The Human Torch sacrificed his life to save his teammates and the Earth in January's Fantastic Four #587, sending the long-running Marvel Comics title to the top of January's comic book sales charts according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture merchandise.
Thanks in part to the strong sales on Fantastic Four #587 from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Steve Epting, Marvel Comics was the leading comic book publisher in January with a Dollar Market Share of 39.06% and a Unit Market Share of 42.37%. Image Comics had their strongest showing in over three years, with Dollar Share of 7.60%.
Sales of comic books and graphic novels fell in the post-Christmas season, with January's comic books sales declining by 27.70% from December and graphic novel sales falling by 32.41%.
Jack Horner's adventures in a world where forgotten technology is treated like forbidden magic formed the basis of Jack of Fables Volume 8: The Fulminate Blade, the latest collected volume of Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges' spin-off of Willingham's best-selling Fables series, giving DC Comics' Vertigo imprint the best-selling graphic novel in January.
More characters from DC Comics' crossover event Blackest Night, including Black Lantern Superman and Red Lantern Mera, starred in DC Direct's Blackest Night Series 7 Action Figure series, January's best-selling Toy product to comic’s specialty retailers.
NECA/WizKids' DC HeroClix: 75th-Anniversary Expansion series, which features characters taken from DC Comics' long history, topped the sales charts for the second month in a row as the best-selling Games product to comics specialty retailers in January.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER | DOLLAR SHARE | UNIT SHARE |
| MARVEL COMICS | 39.06% | 42.37% |
| DC COMICS | 26.38% | 31.80% |
| IMAGE COMICS | 7.60% | 6.45% |
| DARK HORSE COMICS | 4.82% | 3.70% |
| IDW PUBLISHING | 4.75% | 4.60% |
| DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT | 2.82% | 2.51% |
| BOOM! STUDIOS | 2.01% | 1.80% |
| EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS | 1.40% | 0.31% |
| VIZ MEDIA | 1.28% | 0.58% |
| WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT | 0.68% | 0.62% |
| OTHER NON-TOP 10 | 9.19% | 5.25% |
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | FANTASTIC FOUR #587 | $3.99 | Marvel Comics |
| 2 | BRIGHTEST DAY #17 | $2.99 | DC Comics |
| 3 | BRIGHTEST DAY #18 | $2.99 | DC Comics |
| 4 | SPAWN #200 | $3.99 | Image Comics |
| 5 | AVENGERS #9 | $3.99 | Marvel Comics |
| 6 | X-MEN #7 | $3.99 | Marvel Comics |
| 7 | BATMAN AND ROBIN #19 | $2.99 | DC Comics |
| 8 | NEW AVENGERS #8 | $3.99 | Marvel Comics |
| 9 | BATMAN #706 | $2.99 | DC Comics |
| 10 | AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #651 | $3.99 | Marvel Comics |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | VENDOR |
| 1 | JACK OF FABLES VOLUME 8: FULMINATE BLADE | $14.99 | DC Comics |
| 2 | THE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 1:DAYS GONE BYE | $9.99 | Image Comics |
| 3 | THE DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER: THE JOURNEY BEGINS PREMIERE HC | $24.99 | Marvel Comics |
| 4 | THE GOON VOL. 10: DEATH'S GREEDY COMEUPPANCE | $16.99 | Dark Horse Comics |
| 5 | BATMAN: JOKER'S ASYLUM VOLUME 2 TP | $14.99 | DC Comics |
| 6 | INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOLUME 4 TP | $15.99 | Marvel Comics |
| 7 | STARMAN OMNIBUS VOLUME 6 HC | $49.99 | DC Comics |
| 8 | HOUSE OF MYSTERY VOLUME 5 TP | $14.99 | DC Comics |
| 9 | MADAME XANADU VOLUME 3 TP | $17.99 | DC Comics |
| 10 | THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 2: MILES BEHIND US TP | $14.99 | Image Comics |
TOP 10 TOYS
RANK | DESCRIPTION | VENDOR |
| 1 | BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 7 ACTION FIGURES | DC Direct |
| 2 | BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 8 ACTION FIGURES | DC Direct |
| 3 | COVER GIRLS OF THE DCU: BATGIRL STATUE | DC Direct |
| 4 | MARVEL SELECT: JUGGERNAUT ACTION FIGURE | Diamond Select Toys |
| 5 | DANGER ROOM SESSIONS: DEADPOOL FINE ART STATUE | Kotobukiya |
| 6 | FATHOM: ASPEN MATTHEWS STATUE | Aspen |
| 7 | DC X BISHOUJO: BATGIRL BISHOUJO STATUE | Kotobukiya |
| 8 | MARVEL X BISHOUJO: EMMA FROST BISHOUJO STATUE | Kotobukiya |
| 9 | BATMAN (JUSTICE) 1/6-SCALE COLLECTOR FIGURE | DC Direct |
| 10 | BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE STATUE: BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM | DC Direct |
TOP 10 GAMES
RANK | DESCRIPTION | VENDOR |
| 1 | DC HEROCLIX 75TH ANNIVERSARY BOOSTER PACK | NECA |
| 2 | YU-GI-OH! TCG: 5DS DUELIST PACK YUSEI | Konami |
| 3 | PATHFINDER RPG BESTIARY 2 | Paizo Publishing |
| 4 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: SCARS OF MIRRODIN BOOSTER PACKS | Wizards of the Coast |
| 5 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: WEB OF SPIDER-MAN BOOSTER PACKS | NECA |
| 6 | ZOMBIE STATE BOARD GAME | Zombie State Games |
| 7 | THE HOBBIT BOARD GAME | Fantasy Flight Games |
| 8 | DOCTOR WHO FAMILY BOARD GAME | Imagination Games |
| 9 | HALO: REACH ACTIONCLIX: NOBLE TEAM 6-PACK | NECA |
| 10 | FIREFLY 7-PIECE RED DICE SET | Crystal Caste |
