Marvel continued to dominate the Direct Market in February 2016, but DC Comics closed the gap slightly with the Frank Miller-led "Dark Knight III: The Master Race" #3 topping the sales charts for the month.
This marks the second month in a row where Marvel was the number one publisher overall, by a large margin, without claiming the #1 spot on the charts; in January, Image's "The Walking Dead" #150 was the best-selling single issue.
Marvel titles accounted for 7 of the top 10 best-selling issues in February, with "Star Wars" #16 in the #2 position. Several series debuts cracked the top ten for Marvel, as well: Miles Morales' new series, "Spider-Man" #1, "Deadpool: The Mercs for Money #1 and "Power Man and Iron Fist" #1.
DC Comics, the number two publisher overall, tripled its Top Ten presence over January, with DKIII being joined by "Batman" 349 in the #3 position, and "Justice League" #48 at #10.
The third collection of Image Comics' "The Wicked + The Divine" topped the graphic novel sales charts, while BOOM! Studios' "Lumberjanes" vol. 3 landed in the #3 spot.
Overall, Marvel commanded 40.78% of the Direct Market in dollar shares, and 42.19% unit shares. DC Comics accounted for 26% in dollars, and 29.01% in units. Image was third, making up approximately 10% of the market.
Monthly comics were down slightly from January. Graphic novel sales rose 8.21% in unit sales, despite a -0.63% dip in dollars.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 40.78% | 42.19% |
| DC ENTERTAINMENT | 26.00% | 29.01% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 9.18% | 10.13% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 4.78% | 4.14% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.07% | 2.59% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.12% | 1.94% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.09% | 1.68% |
| ONI PRESS INC. | 1.04% | 0.85% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0.94% | 0.38% |
| TITAN COMICS | 0.92% | 0.82% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 9.09% | 6.29% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| FEBRUARY 2016 VS. JANUARY 2016 | ||
| COMICS | 0.14% | -5.26% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -0.63% | 8.21% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -0.10% | -4.24% |
| FEBRUARY 2016 VS. FEBRUARY 2015 | ||
| COMICS | -6.73% | -14.62% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 12.00% | 18.12% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -1.69% | -12.54% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2016 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2015 | ||
| COMICS | -5.32% | -9.52% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 1.13% | 2.92% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -3.43% | -8.63% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #3 | $5.99 | NOV150155-M | DC |
| 2 | STAR WARS #16 | $3.99 | DEC150866-M | MAR |
| 3 | BATMAN #49 | $3.99 | DEC150271-M | DC |
| 4 | SPIDER-MAN #1 | $3.99 | DEC150723-M | MAR |
| 5 | DEADPOOL: THE MERCS FOR MONEY #1 | $3.99 | DEC150741-M | MAR |
| 6 | DEADPOOL #7 | $9.99 | DEC150853-M | MAR |
| 7 | DARTH VADER #16 | $3.99 | NOV150919 | MAR |
| 8 | POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #1 | $3.99 | DEC150732-M | MAR |
| 9 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #7 | $3.99 | DEC150809-M | MAR |
| 10 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #48 | $3.99 | NOV150171-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOLUME 3 TP (MR) | $14.99 | NOV150702 | IMA |
| 2 | STAR WARS: CHEWBACCA TP | $16.99 | NOV150951 | MAR |
| 3 | LUMBERJANES VOLUME 3 TP | $14.99 | NOV151165 | BOO |
| 4 | BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP | $19.99 | NOV150279-M | DC |
| 5 | BATMAN: HARLEY AND IVY DELUXE EDITION HC | $24.99 | OCT150255 | DC |
| 6 | SUNSTONE VOLUME 4 OGN SC (MR) | $14.99 | OCT150579 | IMA |
| 7 | NEW SUICIDE SQUAD VOLUME 2: MONSTERS TP | $14.99 | NOV150280 | DC |
| 8 | THE FADE-OUT VOLUME 3 TP (MR) | $12.99 | DEC150644 | IMA |
| 9 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE TP | $15.99 | FEB150860 | MAR |
| 10 | SAGA VOLUME 5 TP (MR) | $14.99 | JUL150565 | IMA |