11.6
170164Hate21$2.95Fantagraphics11.5
171179Cerberus201$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim11.3
172171Ranma 1/2 Part Five1$2.75Viz11.1
173168Cross2$2.95Dark HorseExclusive10.8
174174Icon34$2.50DCExclusive10.7
175178Elfquest Hidden Years26$2.50Warp10.4
176180Elfquest Shards13$2.50Warp9.9
177232Mighty5$1.25ImageExclusive9.5
178182Motorhead5$2.50Dark HorseExclusive9.5
179195Elfquest New Blood34$2.25Warp9.2
180196Elfquest Kahvi3$2.25Warp9.1
181169Blood Syndicate35$3.50DCExclusive9.1
182173Jason vs. Leatherface3$2.95Topps9.1
183200Elfquest Two-Spear3$2.25Warp9.0
184175Primer2$2.95Comico8.9
185187Static32$2.50DCExclusive8.9
186177Vamperotica Annual1$2.95Brainstorm8.8
187189Hardware36$2.50DCExclusive8.8
188176Dream Wolves Swimsuit Bizarre0$3.00Dramenon8.7
189191Elementals5$2.50Comico8.7
190228Uncle Scrooge Adventures37$1.50Gladstone8.2
191197Warchild1$2.50Maximum8.2
192181Book of Ballads and Sagas2$2.95Green Man8.1
193202Jink10$2.50Warp8.1
194190Lady Death Between Heaven & Hell4$2.75Chaos7.9
195184Vamperotica Annual10$2.95Brainstorm7.8
196185Vampire Miyu3$2.95Antarctic7.8
197194Battle Angel Alita Party Five6$2.75Viz7.7
198205Star Wars Jabba The Hutt-Hunger$2.50Dark HorseExclusive7.4
199206Tex Avery's Droopy Dog3$2.50Dark HorseExclusive7.3
200193Return to Jurassic Park9$2.95Topps7.2
201217Haunt of Fear14$2.00GemstoneExclusive7.1
202192Creed2$3.00Lightning7.1
203241Donald Duck295$1.50Gladstone7.1
204208Futuretech1$2.50Mushroom6.9
205198Eye of the Storm6$2.95Rival6.9
206199Ninja High School 1995 Swimsuit Special6$2.95Antarctic6.9
207204Flesh & Blood1$2.95Brainstorm6.6
208207Fist of the North Star Part Two2$2.75Viz6.4
209210Nira X Series Three2$2.50Express6.4
210188Xombi21$3.50DCExclusive6.3
211244Donald Duck & Mickey Mouse4$1.50Gladstone6.3
212213Red Dragon3$2.50Comico6.1
213229Crime Supspensestories14$2.00GemstoneExclusive6.1
214209Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind6$2.75Viz6.0
215221Walt Disney Giant4$2.25Gladstone6.0
216183Akiko on the Planet Smoo1$3.95Sirius5.9
217215Araknis3$2.50Mushroom5.8
218236Frontline Combat3$2.00GemstoneExclusive5.6
219214Riot3$2.75Viz5.5
220255Archie445$1.50Archie5.4
221211Star Blazers3$2.95Voyager5.4
222212Maison Ikkoku Part Five2$2.95Viz5.2
223224Oblivion5$2.50Comico5.2
224218Return of Lum Part Two5$2.75Viz5.0
225261Betty & Veronica97$1.50Archie4.9
226216Girl Presents Body Heat1$2.95Blackout4.9
227186Donna Mia2$4.95Dark HorseExclusive4.6
228273Sonic the Hedgehog32$1.50Archie4.6
229219Eddie Campbell's Bacchus8$2.95Eddie Campbell4.6
230274Betty35$1.50Archie4.6
231220Stainless Steel Armadillo6$2.95Antarctic4.6
232227Bio-Booster Armor Guyver2$2.75Viz4.5
233222Babylon Crush4$2.95Bongo4.5
234223Scud the Disposable Assassin10$2.95Fireman4.4
235225Distant Soil13$2.95Aria4.4
236284Scooby Doo6$1.50Archie4.1
237231Raptus1$2.95High Impact4.1
238233Oz12$2.95Caliber4.0
239203Manga Vizion Vol. 110$4.95Viz4.0
240239Scimidar2$2.75Cry for Dawn4.0
241234THB6$2.95Horse3.9
242237Star Wars Dark Empire II6$2.95Dark HorseExclusive3.8
243290World of Archie18$1.50Archie3.8
244265Maxx3$1.95ImageExclusive3.7
245245Sheila Trent Vampire Hunter2$2.50Dramenon3.7
246238Project A-Ko Versus2$2.95Central Park3.7
247262Archie's Superteens4$2.00Archie3.7
248243Betty & Veronica Double Digest56$2.75Archie3.5
249298Jughead78$1.50Archie3.5
250300Flintstones7$1.50Archie3.5
251242Sade2$3.00Bishop3.4
252506Wizard53$.00WizardExclusive3.3
253240Sanctuary Part Four5$3.25Viz3.3
254226Negative Burn30$3.95Caliber3.2
255246Princess of Darkness4$2.95Fantagraphics3.1
256247Gorgon1$2.95Antarctic3.1
257253Gold Digger27$2.75Antarctic3.1
258230Necropolis1$3.95Caliber3.1
259248Countdown Sex Bombs2$2.95Fantagraphics3.0
260263Caged Heat2$2.50Cosmic2.9
261250Naughty Bits18$2.95Fantagraphics2.9
262304Archie Digest139$1.75Archie2.9
263235Dark Fantasies7$3.95Dark HorseExclusive2.9
264251Babewatch1$2.95Express2.9
265266Snowman1$2.50Hall of Heroes2.9
266257Pals-N-Gals Double Digest17$2.75Archie2.8
267252Devil-jack3$3.00Doom Theater2.8
268328TMNT Year of the Turtle3$1.50Archie2.8
269254Walter Koenig's Raver0$2.95Millennium2.8
270330Jetsons7$1.50Archie2.7
271332Hanna-Barbera Presents3$1.50Archie2.7
272256Robotech II: The Sentinels Book1$2.95Academy2.7
273277Metal Militia4$2.50Express2.6
274258Replacement God3$2.95Slave Labor2.6
275259Mercedes1$2.95Angus2.6
276267Black Santa1$2.75Lightning2.5
277323Archie Andrews Way Digest105$1.75Archie2.5
278264Hilly Rose4$2.95Astro2.4
279268Rare Bit Fiends16$2.95King Hell2.4
280269Sexhibition2$2.95Fantagraphics2.4
281511Battle for Independents Promo2$.00ImageExclusive2.4
282271Star Wars X-Wing Rogue Squadron1$2.95Dark HorseExclusive2.4
283289Safety-Belt Man6$2.50Sirius2.3
284272Cyber City Part Three1$2.95Central Park2.3
285275Robotech Return to Macross27$2.95Academy2.3
286276Super Taboo1$2.95Fantagraphics2.3
287278Robotech Metal Swarm1$2.95Academy2.3
288279Amazon Woman1$2.95Fantagraphics2.2
289249Donna Mia2$3.95Dark HorseExclusive2.2
290260Young Witches II London Babylon2$3.50Fantagraphics2.2
291281Robotech Academy Blues1$2.95Academy2.2
292294Alister the Slayer3$2.50Midnight2.2
293283Tattoo1$2.95Caliber2.1
294303Innocents3$2.50Radical2.0
295287Femforce89$2.95AC2.0
296346Archie's Story & Game Digest34$1.75Archie2.0
297307Batman Shadow of the Bat1$2.50DCExclusive2.0
298309Babewatch1$2.50Express2.0
299292Silbuster13$2.95Antarctic1.9
300293Carnal Comics Crystal Breeze & Baby1$2.95Revolutionary1.9


January 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.

Neil Gaiman's Sandman: The Kindly Ones hardcover dominated the charts. Barb Wire's movie put her graphic novel into the Top 4. Diamond did not publish order index numbers for graphic novels in this era, so units cannot be determined.



UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
11Sandman: The Kindly Ones$34.95DCn.a.
22Shi: Way of the Warrior$14.95Crusaden.a.
38Aquaman Time & Tide$9.95DCn.a.
412Barb Wire$8.95Dark Horsen.a.
511Carl Bark's Library Album$9.95Gladstonen.a.
613Donald Duck: Adventures in Color$8.95Gladstonen.a.
77Savage Dragon: Force to be Reckoned With$14.95Imagen.a.
85Domu: A Child's Dream$17.95Dark Horsen.a.
96Prophet$16.95Imagen.a.
1010Wildchild$12.95Maximumn.a.
119Age of Reptiles: Tribal Warfare$14.95Dark Horsen.a.
1216Newmen$12.95Imagen.a.
1320Weird Fantasy Annual$8.95Gemstonen.a.
1415Narrative Corpse$25.00Gates of Heckn.a.
1517Verdilak$24.95NBMn.a.
1640H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu Collection$6.95Millenniumn.a.
1732Golden Age Greats Vol. 7 Best of the West$9.95ACn.a.
1818Underwhere$24.95Heavy Metaln.a.
1933Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Library$9.95Rip Offn.a.
2034Creed$9.95Lightningn.a.
2124Suckle the Status of Basil$14.95Fantagraphicsn.a.
2225Collected Horny Biker Sluts Vol. 1$14.95Last Gaspn.a.
2347Sex & Deth$6.95Millenniumn.a.
2442Ninja High School Vol. 8$7.95Antarcticn.a.
2544Vampire Verses$7.95Cry for Dawnn.a.