Only two comic titles sold over 100,000 in June, a weak month in which comic sales were down 2.93% (see "First Half Direct Market Comics Flat").  June is typically a strong month for comic sales, but this performance finishes off the second quarter poorly.  There were four titles over 100,000 in May and three in April, so by hit-generating potential, June was the weakest month in the quarter.  There was only one title over 100,000 each month for the first three months of the year.

There were no launches in the Top 10, although the first issue of Robert Kirkman’s new horror title Outcast came in at #11, with over 71,000 sold.

Many of DC’s titles had sales bumps from the "Bombshells" covers (see "DC Plans 'Bombshells' Covers"), with Batman, for example, up dramatically, by over 20,000 copies to 130,077.  The "Bombshells" variant cover editions were in demand after release by retailers looking for more after sell-outs.  DC is doing more of this kind of variants (on which retailers can order as many as they think they can sell without having to meet any conditions).  In July, their "Batman 75" variant covers, which are not selling as well as the "Bombshells" covers, and in August, they’ll be the "DCU Selfie" variant covers.

Marvel’s Original Sin is holding up reasonably well, at around 90,000 copies on issues #3 and #4.

Of DC’s weekly titles, Batman Eternal is doing better, with sales around  60,000 each on the issues released in June.  The New 52 Future’s End, on the other hand, is dropping off fast, with sales around 45,000 each.

Variants also had an impact on the graphic novel chart, where the top title, Afterlife with Archie Vol. 1 TP, had two covers available to comic retailers, the book market cover and a special Diamond Previews exclusive.  That helped get the title to 11,733, a good number.

Sales dropped off quickly below that, though, with only three titles over 5,000 copies.

For an analysis of the dollar trends in June, see "First Half Direct Market Comics Flat."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during June, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--June 2014."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during June, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels--June 2014."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during May, see "Top 400 Comics Actual--May 2014."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during May, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels--May 2014."

For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in May, see "Four Titles Over 100K in May."  For an analysis of the dollar trends in May, see "Comics Down Slightly in May."

For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through June 2014, see "ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 300 GNs Index."