May 2023 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops
Comics and Graphic Novels Reordered by North American Comics Shops
Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors
Of the three major distributors for comic books to comics shops — Diamond Comic Distributors, Penguin Random House, and Lunar DIstribution, the only sales reports currently released by any of those distributors are reorder charts from Diamond. They are seen below and added as they're released each week. Follow @Comichron on Facebook, Twitter, and Post.News to get the alert when new charts are added.
Several weeks ago, retailers began placing advance reorders for items whose initial order deadlines had passed, but which had not yet released at the time the reorders were placed. These reorders, placed further out than regular reorders, tend to be more speculative in nature, as there is less certainty that stock will still be available. But they do give us the farthest-into-the-future look at potential sales. To see potential sales for this month, you generally want to look at the advance reorders placed from the month before.
Note that the listings mix hardcovers, softcovers, and comics together, and that they also rank items by dollars rather than units. Note, too, that advance reorder charts are ranked by retail dollars, so retailers' discounts have not yet been applied.
There is no guarantee that these advance reorders will be filled. It's also likely that a lot of books in these lists won't synch up exactly with this month; reorders are placed all the time and reported weekly, while comics sales are reported monthly.
Advance reorders placed between March 27-April 2, 2023
• Top advance-reordered May-shipping comic book:
Star Wars High Republic Adventures Jedi Quest One-Shot Cvr A (Dark Horse)
• Top advance-reordered series debut:
Ambassadors #1 2nd Ptg Special Edition (Image)
• Top advance-reordered hardcover graphic novel:
Eight Billion Genies Deluxe HC Vol. 1 (Image)
Marvel also had the top first printing for a series launch in Carnage Reigns Alpha #1.
Note that Diamond only represents a portion of the comic book orders for Marvel and IDW, and does not offer DC comics.
Advance reorders placed between April 3-9, 2023
• Top advance-reordered May-shipping comic book:
Spider-Man #7 2nd Ptg Luciano Vecchio Variant (Marvel)
• Top advance-reordered softcover graphic novel:
Gurren Lagann Archives TPB (Udon)
• Top advance-reordered series debut:
Ghostlore #1 Cvr A Leomacs (Boom)
The End of the Spider-Verse story arc and its introduction of Spider-Boy resulted in the top advance-reordered comic book.
Note that Diamond only represents a portion of the comic book orders for Marvel and IDW, and does not offer DC comics.
Advance reorders placed between April 10-16, 2023
• Top advance-reordered May-shipping comic book:
Spider-Man #7 2nd Ptg Luciano Vecchio Variant (Marvel)
• Top advance-reordered softcover graphic novel:
Grim TPB Vol. 2 (Boom)
• Top advance-reordered series debut:
Disney Villains Maleficent #1 Cvr V FOC Campbell Original (Dynamite)
In a rare repeat, the same comic book that topped the previous week's chart did so again.
Note that Diamond only represents a portion of the comic book orders for Marvel and IDW, and does not offer DC comics.
Advance reorders placed between April 17-23, 2023
• Top advance-reordered May-shipping comic book:
Arcade Kings #1 Cvr A Burnett (Image)
• Top advance-reordered softcover graphic novel:
Complete Incorruptible by Mark Waid TPB (Boom)
• Top advance-reordered hardcover graphic novel:
Dreadstar HC Rare Wizard Limited Edition Signed (Dynamite)
Dylan Burnett's Arcade Kings #1 led avdance reorders overall.
Note that Diamond only represents a portion of the comic book orders for Marvel and IDW, and does not offer DC comics.
Advance reorders placed between April 24-30, 2023
• Top advance-reordered May-shipping comic book:
Amazing Spider-Man #26 Gary Frank Spoiler Var (Marvel)
• Top advance-reordered softcover graphic novel:
Spongebob Comics TPB Vol. 1 Silly Sea Stories New Ptg (Abrams)
• Top advance-reordered hardcover graphic novel:
Spongebob Comics Treasure Chest HC New Ptg (Abrams)
Abrams placed Spongebob titles atop two of the categories. This is the last advance reorder chart before Dark Horse's move to Penguin Random House.
Note that Diamond only represents a portion of the comic book orders for Marvel and IDW, and does not offer DC comics.
Advance reorder charts will be released weekly during the month. Stay tuned!
Click to skip down to the Reorders placed for issues shipping this month.
Reorders, by contrast, are orders for items that had already been released at the time of the order. In other words, these are the comics customers have been asking for, generally speaking; while deep discounts December also put titles on these lists, the charts are ranked by invoiced dollars, which is what retailers actually paid.
Reorders placed between May 1-7, 2023
• Top reordered comic book:
Star Wars High Republic Adventures Jedi Quest Cover A (Dark Horse)
• Top reordered softcover graphic novel:
Saga Compendium Vol. 1 (Image)
• Top reordered hardcover graphic novel:
TMNT The Last Ronin HC (IDW)
• Top reordered box set:
Dragon Ball Z Complete Series 26 Vols Box Set (Viz)
Note that Diamond only handles a portion of Marvel and IDW's comic book orders, and does not carry DC products in North America.
Reorders placed between May 8-14, 2023
• Top reordered softcover graphic novel:
Invincible Compendium Vol. 1 (Image)
• Top reordered hardcover graphic novel:
Spawn Origins Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 (Image)
• Top reordered box set:
One Piece Box Set Vol. 1 (Viz)
No comic books made the chart.
Note that Diamond only handles a portion of Marvel and IDW's comic book orders, and does not carry DC products in North America.
Reorders placed between May 15-21, 2023
• Top reordered comic book:
Amazing Spider-Man #25 (Marvel)
• Top reordered softcover graphic novel:
Invincible Compendium Vol. 1 (Image)
• Top reordered hardcover graphic novel:
Department of Truth Comp Conspiracy HC Vol. 1 (Image)
• Top reordered box set:
One Piece Box Set Vol. 1 (Viz)
A high-profile arc in Amazing Spider-Man resulted in Marvel having the top comic book reordered.
Note that Diamond only handles a portion of Marvel and IDW's comic book orders, and does not carry DC products in North America.
Reorders placed between May 22-28, 2023
• Top reordered comic book:
Star Wars High Republic Adventures Jedi Quest One-Shot Cover A (Dark Horse)
• Top reordered softcover graphic novel:
Invincible Compendium Vol. 3 (Image)
• Top reordered hardcover graphic novel:
Department of Truth Complete Conspiracy Deluxe HC Vol. 1 (Image)
• Top reordered box set:
Bone One Vol. 20th Aniversary Slipcase Ed. (Cartoon)
Two versions of High Republic Adventures Jedi Quest led the rankings.
Note that Diamond only handles a portion of Marvel and IDW's comic book orders, and does not carry DC products in North America.
Reorder charts will be released weekly during the month. Stay tuned!
The true top sellers for the month will replace this page once they are released by Diamond.
