Media Release -- The Human Torch sacrificed his life to save his teammates and the Earth in January's Fantastic Four #587, sending the long-running Marvel Comics title to the top of January's comic book sales charts according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture merchandise.
Thanks in part to the strong sales on Fantastic Four #587 from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Steve Epting, Marvel Comics was the leading comic book publisher in January with a Dollar Market Share of 39.06% and a Unit Market Share of 42.37%. Image Comics had their strongest showing in over three years, with Dollar Share of 7.60%.
Sales of comic books and graphic novels fell in the post-Christmas season, with January's comic books sales declining by 27.70% from December and graphic novel sales falling by 32.41%.
Jack Horner's adventures in a world where forgotten technology is treated like forbidden magic formed the basis of Jack of Fables Volume 8: The Fulminate Blade, the latest collected volume of Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges' spin-off of Willingham's best-selling Fables series, giving DC Comics' Vertigo imprint the best-selling graphic novel in January.
More characters from DC Comics' crossover event Blackest Night, including Black Lantern Superman and Red Lantern Mera, starred in DC Direct's Blackest Night Series 7 Action Figure series, January's best-selling Toy product to comics specialty retailers.
NECA/WizKids' DC HeroClix: 75th-Anniversary Expansion series, which features characters taken from DC Comics' long history, topped the sales charts for the second month in a row as the best-selling Games product to comics specialty retailers in January.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 39.06% | 42.37% |
| DC COMICS | 26.38% | 31.80% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 7.60% | 6.45% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.82% | 3.70% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 4.75% | 4.60% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.82% | 2.51% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.01% | 1.80% |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.40% | 0.31% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.28% | 0.58% |
| WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT | 0.68% | 0.62% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 9.19% | 5.25% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| JANUARY 2011 VS. DECEMBER 2010 | ||
| COMICS | -27.70% | -23.75% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -32.41% | -31.09% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -29.35% | -24.45% |
| JANUARY 2011 VS. JANUARY 2010 | ||
| COMICS | -21.98% | -23.23% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -16.53% | -19.36% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -20.24% | -22.91% |
| CURRENT 12-MONTHS ROLLING VS. PREVIOUS 12-MONTHS ROLLING | ||
| COMICS | -6.64% | -8.40% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -1.81% | -2.83% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -5.09% | -7.93% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | FANTASTIC FOUR #587 | $3.99 | NOV100584 | MAR |
| 2 | BRIGHTEST DAY #17 | $2.99 | NOV100154-M | DC |
| 3 | BRIGHTEST DAY #18 | $2.99 | NOV100156-M | DC |
| 4 | SPAWN #200 | $3.99 | DEC090345-M | IMA |
| 5 | AVENGERS #9 | $3.99 | NOV100529 | MAR |
| 6 | X-MEN #7 | $3.99 | NOV100603-M | MAR |
| 7 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #19 | $2.99 | NOV100169-M | DC |
| 8 | NEW AVENGERS #8 | $3.99 | NOV100539 | MAR |
| 9 | BATMAN #706 | $2.99 | NOV100166 | DC |
| 10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #651 | $3.99 | OCT100567-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | JACK OF FABLES VOLUME 8: FULMINATE BLADE | $14.99 | OCT100327 | DC |
| 2 | THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 1:DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | JUL068351 | IMA |
| 3 | THE DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER: THE JOURNEY BEGINS PREMIERE HC | $24.99 | NOV100642 | MAR |
| 4 | THE GOON VOL. 10: DEATH'S GREEDY COMEUPPANCE | $16.99 | NOV108240 | DAR |
| 5 | BATMAN: JOKER'S ASYLUM VOLUME 2 TP | $14.99 | OCT100263 | DC |
| 6 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOLUME 4 TP | $15.99 | OCT100699 | MAR |
| 7 | STARMAN OMNIBUS VOLUME 6 HC | $49.99 | SEP100254 | DC |
| 8 | HOUSE OF MYSTERY VOLUME 5 TP | $14.99 | OCT100325 | DC |
| 9 | MADAME XANADU VOLUME 3 TP | $17.99 | OCT100331 | DC |
| 10 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHIND US TP | $14.99 | SEP088204-M | IMA |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 7 ACTION FIGURES | MAY100294 | DC |
| 2 | BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 8 ACTION FIGURES | MAY100302 | DC |
| 3 | COVER GIRLS OF THE DCU: BATGIRL STATUE | APR100306 | DC |
| 4 | MARVEL SELECT: JUGGERNAUT ACTION FIGURE | JUN101512 | DST |
| 5 | DANGER ROOM SESSIONS: DEADPOOL FINE ART STATUE | JUN101639 | KOT |
| 6 | FATHOM: ASPEN MATTHEWS STATUE | JUL100804 | ASP |
| 7 | DC X BISHOUJO: BATGIRL BISHOUJO STATUE | AUG101655 | KOT |
| 8 | MARVEL X BISHOUJO: EMMA FROST BISHOUJO STATUE | AUG101658 | KOT |
| 9 | BATMAN (JUSTICE) 1/6-SCALE COLLECTOR FIGURE | MAY100314 | DC |
| 10 | BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE STATUE: BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM | FEB100301 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DC HEROCLIX 75TH ANNIVERSARY BOOSTER PACK | SEP101745 | NEC |
| 2 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: 5DS DUELIST PACK YUSEI | NOV101692 | KON |
| 3 | PATHFINDER RPG BESTIARY 2 | AUG101838 | PAI |
| 4 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: SCARS OF MIRRODIN BOOSTER PACKS | AUG101862 | WIZ |
| 5 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: WEB OF SPIDER-MAN BOOSTER PACKS | JUN101864 | NEC |
| 6 | ZOMBIE STATE BOARD GAME | NOV101716 | ALL |
| 7 | THE HOBBIT BOARD GAME | NOV101682 | FAN |
| 8 | DOCTOR WHO FAMILY BOARD GAME | OCT101792 | DIA |
| 9 | HALO: REACH ACTIONCLIX: NOBLE TEAM 6-PACK | JUN108133 | NEC |
| 10 | FIREFLY 7-PIECE RED DICE SET | OCT101766 | CRY |
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 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.
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.
