Media Release -- Otto Octavius begins his new life as Spider-Man in the body of his old enemy Peter Parker in Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman's Superior Spider-Man #1, the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in January 2013, 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 leading publisher with a 34.82% market share in retail dollars and a 40.23% market share in units. DC Entertainment was second with a 31.61% share in dollars and a 35.41% share in units.
The cub Therese sets off on an epic adventure in Bill Willingham's Fables Volume 18: Cubs in Toyland from DC Entertainment's Vertigo imprint, giving the publisher the best-selling graphic novel for January.
Dark Horse Comics' The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, a thorough history of the fan-favorite video game series from Nintendo, sold out its initial print run on its way to becoming January's best-selling prose book to comic retailers. In addition, the book was a strong seller through Diamond Book Distributors and topped the book market sales charts at Amazon and Bookscan.
Based on Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment's best-selling video game, the Batman: Arkham City -- Harley Quinn Statue from DC Collectibles was the best-selling toy product to comic book specialty retailers in January.
WizKids/NECA's Marvel HeroClix: The Amazing Spider-Man, an expansion for the fan-favorite miniature games, was January's best-selling games product to comic book specialty retailers.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 34.82% | 40.23% |
DC ENTERTAINMENT | 31.61% | 35.41% |
IMAGE COMICS | 8.19% | 7.45% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 6.30% | 3.92% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.55% | 3.62% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.20% | 2.13% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 1.45% | 1.55% |
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.22% | 0.26% |
AVATAR PRESS | 0.87% | 0.73% |
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT | 0.86% | 0.93% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 7.92% | 3.76% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
JANUARY 2013 VS. DECEMBER 2012 | ||
COMICS | -4.44% | -3.34% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 21.64% | 16.63% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 3.01% | -2.03% |
JANUARY 2013 VS. JANUARY 2012 | ||
COMICS | 22.32% | 19.86% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 37.89% | 30.73% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 27.16% | 20.65% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1 | $3.99 | NOV120633 | MAR |
2 | BATMAN #16 | $3.99 | NOV120190 | DC |
3 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #16 | $3.99 | NOV120161 | DC |
4 | NEW AVENGERS #1 | $3.99 | NOV120625 | MAR |
5 | SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #2 | $3.99 | NOV120641 | MAR |
6 | SAVAGE WOLVERINE #1 | $3.99 | NOV120643 | MAR |
7 | UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 | $3.99 | OCT120587 | MAR |
8 | DETECTIVE COMICS #16 | $3.99 | NOV120202 | DC |
9 | AVENGERS #3 | $3.99 | NOV120663 | MAR |
10 | UNCANNY X-FORCE #1 | $3.99 | NOV120620 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | FABLES VOLUME 18: CUBS IN TOYLAND TP (MR) | $16.99 | OCT120296 | DC |
2 | SAGA VOLUME 1 TP | $9.99 | AUG120491 | IMA |
3 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | JUL068351 | IMA |
4 | SILVER SURFER BY STAN LEE AND MOEBIUS | $7.99 | NOV120729 | MAR |
5 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHIND US | $14.99 | SEP088204 | IMA |
6 | JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL. 2: THE VILLAIN'S JOURNEY HC | $24.99 | SEP120233 | DC |
7 | JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL. 1: ORIGIN TP | $16.99 | OCT120252 | DC |
8 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 3: SAFETY BEHIND BARS | $14.99 | NOV082245 | IMA |
9 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 17: SOMETHING TO FEAR | $14.99 | SEP120449 | IMA |
10 | ANIMAL MAN VOL. 2: ANIMAL VS. MAN TP | $16.99 | OCT120251 | DC |
TOP 10 BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC | $34.99 | SEP120055 | DAR |
2 | FRANK CHO: WOMEN BOOK 2 HC (MR) | $24.99 | SEP120438 | IMA |
3 | NEIL GAIMAN: CHU'S DAY HC | $17.99 | OCT121382 | HAR |
4 | DC SUPER HEROES: THE DARK KNIGHT: THE JOKER VIRUS TP | $5.95 | OCT121338 | CAP |
5 | DC SUPER HEROES: THE DARK KNIGHT: CAT COMMANDER TP | $5.95 | OCT121336 | CAP |
6 | BEHIND THE SOFA: CELEBRITY MEMORIES OF DOCTOR WHO HC | $24.99 | JUL121374 | DIA |
7 | DC SUPER HEROES: THE DARK KNIGHT: THE SCARECROW'S FLOCK OF FEAR TP | $5.95 | OCT121337 | CAP |
8 | DC SUPER HEROES: BATMAN: FIVE RIDDLES FOR ROBIN TP | $4.95 | NOV121443 | CAP |
9 | DC SUPER HEROES: BATMAN: FUN HOUSE OF EVIL | $4.95 | NOV121444 | CAP |
10 | DC SUPER HEROES: THE DARK KNIGHT: KILLER CROC OF DOOM TP | $5.95 | OCT121339 | CAP |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY -- HARLEY QUINN STATUE | OCT120311 | DC |
2 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY PLAY ARTS ~KAI~: CATWOMAN | JUN128138 | SQU |
3 | BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY PLAY ARTS ~KAI~: BATMAN | JUN128137 | SQU |
4 | DEADPOOL ACTION STATUE | JUL121853 | BOW |
5 | STAR TREK: USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701-B SHIP | AUG121760 | DST |
6 | THE DARK KNIGHT: BATMAN HD MASTERPIECE | AUG128067 | ENT |
7 | DC COMICS: HUNTRESS BISHOUJO STATUE | AUG121880 | KOT |
8 | DC COMICS: SUPERMAN "THE NEW 52" ARTFX+ STATUE | AUG121878 | KOT |
9 | DOCTOR WHO TITANS MINI-FIGURES | AUG121925 | TIT |
10 | THE DARK KNIGHT: THE JOKER HD MASTERPIECE | AUG128068 | ENT |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | MARVEL HEROCLIX AMAZING SPIDER-MAN | NOV122066 | NEC |
2 | DC HEROCLIX: BATMAN BOOSTER BRICK | AUG122142 | NEC |
3 | PATHFINDER BATTLES: SHATTERED STAR BOOSTER BRICK | NOV122069 | NEC |
4 | STAR TREK TACTICS HEROCLIX SERIES II | OCT128372 | NEC |
5 | DC HEROCLIX: BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM | SEP122103 | NEC |
6 | THE WALKING DEAD COMIC BOARD GAME | JUL112185 | ALL |
7 | STAR WARS LCG CORE SET | NOV122044 | FAN |
8 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: RETURN TO RAVNICA BOOSTERS | AUG122136 | WIZ |
9 | STAR TREK TACTICS HEROCLIX SERIES II STARTER SET | OCT128373 | NEC |
10 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN | JUL128140 | 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 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