Thanks to continued interest in Rebirth, DC Comics maintained its position as the top publisher in August, improving on its impressive July showing. Cumulatively, it was the largest month ever for the Direct Market, with combined sales topping 10M units for the first time since Diamond began releasing data in 1998.
DC titles accounted for nine of the top ten best-selling comics for the month, with "Harley Quinn" #1 topping the charts as the best-selling issue. "All-Star Batman" landed at #2, while "Suicide Squad" #1 and "Suicide Squad: Rebirth" #1 were at #3 and #5, respectively. Slots #6-10 were filled, in order, by "Batman" #4 and #5, "Justice League" #2, "Harley Quinn" #2 and "Supergirl: Rebirth" #1.
Marvel Comics' sole Top Ten series was "Amazing Spider-Man" #16, which charted at #4.
"Star Wars: Darth Vader" vol. 3 was the best-selling trade paperback/graphic novel of the month, with the special edition hardcover reprint of "Batman: The Killing Joke" at #2
DC Comics' Direct Market shares rose to 39.27% in dollar shares, and 44.59% unit shares. Marvel dipped to 30.78% in dollars, and 32.11% in units. Image was third, making up 7.66% of the market in dollars, and 7.78% in units.
Monthly comics sales were up significantly from July, and saw a dramatic increase over August 2015, increasing 11.58% in dollars and 11.02% in units over the same period last year.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 39.27% | 44.59% |
| MARVEL COMICS | 30.78% | 32.11% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 7.66% | 7.78% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 4.92% | 3.53% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.08% | 2.28% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.98% | 1.57% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 1.57% | 1.14% |
| TITAN COMICS | 1.19% | 1.09% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.14% | 0.41% |
| ONI PRESS | 0.83% | 0.55% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 7.58% | 4.94% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| | DOLLARS | UNITS |
| AUGUST 2016 VS. JULY 2016 | ||
| COMICS | 13.30% | 8.28% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 16.50% | 19.21% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 14.13% | 8.95% |
| AUGUST 2016 VS. AUGUST 2015 | ||
| COMICS | 44.58% | 44.02% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 5.53% | 7.15% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 31.62% | 40.77% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2016 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2015 | ||
| COMICS | 2.66% | 0.06% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 2.81% | 1.10% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.71% | 0.14% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | HARLEY QUINN #1 [*] | $2.99 | JUN160218-M | DC |
| 2 | ALL-STAR BATMAN #1 [*] | $4.99 | JUN160203-M | DC |
| 3 | SUICIDE SQUAD #1 [*] | $2.99 | JUN160230-M | DC |
| 4 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16 | $3.99 | JUN160844-M | MAR |
| 5 | SUICIDE SQUAD REBIRTH #1 [*] | $2.99 | JUN160228-M | DC |
| 6 | BATMAN #4 [*] | $2.99 | JUN160242-M | DC |
| 7 | BATMAN #5 [*] | $2.99 | JUN160244-M | DC |
| 8 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 [*] | $2.99 | JUN160266-M | DC |
| 9 | HARLEY QUINN #2 [*] | $2.99 | JUN160220-M | DC |
| 10 | SUPERGIRL REBIRTH #1 [*] | $2.99 | JUN160226-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | STAR WARS: DARTH VADER VOL. 3: THE SHU TORUN WAR TP | $16.99 | MAY160924 | MAR |
| 2 | BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL EDITION HC | $17.99 | NOV070226 | DC |
| 3 | BLACK PANTHER BOOK 1: NATION UNDER OUR FEET TP | $16.99 | JUN160956 | MAR |
| 4 | SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL VOL. 1: ISN'T IT BROMANTIC TP | $17.99 | MAY160926 | MAR |
| 5 | STAR WARS VOLUME 3: REBEL JAIL TP | $19.99 | MAY160922 | MAR |
| 6 | BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES HC | $24.99 | APR160380 | DC |
| 7 | SAGA VOLUME 6 TP (MR) | $14.99 | MAR160684 | IMA |
| 8 | TEEN TITANS EARTH ONE VOLUME 2 HC | $22.99 | APR160323 | DC |
| 9 | HARLEY QUINN BOOK AND MASK SET | $34.99 | APR160377 | DC |
| 10 | HARLEY QUINN & THE SUICIDE SQUAD: AN ADULT COLORING BOOK TP | $15.99 | MAY160307 | DC |