Batman #27Media Release -- Batman's earliest days and his alliance with Jim Gordon are explored in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman #27 from DC Entertainment, the latest chapter of the "Zero Year" storyline and January 2014's best-selling comic book to specialty retailers, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.

Marvel Comics was January's top publisher, topping DC Entertainment 34.09% to 28.06% in Dollar Share and 37.39% to 30.77% in Unit Share. With five titles each for Marvel Comics (led by Avengers World #1) and DC Entertainment, the publishers split the month's top ten best-selling comics. Also of note, Image Comics topped ten percent in units in January, publishing 10.10% of the month's comics and graphic novels.

Compared to January 2013, the month's comics sales were essentially flat (down 0.42%) while graphic novel sales dropped by 14.28%.

Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' Hugo Award-winning interstellar drama from Image Comics, Saga Volume 1, was January's best-selling graphic novel, and the second volume also placed in the top ten.

IDW Publishing's latest Artist's Edition artbook, the John Romita: Amazing Spider-Man Artist's Edition Volume 2, was January's best-selling book in the comic book specialty market.

Dark Horse Comics had their strongest launch on the comics charts since September's The Star Wars #1 in January as Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1, the long-awaited sequel to Joss Whedon's film Serenity, charted at #29.

Based on Nintendo's best-selling video game, the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: Link Figma action figure from Good Smile was January's top-selling toy product.

Returning to the top of the sales charts, USAopoly's Monopoly: The Walking Dead Survival Edition, with custom rules and locations based on the best-selling comic, was January's best-selling games product.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

PUBLISHER DOLLAR SHARE UNIT SHARE
MARVEL COMICS 34.09% 37.39%
DC COMICS 28.06% 30.77%
IMAGE COMICS 8.78% 10.10%
IDW PUBLISHING 5.71% 5.08%
DARK HORSE COMICS 4.74% 4.22%
DYNAMIC FORCES 2.81% 2.69%
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT 2.25% 1.99%
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD 2.14% 0.43%
VIZ LLC 1.26% 0.51%
AVATAR PRESS INC 1.05% 0.87%
OTHER NON-TOP 10 9.11% 5.95%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER COMICS SHIPPED GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED MAGAZINES SHIPPED TOTAL SHIPPED
DC ENTERTAINMENT 83 23 0 106
MARVEL COMICS 79 27 0 106
IMAGE COMICS 53 11 0 64
IDW PUBLISHING 38 15 0 53
VIZ MEDIA 0 45 0 45
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 36 4 0 40
DARK HORSE COMICS 26 12 0 38
BOOM! STUDIOS 26 7 0 33
AVATAR PRESS 16 2 1 19
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS 0 0 14 14
OTHER 77 108 21 206

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

DOLLARS UNITS
JANUARY 2014 VS. DECEMBER 2013
COMICS -5.87% -7.17%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -11.65% -9.89%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -7.71% -7.39%
JANUARY 2014 VS. JANUARY 2013
COMICS -0.42% -7.45%
GRAPHIC NOVELS -14.28% -6.99%
TOTAL COMICS/GN -5.09% -7.42%
TWELVE-MONTH ROLLING COMPARISON
COMICS 8.52% 4.61%
GRAPHIC NOVELS 2.57% 2.48%
TOTAL COMICS/GN 6.63% 4.44%

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 BATMAN #27 $3.99 NOV130172-M DC
2 DETECTIVE COMICS #27 $7.99 NOV130175-M DC
3 AVENGERS WORLD #1 $3.99 NOV130569-M MAR
4 JUSTICE LEAGUE #27 $3.99 NOV130123-M DC
5 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #25 $4.99 NOV130660-M MAR
6 ALL NEW X-MEN #22.NOW $3.99 NOV130557-M MAR
7 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #26 $3.99 NOV130662 MAR
8 HARLEY QUINN #2 $2.99 NOV130171 DC
9 AVENGERS #25 $3.99 NOV130579-M MAR
10 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11 $3.99 NOV130126-M DC

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) $9.99 AUG120491 IMA
2 THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP $14.99 NOV128157 IMA
3 ALL-NEW X-MEN VOLUME 1: YESTERDAY'S X-MEN TP $19.99 OCT130757 MAR
4 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN VOL. 4: NECESSARY EVIL TP $17.99 OCT130759 MAR
5 BATMAN '66: THE TV STORIES TP $14.99 OCT130248 DC
6 SAGA VOLUME 2 TP (MR) $14.99 APR130443 IMA
7 X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM HC $49.99 OCT130747 MAR
8 THE UNWRITTEN VOLUME 8: ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLDS TP (MR) $16.99 OCT130295 DC
9 BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOLUME 2: CYCLE OF VIOLENCE TP (N52) $14.99 OCT130236 DC
10 THOR: GOD OF THUNDER VOL. 1: GOD BUTCHER TP $19.99 OCT130763 MAR

TOP 10 BOOKS

RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 JOHN ROMITA: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ARTIST'S EDITION VOLUME 2 HC $95.00 SEP130429 IDW
2 LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC $34.99 SEP120055 DAR
3 DOCTOR WHO: 11 DOCTORS, 11 STORIES SC $15.99 AUG131594 PEN
4 THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 80 SC $14.95 NOV131406 SAN
5 TIM BRADSTREET SKETCHBOOK VOLUME 1 TP $9.99 SEP130462 IDW
6 DOCTOR WHO: THE DOCTOR'S LIVES & TIMES SC $19.99 NOV131389 HAR
7 DARK SOULS: DESIGN WORKS HC $39.99 AUG131470 UDO
8 MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN: LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK FAVORITES $6.99 NOV131387 RAN
9 HISTORY OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SC $34.99 SEP131340 UDO
10 DC SUPER HEROES: WONDER WOMAN: SWORD OF DRAGON $4.95 NOV131383 CAP

TOP 10 TOYS

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD: LINK FIGMA JUN132070 GOO
2 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED SERIES 1 MINI-FIGURES SEP130331 DC
3 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS: HARLEY QUINN ACTION FIGURE SEP130327 DC
4 DC COMICS: SUPERMAN FOR TOMORROW ARTFX STATUE JUL131943 KOT
5 BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY: CATWOMAN STATUE AUG130365 DC
6 MARVEL: PSYLOCKE "X-FORCE" BISHOUJO STATUE JUL131945 KOT
7 MARVEL SELECT: ULTIMATE HULK ACTION FIGURE MAR031852 DST
8 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: BATMAN EARTH-2 STATUE AUG130364 DC
9 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS: DEADSHOT ACTION FIGURE SEP130326 DC
10 DC COMICS: SHAZAM "NEW 52" ARTFX+ STATUE JUL131944 KOT

TOP 10 GAMES

RANK DESCRIPTION ITEM CODE VENDOR
1 MONOPOLY: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION OCT128266 USA
2 MY LITTLE PONY CCG: PREMIERE EDITION 2-PLAYER STARTER SET JUL138270 ENT
3 RISK: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION OCT128267 USA
4 MY LITTLE PONY CCG: PREMIERE EDITION BOOSTER PACKS JUL138268 ENT
5 YU-GI-OH! HEROCLIX STARTER SET MAY132349 NEC
6 PANDEMIC BOARD GAME (NEW EDITION) MAR132266 ALL
7 FIREFLY: OUT TO THE BLACK CARD GAME SEP132434 TOY
8 MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: THEROS BOOSTER PACKS JUN132398 ALL
9 MY LITTLE PONY CCG: PREMIERE EDITION THEME DECKS JUL138269 ENT
10 MARVEL HEROCLIX: AVENGERS VS. X-MEN: X-MEN STARTER SET AUG138093 NEC

How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.

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 3,500 comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, and other specialty stores.

Unit and dollar market shares are calculated based upon orders for comic books, graphic novels, and magazines 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.

Please note that comics marked with an asterisk have had their reported quantities reduced due to retailer returnability, and thus may rank lower on the charts than their actual sales would reflect.

The count of new titles shipped includes all titles that were invoiced by Diamond to retailers for the first time during the month and is not the official solicited title count for the month. Variant edition comic books and graphic novels at the same price point count as a single SKU. Variant edition comic books, lenticular covers, digital combo packs, and graphic novels at different price points count as separate SKUs for each edition.

ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS (DCD)—Diamond is at the nexus of comics and pop culture merchandise. Based in Baltimore, MD, DCD is the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise, servicing more than 4,000 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.