Media 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.