Top 10 Best-selling Comics for August 2019

Once again, Marvel dominated the comic book charts over DC last August. In fact, according to Diamond Distributors, Marvel had seven comics in the top ten. So which comics are they? We’ll tell you, along with why we think they may have placed there. Just remember, these figures are sales estimates based on dealer orders provided by Diamond Distributors Inc. via Comichron and ICv2.

The Top Ten

1 — Absolute Carnage #1 (Marvel) — 233,173
9 — Absolute Carnage #2 (Marvel) — 94,070 (-11.25%)

Commentary: No doubt many of you assumed Marvel’s latest event would be a huge hit. After all, it centers around Venom and Carnage. But I doubt anyone thought it would be this big. Not only was Absolute Carnage #1 the best-selling comic of July, it’s currently the fourth best-selling comic of 2019. Granted, having twenty-three different covers (not counting comic book shop exclusives) definitely helps. Hence why Absolute Carnage #2, with only seven different covers, has just cover 94,000 in the sales estimates.

As for what yours truly thinks about Absolute Carnage? Wait and see.

2 — Marvel Comics #1000 (Marvel) — 206,931

Commentary: How did Marvel Comics’ (originally Timely Comics) 80th Anniversary issue place second for the month and, as of now, fifth for the year? Well, Marvel Comics #1000 had several advantages in its favor. Things like having almost as many covers as there are letters of the alphabet. Or how it’s issue number blatantly capitalizes off of Action Comics #1000 and Detective Comics #1000. And, of course, a 15% discount to retailers if their orders for Marvel Comics #1000 acceed those for War of the Realms #6. Little wonder then dealers made orders in excess of 200,000 copies for a one-shot.

3 — Batman/Superman #1 (DC) — 156,610

Commentary: There’s no big mystery why the start of this third series which teams up the “World’s Finest” placed third. Aside from having Batman and Superman, it also has The Batman Who Laughs, the breakout villain from Dark Nights: Metal, on the covers, too. These covers include a “Batman” and a “Superman” main cover which connect into a single image. After all, it’s one thing for an issue to have multiple covers, but covers that connect into a single image? That’s the real incentive for retailers.

4 — DCeased #4 (DC) — 119,786 (-9.3%)

Commentary: Just like last month, there are two versions of DCeased #4 that diamond distributors count as different comics because of its different price points. And as before, combining the estimates from the regular issue (59,639) and the cardstock issue (60,147) it what moves DCeased #4 into 4th place. Otherwise, it would’ve been 17th and 19th for the month respectively. As there will also be card stock editions for DCeased #5, it’s like the combined totals for that issue will be above 100K as well.

5 — House of X #3 (Marvel) — 109,110 (+7%)
6 — Powers of X #2 (Marvel) — 107,524 (-35.94%)
7 — House of X #2 (Marvel) — 101,972 (-45.07%)
8 — Powers of X #3 (Marvel) — 100,267 (-6.75%)

Commentary: The percentage drops are a given considering how the later issues of House of X and Powers of X don’t have the same number of variants as the first two issues. What is unusual is how Powers of X #2, which canonically comes after House of X #2, had better estimates than that issue. Likewise, House of X #3, which was the last of the two X-Men comics for August, almost reached 110K. Keep in mind, retailers order these comics a couple of months in advance. Also, House of X #3 has the same number of variants as Powers of X #3. Perhaps retailers based their orders simply what the main cover featured?

10 — Batman #76 (DC) — 84,879 (-15.26%)

Commentary: Here’s another case where having a “Villain of the Year” cardstock edition makes all the difference. Without the additional 26,000 plus estimates from the cardstock cover, Batman #76 would’ve only placed 20th for the month of August. Otherwise, Batman #77, which didn’t have a cardstock cover, would come in 9th place at 81,215. Thus it’s very possible we’ll be seeing Batman reach the low 80K range for the month of September, and maybe even below it.

Honorable Mentions

Batman: Curse of the White Knight #2 — 74,838 (-17.95%)

Commentary: This comic would’ve otherwise made it into the top ten if both the DCeased #4 and Batman #76 cardstock editions hadn’t knocked it down a peg. Also note the almost 18% drop between Batman: Curse of the White Knight #1 and #2. It’s possible that issue #3 could fall below 70K in September.

Venom #17 (Marvel) — 66,942 (+18.83%)
Absolute Carnage Vs. Deadpool #1 (Marvel) — 66,846
Absolute Carnage: Scream #1 (Marvel) — 64,167
Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales #1 (Marvel) — 53,866
Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors #1 (Marvel) — 43,029
Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1 (Marvel) — 39,030

Commentary: Considering how well Absolute Carnage #1 did, what about its event tie-ins? Well, since tie-ins don’t typically do as well as the main series, the above figures seem to be typical. Of course, the Absolute Carnage tie-in for Venom did boost the monthly estimates for that series and will likely do so again.

Superman: Year One #2 (DC) — 74,838 (-6.57%)

Commentary: If you’re wondering why Frank Miller and John Romita Jr.’s take on Superman isn’t drawing as big of the numbers one might expect, consider the following. First, both Superman: Year One #1 and #2 faced stiff competition the months they’ve come out. Second, the series only comes out every other month, meaning a greater chance of a drop-off between issues. And third, it’s Frank Miller writing about Superman, not Batman.

Next time, we’ll be looking at the comics for September 2019, and the competition is looking fierce. Along with Absolute Carnage, House of X and Powers of X, there’s also Doomsday Clock #11, King Thor #1, Spider-Man #1, and the 300th issue of Spawn. Tell us in the comments section which ones you’ll think will place in the top ten.

Check Out: Top Ten Best-selling Comics for August 2019