Comic sales are booming once again as big titles, especially with DC and Marvel Comics, flaunting the scene. While the movies (and TV series) Marvel has been producing to promote their comics and graphic novels, it is actually DC comics dominating the comic book sales.
For the month of August, DC Comics has published nine out of the top ten best-selling comics. According to record charts in Comichron, the first issue of "Harley Quinn" had sold around 359,957 copies, earning its top one spot for the month. Following in second is "All-Star Batman #1" and the third spot goes to "Suicide Squad #1." Incoming fourth and fifth place is Marvel's "The Amazing Spider-Man #17" and "Suicide Squad Rebirth #1."
In the category for graphic novels, the roster was equally split between DC and Marvel Comics, with "Batman: The Killing Joke Special Edition" being in second place and the new "Black Panther" comic series being in third. Ironically, it was "Star Wars Darth Vader Vol. 3: The Shu-Toran War" that earned the number one spot in graphic novel having an estimate of 7,098 copies sold.
In relation to DC and Marvel comics, they have been running their big event series with "Rebirth" and "Civil War II" respectively. According to Inverse, it was actually DC comics that took a different approach in their series, overshadowing "The New 52" series' dark and gritty tone with optimistic mood of "Rebirth." With the help of Geoff Johns of DC's Extended Universe films who helped in launching DC "Rebirth," comic sales in August have been soaring with fans enjoying the new direction.
Marvel Comics, however, are less successful than its DC counterpart with "Civil War II." The sequel to the first one is darker in tone and spirit. Moreover, Captain Marvel and Iron Man are fighting over the ethics of using an Inhuman who is clairvoyant, with the death of heroes like War Machine and the Hulk and also gravely injuring She-Hulk and turning Hawkeye into a murderer.
It is still unsure whether DC will maintain its standing in August for the coming months, especially with the newer titles in "Rebirth" being released much slower now. Marvel, on the other hand, will be finally releasing the fifth issue of "Civil War II" on Sept. 21.
