Marvel Comics Named 2018's Top Publisher But DC Comics Ended Up With The Year's Best-Selling Comic
Sales numbers are in for 2018 and while Marvel Comics can boast about being the most successful comics publisher last year, they didn't manage to land the single highest-selling comic issue. Check it out!
Given how many movies they had in theaters during 2018, it probably won't surprise you to learn that Marvel Comics ended up being the year's most successful comic publisher.
Overall sales from the comic book speciality market were up 3.3% over 2017 but graphic novel sales dipped 6.6% as digital comic sales continue to grow (why pay $20 for a trade paperback in a comic store when you can pick it up for a few bucks in a sale on Comixology?).
Regardless, while Marvel was the most successful publisher of 2018 with a might 40.4% share of the market, it was Action Comics #1000 which ended up being the year's best-selling single issue. Aside from that, though, DC Comics had only two titles in the top ten: Batman #50 and The Batman Who Laughs #1. There was no sign of Doomsday Clock!
DC Comics has tried a number of things over the years to boost sales, including rebooting its universe...and then undoing it!
Some of those strategies have worked better than others and they're not that far behind Marvel in the grand scheme of things. However, it will be interesting seeing how they respond to this throughout 2019. As always, stay tuned for further updates.