Controversy Creates Cash: Marvel's Secret Empire #0 Tops April's Sales Charts

Marvel might have divided its fanbase over the recent Secret Empire event, but they sure turned out in droves to anyway, as the newest Diamond charts readily show.

Secret Empire kicked off with Secret Empire #0, and the anticipated issue led Marvel to take the top spot in April with a 34.95% dollar share and a 38.23% unit share. DC wasn't far behind though, coming in second with a 30.49% dollar share and a 34.34% unit share. Image came in third with a 10.54% dollar share and a 9.86% unit share. Dark Horse was in the fourth spot with a 4.46% dollar share and a 3.06% unit share with IDW rounding out the top five with a 3.63% dollar share and a 2.95% unit share.

It wasn't only Secret Empire though that helped Marvel win the month, as all three X-Men relaunches (X-Men Gold, X-Men Blue, and Weapon X) are all in the top 10 books. DC's "The Button" series, which is taking place in The Flash and Batman books, also took a few spots in the top 10, with The Walking Dead rounding out the top 10.

Secret Empire has caused quite a controversy in some circles of fans, who aren't a fan of the way writer Nick Spencer and Marvel, in general, are portraying Captain America. The strategy doesn't seem to have hurt the bottom line though, and it will be interesting to see if that holds up next month with Secret Empire #1. The full chart can be viewed below.

Top 10 Comic Books:

1. Secret Empire #0 / $4.99 / Marvel

2. Batman #21 (Lenticular Ed. The Button) / $3.99 / DC

3. X-Men Gold #1 / $4.99 / Marvel

4. X-Men: Blue #1 / $4.99 / Marvel

5. The Flash #21 (Lenticular Ed. The Button) / $3.99 / DC

6. Batman #20 / $2.99 / DC

7. Batman #21 (The Button) / $2.99 / DC

8. Star Wars #30 / $3.99 / Marvel

9. Weapon X #1 / $3.99 / Marvel

10. The Walking Dead #166 (MR) / $2.99 / Image

Top 10 Graphic Novels & Trade Paperbacks:

1. Batman Volume 2: I Am Suicide TP

2. Hellboy: Into The Silent Sea HC

3. Saga Volume 7 TP (MR)

4. Superman Vol. 2: Trials Of The Super Son TP

5. All-Star Batman Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy HC

6. Saga Deluxe Edition Volume 2 HC (MR)

7. Batman Volume 10: Epilogue TP

8. Justice League Volume 2: Outbreak TP

9. Avatar The Last Airbender Vol. 15 TP

10. Red Hood & The Outlaws Vol. 1: Dark Trinity TP

Secret Empire #1 is written by Nick Spencer with art by Steve McNiven, and you can view the full review here.

It's been building for months, across a bevy of titles! But now, the moment has arrived for Steve Rogers to step into the light and declare his allegiance to Hydra! How can the heroes of the Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted figure among them? And what will this mean for the world? The map of the Marvel Universe changes in ways nobody will expect — TRUST THE SECRET EMPIRE!

Secret Empire #1 is in stores now.

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