The month of January is complete and now tallied for the comic book direct market segment and the folks at Diamond Distribution have put together their latest round of charts and graphs to show where everything landed. it’s certainly a bit of an unusual month simply because of the overall reach that Star Wars had with its debut issue from Marvel Comics, which helped to give the publisher a very strong month overall, some of which certainly isn’t represented here because of things like the Loot Crate edition and variants for various retail chains..
“Marvel Comics was January’s top publisher with a 41.05% dollar share and a 45.64% unit share. DC Entertainment, with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman #38 as their top comic at #2, had a 24.18% dollar share and a 27.05% unit share. Image Comics, with Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead #136 as their top comic at #10, was third for the month with a 9.21% dollar share and a 8.91% unit share. IDW Publishing came in fourth with a 5.78% dollar share and 4.52% unit share. In fifth was Dark Horse Comics with a 4.01% dollar share and a 3.03% unit share.”
“Wolverine faces his final adventure in Charles Soule and Steve McNiven’s Death of Wolverine from Marvel Comics, January’s best-selling graphic novel. Image Comics had seven graphic novels among the top ten, led by Outcast by Kirkman & Azaceta Volume 1 at #2, as well as all four volumes of Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ Saga.”
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 41.05% | 45.64% |
DC ENTERTAINMENT | 24.18% | 27.06% |
IMAGE COMICS | 9.21% | 8.91% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 5.78% | 4.52% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.01% | 3.03% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.41% | 2.22% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.26% | 2.28% |
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.46% | 0.32% |
AVATAR PRESS | 1.08% | 0.81% |
VIZ MEDIA | 0.95% | 0.39% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 7.61% | 4.82% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTALSHIPPED |
MARVEL COMICS | 79 | 33 | 0 | 112 |
DC ENTERTAINMENT | 86 | 23 | 0 | 109 |
IDW PUBLISHING | 50 | 26 | 0 | 76 |
IMAGE COMICS | 54 | 14 | 0 | 68 |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 28 | 19 | 0 | 47 |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 34 | 6 | 0 | 40 |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 31 | 6 | 0 | 37 |
VIZ MEDIA | 0 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 0 | 0 | 19 | 19 |
AVATAR PRESS | 10 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 78 | 115 | 28 | 221 |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
JANUARY 2015 VS. DECEMBER 2014 | ||
COMICS | -2.69% | -2.59% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 9.12% | 10.49% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 0.77% | -1.66% |
JANUARY 2015 VS. JANUARY 2014 | ||
COMICS | 10.27% | 9.65% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 16.83% | 12.33% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 12.27% | 9.86% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | STAR WARS #1 | $4.99 | NOV140709-M | MAR |
2 | BATMAN #38 | $3.99 | NOV140245-M | DC |
3 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #12 | $3.99 | OCT140832-M | MAR |
4 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #13 | $3.99 | NOV140764-M | MAR |
5 | UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 | $3.99 | NOV140703-M | MAR |
6 | WOLVERINES #1 | $3.99 | NOV140736-M | MAR |
7 | ANT-MAN #1 | $4.99 | NOV140725-M | MAR |
8 | THOR #4 | $3.99 | NOV140781-M | MAR |
9 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #38 | $3.99 | NOV140180-M | DC |
10 | THE WALKING DEAD #136 (MR) | $2.99 | NOV140696 | IMA |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | DEATH OF WOLVERINE HC | $24.99 | OCT140914-M | MAR |
2 | OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA VOLUME 1 TP | $9.99 | OCT140637 | IMA |
3 | SAGA VOLUME 4 TP (MR) | $14.99 | OCT140644 | IMA |
4 | BLACK SCIENCE VOLUME 2: WELCOME TO NOWHERE TP | $14.99 | OCT140615 | IMA |
5 | SAGA VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $9.99 | AUG120491 | IMA |
6 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 2: SPIDER-VERSE PRELUDE TP | $17.99 | OCT140932 | MAR |
7 | SAGA VOLUME 3 TP (MR) | $14.99 | JAN140556 | IMA |
8 | SAGA VOLUME 2 TP (MR) | $14.99 | APR130443 | IMA |
9 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP (MR) | $14.99 | NOV128157 | IMA |
10 | DEADPOOL: THE ONES WITH DEADPOOL TP | $15.99 | NOV140877 | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | DC SUPER HEROES: BATMAN: THE ORIGIN STORY TP | $4.95 | NOV141826 | CAP |
2 | DC SUPER HEROES: WONDER WOMAN: THE ORIGIN STORY | $4.95 | NOV141829 | CAP |
3 | DC SUPER HEROES: SUPERMAN: THE ORIGIN STORY TP | $4.95 | NOV141827 | CAP |
4 | LEGEND OF ZELDA: HYRULE HISTORIA HC | $34.99 | SEP120055 | DAR |
5 | DC SUPER HEROES: GREEN LANTERN: THE ORIGIN STORY TP | $4.95 | NOV141828 | CAP |
6 | LEGEND OF KORRA: ART OF ANIMATED SERIES BOOK 3: CHANGE HC | $34.99 | SEP140051 | DAR |
7 | IN SEARCH OF LOST DRAGONS HC | $34.99 | AUG141289 | DE |
8 | THE SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOLUME 91 SC | $14.95 | NOV141854 | SAN |
9 | BATMAN: YOU CHOOSE STORIES: THE JOKER’S DOZEN | $6.95 | NOV141832 | CAP |
10 | BATMAN: YOU CHOOSE STORIES: THE SEED BANK HEIST | $6.95 | NOV141830 | CAP |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD: LINK FIGMA | JUN132070 | GOO |
2 | GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: ELECTRONIC DANCING BABY GROOT | SEP148110 | KID |
3 | DC COMICS: WONDER WOMAN ARTFX STATUE | JUL142220 | KOT |
4 | THE WALKING DEAD SERIES 6 ACTION FIGURES | APR148174 | TMP |
5 | POP! GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: DANCING GROOT VINYL FIGURE | JUL148256 | FUN |
6 | BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS PLAY ARTS KAI: THE JOKER | JUL148208 | SQU |
7 | BATMAN “BLACK COSTUME” ARTFX STATUE | FEB121622 | KOT |
8 | MARVEL SELECT: DEADPOOL ACTION FIGURE | MAR101468 | DST |
9 | BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS PLAY ARTS KAI: ROBIN | JUL148207 | SQU |
10 | MARVEL SPIDER-MAN 8-INCH RETRO ACTION FIGURE | MAY142225 | DST |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | MONOPOLY: THE WALKING DEAD SURVIVAL EDITION | OCT128266 | USA |
2 | JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK MONOPOLY | DEC142209 | DST |
3 | YU-GI-OH! HEROCLIX SERIES TWO | JUN142660 | NEC |
4 | STAR WARS: IMPERIAL ASSAULT BOARD GAME | NOV142729 | FAN |
5 | MARVEL DICE MASTERS: UNCANNY X-MEN SET-UP BOX | AUG142843 | NEC |
6 | YU-GI-OH! DICE MASTERS SERIES ONE | NOV142759 | NEC |
7 | ADVENTURE TIME CARD WARS PACK 1: FINN VS. JAKE | APR148197 | CRY |
8 | X-FILES: THE BOARD GAME | MAY142832 | IDW |
9 | MARVEL DICE MASTERS: AVENGERS VS. X-MEN BOOSTER PACKS | NOV132536 | NEC |
10 | YU-GI-OH! DICE MASTERS SERIES ONE STARTER SET | NOV142761 | NEC |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which includes the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from sales made to thousands of comic book specialty shops located in North America and around the world. Additional sales made to online merchants and other specialty stores may be included as well.
Unit and dollar market shares are calculated based upon orders for comic books, graphic novels, and magazines invoiced and shipped to Diamond customers during any given month, which comprises 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 New Titles Count Chart 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.