Comichron

 

January 1997 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops

Estimated Comics Preordered by North American Comics Shops
Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors
and Heroes World Distribution


#1 Most Ordered Issue
#1
#2 Most Ordered Issue
#2
#3 Most Ordered Issue
#3
#4 Most Ordered Issue
#4
#5 Most Ordered Issue
#5

Covers and issue links on this page lead to current eBay listings. This site may be compensated if you make a purchase.

Direct-market sales shrank considerably from December, with no major editorial event driving the first month of the "dead quarter".

Top Cow officially rejoined Image after a brief departure.

Click to skip to the Top Graphic Novels for the month.

—John Jackson Miller


This list includes all items on Diamond's Top 300 chart and all comics offered by Heroes World.
Items marked (resolicitation) were offered in an earlier month but never shipped; disregard any previously reported figure, as earlier orders were canceled when the books were resolicited.
Click to read the methodology for this table's estimates.
Distributor charts are regional commodity reports, not measures of a work's total reach. Read our FAQ.
Title links below lead to current listings for the issues on eBay. As an eBay Partner, this site may be compensated if you make a purchase.


UnitsDollarsComic-book TitleIssuePricePublisherEst. units
13X-Men62$1.95Marvel196,041
25Uncanny X-Men342$1.95Marvel185,204
39Fantastic Four5$1.95Marvel152,651
411Spawn58$1.95Image149,144
512Wolverine111$1.95Marvel147,595
613Iron Man5$1.95Marvel132,583
74Elektra/Witchblade$2.95Marvel125,067
86Generation X25$2.99Marvel118,043
915Curse of the Spawn5$1.95Image117,944
1017Avengers5$1.95Marvel113,922
1118Captain America5$1.95Marvel112,391
127X-Man25$2.99Marvel110,003
1319X-Force64$1.95Marvel105,362
148X-Men Unlimited14$2.99Marvel104,824
1523X-Factor132$1.95Marvel101,583
1610Wolverine/Witchblade: Devil's Reign5$2.95Image99,655
1726Cable41$1.95Marvel97,350
1829Excalibur107$1.95Marvel85,252
1921Gen13 Bootleg3$2.50Image81,188
2052Amazing Spider-Man421$1.50Marvel81,027
2134JLA3$2.50DC78,394
2237Spider-Man78$1.95Marvel75,253
2338Incredible Hulk451$1.95Marvel74,110
2443Deadpool3$1.95Marvel72,546
251Incredible Hulk/Pitt$5.99Marvel72,463
2645Spectacular Spider-Man244$1.95Marvel71,356
2720Silver Surfer/Weapon Zero$2.95Marvel69,269
2822Elektra/Cyblade: Devil's Reign7$2.95Image68,487
2947Sensational Spider-Man14$1.95Marvel67,839
302Daredevil/Batman$5.99Marvel63,958
3127X-Files26$2.95Topps63,758
3250Batman540$1.95DC63,221
3353Mystique & Sabretooth4$1.95Marvel61,799
3458Domino3$1.95Marvel58,941
3563Detective Comics707$1.95DC57,379
3664Supergirl7$1.95DC57,101
3742WildC.A.T.S34$2.50Image56,981
3866Superman121$1.95DC56,462
3930Hellshock1$2.95Image55,963
4031Spider-Man '97$2.99Marvel55,100
4167Action Comics731$1.95DC54,591
4268Elektra5$1.95Marvel54,260
4369Superman: The Man of Steel65$1.95DC54,256
4470Adventures of Superman544$1.95DC54,237
4532Star Wars: Boba Fett - Twin Engines of Destruction$2.95Dark Horse53,990
4646DV84$2.50Image53,636
4733Batman: The Long Halloween4$2.95DC52,745
4849Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives3$2.50Marvel52,406
4971Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight92$1.95DC50,918
5036Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition1$2.95Dark Horse50,539
5151Preacher23$2.50DC49,236
5275Superman: Man of Tomorrow8$1.95DC49,173
5340Chastity: Theatre of Pain1$2.95Chaos48,800
5441Star Wars: Golden Age of the Sith4$2.95Dark Horse48,705
5576Nightwing6$1.95DC47,978
5686Green Lantern84$1.75DC47,902
5778Batman: Shadow of the Bat60$1.95DC47,283
5828X-Files Season One7$3.95Topps45,285
5960Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 26$2.50Image44,906
6084Robin39$1.95DC44,349
6165Cyberforce30$2.50Image44,109
6293Flash123$1.75DC43,894
6385Catwoman43$1.95DC43,363
6435Prophet/Cable1$3.50Maximum42,946
6591Venom: On Trial1$1.95Marvel42,145
6614Batman: Masque1$5.95DC40,942
6754Star Wars X-Wing: Warrior Princess3$2.95Dark Horse40,645
6872Thrillkiller3$2.50DC39,380
6973Weapon Zero10$2.50Image39,178
7055Darkchylde/Glory$2.99Maximum39,134
7194Silver Surfer126$1.95Marvel38,962
7225Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy4$4.95DC38,792
73179Untold Tales of Spider-Man19$.99Marvel38,631
7496Wonder Woman119$1.95DC38,514
7597Imperial Guard2$1.95Marvel38,471
7657Spider-Man Team-Up6$2.99Marvel38,447
7762Shi/Rekishi1$2.95Crusade38,002
7898Jack Kirby's Fourth World1$1.95DC37,951
7916Code of Honor2$5.95Marvel37,890
8099Journey into Mystery507$1.95Marvel37,705
8177Mars Attacks The Image Universe2$2.50Image37,047
8279The Dreaming10$2.50DC36,769
83105Daredevil362$1.95Marvel35,886
8444Wetworks25$3.95Image35,637
85112Teen Titans6$1.95DC34,101
86114The Maxx28$1.95Image33,659
8788Savage Dragon35$2.50Image33,077
8890Books of Faerie1$2.50DC33,014
89116Superboy37$1.95DC32,685
90200Professor X and the X-Men17$.99Marvel31,871
91102Hitman12$2.25DC31,749
92131Impulse23$1.75DC31,610
93132Aquaman30$1.75DC31,515
94123Star Trek: Voyager5$1.95Marvel30,953
95124Star Trek: Deep Space Nine5$1.95Marvel30,131
9682Crow: Waking Nightmares1$2.95Kitchen Sink30,011
9781Star Trek Unlimited2$2.99Marvel29,812
98128Star Trek: Early Voyages2$1.95Marvel29,623
9983Evil Ernie vs. The Movie Monsters1$2.95Chaos29,524
100129What If?95$1.95Marvel29,328
10139Heartland1$4.95DC29,151
102130Star Fleet Academy4$1.95Marvel29,026
103101Books of Magic34$2.50DC28,708
104118Starman28$2.25DC28,266
105103Backlash28$2.50Image28,203
106104Stormwatch44$2.50Image28,139
107134Punisher17$1.95Marvel27,720
10889Avengelyne9$2.99Maximum27,621
109137Batman: Gordon's Law4$1.95DC27,526
110107House of Secrets6$2.50DC27,501
111109Grifter7$2.50Image27,387
112120Legion of Super-Heroes90$2.25DC27,286
11392Avengelyne: Armageddon2$2.99Maximum27,280
114111Siege1$2.50Image26,970
115155Superman Adventures5$1.75DC26,287
116115Spectre51$2.50DC26,047
117142Ghost Rider83$1.95Marvel25,977
118127Legionnaires46$2.25DC25,693
119117Wynonna Earp2$2.50Image25,472
120163Batman & Robin Adventures16$1.75DC24,700
121151Superboy and the Ravers7$1.95DC24,681
122227Uncanny Origins7$.99Marvel24,335
123122Shadowman3$2.50Acclaim24,258
124106Bettie Page Comics: Spicy Adventure$2.95Dark Horse23,676
1251252099 World of Tomorrow7$2.50Marvel23,331
126108A Touch of Silver1$2.95Image23,240
127138Hellblazer111$2.25DC23,069
12859Gladiator/Supreme$4.99Marvel22,699
129110Bug$2.99Marvel22,579
130144Simpsons Comics28$2.25Bongo22,361
131176Power of Shazam!24$1.75DC22,209
132133X-O Manowar4$2.50Acclaim21,969
133150Lobo37$2.25DC21,836
134135Magnus Robot Fighter1$2.50Acclaim21,609
135136Invisibles Vol. 22$2.50DC21,584
136119Mars Attacks The Savage Dragon2$2.95Topps20,964
137140Glory19$2.50Maximum20,654
138202Vampirella/Pantha Showcase1$1.50Harris20,591
139141Predator: Kindred2$2.50Dark Horse20,483
140175Sovereign Seven20$1.95DC20,193
141146Wildstorm Universe '973$2.50Image20,073
142149Sandman Mystery Theatre48$2.50DC19,655
14356Lobo/Mask2$5.95DC19,453
144162Green Arrow118$2.25DC19,421
14595Man of the Atom1$3.95Acclaim19,112
146169Challengers of the Unknown2$2.25DC18,429
147156Ghost21$2.50Dark Horse18,056
148157Supreme45$2.50Maximum18,056
149213Ultragirl3$1.50Marvel18,052
15080Barry Windsor Smith: Storyteller4$4.95Dark Horse18,031
151158Supreme44$2.50Maximum17,961
152187Steel36$1.95DC17,948
153161Terminal City9$2.50DC17,632
154143Warrior Nun Dei Aftertime1$2.95Antarctic17,139
155195Essential Vertigo: The Sandman8$1.95DC17,120
156166Black Lamb5$2.50DC16,930
157167Ninjak3$2.50Acclaim16,893
158147Animal Mystic: Water Wars3$2.95Sirius16,836
159145Youngblood Super Special1$2.99Maximum16,791
160260Adventures of the X-Men12$.99Marvel16,680
161172Brainbanx1$2.50DC16,096
162153Lady Rawhide4$2.95Topps16,052
163154Vampirella Lives - Vengeance Edition2$2.95Harris15,913
164208Evil Ernie4$1.95Chaos15,540
165194Book of Fate2$2.25DC15,116
166159Passover2$2.99Maximum14,813
167218Aztek: The Ultimate Man8$1.75DC14,787
168164Vampirella Lives - Model Edition2$2.95Harris14,648
169183Cabbot Bloodhunter1$2.50Maximum14,345
170272Adventures of Spider-Man12$.99Marvel14,330
171168Jaguar God7$2.95Verotik14,282
172184Seekers into the Mystery14$2.50DC14,206
173170Warrior Nun Areala/Scorpio Rose3$2.95Antarctic13,921
174189Troublemakers2$2.50Acclaim13,921
175171Bone (reprint)15$2.95Image13,801
176193Poison Elves20$2.50Sirius13,738
177174Oh My Goddess! Trials of Morisato1$2.95Dark Horse13,396
178196Quantum Leap1$2.50Acclaim13,276
179177The Black Pearl5$2.95Dark Horse13,125
180197Vampirella Silver Ann. - Bad Girl1$2.50Harris12,859
181198Adventures of Snake Plissken$2.50Marvel12,773
182181Fatale9$2.95Broadway12,682
183180Christian1$2.99Maximum12,613
184182Ranma 1/2 Part Six2$2.95Viz12,568
185148Daemonstorm1$3.95Caliber12,461
186121Elfquest8$4.95Warp12,341
187205Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles7$2.50Image12,322
188209Vampirella Silver Ann. - Good Girl1$2.50Harris12,094
189214Night Force4$2.25DC11,987
190210Time Breakers3$2.50DC11,974
191185Gunsmith Cats: The Return of Gray6$2.95Dark Horse11,961
192188Hate26$2.95Fantagraphics11,854
193186Battlestar Galacitca Painted Book$2.99Maximum11,797
194190Species: Human Race3$2.95Dark Horse11,784
195192Verotika14$2.95Verotik11,702
196173Cybrid0$3.50Maximum11,399
197212Cyberella7$2.50DC10,988
198226Cerebus214$2.25Aardvark-Vanaheim10,912
199199Tarzan7$2.95Dark Horse10,804
200206Blade of the Immortal Fanatic2$2.95Dark Horse10,431
201258Pinky and the Brain9$1.75DC9,913
202211Johnny the Homicidal Maniac7$2.95Slave Labor9,869
203253Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing5$1.95DC9,508
204233Vermillion6$2.50DC9,142
205215Asylum11$2.99Maximum8,952
206216Kabuki: Masks of the Noh4$2.95Caliber8,939
207247Scare Tactics4$2.25DC8,901
208201Razor Uncut32$3.50London Night8,889
209160Flaming Carrot Annual1$5.00Dark Horse8,857
210220Lords of Misrule1$2.95Dark Horse8,680
211221Usagi Yojimbo9$2.95Dark Horse8,674
212219Razor4$3.00London Night8,598
213223Battle Angel Alita Part Seven4$2.95Viz8,592
214224Dark Horse Presents117$2.95Dark Horse8,585
215222Razor Uncut31$3.00London Night8,472
216270Animaniacs23$1.75DC8,206
217228Heretic3$2.95Dark Horse8,136
218229Albino Spider of Dajette1$2.95Verotik8,073
219231Armature3$2.95Olyoptics8,067
220300Uncle Scrooge303$1.50Gladstone8,054
221232Chronowar6$2.95Dark Horse8,010
222248Gemini Blood7$2.50DC7,820
223207Legend of Mother Sarah: City of the Angels4$3.95Dark Horse7,719
224309Uncle Scrooge Adventures45$1.50Gladstone7,555
225235Hari Kari: Diary of Kari Sun$2.95Blackout7,454
226312Donald Duck Adventures43$1.50Gladstone7,359
227236Vanguard: Strange Visitors4$2.95Image7,308
228225Maggie and Hopey Color Special1$3.50Fantagraphics7,182
229240New Bondage Fairies3$2.95Fantagraphics7,081
230237Ultimate Strike2$3.00London Night7,055
231238Code Name Double Impact1$3.00High Impact7,043
232241A Distant Soil18$2.95Image7,005
233234Tad Williams' Mirrorworld Rain1$3.25Big6,948
234244Labman3$2.95Image6,897
235245Star Seed11$2.95Broadway6,840
236246Real Adventures of Jonny Quest5$2.95Dark Horse6,796
237259Tales from the Crypt19$2.50Gemstone6,613
238249No Need for Tenchi Part Two3$2.95Viz6,588
239322Sonic the Hedgehog45$1.50Archie6,499
240362Penny Pincher1$.99Dark Horse6,398
241251Thrax2$2.95Event6,379
242254Big Bang Comics8$2.95Image6,202
243255Elflord1$2.95Warp6,196
244239Maison Ikkoku Part Six6$3.50Viz5,974
245262Icon43$2.50DC5,974
246257Tommi Gunn: Killer's Lust1$3.00London Night5,898
247317Looney Tunes28$1.75DC5,721
248335Cheryl Blossom1$1.50Archie5,658
249284Weird Science19$2.50Gemstone5,431
250339Knuckles: The Dark Legion1$1.50Archie5,304
251290Panic1$2.50Gemstone5,203
252242Elementals Babes1$3.95Comico5,203
253203Spider-Man/Batman$5.95Marvel5,183
254291Berlin4$2.50Blackout5,178
255296Cyberfrog1$2.50Harris5,134
256261Armed & Dangerous: Irish Eyes2$2.95Acclaim5,127
257263Return of Lum Part Three9$2.95Viz5,051
258264Hepcats2$2.95Antarctic5,032
259265La Blue Girl7$2.95CPM5,026
260266La Blue Girl6$2.95CPM4,956
261348Archie458$1.50Archie4,906
262267Moebius Comics5$2.95Caliber4,900
263250Coventry2$3.95Fantagraphics4,874
264302Static45$2.50DC4,767
265273Shi Fan Appreciation Edition$2.95Crusade4,716
266274Luftwaffe 19464$2.95Antarctic4,710
267275Misty Girl Extreme1$2.95Fantagraphics4,704
268276Ninja High School55$2.95Antarctic4,678
269278Marquis Les Prelude1$2.95Caliber4,628
270305Punx Special1$2.50Acclaim4,571
271355Betty and Veronica110$1.50Archie4,508
272287Demon Baby1$2.95SQP4,470
273288Bio Booster Armor Guyver Part Six2$2.95Viz4,444
274294Sexcapades2$2.95Fantagraphics4,362
275314Hardware49$2.50DC4,356
276289Donna Mia2$3.00Avatar4,350
277298Bad Apples1$2.95High Impact4,248
278361Betty48$1.50Archie4,236
279364Veronica62$1.50Archie4,097
280301Reality Check5$2.95Sirius4,078
281657Free Wizard Ace Edition Bone66$.00Wizard4,034
282303Fist of the North Star Part Four2$2.95Viz3,958
283323Akiko11$2.50Sirius3,894
284306Brinke of Destruction3$2.95High Impact3,869
285307Eddie Campbell's Bacchus21$2.95Eddie Campbell3,856
286315Betty and Veronica Double Digest64$2.75Archie3,825
287252Manga Vizion Vol. 31$4.95Viz3,787
288311Vamperotica23$2.95Brainstorm3,743
289313One Pound Gospel Round Two1$2.95Viz3,717
290292Sanctuary Part Five11$3.50Viz3,692
291371Scooby Doo19$1.50Archie3,635
292299Peepshow10$3.50Drawn & Quarterly3,559
293329Wandering Star20$2.50Sirius3,502
294280S.R. Bissette's Spiderbaby Comix2$3.95Spiderbaby3,446
295283Scorn Heatwave1$3.95SCC3,439
296331Brinke of Destruction1$2.50High Impact3,433
297337Thieves & Kings15$2.35I Box3,427
298318Vamperotica (Nude)23$2.95Brainstorm3,382
299378Jughead91$1.50Archie3,382
300379Archie & Friends22$1.50Archie3,376
301324Vampfire Erotic Echo1$2.95Brainstorm3,300
302325Lacosa Nostroid2$2.95Fireman3,294
303320Pandora2$3.00Avatar3,287
304326Big Boob Bondage1$2.95Antarctic3,269
305369Betty & Veronica Digest87$1.79Archie3,256
306370Archie Digest147$1.79Archie3,231
307310Melty Feeling3$3.50Antarctic3,161
308328Comics & Stories4$2.95Dark Horse3,117
309327Sade Testaments of Pain1$3.00London Night3,085
310372Archie Annual Digest68$1.79Archie2,965
311304Mythography2$3.95Bardic2,952
312330Tribe2$2.95Good2,940
313336Jughead Double Digest43$2.75Archie2,940
314268Punisher/Batman$4.95Marvel2,903
315332Vampfire Erotic Echo (Photo cover)1$2.95Brainstorm2,902
316349Demongate9$2.50Sirius2,902
317350Tomoe0$2.50Crusade2,883
318333Awakening1$2.95Kitchen Sink2,877
319316Widow: Bound by Blood5$3.50Ground Zero2,870
320271Ultimate Strike Nude5$5.00London Night2,845
321319Underwater8$3.50Drawn & Quarterly2,826
322279Betty Page in Jungleland$4.95Bunny Yeager2,756
323285Odyssey by Homer Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,718
324281Poizon Limited Edition0$5.00London Night2,718
325338A-Bomb16$2.95Antarctic2,700
326340Oz19$2.95Caliber2,674
327341Demon Beast Invasion4$2.95CPM2,674
328380Laugh Digest133$1.79Archie2,649
329286Hamlet by William Shakespeare Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,643
330342Demon Beast Invasion3$2.95CPM2,636
331343Poison Redd1$2.95High Impact2,624
332344Bandy Man3$2.95Caliber2,605
333293Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,586
334658Free Chastity Onyx Limited Edition1$.00Chaos2,573
335346Genus22$2.95Antarctic2,567
336345Rose & Gunn: Reckoning1$3.00London Night2,560
337297Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Study Guide$4.99Acclaim2,523
338351Angel Girl0$2.95Angel2,409
339381Flintstones20$1.50Archie2,339
340277Fangs of the Widow Annual Search and Destroy1$5.95Ground Zero2,308
341352Da'kota1$2.95Millennium2,301
342353Cell3$2.95Antarctic2,295
343354Vampfire Erotic Echo (Nude cover)1$2.95Brainstorm2,295
344374Simpsons Comics5$2.25Bongo2,282
345375Simpsons Comics6$2.25Bongo2,263
346363Nira X Anime Swimsuit Edition0$2.75Express2,263
347377Simpsons Comics7$2.25Bongo2,257
348356Stargate Doomsday World3$2.95Express2,232
349357Invasion1$2.95Avatar2,200
350358Legendlore8$2.95Caliber2,181
351359Wartblade1A$2.95Tipping Cow2,162
352367Action Girl Comics10$2.75Slave Labor2,156
353376Eh!1$2.50Avatar2,036
354365X-Files13$2.95Topps2,036
355366Willow2$2.95Angel2,010
356368X-Files14$2.95Topps1,998




January 1997 Graphic Novel Sales to Comics Shops

Estimated Graphic Novels and Trade Paperbacks Preordered by North American Comics Shops Based on Reports from Diamond Comic Distributors

This list includes all items on Diamond's Top Graphic Novel charts. If you don't see a book, Diamond released no data for it.

The links lead to title details on Amazon (paid links). You can also find the books at your comics shop.

Marvel did not report graphic novel sales.



UnitsDollarsTrade Paperback titlePricePublisherEst. units
18Images of a Distant Soil$34.95Imagen/a
21Star Wars: A New Hope Special Ed.$9.95Dark Horsen/a
35Big Book of Losers$14.95DCn/a
410X-Files Vol. 2$19.95Toppsn/a
56Hellblazer: Fear and Loathing$14.95DCn/a
69Batman: Legacy$17.95DCn/a
73Verotika East#1$11.95Verotikn/a
82Comic Book #2$5.95Dark Horsen/a
918Wolfriders Guide to Elfquest$19.95Warpn/a
104Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #610$6.95Gladstonen/a