DC Comics' continuity-adjusting "DC Universe: Rebirth" was the top seller in the Direct Market for May 2016, according to Diamond Comic Distributors. The oversized one-shot outsold every other release for the month, including the first installment of Marvel Comics' line-wide crossover, "Civil War II" #0
Marvel remained the number one publisher overall, once again locking up seven of the top ten best-selling issues. "The Punisher" debuted at #3, while the controversial and heavily-marketed "Captain America: Steve Rogers" #1 landed in the #5 spot. April's best-selling series, "Black Panther," maintained a top-ten position, with Issue #2 ranking ninth for the month.
DC Comics made up the final three in May Top Ten, as "Batman" #52 was ranked #4, despite being the first issue to take place in the post-Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo era. "Justice League" #50, the final chapter in Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok's "Darkseid Wars," was the #7 seller for the month.
"Batman: The Killing Joke" was the best-selling graphic novel for May. Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's controversial story, first published in March 1988, also topped BookScan's charts for bookstore sales.
Overall, Marvel commanded 39.64% of the Direct Market in dollar shares, and 44.80% unit shares, a slight drop from previous months. DC Comics accounted for 26.45% in dollars, and 26.34% in units. Image was once again third, making up just under 8.5% of the market in dollars, and 7.95% in units.
Monthly comics sales dropped from April, and even more so from May 2015.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 39.64% | 44.80% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 26.45% | 26.34% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 8.38% | 7.95% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 5.70% | 4.99% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.25% | 2.31% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.51% | 2.34% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 1.66% | 1.51% |
| TITAN COMICS | 1.39% | 1.48% |
| VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC | 1.09% | 1.25% |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 0.98% | 0.89% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.95% | 6.13% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| MAY 2016 VS. APRIL 2016 | ||
| COMICS | -6.54% | -4.15% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -6.31% | -11.10% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -6.46% | -4.77% |
| MAY 2016 VS. MAY 2015 | ||
| COMICS | -14.34% | -17.60% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 4.52% | -3.39% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -9.05% | -16.58% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2016 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2015 | ||
| COMICS | -9.23% | -14.01% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 4.80% | 3.46% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -5.11% | -12.72% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH #1 | $2.99 | APR160273-M | DC |
| 2 | CIVIL WAR II #0 | $4.99 | MAR168949-M | MAR |
| 3 | THE PUNISHER #1 | $3.99 | MAR160728-M | MAR |
| 4 | BATMAN #52 | $3.99 | MAR160223-M | DC |
| 5 | CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #1 | $4.99 | MAR160721-M | MAR |
| 6 | STAR WARS #19 | $3.99 | MAR160891-M | MAR |
| 7 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #50 | $5.99 | FEB160134-M | DC |
| 8 | DARTH VADER #20 | $4.99 | MAR160897-M | MAR |
| 9 | BLACK PANTHER #2 | $3.99 | MAR160829-M | MAR |
| 10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #12 | $3.99 | MAR160781-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL EDITION HC | $17.99 | NOV070226 | DC |
| 2 | DESCENDER VOLUME 2 TP (MR) | $14.99 | FEB160680-M | IMA |
| 3 | CIVIL WAR TP | $24.99 | JAN072436 | MAR |
| 4 | BLACK SCIENCE VOLUME 4: GODWORLD TP (MR) | $14.99 | FEB160656 | IMA |
| 5 | WE STAND ON GUARD DELUXE HC (MR) | $24.99 | FEB160645 | IMA |
| 6 | CHEW VOLUME 11: LAST SUPPERS TP (MR) | $14.99 | FEB160669 | IMA |
| 7 | THE JOKER: ENDGAME TP | $24.99 | FEB160224 | DC |
| 8 | STAR WARS: KANAN VOLUME 2: FIRST BLOOD TP | $17.99 | JAN160963 | MAR |
| 9 | SPIDER-GWEN VOLUME 1: GREATER POWER TP | $17.99 | FEB160962 | MAR |
| 10 | SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL: DON'T CALL IT A TEAM UP TP | $34.99 | FEB160956 | MAR |