Last week, Diamond Distributors released the details behind January’s releases, including the top ten books and graphic novels of the month.
Some things to note:
- Marvel is currently leading in both dollar and unit share, with DC as a close second. Marvel’s numbers are probably higher right now due to January’s line-wide launch of All-New Marvel NOW, though it’s worth noting that DC took five of the top ten slots for comics this month, including the #1 and #2 spot with Batman #27 and Detective Comics #27.
- Only one new #1 made the list this month, with all the others (save for Harley Quinn) already being established series.
- Graphic Novel sales were down drastically compared to last year’s January numbers, as well as December’s sales. It’s also one of the first times The Walking Dead Volume 1 did NOT take the top slot, with Saga taking over the top spot.
- Sales in general were down across the board, although comics themselves were only down a hair compared to last months sales.
- Despite the series ending in April, Superior Spider-Man’s two issues (including the $4.99 issue) took two of the spots this month, meaning that the series as a whole has had at least one issue in the top ten since it started, with the other issue usually making the top fifteen.
- Only one book in the top ten was $2.99. All the others were either $3.99, $4.99 (SSM #25) or $7.99 (Detective Comics #27)
With those thoughts out of the way, check out the numbers for yourself:
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 |
What are your thoughts on January’s sales? Any surprises? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
