For the first time since 1968, DC snagged the top six spots in the top-ten selling titles of the month. Marvel Comics maintained its hold on the dominant market share in comics, according to Diamond Comic’s monthly sales report. But DC closed the gap from 14.84% to just under 2.5% by dominating the top six, best-selling titles of the month. Blackest Night #4 secured the Number One position, with four other Blackest Night themed titles and Batman and Robin shoring up the rest of the top six slots. Dark Horse held its firm bronze finish over both IDW and Image — who traded off fourth- and fifth-positions yet again. And Archie Comics crept into the Top Ten for the second month in a row, no doubt because of the “Archie marries Veronica” storyline that has been garnering a fair share of media buzz. Here’s a look at the numbers:

Percent of unit share, by publisher.

Top Ten Titles, Oct. 2009

1 BLACKEST NIGHT #4
2 BATMAN AND ROBIN #5
3 GREEN LANTERN #47
4 BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #3
5 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #41
6 BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #3
7 NEW AVENGERS #58
8 DARK AVENGERS #10
9 UNCANNY X-MEN #516
10 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #608

Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 4,000+ accounts, comprised of comic book specialty shops and other merchant stores and buyers. The shops are primarily located in North America, with a percentage of sales also to international stores and buyers located throughout the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, and other specialty stores.
Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.