Last week, Diamond Comic Distributors, DC Comics' sales agent for direct sales, released its final statistics for direct sales in 2003, with DC leading in multiple categories thanks to the strong success of projects including BATMAN, the relaunch of TEEN TITANS, and many others.
The numbers show DC's continued growth, led by the solidifying of both its core and new titles and the power of its reorder policies.
DC had the Number One title of the year with BATMAN #619, along with 7 of the Top 10 titles on the Diamond chart and 12 of the Top 25. This is up from 7 in the Top 25 in 2002.
"We're pleased with our 2003 showing," says Paul Levitz, DC's President & Publisher, "with a solid mix of winners in periodical and book formats, ranging across our imprints."
Leading the pack was the success of "Hush" by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee & Scott Williams, with its explosive conclusion in BATMAN #619 at the top of Diamond's "Top 100 Comics" chart for 2003, a first for a regular issue of the title. The series, which reached the #1 sales spot for 8 months of the team's 12-issue run, led DC's surge with 11 places on the chart.
Other titles in the Top 25 sellers of 2003 included:
* AVENGERS/JLA #2 by Kurt Busiek and George Pérez
* BATMAN #611-618 by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee & Scott Williams
* SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1-2 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness
The debut issue of TEEN TITANS, by Geoff Johns and Mike McKone, was in the #32 slot for the Top 100, also showing that DC's sales potential goes beyond its "franchise" characters.
DC's ongoing commitment to the expansion of the graphic novel is reflected in the sheer number of titles included in Diamond's "Top 100 Graphic Novels" chart, including projects from the DC Universe, WildStorm and VERTIGO. Included in the chart's Top 10 are:
* JLA: LIBERTY & JUSTICE SC by Paul Dini and Alex Ross, which reached the #1 spot on the chart
* ABC's THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN Book One TP by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill
* Neil Gaiman's New York Times best-seller THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS HC, from VERTIGO, with art by an international roster of illustrators and a cover by Dave McKean
* DEATH: AT DEATH'S DOOR SC by Jill Thompson, from VERTIGO
* Y: THE LAST MAN: UNMANNED TP by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and José Marzan, Jr. and a cover by J.G. Jones, from VERTIGO
* BATMAN: HUSH Volume 1 HC, by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee & Scott Williams
DC placed a total of 37 titles in the Top 100 Graphic Novels in 2003. Among these were many perpetual sellers that maintained their strong sales positions in 2003, along with new titles showing early signs of become evergreen sellers.
DC led in total reorders by more than 10 points. Continuing availability of key projects and a steady backlist program added to the publisher's momentum and were the core of its long-term growth. DC maintains the industry> '> s largest and most diverse backlist to support retailers and provide steady fuel for consumer demand.
"2003 was a great year for DC in terms of sales, due to a terrific creative year," says Bob Wayne, DC's VP > -> Sales & Marketing. "Our editorial teams' work with top talent plus our proven ability to keep strong selling items available is DC's recipe for success for our core market."
Further tying in to BATMAN: HUSH, the Jim Lee-designed BATMAN STATUE, sculpted by Tim Bruckner, led the "Top 25 Toys" chart. Other DC Direct items on the chart were:
* SILVER AGE BATMAN & ROBIN DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SET
* KINGDOM COME ACTION FIGURES Assortment for both Series 1 and 2
* JUSTICE LEAGUE ACTION FIGURES Assortment
* SILVER AGE BATGIRL & JOKER DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SET
* BIRDS OF PREY DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SET>
* JUSTICE LEAGUE ANIMATED: AQUAMAN MAQUETTE
* GREEN LANTERN: HAL JORDAN STATUE
* SUPER FRIENDS!: BATMAN MAQUETTE
Adds Wayne, "With all we've got on tap for 2004, I'm confident it will be a great year not only for DC but also for specialty retailers and, most important, for their customers."
