"Batman" rose to the top of Diamond Comics' sales charts once again in December, with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's series helping DC Comics to an unusual split with Marvel as the publisher was #1 overall in units sold, while Marvel took the top spot in dollar share. Joining the latest chapter of "Batman: Endgame" in the top ten was "Batman Annual" #3 and "Justice League" #37 from DC, while "Amazing Spider-Man," #11the debut of "S.H.I.E.L.D.," "Thor" #3, "Amazing Spider-Man Annual" #1 and multiple issues of "Avengers & X-Men: AXIS" filled out the remaining seven slots.
Image Comics maintained its #3 position, with approximately 10% of the market in both units and dollar share. The creator-owned haven had its typically strong month on the trade paperback charts, with collections of "Saga," "Sex Criminals," "Manhattan Projects," "Sunstone" and "The Walking Dead" all landing in the top ten.
Overall, December was a slightly up month from November for the direct market. Year over year, the direct market saw a moderate increase from 2013 to 2014, thanks in large part to a strong second half which saw a nearly 20% increase in monthly issue sales over the second half of the previous year.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
MARVEL COMICS | 32.07% | 34.10% |
DC COMICS | 31.76% | 36.17% |
IMAGE COMICS | 9.89% | 10.40% |
IDW PUBLISHING | 6.10% | 4.17% |
DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.47% | 2.95% |
BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.66% | 2.82% |
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.58% | 2.26% |
EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.22% | 0.22% |
ARCHIE COMICS | 0.88% | 0.91% |
AVATAR PRESS | 0.86% | 0.74% |
OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.50% | 5.25% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS | UNITS | |
DECEMBER 2014 VS. NOVEMBER 2014 | ||
COMICS | 1.77% | 0.31% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -18.50% | -21.51% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -5.14% | -1.64% |
DECEMBER 2014 VS. DECEMBER 2013 | ||
COMICS | 6.67% | 4.50% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | -5.41% | -8.39% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 2.83% | 3.46% |
CALENDAR YEAR 2014 VS. CALENDAR YEAR 2013 | ||
COMICS | 4.03% | 0.25% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 5.18% | 5.28% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 4.39% | 0.64% |
FOURTH QUARTER 2014 VS. THIRD QUARTER 2014 | ||
COMICS | -2.90% | -1.57% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 6.31% | 4.02% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | -0.20% | -1.16% |
FOURTH QUARTER 2014 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2013 | ||
COMICS | 7.89% | 7.05% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 7.56% | 6.13% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 7.78% | 6.98% |
SECOND-HALF 2014 VS. FIRST-HALF 2014 | ||
COMICS | 19.34% | 18.58% |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | 10.54% | 4.26% |
TOTAL COMICS/GN | 16.53% | 17.36% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | BATMAN #37 | $3.99 | OCT140293-M | DC |
2 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11 | $3.99 | OCT140829-M | MAR |
3 | S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 | $4.99 | OCT140813-M | MAR |
4 | BATMAN ANNUAL #3 | $4.99 | OCT140297 | DC |
5 | THOR #3 | $3.99 | OCT140862-M | MAR |
6 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #37 | $3.99 | OCT140223-M | DC |
7 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 | $4.99 | OCT140824-M | MAR |
8 | AVENGERS AND X-MEN: AXIS #7 | $3.99 | OCT140781-M | MAR |
9 | AVENGERS AND X-MEN: AXIS #9 | $4.99 | OCT140787-M | MAR |
10 | AVENGERS AND X-MEN: AXIS #8 | $3.99 | OCT140784-M | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
1 | SAGA VOLUME 4 TP (MR) | $14.99 | OCT140644 | IMA |
2 | CAPTAIN AMERICA: PEGGY CARTER: AGENT OF SHIELD | $7.99 | OCT140823 | MAR |
3 | JUST THE TIPS HC (MR) | $12.99 | SEP140590 | IMA |
4 | THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS VOL. 5: THE COLD WAR TP | $14.99 | SEP140630 | IMA |
5 | SUNSTONE VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $14.99 | OCT140613 | IMA |
6 | SUPERMAN UNCHAINED DELUXE EDITION HC | $29.99 | AUG140334 | DC |
7 | BATMAN: THE JIRO KUWATA BATMANGA VOLUME 1 TP | $14.99 | SEP140283 | DC |
8 | NEW 52: FUTURES END VOLUME 1 TP (N52) | $39.99 | SEP140303 | DC |
9 | NIGHTWING VOLME 5: SETTING SON TP (N52) | $16.99 | SEP140309 | DC |
10 | THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 1: DAYS GONE BYE TP | $14.99 | NOV128157 | IMA |