DC Gains Ground While Marvel Tops January 2019 With Big Gains Overall in Units and Dollars
Marvel again topped by dollars and units in sales by DC Comics gained some ground in January 2019 according to Diamond Comic Distributors.
Comics, graphic novels, and toys all saw big gains from the previous month and the same month in the previous year. Comics were up 11.93% in dollars and up 13.49% in units. Graphic novels were up 42.79% in dollars and up 40.93% in units. Together, comics and graphic novels were up 19.47% in dollars and up 15.18% in units. Toys saw massive gains of 154.01% increase in dollars and 234.27% in units compared to December 2018.
Things also were up compared to the same time last year. Comics were up 15.32% in dollars and up 5.03% in units. Graphic novels were up 11.98% in dollars and up 2.36% in units. Together comics and graphic novels were up 14.33% in dollars and up 4.82% in units. Toys saw an increase of 34.53% in dollars and up 57.58% in units compared to January 2018.
DC Comics had five titles in the top ten with The Batman Who Laughs #2 being the top comic in units and second best in dollars. Marvel Comics also had five titles in the top ten with Captain Marvel #1 at #2. Among the premier publishers, Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead #187 was Image Comics‘ top book at #30; BOOM! Studios‘ Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1, a present day reimagining of Joss Whedon’s cult television series, was their best-selling book for January at #70; Dark Horse Comics‘ Stranger Things #4, based on the Netflix television series, ranked #85; Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons #4, the final issue of IDW Publishing‘s crossover event, ranked #98; and Dynamite Entertainment‘s Elvira: The Shape of Elvira #1 ranked #174.
Marvel Comics was January’s top publisher, leading in both the dollar share 39.24% (-1.56) and unit share 41.29% (-2.46) categories. DC was second, with a dollar share of 29.70% (+2.96) and unit share of 33.39% (+3.88). Image Comics was third, with a 7.56% (-1.01) dollar share and a 7.77% (-0.73) unit share. Dark Horse Comics was fourth with a 3.95% (+0.58) dollar share and a 2.97% (+0.39) unit share, followed by IDW Publishing with a 3.75% dollar share (+0.13) and a 3.32% (-0.07) unit share, then BOOM! Studios with a 2.32% (-0.63) dollar share and a 2.23% (-0.26) unit share, and Dynamite Entertainment with a 2.13% (-0.11) dollar share and a 1.83% (-0.28) unit share.
The collected edition of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Dark Nights: Metal from DC topped the graphic novel chart in January. Also in the top ten from DC were Dark Days: Road to Metal at #8 and Sean Murphy’s Batman: White Knight at #9. Marvel Comics had five titles in the top ten, led by Jim Starlin, George Perez, and Ron Lim’sThe Infinity Gauntlet at #2, followed by The Life of Captain Marvel at #3, Star Wars: Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Volume 4 at #4, Cosmic Ghost Rider: Baby Thanos Must Die at #5, and Spider-Geddon: Edge of Spider-Geddon at #10. Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston’s Black Hammer Volume 3: Age of Doom Part 1 from Dark Horse Comics ranked #6. Image Comic was also in the top ten; Rob Guillory’s Farmhand Volume 1 ranked #7.
Wicked Cow Studios’ Lulu Is a Rhinoceros, a picture book for young readers about a dog who wants to be a rhinoceros by Jason Flom and Sophie Corrigan, was January’s best-selling book. Gemstone’s Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 48 returned to the charts at #5.
Funko’s POP! Power Rangers: Lord Drakkon Vinyl Figure, a PREVIEWS exclusive figure, was January’s best-selling toy product. Also in the top ten from Funko was the PREVIEWS Exclusive POP! DC Heroes: The Batman Who Laughs Vinyl Figure at #5. Diamond Select Toys had two products in the top ten, led by the Marvel Select: Avengers Infinity War: Iron-Spider Action Figure at #6. Also in the top ten, DC Collectibles’ Harley Quinn: Pink White & Black Valentine by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau Variant Statue ranked #10.
January’s best-selling game product, Green Ronin Publishing’s Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting, a sourcebook for the Critical Role role-playing game, topped the sales charts for a second month in a row. Paizo Publishing had a strong month with six products in the top ten, led by the Starfinder RPG Core Rulebook at #2. Also in the top ten, Dynamite Entertainment’s Red Sonja Tarot Card Set ranked #10.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
| PUBLISHER | DOLLARSHARE | UNITSHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 39.24% | 41.29% |
| DC | 29.70% | 33.39% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 7.56% | 7.77% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 3.95% | 2.97% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 3.65% | 3.32% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.32% | 2.23% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.13% | 1.83% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.55% | 0.61% |
| TITAN COMICS | 0.80% | 0.60% |
| ARCHIE COMICS | 0.78% | 0.77% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 8.31% | 5.20% |
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| JANUARY 2019 VS. DECEMBER 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 11.93% | 13.49% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 42.79% | 40.93% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 19.47% | 15.18% |
| TOYS | 154.01% | 234.27% |
| JANUARY 2019 VS. JANUARY 2018 | ||
| COMICS | 15.32% | 5.03% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 11.98% | 2.36% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 14.33% | 4.82% |
| TOYS | 34.53% | 57.58% |
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
| PUBLISHER | COMICS SHIPPED | GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED | MAGAZINES SHIPPED | TOTALSHIPPED |
| MARVEL COMICS | 102 | 40 | 0 | 142 |
| DC | 87 | 31 | 0 | 118 |
| IMAGE COMICS | 57 | 10 | 0 | 67 |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 39 | 17 | 0 | 56 |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 27 | 19 | 0 | 46 |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 25 | 11 | 0 | 36 |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 19 | 6 | 0 | 25 |
| VIZ MEDIA | 0 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| TITAN COMICS | 10 | 9 | 0 | 19 |
| ARCHIE COMICS | 13 | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 136 | 186 | 37 | 359 |
| TOTAL | 515 | 359 | 37 | 911 |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #2 | $4.99 | NOV180414-M | DC |
| 2 | CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 | $4.99 | NOV180783-M | MAR |
| 3 | GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1 | $4.99 | NOV180771-M | MAR |
| 4 | CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 | $4.99 | NOV180740-M | MAR |
| 5 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #14 | $3.99 | NOV180903-M | MAR |
| 6 | BATMAN #62 | $3.99 | NOV180402-M | DC |
| 7 | BATMAN #63 | $3.99 | NOV180404-M | DC |
| 8 | HEROES IN CRISIS #4 | $3.99 | NOV180457-M | DC |
| 9 | HEROES IN CRISIS #5 | $3.99 | NOV180459-M | DC |
| 10 | FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #1 | $4.99 | NOV180793-M | MAR |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 | $4.99 | NOV180783-M | MAR |
| 2 | THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #2 | $4.99 | NOV180414-M | DC |
| 3 | GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1 | $4.99 | NOV180771-M | MAR |
| 4 | CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 | $4.99 | NOV180740-M | MAR |
| 5 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #14 | $3.99 | NOV180903-M | MAR |
| 6 | FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #1 | $4.99 | NOV180793-M | MAR |
| 7 | YOUNG JUSTICE #1 | $4.99 | NOV180376-M | DC |
| 8 | BATMAN #62 | $3.99 | NOV180402-M | DC |
| 9 | BATMAN #63 | $3.99 | NOV180404-M | DC |
| 10 | HEROES IN CRISIS #4 | $3.99 | NOV180457-M | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | DARK NIGHTS: METAL TP | $19.99 | OCT180569 | DC |
| 2 | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET TP | $24.99 | JUL110745 | MAR |
| 3 | THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL TP | $15.99 | OCT181018-M | MAR |
| 4 | STAR WARS: DARTH VADER: DARK LORD OF THE SITH VOLUME 4: FORTRESS VADER TP | $19.99 | OCT181014 | MAR |
| 5 | COSMIC GHOST RIDER: BABY THANOS MUST DIE TP | $15.99 | NOV181028 | MAR |
| 6 | BLACK HAMMER VOL. 3: AGE OF DOOM PART I TP | $19.99 | SEP180278 | DAR |
| 7 | FARMHAND VOLUME 1 TP (MR) | $12.99 | OCT180065 | IMA |
| 8 | DARK DAYS: THE ROAD TO METAL TP | $19.99 | OCT180568 | DC |
| 9 | BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT TP | $19.99 | JUL180733 | DC |
| 10 | SPIDER-GEDDON: EDGE OF SPIDER-GEDDON TP | $15.99 | OCT181015 | MAR |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | CONAN THE BARBARIAN OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 HC | $125.00 | JUL181158-M | MAR |
| 2 | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET TP | $24.99 | JUL110745 | MAR |
| 3 | DARK NIGHTS: METAL TP | $19.99 | OCT180569 | DC |
| 4 | MARVEL MASTERWORKS: UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 11 HC | $100.00 | JUL181165-M | MAR |
| 5 | HOUSE OF MYSTERY: THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC | $99.99 | JUN180578 | DC |
| 6 | INFINITY TP | $49.99 | JUN140730 | MAR |
| 7 | MARVEL MASTERWORKS: MARVEL TEAM-UP VOL. 4 HC | $75.00 | JUL181163-M | MAR |
| 8 | STAR WARS: DARTH VADER: DARK LORD OF THE SITH VOLUME 4: FORTRESS VADER TP | $19.99 | OCT181014 | MAR |
| 9 | BLACK HAMMER VOL. 3: AGE OF DOOM PART I TP | $19.99 | SEP180278 | DAR |
| 10 | SPIDER-MAN: BEN REILLY OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 HC | $125.00 | JUL181167 | MAR |
TOP 10 BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | LULU IS A RHINOCEROS | $16.99 | FEB188267 | WIC |
| 2 | BLOODBORNE OFFICIAL ARTWORKS SC | $44.99 | MAR172148 | UDO |
| 3 | CAPTAIN MARVEL LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | NOV181804 | RAN |
| 4 | A FRIEND LIKE PIKACHU: POKEMON LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | NOV181802 | RAN |
| 5 | OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOL. 48 SC | $29.95 | APR181580-M | GEM |
| 6 | FAST ENOUGH: BESSIE STRINGFIELD’S FIRST RIDE HC | $17.99 | NOV181857 | LIO |
| 7 | OVERLORD LIGHT NOVEL VOLUME 9 HC | $20.00 | NOV182175 | HAC |
| 8 | STAR TREK: I AM MR SPOCK LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | NOV181801 | RAN |
| 9 | STAR TREK: I AM CAPTAIN KIRK LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK | $4.99 | NOV181800 | RAN |
| 10 | DC SUPER VILLAINS ORIGINS: THE JOKER TP | $4.95 | DEC182051 | CAP |
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | POP! POWER RANGERS: LORD DRAKKON VINYL FIGURE | JUN188596 | FUN |
| 2 | OVERWATCH: MEI FLOATING SNOWBALL REPLICA | JUL189227 | BLI |
| 3 | OVERWATCH: GENJI SWORD REPLICA | JUL189228 | BLI |
| 4 | INFINITY WAR: THANOS ARTFX+ STATUE | MAR188569 | KOT |
| 5 | POP! DC HEROES: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS VINYL FIGURE | JUN188595 | FUN |
| 6 | MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR: IRON-SPIDER FIGURE | JAN188710 | DST |
| 7 | ONE-12 COLLECTIVE: MARVEL: THOR RAGNAROK: GLADIATOR HULK | OCT178172 | MEZ |
| 8 | AQUAMAN MOVIE GALLERY: AQUAMAN PVC FIGURE | AUG182575 | DST |
| 9 | PERSONA 5: JOKER FIGMA | JUN178415 | GOO |
| 10 | HARLEY QUINN: PINK WHITE BLACK VALENTINE BY LAU VARIANT STATUE | JUL180806 | DC |
TOP 10 GAMES BY DOLLARS INVOICED
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | CRITICAL ROLE: TAL’DOREI CAMPAIGN SETTING HC | JUN173357 | GRE |
| 2 | STARFINDER RPG: CORE RULEBOOK HC | JUN173371 | PAI |
| 3 | PATHFINDER RPG: ULTIMATE CAMPAIGN POCKET EDITION | NOV182880 | PAI |
| 4 | PATHFINDER RPG: ULTIMATE INTRIGUE POCKET EDITION | NOV182881 | PAI |
| 5 | PATHFINDER RPG CORE RULEBOOK | JUN091729 | PAI |
| 6 | GLOOMHAVEN 2017 EDITION | MAR188530 | ALL |
| 7 | STARFINDER RPG: ARMORY HC | MAY182931 | PAI |
| 8 | STARFINDER RPG: ALIEN ARCHIVE 2 HC | AUG183177 | PAI |
| 9 | MY HERO ACADEMIA CARD GAME | JUL183082 | SHI |
| 10 | RED SONJA TAROT CARD SET | JUN181151 | DYN |
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