October 2019 delivered the best month in three years for the Direct Market, as comics shops ordered $56.35 million in comic books, graphic novels, and magazines from Diamond Comic Distributors. It was an increase of 14%, or nearly $7 million, over the previous October, itself the strongest month in 2018 and one that likewise had five New Comic Book Days. It was
the fourth best month of the decade, also the first month to top $50 million in orders in exactly three years.
Retailers ordered 8.82 million comics, an increase of 10% and likewise the most comics ordered in a single month in three years. Yet publishers actually released 1% fewer comics in the month: five fewer. It was what the comic books were that mattered more. October saw the launch of Jonathan Hickman's X-Men title, which placed first in dollars and units with more than 255,000 copies shipped. The wrap-up of Powers of X and House of X placed third and fourth in units respectively, and more batches of reorders came in for previous issues. It was Marvel's best month in dollar terms since Civil War II debuted in June 2016; its year over year sales were up 32% during the month. As of October, an improved year for Marvel in 2019 was guaranteed. ...