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Top 100 Graphic Novels: January 2012

Batman: Through the Looking GlassBatman tumbles into the hallucinogenic nightmare of Wonderland thanks to his first encounter with the Mad Hatter in Batman: Through the Looking Glass, an original hardcover graphic novel by Bruce Jones and Sam Kieth (The Maxx) from DC Comics, which was the best-selling graphic novel to comics retailers in January.

DC Comics had a strong month for graphic novels in January, taking five of the top ten spots on the sales charts. In addition to Batman: Through the Looking Glass, The Unwritten Volume 5: On to Genesis from the Vertigo imprint ranked #5, Grant Morrison's Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne trade paperback ranked #6, Jeff Lemire's Sweet Tooth Volume 4: Endangered Species from the Vertigo imprint ranked #9, and David Finch's Batman: The Dark Knight Volume 1: Golden Dawn ranked #10.

Image Comics had three books in the top ten, all from writer Robert Kirkman. Invincible Volume 15: Get Smart ranked #2, The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye ranked #3, and The Walking Dead Volume 15 ranked #7.

Marvel Comics had one book in the top ten — the collected edition of Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen's Fear Itself at #4.

Dark Horse Comics rounded out the top ten with B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth Volume 2: Gods and Monsters at #8.

Finishing off the premier publishers, IDW Publishing's top-seling graphic novel in January was Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters Volume 2 at #105.

TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in January 2012

QTY
RANK
DOLLAR
RANK
INDEX ITEM CODE DESCRIPTION PRICE VENDOR
1 1 4.92 SEP110169 BATMAN THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS HC $22.99 DC
2 4 3.83 NOV110396 INVINCIBLE TP VOL 15 GET SMART $16.99 IMA
3 33 3.43 JUL068351 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE $9.99 IMA
4 2 3.06 OCT110712 FEAR ITSELF PREM HC $34.99 MAR
5 18 3.00 OCT110301 UNWRITTEN TP VOL 05 ON TO GENESIS (MR) $14.99 DC
6 10 2.78 OCT110245 BATMAN THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE TP $19.99 DC
7 29 2.50 OCT110502 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 15 (MR) $14.99 IMA
8 12 2.49 SEP110018 BPRD HELL ON EARTH TP VOL 02 GODS AND MONSTERS $19.99 DAR
9 23 2.46 OCT110296 SWEET TOOTH TP VOL 04 ENDANGERED SPECIES (MR) $16.99 DC
10 6 2.45 SEP110181 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT HC VOL 01 GOLDEN DAWN DLX ED $24.99 DC
11 52 2.39 NOV111126 NARUTO TP VOL 54 $9.99 VIZ
12 13 2.35 SEP110025 STAR WARS LEGACY TP VOL 11 WAR $19.99 DAR
13 51 2.31 SEP110039 AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 01 PROMISE PART 1 $10.99 DAR
14 42 2.21 NOV111036 SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 03 $10.99 RAN
15 40 2.06 SEP088204 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (NEW PTG) $14.99 IMA
16 31 2.00 SEP110020 WITCHFINDER TP VOL 02 LOST AND GONE FOREVER $17.99 DAR
17 16 1.97 SEP110180 BATMAN AND ROBIN WHITE KNIGHT DARK KNIGHT HC $22.99 DC
18 36 1.92 NOV110627 AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS TP VOL 02 $19.99 MAR
19 19 1.92 NOV110612 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BATTLE OF TULL PREM HC $24.99 MAR
20 28 1.86 NOV110815 IRREDEEMABLE TP VOL 08 $16.99 BOO
21 24 1.78 SEP110187 WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS AFTERMATH HC $22.99 DC
22 58 1.67 NOV110645 WOLVERINE WOLVERINE VS X-MEN TP $15.99 MAR
23 48 1.66 OCT110241 BATMAN BEYOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION TP $16.99 DC
24 14 1.66 OCT110246 CATWOMAN TP VOL 01 $29.99 DC
25 27 1.57 SEP110750 JIM HENSONS DARK CRYSTAL HC VOL 01 CREATION MYTHS $19.95 ARA
26 55 1.57 NOV110626 ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE TP $19.99 MAR
27 44 1.48 NOV110611 DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID PREM HC VOL 01 $19.99 MAR
28 113 1.47 OCT110819 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES TP VOL 17 $7.99 ARC
29 63 1.44 OCT110249 FLASH TP VOL 01 THE DASTARDLY DEATH OF THE ROGUES $14.99 DC
30 22 1.42 NOV110633 DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 06 $29.99 MAR
31 80 1.41 OCT110271 YOUNG JUSTICE TP VOL 01 $12.99 DC
32 37 1.40 NOV110618 FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 02 $24.99 MAR
33 9 1.39 SEP110226 PREACHER HC BOOK 06 (MR) $39.99 DC
34 78 1.37 NOV110641 TWELVE TP VOL 01 $16.99 MAR
35 72 1.36 NOV082245 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS $14.99 IMA
36 66 1.36 NOV110646 WOLVERINE BEST THERE IS CONTAGION TP $19.99 MAR
37 25 1.36 OCT110247 RESURRECTION MAN TP VOL 01 $29.99 DC
38 69 1.36 OCT110251 SUPERMAN WAR OF THE SUPERMEN TP $14.99 DC
39 41 1.34 NOV110617 FEAR ITSELF AVENGERS PREM HC $24.99 MAR
40 53 1.34 NOV110610 CAPTAIN AMERICA BY ED BRUBAKER PREM HC VOL 01 $19.99 MAR
41 11 1.33 NOV110605 SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-ISLAND HC $39.99 MAR
42 60 1.32 OCT110254 SECRET SIX THE DARKEST HOUSE TP $16.99 DC
43 50 1.27 NOV110636 MARVEL FIRSTS 1970S TP VOL 01 $29.99 MAR
44 81 1.24 NOV111151 BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 08 $11.99 HAC
45 109 1.24 OCT111248 YU GI OH GX GN VOL 08 $9.99 VIZ
46 67 1.20 NOV111155 HIGH SCHOOL OF DEAD GN VOL 05 (MR) $13.99 HAC
47 88 1.14 SEP088205-M WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE (MR) $14.99 IMA
48 8 1.13 AUG110277 ANNOTATED SANDMAN HC VOL 01 (MR) $49.99 DC
49 71 1.10 NOV110619 ULTIMATE COMICS HAWKEYE BY HICKMAN PREM HC $19.99 MAR
50 120 1.06 NOV111127 ONE PIECE TP VOL 60 $9.99 VIZ
51 87 1.05 NOV110643 X-MEN LEGACY AFTERMATH TP $15.99 MAR
52 89 1.04 NOV110634 RED SKULL INCARNATE TP $15.99 MAR
53 54 1.03 SEP110215 ADD HC (MR) $24.99 DC
54 64 1.02 OCT110056 CARDCAPTOR SAKURA DARK HORSE OMNIBUS ED TP VOL 03 $19.99 DAR
55 139 1.00 SEP110044 NGE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT TP VOL 10 $9.99 DAR
56 103 1.00 APR110444 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 14 NO WAY OUT (MR) $14.99 IMA
57 106 0.98 SEP088206-M WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE (MR) $14.99 IMA
58 5 0.98 AUG110688-M MMW ATLAS ERA TALES TO ASTONISH HC VOL 04 $64.99 MAR
59 100 0.98 SEP110221 FABLES TP VOL 16 SUPER TEAM (MR) $14.99 DC
60 132 0.98 OCT111250 ROSARIO VAMPIRE SEASON II TP VOL 07 $9.99 VIZ
61 7 0.98 AUG110686-M MMW CAPTAIN MARVEL HC VOL 04 $59.99 MAR
62 135 0.97 NOV110638 MYSTIC TENTH APPRENTICE TP $14.99 MAR
63 75 0.95 OCT110719 STAND TP VOL 02 AMERICAN NIGHTMARES $19.99 MAR
64 34 0.94 AUG110693 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 02 $34.99 MAR
65 59 0.93 MAY090178 BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP $24.99 DC
66 35 0.93 AUG110694 X-FORCE HC VOL 02 $34.99 MAR
67 79 0.93 OCT110718 AVENGERS ACADEMY TP VOL 02 REAL WORLD $19.99 MAR
68 193 0.92 NOV111057 SMURFS GN VOL 10 RETURN OF SMURFETTE $5.99 NBM
69 92 0.91 NOV070226 BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC $17.99 DC
70 68 0.89 JUL110245 BATMAN NOEL DELUXE EDITION HC $22.99 DC
71 62 0.88 AUG110698-M SPIDER-MAN MASQUES PREM HC $24.99 MAR
72 117 0.88 DEC058055 BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP $14.99 DC
73 84 0.88 NOV110642 DAKEN X-23 COLLISION TP $19.99 MAR
74 174 0.87 JUL111024 CHARLIE ADLARD CURSE O/T WENDIGO TP $7.99 DE
75 112 0.87 NOV110637 MARVEL POINT ONE II TP $24.99 MAR
76 126 0.87 NOV110384 BLUE ESTATE TP VOL 02 (MR) $12.99 IMA
77 175 0.86 NOV110758 WARREN ELLIS ATMOSPHERICS COLOR ED GN (MR) $7.99 AVA
78 123 0.86 OCT111182 POLLY & PIRATES TP VOL 02 $11.99 ONI
79 65 0.86 NOV110601-M MMW UNCANNY X-MEN TP VOL 04 $24.99 MAR
80 90 0.85 FEB058406-M WATCHMEN TP $19.99 DC
81 137 0.84 JUL108036 FABLES TP VOL 01 LEGENDS IN EXILE $12.99 DC
82 94 0.84 NOV110808 HELLRAISER TP VOL 02 (MR) $14.99 BOO
83 56 0.83 OCT110253 SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY TP VOL 01 $29.99 DC
84 121 0.81 NOV082242 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR) $14.99 IMA
85 91 0.80 NOV110644 X-FACTOR TP VOL 12 SCAR TISSUE $19.99 MAR
86 122 0.80 SEP088207-M WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (MR) $14.99 IMA
87 73 0.77 JUL110251 BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN TP $24.99 DC
88 315 0.77 JAN072434 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP VOL 01 $24.99 MAR
89 20 0.77 MAR092419 WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 (MR) $59.99 IMA
90 70 0.77 SEP110033 CONAN HC VOL 11 ROAD OF KINGS PT 1 $24.99 DAR
91 76 0.76 OCT111090 ROMEO & JULIET THE WAR GN $19.99 182
92 128 0.76 SEP088208-M WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE (MR) $14.99 IMA
93 101 0.76 SEP088030 V FOR VENDETTA NEW EDITION TP (MR) $19.99 DC
94 61 0.76 NOV110632 DAREDEVIL BY BRUBAKER AND LARK ULT COLL TP BOOK 01 $29.99 MAR
95 130 0.75 JUN090332 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 10 WHAT WE BECOME $14.99 IMA
96 138 0.74 OCT060163 BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC $14.99 DC
97 99 0.74 NOV110647 ESSENTIAL MARVEL TWO IN ONE TP VOL 04 $19.99 MAR
98 46 0.73 NOV110639 SPIDER-MAN COMPLETE BEN REILLY EPIC TP BOOK 03 $39.99 MAR
99 105 0.73 NOV110624 X-23 PREM HC VOL 02 CHAOS THEORY $19.99 MAR
100 108 0.72 JUL100259 SANDMAN TP VOL 01 PRELUDES & NOCTURNES NEW ED (MR) $19.99 DC

This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.

For retailers, Diamond offers the Top 300 Comics and Top 300 Graphic Novels sales charts on the Diamond Tools page of the Diamond Retailer Services website to provide more information about the industry's top selling publications.

How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.

Data for Diamond’s sales charts – which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts – are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 3,500 accounts, comprised of comic book specialty shops and other merchant stores and buyers. The shops are primarily located in North America, with a percentage of sales also to international stores and buyers located throughout the world. The account base includes not only brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, but also Internet stores, chain stores, and other specialty stores.

Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, minus any copies that are distributed free of cost.

About the Diamond Sales Index: The Sales Index of selected monthly Best Seller Charts is presented as a comparative tool for retailers and publishers. It presents Diamond’s monthly sales for individual titles in relation to Diamond’s total sales for the issue of DC Comics' monthly Batman comic book. (Batman is used as the control title – with a value of 100 – because sales of Batman usually remain relatively stable.) This allows for easy comparison to other titles and helps retailers gauge their orders for all other titles. This formula is only a guide, other factors may impact a titles’ ability to sell in certain locations and clientele.