The power of the Force helped Marvel Comics return to the top of the direct market in March 2015, as "Princess Leia" launched her first ever solo title in grand style, taking the #1 position for the month.
Overall, Marvel swept nine of the top ten positions, with Leia's second issue landing in the #5 position. "Guardians Team-Up" took two other slots, "Howard the Duck" launched strong, and "Spider-Gwen," "Star Wars," "Darth Vader" and "Amazing Spider-Man" all maintained their sales momentum.
DC Comics lone top ten book was "Batman: Arkham Knight" #1, a collection of the digital-first comic series. DC's top ten mainstay, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's "Batman," did not see an issue ship in March.
Sales were down from February 2015, but up over March 2014. Marvel maintained it's overall position as the number one publisher in the direct market, with a 38.82% dollar share and 41.53% unit share. DC accounted for approximately a quarter of all comics sold in March, while Image locked down 11.39% of the dollars spent in March, moving 12.98% of the comics for the month.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 38.82% | 41.53% |
| DC COMICS | 23.01% | 26.13% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 11.39% | 12.98% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 6.51% | 5.16% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.90% | 3.07% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.41% | 2.44% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.37% | 1.99% |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.83% | 0.32% |
| TITAN COMICS | 1.01% | 0.77% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0.98% | 0.37% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 7.76% | 5.23% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| MARCH 2015 VS. FEBRUARY 2014 | ||
| COMICS | -3.86% | -4.32% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 8.34% | 10.63% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -0.58% | -3.37% |
| MARCH 2015 VS. MARCH 2014 | ||
| COMICS | 11.19% | 9.92% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -12.56% | -22.36% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.99% | 6.70% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2015 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2014(FIRST QUARTER 2015 VS. FIRST QUARTER 2014) | ||
| COMICS | 13.85% | 13.76% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 0.65% | -8.96% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 9.63% | 11.76% |
| FIRST QUARTER 2015 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2014 | ||
| COMICS | -9.56% | -8.37% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -17.28% | -15.58% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -11.97% | -8.93% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | PRINCESS LEIA #1 | $3.99 | JAN150727-M | MAR |
| 2 | STAR WARS #3 | $3.99 | JAN150742-M | MAR |
| 3 | GUARDIANS TEAM-UP #1 | $3.99 | DEC140815-M | MAR |
| 4 | SPIDER-GWEN #2 | $3.99 | JAN150785-M | MAR |
| 5 | PRINCESS LEIA #2 | $3.99 | JAN150738-M | MAR |
| 6 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16 | $3.99 | JAN150779-M | MAR |
| 7 | HOWARD THE DUCK #1 | $3.99 | JAN150769-M | MAR |
| 8 | DARTH VADER #3 | $3.99 | JAN150740-M | MAR |
| 9 | BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT #1 | $3.99 | JAN150229-M | DC |
| 10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16.1 | $3.99 | JAN150781-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | NEMO: RIVER OF GHOSTS HC (MR) | $14.95 | JAN151622 | IDW |
| 2 | MS. MARVEL VOL. 2: GENERATION WHY TP | $15.99 | DEC140970 | MAR |
| 3 | LOW VOL. 1: THE DELIRIUM OF HOPE TP (MR) | $9.99 | DEC140670 | IMA |
| 4 | HAWKEYE VS. DEADPOOL TP | $16.99 | DEC140975 | MAR |
| 5 | SAGA VOLUME 4 TP (MR) | $14.99 | OCT140644 | IMA |
| 6 | DEADPOOL VOLUME 7: AXIS TP | $17.99 | DEC140987 | MAR |
| 7 | DEADPOOL'S THE ART OF WAR TP | $12.99 | DEC140974 | MAR |
| 8 | DEADLY CLASS VOL. 2: KIDS OF THE BLACK HOLE TP (MR) | $14.99 | DEC140657 | IMA |
| 9 | BIRTHRIGHT VOL. 1: HOMECOMING TP (MR) | $9.99 | JAN150622 | IMA |
| 10 | BOB'S BURGERS VOLUME 1 TP | $17.99 | JAN151278-M | DE |