From: AP's Matt <[a--ta--c] at [texas.net]> Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc,rec.arts.comics.alternative Subject: INFO: Top 200 Comics For December 1995 Date: 3 Dec 1995 05:19:20 GMT TOP 200 COMICS FOR DECEMBER 1995 (excluding Marvel Comics) This is a listing of the top 200 comic books (by number sold) for December 1995, as reported by Diamond Distributors and Capital City Distributors. For a more detailed report on how these sales figures were determined, see the notes at the end of the list. Earlier sales reports are available at: http://www.texas.net/users/antarc/salescharts.html Sales = Total copies sold (1 index point = approx. 1000 copies) Dia# = Sales rank through Diamond Distributors CCD# = Sales rank through Capital City Distributors D/CC ratio = Diamond sales divided by Capital City sales Rank Title Publisher Sales Dia# CCD# D/CC ratio 1 DC vs. Marvel #1 DC 263.5 1 2 Spawn #40 Image 196.1 2 3 Spawn #41 Image 195.7 3 4 Gen 13 #7 Image 183.1 4 5 Gen 13 Maxx #1 Image 135.0 5 6 Shi Way of the Warrior #7 Crusade 96.3 9 2 4.04 7 X-Files #13 Topps 93.6 16 1 3.44 8 Wildcats #25 Image 88.5 6 9 Batman #527 DC 82.9 7 10 Superman #109 DC 77.6 8 11 Witchblade #2 Image 76.8 10 12 Advent. of Superman #532 DC 75.7 11 13 Action Comics #718 DC 75.5 12 14 Superman Man of Steel #53 DC 75.1 13 15 Detective Comics #694 DC 74.7 14 16 Wetworks #13 Image 73.9 15 17 Shi Fan Apprec. Edition #2 Crusade 72.9* 35 18 Star Wars Heir Empire #3 Dark Horse 71.0 17 19 Star Wars Splinter M #1 Dark Horse 70.5 18 20 Star Wars Boba Fett Dark Horse 65.9 19 21 Batman L. Dark Knight #80 DC 65.1 20 22 Maximage #1 Image 64.9 21 23 Pitt #1/2 Full Bleed 64.8 39 3 3.16 24 Batman Shadow of Bat #47 DC 62.9 22 25 Star Wars Jedi Sith #5 Dark Horse 62.2 23 26 Top Cow Secrets Winter Sp Image 61.0 24 27 Robin #25 DC 60.3 25 28 Wonder Woman #106 DC 60.1 26 29 Azrael #13 DC 58.2 27 30 Avengelyne Power #3 Maximum 56.8 28 31 Catwoman #29 DC 56.3 29 32 Star Wars Rogue Squad #6 Dark Horse 56.0 30 33 Green Lantern #71 DC 54.5 31 34 Man-Bat #1 DC 54.2 32 35 Grifter #8 Image 54.1 33 36 Maxx #21 Image 54.1 34 37 GI Joe #1 Dark Horse 53.2 36 38 Prophet II #4 Image 49.6 37 39 Ripclaw #3 Image 49.4 38 40 Superboy #24 DC 48.3 40 41 Vengeance Vampirella #21 Harris 47.6 55 7 3.97 42 Evil Ernie Straight H #3 Chaos 47.5 59 4 3.64 43 Vampirella Strikes #2 Harris 47.3 56 6 3.89 44 Backlash #15 Image 47.0 41 45 Stormwatch #31 Image 46.8 42 46 Sovereign Seven #8 DC 46.3 43 47 Flash #110 DC 45.7 44 48 Vamps Hollywood / Vein #1 DC 45.6 45 49 Chaos Quarterly #2 Chaos 45.2 62 5 3.53 50 Glory and Friends XMas #1 Image 45.1 46 51 Savage Dragon #25 Image 44.0 47 52 Velocity #3 Image 43.8 48 53 X-Files Special Edition #2 Topps 41.4 69 8 3.52 54 Chapel #5 Image 40.1 49 55 Cybernary #2 Image 40.0 50 56 Vogue #3 Image 39.5 51 57 Deathblow #23 Image 39.3 52 58 Grifter Badrock #3 Image 39.2 53 59 Bone #22 Image 39.2 54 60 Aquaman #17 DC 37.6 57 61 Preacher #11 DC 37.4 58 62 Ghost #9 Dark Horse 37.1 60 63 Razor Torture #0 London Night 36.5 77 11 4.67 64 Asylum #1 Maximum 35.9 61 65 Wildstorm's Winter Wond #1 Image 34.2 63 66 Ghost and the Shadow Spec Dark Horse 34.0 64 67 Astro City #5 Image 34.0 65 68 Firebrand #1 DC 33.6 66 69 Impulse #11 DC 33.5 67 70 Books of Magic #21 DC 33.3 68 71 Lobo #24 DC 31.9 70 72 Crush #1 Image 31.8 71 73 Batman and Robin Advent #4 DC 31.4 72 74 Sisters of Mercy #1 Maximum 31.2 73 75 Starman #16 DC 31.2 74 76 League of Justice #2 DC 31.0 75 77 Star Wars Droids #8 Dark Horse 30.2 76 78 Combat #1 Image 29.5 78 79 Battlestar Galactica St #1 Maximum 28.7 79 80 Simpson's Comics #15 Bongo 28.6 106 9 2.71 81 Star Trek Next Generat #80 DC 28.2 80 82 Justice League Amer #108 DC 28.2 81 83 Battlestar Galactica En #2 Maximum 28.1 82 84 Warrior Nun Areala BK 2 #3 Antarctic 27.6 108 10 2.94 85 Hellblazer #98 DC 27.5 83 86 Power of Shazam #12 DC 27.4 84 87 Union #10 Image 26.9 85 88 Legion of Superheroes #77 DC 26.6 86 89 Knightmare #8 Image 26.6 87 90 Supreme #34 Image 26.4 88 91 Legionnaires #34 DC 25.8 89 92 Star Trek TNG Ill Wind #4 DC 25.7 90 93 Spectre #38 DC 25.5 91 94 Seekers #2 DC 25.5 92 95 Green Arrow #105 DC 25.4 93 96 New Titans #130 DC 25.3 94 97 Star Trek #80 DC 24.8 95 98 Steel #24 DC 24.7 96 99 Wildstar #3 Image 24.4 97 100 Sandman Mystery Theat #35 DC 23.5 98 101 New Shadowhawk #5 Image 23.5 99 102 High Impact Lingerie Edit. High Impact 22.9 117 19 4.47 103 Madman Comics #10 Dark Horse 22.8 100 104 Tarzan John Carter Warl #1 Dark Horse 22.1 101 105 Grendel Tales The Devil #1 Dark Horse 22.0 102 106 Mister Miracle #2 DC 21.8 103 107 Guy Gardner Warrior #39 DC 21.5 104 108 Egypt #7 DC 21.2 105 109 Invisibles #17 DC 20.8 107 110 Extreme Justice #13 DC 20.6 109 111 Allies #3 Image 20.5 110 112 Satanika #3 Verotika 20.3 138 12 2.31 113 Showcase 96 #2 DC 20.1 111 114 Justice League Task F #32 DC 20.1 112 115 X-O Manowar #61 Acclaim 19.6 113 116 X-O Manowar #62 Acclaim 19.6 114 117 New Gods #5 DC 19.5 115 118 Industrial Gothic #3 DC 19.1 116 119 Primortals Origins #2 Tekno Comix 18.8 135 24 3.69 120 Lady Justice #8 Tekno Comix 18.6 136 17 3.35 121 Godzilla #7 Dark Horse 18.4 118 122 Law and Order #4 Maximum 18.4 119 123 Igrat #2 Verotika 18.3 147 14 2.39 124 Bone #2 Image 18.2 120 125 Shadow State #1 Broadway 18.2 121 126 Ray #21 DC 17.8 122 127 Kabuki Color Special Caliber 17.8 142 21 3.27 128 Alliance #4 Image 17.7 123 129 Hawkman #29 DC 17.5 124 130 Swamp Thing #163 DC 17.2 125 131 Mask #10 Dark Horse 16.8 126 132 Vanguard Strange Visit #4 Image 16.7 127 133 You're Under Arrest #1 Dark Horse 16.5 128 134 Mike Danger #8 Tekno Comix 16.5 149 29 3.37 135 Mr Hero #14 Tekno Comix 16.4 150 30 3.40 136 James Bond Goldeneye #1 Topps 16.2 152 28 3.25 137 Tank Girl Apocalypse #4 DC 16.1 129 138 I-Bots #5 Tekno Comix 15.9 155 38 3.46 139 Indiana Jones and Sarg #1 Dark Horse 15.8 130 140 Shade the Changing Man #68 DC 15.7 131 141 Powers That Be #2 Broadway 15.7 132 142 Rebels 96 #16 DC 15.5 133 143 Teknophage #9 Tekno Comix 15.5 157 37 3.32 144 Poison Elves #8 Sirius 15.5 161 23 2.79 145 Creed #2 Lightning 15.4 156 40 3.77 146 Chiaroscuro Private L #8 DC 15.3 134 147 Xander in Lost Universe #5 Tekno Comix 15.1 158 42 3.74 148 Mars Attacks #5 Topps 14.6 160 41 3.55 149 Magic Legend Elder Drag #1 Acclaim 14.3 137 150 Hate #21 Fantagraphic 14.2 170 16 2.02 151 Ranma 1/2 V #1 Viz 14.2 172 15 1.85 152 Turok #42 Acclaim 13.9 139 153 Turok #41 Acclaim 13.9 140 154 X #21 Dark Horse 13.9 141 155 Cerebus #201 Aardvark-Van 13.7 171 18 2.21 156 Brinke of Destruction #1 High Top 13.6 169 25 2.41 157 Oh My Goddess Love Pot #9 Dark Horse 13.5 143 158 Vigilante City Lights #4 DC 13.3 144 159 Magic Shandalar #2 Acclaim 13.3 145 160 Magic Jedit Ojanen #2 Acclaim 13.0 146 161 Deathstroke #56 DC 12.8 148 162 Elfquest Hidden Years #26 Warp 12.7 175 22 2.08 163 Jugular #0 Blackout 12.7 166 61 4.48 164 Solar Man of Atom #60 Acclaim 12.5 151 165 Armed and Dangerous #1 Acclaim 12.4 153 166 Gunsmith Cats #8 Dark Horse 12.4 154 167 Elfquest Shards #13 Warp 12.2 176 26 2.07 168 Fate #16 DC 11.7 159 169 Bloodshot #46 Acclaim 11.4 162 170 Elfquest Kahvi #3 Warp 11.2 180 32 2.02 171 Animaniacs #10 DC 11.2 163 172 Elfquest New Blood #34 Warp 11.2 179 36 2.12 173 Elfquest Two-Spear #3 Warp 11.2 183 34 2.05 174 3 x 3 Eyes #3 Dark Horse 10.9 164 175 Doc Savage Curse Fire #4 Dark Horse 10.8 165 176 Book of Ballads / Sagas #2 Greenman 10.4 192 31 1.80 177 Black Lightning #13 DC 10.2 167 178 Elfquest Jink #10 Warp 10.1 193 39 1.96 179 Battle Angel Alita V #6 Viz 10.1 197 33 1.75 180 Jason vs Leatherface #3 Topps 9.9 182 55 3.11 181 Dark Horse Presents #104 Dark Horse 9.9 168 182 Uncle Scrooge Advent #37 Gladstone 9.9 190 44 2.20 183 Vamperotica Annual #1 Brainstorm 9.6 186 62 3.21 184 Vampire Miyu #3 Antarctic 9.6 196 45 2.13 185 Elementals #5 Comico 9.3 189 65 3.36 186 Cross #2 Dark Horse 9.0 173 187 Primer #2 Comico 9.0 184 83 4.63 188 Icon #34 DC 8.9 174 189 Dream Wolves Swimsuit B #0 Dramenon 8.9 188 82 4.29 190 Donald Duck #295 Gladstone 8.6 203 49 2.18 191 Vamperotica #10 Brainstorm 8.6 195 68 3.16 192 Fist of North Star II #2 Viz 8.4 208 43 1.69 193 Nausicaa V #6 Viz 8.0 214 46 1.66 194 Creed #2 Butt Naked Lightning 8.0 202 67 1.98 195 Mighty I #5 Image 7.9 177 196 Motorhead #5 Dark Horse 7.9 178 197 Return to Jurassic Park #9 Topps 7.8 200 78 3.28 198 Ninja High School Swim 95 Antarctic 7.8 206 66 2.71 199 Donald Duck and Mickey #4 Gladstone 7.6 211 57 2.18 200 Blood Syndicate #35 DC 7.5 181 *Shi Fan Appreciation Edition #2 was sold through Capital City in November, and through Diamond in December. NOTES ON HOW THIS CHART WAS CREATED: Each month, Diamond Distributors publishes a trade publication called "Diamond Dialogue", which lists the top 300 comics sold by piece count. Also, Capital City Distributors publishes a trade publication called "Internal Correspondence" which lists the top 200 comics sold by dollar value. In December, Antarctic Press had seven items listed on the Diamond chart, and seven items listed on the Capital City chart. Since we know how well Antarctic Press books sold, it is simply a matter of simple math to determine what one "index point" equals on both charts. For example, in the December Diamond Dialogue, Warrior Nun Areala Book Two #3 is listed as having an "Order Index" of 24.9; we sold 20,645 copies through Diamond that month, so the one index point = 829 comics sold. (This figure also holds true for the six other Antarctic Press books listed on the charts for that month). Similarly, on the Capital City charts WNA Book Two #3 is listed as .7985% of Capital City's total sales for that month (by dollar value). So, one percent of Capital City's sales equals approximately $25,800 retail. This figure also hold true for the other six Antarctic Press books listed on the Capital City charts. Using these two figures (Diamond index = 829 copies sold, Capital City index equals $25,800), it is easy to reorganize and combine the two charts. Please note in the month of December that the following publishers are exclusive through Diamond: DC, Image, Dark Horse, Acclaim, Maximum, Wizard, Gemstone, and Broadway. For Capital City, Kitchen Sink and Coppervale are exclusive (though none of their product made it onto the charts this month). Also, Marvel Comics is exclusive through Heroes World Distribution, and the sales figures for Marvel comics are not readily known, so they have been omitted from this chart. "Exclusive" means that comics from these publishers are available to the comics retailers ONLY through the distributor, and from no other source. It should be noted that these sales figures only represent pre-orders, and do not represent actual sell-through sales at comic stores. This chart also does not include order increases, reorders, or cancellations. However, order increases and reorders are generally only a very small fraction of total sales. Also, this chart only represents sales through Diamond and Capital City Distributors, which combined make up approximately 95% of the direct market. It does not represent sales through smaller distributors, such as Hobbies Hawaii, Big Picture, and Hobby Games, nor does it represent direct-to-retail sales, direct-to-customer sales, or newsstand distribution sales. It should also be noted that in November and previous months, Diamond's sales chart only included sales of comics to retailers that ordered a "full line" of comics, which was arbitrarily defined as every retailer that ordered a comic from DC, Image, Dark Horse, and "one other publisher". As a result, the sales charts for November and earlier months did not truly reflect actual sales - it did not include retailers that ONLY ordered DC comics through Diamond, or DC/Image/Dark Horse comics through Diamond. In December, Diamond has changed their reporting methods to include ALL retail orders from all retailers, which has resulted in a one-time jump in sales for DC and Dark Horse comics from November to December of approximately 14%. If you have any questions or comments about this chart, please contact Matthew High at [a--ta--c] at [texas.net.]