Comichron

 

April 1997 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops

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 year and a half of uncertainty and disruption came to an end in April 1997 as comic-book distribution in the Direct Market was unified in a single distributor when Marvel folded Heroes World and signed with Diamond Comic Distributors. Marvel immediately reassumed the top slot in market share, which it had had anyway during the months of divided distribution.

Marvel and DC joined for another round of "Amalgam" cross-over issues. Each publisher produced titles for the event, with their copies going toward their own totals for market share purposes. The Amalgam titles from the previous year were also offered again.

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

—John Jackson Miller


This list includes all items on Diamond's Top 300 charts, plus any post-#300 items from its Top Independent Publisher charts.
If you don't see a book, Diamond released no data for it.
Items marked (resolicited) 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
11Uncanny X-Men345$1.95Marvel179,378
22X-Men65$1.95Marvel177,828
33Fantastic Four8$1.95Marvel154,912
45Spawn61$1.95Image141,123
56Wolverine114$1.95Marvel139,554
67Exciting X-Patrol1$1.95Marvel135,341
78Iron Lantern1$1.95Marvel135,298
89JLX Unleashed1$1.95DC134,484
910Magnetic Men Featuring Magneto1$1.95Marvel134,350
1011Challengers of the Fantastic1$1.95Marvel133,833
1112Spider-Boy Team-Up1$1.95Marvel131,097
1213Iron Man8$1.95Marvel130,696
1314Dark Claw Adventures1$1.95DC130,404
1415Super Soldier: Man of War1$1.95DC127,808
1517Bat Thing1$1.95DC123,339
1618Thorion of the New Asgods1$1.95Marvel121,661
1719Generation Hex1$1.95DC121,430
1820Avengers8$1.95Marvel120,937
1923Captain America8$1.95Marvel114,669
2024Generation X28$1.95Marvel112,936
2126Lobo the Duck1$1.95DC108,625
2227X-Man28$1.95Marvel103,925
234X-Men Unlimited15$2.99Marvel99,171
2428JLA6$1.95DC98,818
2529X-Factor135$1.95Marvel98,490
2616Gen1318$2.50Image98,295
2730X-Force67$1.95Marvel96,441
2831Curse of the Spawn8$1.95Image94,039
2921Witchblade14$2.50Image93,304
3022Darkness5$2.50Image90,878
3132Cable44$1.95Marvel90,033
3234Incredible Hulk454$1.95Marvel83,795
3338Excalibur110$1.95Marvel80,074
3439Amazing Spider-Man424$1.95Marvel79,143
3541Superman124$1.95DC77,046
3643Action Comics734$1.95DC74,298
3744Spider-Man81$1.95Marvel74,067
3845Adventures of Superman547$1.95DC73,951
3946Superman: The Man of Steel68$1.95DC72,273
4025Cable and X-Force '971$2.99Marvel72,024
4147Spectacular Spider-Man247$1.95Marvel69,482
4249Sensational Spider-Man17$1.95Marvel66,807
4351Batman vs. Aliens2$4.95Dark Horse64,934
4436Deadpool6$1.95Marvel64,594
4553Beast2$2.50Marvel60,800
4642Batman543$1.95DC59,706
4761Gen13: Bootleg6$2.50Image55,529
4835Detective Comics710$1.95DC55,389
4937X-Files29$2.95Topps54,155
5062Batman: The Long Halloween7$2.95DC53,686
5140Supergirl10$1.95DC52,081
5250Lady Death: The Crucible4$2.95Chaos51,352
5352WildC.A.T.S37$2.50Image50,355
5477Preacher26$2.50DC47,722
5568Green Lantern87$1.75DC47,138
5669Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight95$1.95DC46,804
5755Elektra8$1.95Marvel46,597
5870Arcanum (resolicitation)2$2.50Image46,348
5971Thunderbolts3$1.95Marvel46,068
6056Batman: Shadow of the Bat63$1.95DC45,819
6173Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 29$2.50Image45,101
6259Nightwing9$1.95DC44,609
6364Darkchylde Remastered1$2.50Image44,512
6448Batman/Wildcat3$2.25DC44,378
6560Crypt of Dawn2$2.95Sirius44,335
66189DV87$2.50Image42,007
6780Catwoman46$1.95DC41,326
6891Flash126$1.75DC41,204
6981Robin42$1.95DC40,396
7063Unknown Soldier3$2.50DC39,234
7154Spider-Man Team-Up7$2.99Marvel39,228
72165Untold Tales of Spider-Man22$.99Marvel39,040
7385Silver Surfer129$1.95Marvel38,900
7486Venom: License to Kill1$1.95Marvel38,778
7588What If?98$1.95Marvel38,529
7657Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition4$2.95Dark Horse38,480
7758Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Requiem for a Rogue1$2.95Dark Horse38,116
7865Tenth3$2.50Image37,763
7966Weird War Tales1$2.50DC37,599
8090Wonder Woman122$1.95DC37,252
8167Cyberforce33$2.50Image35,969
8294Daredevil365$1.95Marvel34,680
8399Azrael30$1.95DC34,474
8474Weapon Zero12$2.50Image34,145
8575Dreaming13$2.50DC33,513
86101Journey into Mystery510$1.95Marvel33,312
8778Hellshock4$2.50Image32,364
88104Teen Titans9$1.95DC32,005
8982Wetworks28$2.50Image31,543
90118Impulse26$1.75DC31,397
9183Stormwatch47$2.50Image31,203
92120Adventures in the DC Universe3$1.75DC31,124
93121Aquaman33$1.75DC30,996
9495Starman31$2.25DC30,643
95110Superboy40$1.95DC30,540
9697Hitman15$2.25DC30,011
97113Ka-Zar2$1.95Marvel30,011
9872Classic Star Wars: Han Solo at Stars End2$2.95Dark Horse28,503
9992Savage Dragon38$2.50Image28,260
10093Books of Magic37$2.50DC27,354
10198Savant Garde2$2.50Image27,354
102108Legion of Super-Heroes93$2.25DC27,232
103123Punisher20$1.95Marvel27,232
104124Jack Kirby's Fourth World4$1.95DC27,172
105125Star Trek: Voyager8$1.95Marvel26,709
106141Young Heroes in Love1$1.75DC26,533
107112Legionnaires49$2.25DC26,308
108128Star Trek: Deep Space Nine8$1.95Marvel26,095
109102Anarky2$2.50DC26,028
11084Manga Shi 20002$2.95Crusade26,016
111131Star Trek: Early Voyages5$1.95Marvel25,591
112103Backlash31$2.50Image25,585
11387Avengelyne14$2.99Extreme25,323
114115Shade3$2.25DC25,262
11589Suspira: The Great Working2$2.95Chaos24,885
116134Star Trek: Starfleet Academy7$1.95Marvel24,831
117105House of Secrets9$2.50DC24,788
118106Grifter10$2.50Image24,715
119153Batman and Robin Adventures19$1.75DC24,679
120109Leave it to Chance6$2.50Image24,034
121138Ghost Rider86$1.95Marvel24,004
122157Superman Adventures8$1.75DC23,846
123142Ka-Zar (variant cover)2$1.95Marvel23,669
12479Vampirella vs. Hemmorhage1$3.50Harris23,414
125126Hellblazer114$2.25DC22,903
126117Invisibles Vol. 25$2.50DC22,642
127100Predator: Hell & Hot Water1$2.95Dark Horse22,344
128130Simpsons Comics30$2.25Bongo22,289
129119Resurrection Man2$2.50DC22,016
130155Superboy & the Ravers10$1.95DC21,833
131167Power of Shazam!27$1.75DC21,687
132223Uncanny Origins10$.99Marvel21,614
133122Spectre54$2.50DC21,329
134137Lobo40$2.25DC20,824
135107Crow: Waking Nightmares4$2.95Kitchen Sink20,775
136127Untold Tales of Captain Marvel3$2.50Marvel20,362
137111Savage Dragon: Red Horizon3$2.95Image20,252
138132Sandman Mystery Theatre51$2.50DC19,736
1391472020 Visions2$2.25DC19,608
140151Green Arrow121$2.25DC19,486
141196Marvel Adventures3$1.50Marvel19,128
142135X-O Manowar7$2.50Acclaim18,939
143136Supreme48$2.50Extreme18,787
144140Wynonna Earp5$2.50Image18,580
145177Sovereign Seven23$1.95DC18,045
146146Siege4$2.50Image17,900
147148Shadowman6$2.50Acclaim17,614
148150Glory22$2.50Extreme17,565
14996Operation Stormbringer0$3.95Acclaim17,535
150129Elric: Stormbringer2$2.95Dark Horse17,085
151156Ghost24$2.50Dark Horse16,702
152186Steel39$1.95DC16,677
153139ESPers Vol. 31$2.95Image15,784
154161Turok Timewalker1$2.50Acclaim15,632
155143Nexus God Con1$2.95Dark Horse15,613
156163Wildstorm Spotlight3$2.50Image15,577
157164Trinity Angels2$2.50Acclaim15,577
158144Dicks1$2.95Caliber15,358
159182Challengers of the Unknown5$2.25DC14,726
160169Magnus Robot Fighter4$2.50Acclaim14,683
161152Devil Dinosaur Spring Fling1$2.99Marvel14,665
162170Firstman1$2.50Image14,622
163154Lady Rawhide6$2.95Topps14,622
164173Glory16$2.50Extreme14,404
165175Fault Lines2$2.50DC14,209
166176Bloodshot2$2.50Acclaim14,118
167158Head Hunters1$2.95Image14,112
168201Essential Vertigo: The Sandman11$1.95DC14,069
169160Oh My Goddess!: The Queen of Vengeance0$2.95Dark Horse13,492
170214Xero2$1.75DC13,400
171184Poison Elves23$2.50Sirius13,175
172166Hate27$2.95Fantagraphics12,969
173168Jaguar God8$2.95Verotik12,835
174171Freak Force2$2.95Image12,385
175172Dark Horse Classics - Star Wars: Dark Empire2$2.95Dark Horse12,342
176174Ranma 1/2 Part Six5$2.95Viz12,057
177178TCB1$2.95Crusade11,832
178194Troublemakers5$2.50Acclaim11,698
179116Elfquest11$4.95Warp11,479
180179Mars Attacks High School Special2$2.95Topps11,467
181145Blade of the Immortal: Call of the Worm1$3.95Dark Horse11,449
182197Ninjak6$2.50Acclaim11,443
183180Edgar Rice Burroughs Return of Tarzan1$2.95Dark Horse11,406
184199Star Crossed1$2.50DC11,400
185208Book of Fate5$2.25DC11,400
186181Squee1$2.95Slave Labor11,303
187149Quantum Leap Special0$3.95Acclaim11,139
188185Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles9$2.95Image11,053
189187Bone18$2.95Image10,938
190188Dusty Star0$2.95Image10,889
191202Vampirella Silver Ann. Coll. (Silkie cover)4$2.50Harris10,828
192191Amanda and Gunn1$2.95Image10,354
193192Drakuun: Rise of the Dragon Princess3$2.95Dark Horse10,281
194193Warrior Nun Black and White2$2.95Antarctic10,275
195190Santa Barbarian vs. Easter Bunny Spring Special0$2.99Extreme10,275
196219Cerebus217$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim10,251
197162Eightball18$3.95Fantagraphics9,886
198195Inu Yasha1$2.95Viz9,801
199210Vampirella Silver Ann. Coll. (Beachum cover)4$2.50Harris9,764
200211Quantum & Woody3$2.50Acclaim9,692
201198Scud: Disposable Assassin15$2.95Fireman9,673
202240Pinky and the Brain12$1.75DC9,600
203213Newmen24$2.50Extreme9,467
204200Dark Horse Presents120$2.95Dark Horse9,315
205217Cabbot Bloodhunter4$2.95Extreme9,242
206204Usagi Yojimbo12$2.95Dark Horse8,980
207237Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing8$1.95DC8,852
208207Aaron Strips1$2.95Image8,834
209239 Legends of the Dark Claw (2nd printing, offered again)1$1.95DC8,719
210206Razor Vol. 25$3.00London Night8,694
211229Night Force7$2.25DC8,646
212209Kabuki: Skin Deep3$2.95Caliber8,591
213224Cyberella10$2.50DC8,548
214227Waterworld1$2.50Acclaim8,184
215212Battle Angel Alita Part Seven7$2.95Viz8,129
216228Brainbanx4$2.50DC7,916
217215Shotgun Mary: Blood Lore2$2.95Antarctic7,898
218268Animaniacs26$1.75DC7,861
219216Black Cross: Dirty Work0$2.95Dark Horse7,849
220218Razor Uncut34$3.00London Night7,697
221220Soulwind2$2.95Image7,606
222256Uncle Scrooge Adventures48$1.95Gladstone7,606
223221GE Rouge2$2.95Verotik7,460
224222New Bondage Fairies6$2.95Fantagraphics7,260
225233Vermillion9$2.50DC7,193
226225Chronowar9$2.95Dark Horse7,150
227300Sonic the Hedgehog48$1.50Archie6,834
228241Tales from the Crypt20$2.50Gemstone6,688
229308Sabrina the Teenage Witch3$1.50Archie6,621
230205Igrat Illustrations0$3.95Verotik6,615
231257Scare Tactics7$2.25DC6,566
232274Donald Duck303$1.95Gladstone6,420
233270Sonic vs. Knuckles Battle Royal Special0$2.00Archie6,396
234230Dark Horse Classics: Aliens vs. Predator3$2.95Dark Horse6,317
235231No Need for Tenchi Part Two6$2.95Viz6,317
236278 Spider-Boy (offered again)1$1.95Marvel6,202
237376WDC&S Penny Pincher3$.99Gladstone6,080
238252Sisters of Mercy Vol. 21$2.50London Night5,989
239258Icon (resolicitation)45$2.50DC5,885
240238Big Bang Comics10$2.95Image5,806
241261Warrior (resolicitation)4$2.50Ultimate5,733
242263Weird Science20$2.50Gemstone5,685
243242Maison Ikkoku Part Six9$2.95Viz5,667
244243Double Impact Assassins for Hire (Regular)1$2.95High Impact5,648
245244Diesel1$2.95Antarctic5,575
246247Real Adventures of Jonny Quest7$2.95Dark Horse5,411
247296 JLX (offered again)1$1.95DC5,369
248246Ultimate Strike4$3.00London Night5,350
249299X-Patrol (offered again)1$1.95Marvel5,277
250248Hepcats5$2.95Antarctic5,259
251249Luftwaffe 19462$2.95Antarctic5,168
252302Magneto & the Magnetic Men (offered again)1$1.95Marvel5,125
253250Midnight Panther1$2.95CPM5,125
254309 Super Soldier (offered again)1$1.95DC5,028
255255La Blue Girl10$2.95CPM5,028
256288Kurt Busiek's Astro City (second printing)1$2.25Image5,004
257348Archie461$1.50Archie4,980
258259Lust1$2.95Fantagraphics4,980
259276Berlin (resolicitation)4$2.50Black Eye4,949
260280Tenchi Muyo2$2.95Pioneer4,882
261313Speed Demon (offered again)1$1.95Marvel4,864
262354Betty and Veronica113$1.50Archie4,797
263262Tommi Gunn3$3.00London Night4,773
264264Xenozoic Tales14$2.95Kitchen Sink4,724
265265Sexcapades5$2.95Fantagraphics4,706
266266Lady Vampre in the Flesh1$2.95Blackout4,700
267267Marquis1$2.95Caliber4,694
268322Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (offered again)1$1.95Marvel4,627
269282Darkchylde Remastered (variant cover)1$2.50Image4,627
270203What's Michael0$5.95Dark Horse4,530
271289Panic2$2.50Gemstone4,414
272269Misty Girl Extreme4$2.95Fantagraphics4,359
273330Bullets & Bracelets (offered again)1$1.95Marvel4,353
274271Lords of Misrule4$2.95Dark Horse4,335
275365Betty51$1.50Archie4,329
276272Elflord4$2.95Warp4,286
277273Moldiver1$2.95Pioneer4,286
278275Metal Guardian Faust2$2.95Viz4,201
279339Doctor Strangefate (offered again)1$1.95DC4,171
280277El Hazard1$2.95Pioneer4,159
281340Amazon (offered again)1$1.95DC4,134
282245Mythography3$3.95Bardic4,074
283279Reality Check8$2.95Sirius4,068
284375Veronica65$1.50Archie4,043
285778Wizard Ace Edition - Wildcats #1 69$.00Wizard3,996
286280Vamperotica26$2.95Brainstorm3,982
287281Bio Booster Armor Guyver Part Six5$2.95Viz3,958
288292Archie's Double Digest93$2.75Archie3,928
289285Gold Digger35$2.95Antarctic3,879
290286Otis Goes Hollywood1$2.95Dark Horse3,849
291251Book of Angels1$3.95Caliber3,800
292253Donna Mia Giant-Size1$3.95Avatar3,770
293254Art of Usagi Yojimbo1$3.95Radio3,764
294351Assassins (offered again)1$1.95DC3,764
295316Goblin Lord4$2.50Goblin3,751
296378Betty & Veronica Spectacular24$1.50Archie3,745
297291Cud Comics7$2.95Dark Horse3,715
298232Manga Vizion Vol. 34$4.95Viz3,648
299321Akiko14$2.50Sirius3,636
300382Archie's Pal Jughead Comics94$1.50Archie3,563




April 1997 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.

Diamond's first reunified graphic novel table included no Marvel titles, none made the Top 10. Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #613, a comic book, made the list due to its cover price.



UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
11Hellboy: The Lost Army$14.95Dark Horsen/a
22Big Book of the Unexplained$14.95DCn/a
311Messiah$6.95Verotikn/a
413 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #613$6.95Gladstonen/a
510Leave it to Chance$9.95Imagen/a
65Ranma 1/2 Vol. 8$15.95Vizn/a
74Gen13$16.95Imagen/a
89Maxx Vol. 2$12.95Imagen/a
98Impulse: Reckless Youth$14.95DCn/a
1014Uncle Scrooge Adventures in Color #23$8.95Gladstonen/a