I expected that Marvel would take the top spot away from Justice League in March, due to the sales of Avengers Vs X-Men #0, and Jim Lee leaving the book for a short sabbatical. But, thanks to Marvel shipping Avengers Vs X-Men #1 a week early, to be held for this week, they've taken the top two spots. As well as grabbing the fifth spot with Avengers Assemble.

Of late, DC has increasingly improved its grip on the top sales in comics, with even Aquaman outselling every Marvel title. It's worth noting that while Marvel now have three books in the top five, Aquaman – and now Batman And Robin too, are still outselling their next bestseller, Uncanny X-Men.

You can also see a strange disparity between Avengers Vs X-Men #0 and Justice League #7 in that while they are both priced the same, Avengers Vs X-Men #0 counts more copies sold, but Justice League #7 counts more dollars raised. This indicates that Marvel gave away a significant number of copies to retailers as overship, counted on quantity but not on revenue raised.

Which means, if you only counted Avengers Vs X-Men #1 as a March sale and you discounted the overship of Avengers Vs X-Men #0, Justice League #7 would still be the best selling comic in the direct market.

Something similar happened with Avengers Assemble #1 when you compare it to the sales of Action Comics #7. Indeed through the chart there are signs of such oddities, presumably caused by Marvel overshipping copies of comics.

Estimates indicate that Avengers Vs X-Men #1 sold around 206,000. Add on to that a British estimate and you'd get around 236,000. Then there's reorders which sold out, which would in all likelihood push it over the 250,000 mark. Look for more copies of AVX #1 to be listed next month. In comparison, AVX #0 did about 136,000, Justice League #7 did around 130,000, Batman #7 did around 130,000 and Avengers Assemble #1 did 102,000.

Despite the addition of Avengers Vs X-Men #1, DC actually did better on marketshare than last month. DC gained a point and a half in dollar share up from 29.47% to 30.95%, while improving their actual numbers of comics sold from 35.26% to 36.09%. Marvel also gained with dollar share increasing from 35.93% to 36.21% while increasing their share of comics sold from 35.25% to 36.09%, both companies shaving percentages off smaller publishers.

QTY

RANK DOLLAR

RANK INDEX DESCRIPTION PRICE VENDOR 1 1 159.48 AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 $3.99 MAR 2 3 105.58 AVENGERS VS X-MEN #0 $3.99 MAR 3 2 103.37 JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 $3.99 DC 4 4 100.00 BATMAN #7 $2.99 DC 5 6 79.18 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1 $3.99 MAR 6 5 72.07 ACTION COMICS #7 $3.99 DC 7 7 70.82 GREEN LANTERN #7 $2.99 DC 8 8 70.56 DETECTIVE COMICS #7 $2.99 DC 9 10 59.10 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #7 $2.99 DC 10 20 52.27 SUPERMAN #7 $2.99 DC 11 22 51.00 FLASH #7 $2.99 DC 12 23 48.94 AQUAMAN #7 $2.99 DC 13 19 48.04 BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 [*] $2.99 DC 14 9 45.19 UNCANNY X-MEN #8 $3.99 MAR 15 12 44.85 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #682 $3.99 MAR 16 13 44.72 UNCANNY X-MEN #9 $3.99 MAR 17 26 44.29 AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1 $2.99 MAR 18 17 43.70 AVENGERS X-SANCTION #4 $3.99 MAR 19 14 42.82 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #7 $3.99 MAR 20 16 41.01 AVENGERS #24 $3.99 MAR 21 29 40.94 AVENGERS #24.1 $2.99 MAR 22 15 40.93 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #681 $3.99 MAR 23 18 40.58 NEW AVENGERS #23 $3.99 MAR 24 30 40.35 TEEN TITANS #7 $2.99 DC 25 31 40.28 WONDER WOMAN #7 $2.99 DC 26 21 38.36 UNCANNY X-FORCE #23 $3.99 MAR 27 38 38.01 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #7 $2.99 DC 28 40 36.79 BATWOMAN #7 $2.99 DC 29 24 36.33 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #8 $3.99 MAR 30 33 35.86 BATGIRL #7 [*] $2.99 DC 31 34 35.67 NIGHTWING #7 [*] $2.99 DC 32 11 35.49 KICK-ASS 2 #7 (MR) $4.99 MAR 33 36 34.40 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #7 [*] $2.99 DC 34 27 33.07 FANTASTIC FOUR #604 $3.99 MAR 35 25 32.68 CAPTAIN AMERICA #9 $3.99 MAR 36 28 32.09 AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #5 $3.99 MAR 37 32 31.81 INCREDIBLE HULK #6 $3.99 MAR 38 48 31.61 SWAMP THING #7 $2.99 DC 39 55 29.93 DAREDEVIL #10 $2.99 MAR 40 44 29.55 SAGA #1 (MR) [*] $2.99 IMA 41 46 29.41 RED LANTERNS #7 [*] $2.99 DC 42 35 29.21 WOLVERINE #302 $3.99 MAR 43 58 29.16 FF #16 $2.99 MAR 44 37 28.55 WOLVERINE #303 $3.99 MAR 45 60 28.26 X-MEN LEGACY #263 $2.99 MAR 46 65 28.22 X-MEN LEGACY #264 $2.99 MAR 47 39 28.13 X-MEN #26 $3.99 MAR 48 51 27.98 CATWOMAN #7 [*] $2.99 DC 49 62 27.41 WINTER SOLDIER #3 $2.99 MAR 50 53 27.29 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #7 [*] $2.99 DC 51 64 27.22 SUPERCROOKS #1 (MR) $2.99 MAR 52 42 26.83 ASTONISHING X-MEN #48 $3.99 MAR 53 41 26.66 MIGHTY THOR #12 $3.99 MAR 54 63 26.62 WALKING DEAD #95 (MR) $2.99 IMA 55 56 26.17 SUPERGIRL #7 [*] $2.99 DC 56 57 26.04 ANIMAL MAN #7 [*] $2.99 DC 57 70 25.60 SCARLET SPIDER #3 $2.99 MAR 58 59 25.49 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #7 [*] $2.99 DC 59 43 25.29 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #8 $3.99 MAR 60 88 24.94 FAIREST #1 (MR) $2.99 DC 61 61 24.92 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #7 [*] $2.99 DC 62 45 24.69 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN ALPHA AND OMEGA #3 $3.99 MAR 63 47 24.67 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #514 $3.99 MAR 64 49 23.61 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #9 $3.99 MAR 65 50 23.38 DEFENDERS #4 $3.99 MAR 66 67 23.35 SUPERBOY #7 [*] $2.99 DC 67 68 23.25 SUICIDE SQUAD #7 [*] $2.99 DC 68 52 23.16 AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #9 $3.99 MAR 69 75 22.70 VENOM #14 $2.99 MAR 70 72 22.69 BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #7 $2.99 DAR 71 54 22.53 CARNAGE USA #4 $3.99 MAR 72 78 21.97 DEADPOOL #52 $2.99 MAR 73 73 20.62 BIRDS OF PREY #7 [*] $2.99 DC 74 74 20.49 GREEN ARROW #7 [*] $2.99 DC 75 81 19.53 CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #628 $2.99 MAR 76 84 19.14 STORMWATCH #7 $2.99 DC 77 85 18.71 X-FACTOR #233 $2.99 MAR 78 86 18.55 FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #10 $2.99 MAR 79 69 18.50 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #2 $3.99 DC 80 87 18.22 FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #11 $2.99 MAR 81 66 17.91 ALL STAR WESTERN #7 [*] $3.99 DC 82 89 17.52 PUNISHER #9 $2.99 MAR 83 92 17.13 AVENGERS ACADEMY #27 $2.99 MAR 84 94 17.02 HUNTRESS #6 $2.99 DC 85 100 16.97 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #635 $2.99 MAR 86 76 16.94 MOON KNIGHT #11 $3.99 MAR 87 96 16.88 HULK #49 $2.99 MAR 88 97 16.88 NEW MUTANTS #39 $2.99 MAR 89 79 15.87 FATALE #3 (MR) [*] $3.50 IMA 90 103 15.79 X-23 #21 $2.99 MAR 91 71 15.76 MAGIC THE GATHERING #3 $3.99 IDW 92 104 15.56 MARVELS AVENGERS PRELUDE FURYS BIG WEEK #1 $2.99 MAR 93 90 15.54 DEMON KNIGHTS #7 [*] $2.99 DC 94 91 15.47 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #7 [*] $2.99 DC 95 110 14.97 THUNDERBOLTS #171 $2.99 MAR 96 80 14.89 SECRET AVENGERS #24 $3.99 MAR 97 99 14.88 BATWING #7 [*] $2.99 DC 98 77 14.74 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ONGOING #8 $3.99 IDW 99 82 14.39 BATMAN ODYSSEY VOL 2 #6 $3.99 DC 100 95 14.22 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE STORM #2 $3.50 DAR

PUBLISHER MARKET SHARES

RETAIL MARKET SHARE PUBLISHER SHARE MARVEL COMICS 36.21% DC COMICS 30.95% IMAGE COMICS 6.66% IDW PUBLISHING 5.74% DARK HORSE COMICS 5.24% DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.90% BOOM! STUDIOS 1.42% AVATAR PRESS INC 1.15% ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 1.06% VIZ LLC 0.86% OTHER NON-TOP 10 7.81% UNIT MARKET SHARE PUBLISHER SHARE MARVEL COMICS 39.94% DC COMICS 36.09% IMAGE COMICS 5.59% IDW PUBLISHING 4.71% DARK HORSE COMICS 3.98% DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 2.38% BOOM! STUDIOS 1.27% ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 0.98% AVATAR PRESS INC 0.93% ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 0.72% OTHER NON-TOP 10 3.41%

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

DOLLARS UNITS MARCH 2012 VS. FEBRUARY 2012 COMICS -5.32% -2.99% GRAPHIC NOVELS -7.13% 9.54% TOTAL COMICS/GN -5.89% -2.07% MARCH 2012 VS. MARCH 2011 COMICS -1.18% -2.45% GRAPHIC NOVELS -5.67% 2.93% TOTAL COMICS/GN -2.61% -2.03% YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2011

(FIRST QUARTER 2012 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2011) COMICS 15.85% 14.74% GRAPHIC NOVELS 8.39% 7.25% TOTAL COMICS/GN 13.42% 14.13% FIRST QUARTER 2012 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2011 COMICS -13.48% -15.19% GRAPHIC NOVELS -7.37% -0.80% TOTAL COMICS/GN -11.67% -14.24% LAST TWELVE MONTHS VERSUS PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS COMICS 7.59% 10.46% GRAPHIC NOVELS -1.42% -7.61% TOTAL COMICS/GN 4.59% 8.86%

TOP 10 COMICS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR 1 AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #1 $3.99 JAN120625 MAR 2 AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #0 $3.99 JAN120622 MAR 3 JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 $3.99 JAN120210 DC 4 BATMAN #7 $2.99 JAN120236 DC 5 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1 $3.99 JAN120638 MAR 6 ACTION COMICS #7 $3.99 JAN120228 DC 7 GREEN LANTERN #7 $2.99 JAN120253 DC 8 DETECTIVE COMICS #7 $2.99 JAN120240 DC 9 BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #7 $2.99 JAN120242 DC 10 SUPERMAN #7 $2.99 JAN120232 DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR 1 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP $9.99 JUL068351 IMA 2 HELLBOY VOL. 12: THE STORM AND THE FURY TP $19.99 OCT110020 DAR 3 THE BOYS VOLUME 10: BUTCHER, BAKER, CANDLESTICKMAKER TP $19.99 JAN121022 DE 4 FLASHPOINT TP $14.99 DEC110276 DC 5 X-MEN SEASON ONE PREMIERE HC $24.99 JAN120729 MAR 6 DMZ VOLUME 11:FREE STATESRISING TP $19.99 DEC110321 DC 7 STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS VOLUME 7: THE ENEMY WITHIN TP $7.99 NOV110031 DAR 8 FLASHPOINT: WORLD OF FLASHPOINT: BATMAN TP $17.99 DEC110277 DC 9 NORTHLANDERS VOL. 6: THOR'S DAUGHTER TP $14.99 DEC110323 DC 10 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHINDUSTP $14.99 SEP088204 IMA