Marvel Comics Was the Top-Selling Publisher of 2014
Image source: Marvel Comics.
Marvel Comics won 2014 as the top-selling comic book publisher, defeating rival superhero publisher DC Comics.
The Amazing Spider-Man relaunch which saw Peter Parker return as the web-head, after being absent for year and a half, was the best-selling comic book in 2014, according to the Wall Street Journal. Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic book distributor in North America, said Marvel had nine out of the top 10 selling issues of the year. These issues include the aforementioned Spider-Man, Rocket Raccoon #1 from Guardians of the Galaxy fame, Thor #1 starring the new female Mjolnir-wielder, and the Death of Wolverine miniseries. Marvel had 34% market share in terms of dollars and about a 37% share in terms of units sold.
DC Comics came in second place in sales, with a market share of about 29% in dollar terms and 32% in unit terms. Image Comics was third in sales, thanks to The Walking Dead dominating the graphic novel and trade paperback chart. The trade paperback collection of Saga also contributed to sales for Image Comics, thanks to volume three and past releases. Diamond said overall comic book sales “increased 4.03% in 2014 over the previous year, and graphic novel sales rose 5.18%.”
Below are the top 10 comic book publishers of 2014:
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
| Marvel Comics | 34.38% | 36.78% |
| DC Comics | 28.86% | 32.47% |
| Image Comics | 9.23% | 10.41% |
| IDW Publishing | 5.69% | 4.34% |
| Dark Horse Comics | 5.07% | 4.25% |
| Dynamite Entertainment | 2.57% | 2.41% |
| Boom! Studios | 2.23% | 2.16% |
| Eaglemoss Publications | 1.30% | 0.29% |
| Avatar Press | 0.97% | 0.83% |
| Random House | 0.95% | 0.30% |
| All other publishers | 8.75% | 5.75% |
The top 10 best-selling comic books of 2014:
1. Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel)
2. The Walking Dead #132 (Image)
3. Rocket Raccoon #1 (Marvel)
4. Death of Wolverine #1 (Marvel)
5. Death of Wolverine #4 (Marvel)
6. Thor #1 (Marvel)
7. Original Sin #1 (Marvel)
8. Death of Wolverine #2 (Marvel)
9. Death of Wolverine #3 (Marvel)
10. Superior Spider-Man #31 (Marvel)
And the top 10 best-selling graphic novels and trade paperbacks:
1. Saga Vol. 3 (Image)
2. Saga Vol. 1 (Image)
3. The Walking Dead Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1 (Image)
4. Saga Vol. 2 (Image)
5. The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye (Image)
6. The Walking Dead Vol 21: All Out War, Part 2 (Image)
7. Sex Criminals Vol. 1 (Image)
8. The Walking Dead Vol. 22: A New Beginning (Image)
9. Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (DC)
10. Saga Vol. 4 (Image)