www.HoknesComics.com  

BEST SELLING COMIC BOOKS OF THE PAST 21 YEARS = 1996-2017  as compiled by Terry Hoknes  hoknes@hotmail.com

Known sales figures compiled by John Jackson Miller at www.comichron.com and in Miller's book Comic Buyers Guide Standard Catalog of Comic Books

These are the books that broke sales records this century and created buzz between retailers and readers for various reasons.

September 1996 actual order figures were published monthly by Diamond Publishers and collected by Comichron.com   Very few comics have had sales higher than 200,000 copies from 1996-2012.  After that a new trend in comic book publishing began where a comic was published with many variant covers but were all combined in a total print run for that "issue".  This has shifted the real data on newer comics and makes the "regular" cover look much more common.   Another factor since 2002 is that there are FCBD "free comic book day" comics that are published either free or with a very small retail price making those books very easy to achieve massive high print runs so these books are NOT included on this chart.   The highest print runs of any comics in the past 20 years are likely all FCBD Free Comic Book Day variations and these figures are not released but example of FCBD 2014 The Walking Dead edition surely had a print run higher than 1 million.


#1
STAR WARS #1 (2015)
985,000 copies
Regular cover is likely 600,000 copies with remainder being 95 different variant covers for the highest quantity covers ever for a USA comic book.
Biggest comic of 2015
Biggest comic of 21st Century
Biggest Marvel Comic of 1994-2018
Incredible hype and demand for the return of the Star Wars movies made this book reach epic demand and it was the return of the franchise to Marvel for the first time since 1986 bringing nostalgia to new heights.

#2
FANTASTIC FOUR #60 (2002)
752,000 copies
Highest print run of any comic during 21st Century reported by Diamond for regular orders.  1 of 2 different 10 cent retail cover price comics sold by Diamond.
Biggest comic of 2002
Biggest Marvel superhero comic of 21st Century
Biggest sales of any comic during 21st Century reported by Diamond with a single cover.
Cheap 10 cent cover price

#3
BATMAN 10 CENT ADVENTURE (2002)
752,000 copies
Highest print run of any DC comic during 21st Century reported by Diamond for regular orders.  1 of 2 different 10 cent retail cover price comics sold by Diamond.
2nd Biggest comic of 2002
Biggest sales of any DC comic during 21st Century reported by Diamond with a single cover.
Cheap 10 cent cover price


#4
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 (2014)
532,000 copies
Highest print run of any superhero comic during 21st Century with a regular (or higher) cover price reported by Diamond for regular orders.  Regular cover is likely 350,000 copies with remainder being about 20 different variant covers helping boost the overall print run.
Biggest comic of 2014
Biggest Marvel regular priced superhero comic of 21st Century



#5
SECRET WARS #1 (2015)
527,000 copies
Highest print run of any superhero "EVENT" comic during 21st Century with a regular (or higher) cover price reported by Diamond for regular orders.  Regular cover is likely 300,000 copies with remainder being about 20 different variant covers helping boost the overall print run.
Biggest comic of 2015
Biggest selling "event" comic of 21st Century

#6
BRAVEST WARRIORS:  TALES FROM THE HOLO JOHN (2015)
502,000 copies
This is 1 of 4 comics with massive print runs distributed by Loot Crate but reported by Diamond. 
Biggest Indie Publisher comic of 21st Century
Biggest Loot Crate comic of 21st Century
Biggest All Ages selling comic of 21st Century

#7
ORPHAN BLACK #1 (2015)
497,000 copies
This is the 2nd highest of 4 comics with massive print runs distributed by Loot Crate but reported by Diamond. 
2nd Biggest Indie Publisher comic of 21st Century
2nd Biggest Loot Crate comic of 21st Century
Biggest TV Show comic of 21st Century
Best Selling Female Lead comic of 21st Century

#8
DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #1 (2015)
440,000 copies
Highest print run of any Batman comic with a regular (or higher) cover price reported by Diamond for regular orders.  Regular cover is likely 250,000 copies with remainder being about 30 different variant covers helping boost the overall print run.
Biggest DC comic of 2015
Biggest DC regular priced superhero comic of 21st Century


#9
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA / ESCAPE TO NEW YORK (2016)
421,000 copies
This is the 3rd highest of 4 comics with massive print runs distributed by Loot Crate but reported by Diamond. 
3rd Biggest Indie Publisher comic of 21st Century
3rd Biggest Loot Crate comic of 21st Century
2nd Biggest Movie comic of 21st Century



#10
STAR WARS VADER DOWN #1 (2015)
384,000 copies
Regular cover is likely 250,000 copies with remainder being 20 different variant covers
2nd Biggest Marvel comic of 2015
2nd Biggest Star Wars comic of 21st Century
This comic was at the peak of Star Wars demand the month before Force Awakens hit theatres becoming the #1 movie of all time.

#11
CIVIL WAR II #1 (2016)
381,000 copies
2nd Highest print run of any superhero "EVENT" comic during 21st Century with a regular (or higher) cover price reported by Diamond for regular orders.  Regular cover is likely 250,000 copies with remainder being about 20 different variant covers helping boost the overall print run.
Biggest Marvel comic of 2016
2nd Biggest selling "event" comic of 21st Century (outselling the original Civil War from 2006)


#12
HARLEY QUINN #1 (2016)
359,000 copies
Only one variant cover released through Diamond so regular cover is likely 250,000 copies
Highest selling non-Batman DC comic of the 21st Century
This is Harley's 3rd ongoing series and the best selling of them all and ties into the DC Rebirth launch of 2016
2nd best selling Female lead character comic of 21st Century.




#13
THE DARKNESS #1 (1997)
357,000 copies
Extremely impressive sales for the late 1990's being the #1 best selling indie comic of 1996-1999 and the biggest selling Image comic 1996-2017 due to a large quantity of variant covers. (This marketing trick would be used by The Walking Dead starting in 2012).
Best selling Image comic of 1996-2017





#14
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 (2009)
352,000 copies
1st printing had huge media covers achieving highest sales for any Marvel Comic from 2003-2013 and featuring the new US President on the cover. 
2nd highest print run of a Spider-man issue in the 21st Century
Biggest comic of 2009

#15
THE WALKING DEAD #100 (2012)
335,000 copies
Regular cover is likely only 40,000 copies with remainder being over 15 different variant covers for possibly the highest quantity covers ever for a Image comic book at that time.  1st app of Negan.
Biggest comic of 2012
Biggest Image comic of 21st Century
Incredible hype and demand for the hot new TV series had collectors buying up multiple copies and print run reaching over 100,000 for the first time.






#16
THE CHAMPIONS #1 (2016)
328,000 copies
Print run of regular cover is likely around 200,000 copies with many variants including an ultra rare 1:1000 ratio variant which helped boost sales numbers.

#17
THE WALKING DEAD #132 (2014)
326,000 copies
This is the 4th best selling of 4 different comics sold by Loot Crate but reported by Diamond Publishing. 
2nd highest Walking Dead comic.
Regular cover is likely only 76,000 copies with remainder of 250,000 being the loot crate variant cover.
1st appearance of Alpha.


#18
FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (1996)
313,000 copies
Highest print run of any regular priced Marvel Comic in the late 1990s.
Marvel returned to Diamond Distribution with this highlight comic leading the relaunch with massive sales for 1996.
Biggest comic of 1996
Biggest Marvel superhero comic of late 1990's






#19
THE WALKING DEAD #115 (2013)
310,000 copies
3rd highest Walking Dead comic.
Regular cover is likely only 50,000 copies with remainder of 260,000 being one of many connecting variant covers


#20
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 (2013) 
307,000 copies due to 55 different variant covers - many collectors bought all of them boosting the printing up from a likely 150,000 regular covers.
Highest selling comic of the 21st Century featuring Superman and/or Wonder Woman.



#21
UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 (2012)
303,000 copies
Highest selling Avengers comic of the 21st Century
One of the first multi-variant cover comics pushed by Marvel in 2012.


#22
MARVEL LEGACY #1 (2017)
298,000 copies
3rd highest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st Century
This series led into Marvel relaunching all their titles with "legacy" numbering in 2017 and putting back comics to high issue numbers.

#23
ROCKET RACCOON #1 (2014)
293,000 copies includes many variant covers so regular cover is likely around 200,000 copies.
Highest selling Guardians of the Galaxy related comic ever printed in history
High numbers due to demand and popularity after popularity of the Guardians Of The Galaxy movie.


#24
CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 (2007)
290,000 copies due to amazing demand and hype for the death of Captain America after the Civil War storyline.  This comic achieved media coverage.
Best selling Captain America comic of the 21st Century.
Best selling Marvel Comic of 2007.

#25
CIVIL WAR #3 (2006)
290,000 copies
This is the highest ordered issue of the series with sales even higher than the debut issue which is usually unheard of in comics but the demand was phenomenal for this mini-series.
4th highest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st Century


#26
ALL STAR BATMAN #1 (2016)
289,000 copies due to many variant covers so regular cover is likely around 175,000 copies
2nd highest regular priced Batman comic of the 21st Century.
2nd highest selling DC Rebirth title
High orders due to being near the start of the DC Rebirth launch in summer 2016.

#27
BATMAN #1 (2016)
280,000 copies due to many variant covers so regular cover is likely around 175,000 copies
3rd highest regular priced Batman comic of the 21st Century.
3rd highest selling DC Rebirth title. At this time the best selling regular monthly comic book title.  Hoknes Comics even did an exclusive variant blank cover print run of 3,000 copies





#28
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1 (2015)
279,000 copies
Highest Marvel relaunch title of fall of 2015
Many variant covers so regular cover print run is likely around 200,000 copies.
Best selling Iron Man comic of 21st Century (not counting Avengers).


#29
IRON MAN #1 (1996)
277,000 copies
2nd highest print run of any regular priced Marvel Comic in the late 1990s.
Marvel returned to Diamond Distribution with this highlight comic leading the relaunch with massive sales for 1996.
2nd Biggest Marvel comic of 1996
2nd Biggest Marvel superhero comic of late 1990's


#30
THE AVENGERS #1 (1996)
276,000 copies
3rd highest print run of any regular priced Marvel Comic in the late 1990s.
Marvel returned to Diamond Distribution with this highlight comic leading the relaunch with massive sales for 1996.
3rd Biggest Marvel comic of 1996
3rd Biggest Marvel superhero comic of late 1990's

#31
CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 (1996)
274,000 copies
4th highest print run of any regular priced Marvel Comic in the late 1990s.
Marvel returned to Diamond Distribution with this highlight comic leading the relaunch with massive sales for 1996.
4th Biggest Marvel comic of 1996
4th Biggest Marvel superhero comic of late 1990's

#32
CIVIL WAR #5 (2006)
272,000 copies
This is the 2nd highest ordered issue of the series with sales even higher than the debut issue which is usually unheard of in comics but the demand was phenomenal for this mini-series.
5th highest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st Century

#33
CIVIL WAR #4 (2006)
272,000 copies
This is the 3rd highest ordered issue of the series with sales even higher than the debut issue which is usually unheard of in comics but the demand was phenomenal for this mini-series.
6th highest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st Century

#34
CIVIL WAR #7 (2007)
265,000 copies
This is the 4th highest ordered issue of the series with sales even higher than the debut issue which is usually unheard of in comics but the demand was phenomenal for this mini-series.
7th highest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st Century

#35
DARTH VADER #1 (2015)
264,000 copies
Released only weeks after the record breaking Star Wars #1 was relaunched at Marvel.   This series also had massive sales but yet was not enough as this issue had to go back to 5 further printings selling out.
Many variant covers helped this print run and the regular cover is likely around 175,000 copies.

#36
ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #1 (2005)
261,000 copies
Impressive sales as the #1 best selling DC comic released from 2003-2013

#37
DARK NIGHT METAL #1 (2017)
261,000 copies
A few variant covers helped boost sales
#1 DC "event comic" of the 21st century

#38
DEATH OF WOLVERINE #1 (2014)
261,000 copies with help from a number of variant covers which helped boost sales.  Mini-series of 4 issues.
Highest selling Wolverine solo comic of the 21st century.

#39
CIVIL WAR #1 (2006)
260,000 copies
The highest order mini-series in comics during the 21st century
8th highest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st Century

#40
CIVIL WAR #6 (2006)
259,000 copies
This is the 6th highest ordered issue of the series with sales as high as the debut issue which is usually unheard of in comics but the demand was phenomenal for this mini-series.
9th highest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st Century





#41
FATHOM #1 (1998)
258,000 copies
Best Selling Comic of 1998
2nd best selling Image Comic of late 1990's
5th best selling Image Comic 1996-2017

#42
SPIDER-GWEN #1 (2015)
254,000 copies
Impressive orders for the first ongoing title of a character that had only debuted 3 months earlier in a mini-series.
Variant covers helped push the print run up of what is estimated at 200,000 regular covers.


#43
BLACK PANTHER #1 (2016)
253,000 copies
High demand for this black superhero that was featured in The Avengers movie helping create demand.  Multiple variant covers also helped push up the print run of a book that instantly sold out and increased in price and printings.

#44
CIVIL WAR #2 (2006)
253,000 copies
The highest order mini-series in comics during the 21st century.  This was the lowest ordered issue of the series and was a quick sellout as this key issue features Spider-man revealing to the world he is Peter Parker.
10th highest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st Century


#45
PRINCESS LEIA #1 (2015)
253,000 copies
This was the 3rd series in a month to be released when Marvel took over the Star Wars license in 2015.   Massive print runs and many variant covers helped push this up in sales.  This is the highest selling Star Wars mini-series ever published.

#46
SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1 (2013)
251,000 copies
Best selling Superman solo comic of the 21st century led by Jim Lee artwork creating a ton of demand a bunch of variant covers including a 1:300 helped push up sales of what would be about 150,000 regular covers.

#47
SECRET INVASION #1 (2008)
250,000 copies
11th biggest Marvel "event" comic of the 21st century.
Marvel's biggest selling event comic of 2008-2013 period.

#48
INFINITE CRISIS #1 (2005)
249,000 copies
Massively popular DC "event" mini-series
Best selling DC event comic of 1996-2015.

#49
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 (2015)
245,000 copies
This title was relaunched in 2015 only 18 months after it had been relaunched to much bigger sales.  This time retailers and readers were less quick to jump in to buy all the variant covers that helped propel the sales which would have been about 150,000 for the regular cover.

#50
BATMAN #619 (2003)
235,000 copies
The finale to the Hush storyline #608-619 brought readers out to the highest print run of Batman in a long time.
Best selling Batman title issue 1996-2015