ICv2: Comic Sales Slip in January

By John Freeman on February 8, 2016

The ICV2 web site reports that comics and graphic novel sales were down 5.1 per cent versus the year ago period in January, with graphic novels trailing at a 7.77 per cent decline and comics down 3.86 per cent, according to information released by Diamond Comic Distributors.

The drop off comes after a busy December for comic shops supplied by Diamond, up 21.85 per cent, so ICV2 suggest that the dip is perhaps a little post-holiday hangover.

While The Walking Dead #150 was the best-selling comic, overall Marvel dominated in January, more than doubling the sales of its nearest competitor, DC. The Disney-owned company put out 131 titles in January, compared to only 98 for DC, roughly flipping the relative number of titles from December.

Eaglemoss had a big month, hitting the #6 share.

Website ComicChron notes that despite the dip, things are a lot better than they were five years ago, because January 2011 was the pits. The Top 300 comics sold 4.4 million copies, likely the lowest sum since the 1930s.

• Full sales list: ICv2: Comic Sales Slip in January

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Explorer (previously known as Star Trek Magazine) and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War and “Dan Dare”. He’s the writer of "Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies" for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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