Three comic titles sold over 100,000 copies to comic stores in January (see "Top 300 Comics--January 2012"), down from four in December, reflecting the steady downward pressure that increases as issue numbers increase.  This trend is affecting DC’s New 52 titles, just as it does almost every other title, and is one reason why DC is adding six #1s and cancelling six books in April (see "DC Churns Six Titles").

The comic world is a better place in January of 2012 than it was in January of 2011.  The three titles over 100,000 in January 2012 compares to one title over 100,000 in January 2011.  And even more telling, there were 29 titles over 50,000 in January of 2012 compared to just 16 over 50,000 in Janaury of 2011.

DC Comics had an awesome month, with all of the Top 10 and 14 of the Top 25 comic titles.  Marvel Comics had the other 11.  The top title not from the Big Two was The Walking Dead at #59, from Image Comics.

It was a pretty good month for January; eight of the Top 25 titles were up from last month’s issues, with 16 down.

In the graphic novel category, DC’s OGN Batman Through the Looking Glass HC took the top spot with an uninspiring 6,400 copies sold.

Here are ICv2’s estimates of the sales of the "Top 25" comic titles sold through Diamond Comic Distributors in January:

138,576           Justice League #5
130,492           Batman #5
105,088           Action Comics #5
  99,342           Detective Comics #5
  97,878           Green Lantern #5
  76,824           Batman The Dark Knight #5
  73,719           Superman #5
  71,611           Flash #5
  65,507           Batman and Robin #5 [*]
  65,094           Aquaman #5
  63,477           Uncanny X-Men #5
  63,175           Uncanny X-Men #4
  59,530           Wolverine and X-Men #4
  58,681           Wolverine #300
  58,578           Avengers X-Sanction #2
  57,626           Wonder Woman #5
  57,186           Amazing Spider-Man #677
  54,803           Avengers #21
  54,606           Teen Titans #5
  54,252           Amazing Spider-Man #678
  53,410           Scarlet Spider #1
  52,910           New Avengers #20
  52,371           Avenging Spider-Man #3
  52,305           Green Lantern New Guardians #5
  51,924           Batwoman #5

For an analysis of the dollar trends in January, see "Comic Store Sales Surge in January."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during January, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--January 2012."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during January, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--January 2012."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during December, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--December 2011."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during December, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--December 2011."

For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in December, see "'Justice League' Remains at #1 in December."  For an analysis of the dollar trends in December, see "Marvel Regains Top Spot in December."

For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through January 2012, see "ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 300 GNs Index."

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