Batman: The Dark Knight #1, a new series written and illustrated by David Finch, topped direct market sales of comics through Diamond Comic Distributors in December with sales estimated by ICv2 at 89,985.  This represents the lowest sales total from a chart-topping comic since ICv2 began tracking direct market sales in March of 2001 (see “ICv2’s Top 300 Comics and GN’s Index”).  Eighteen of the top 25 titles showed drops in circulation, while just five titles including Green Lantern, Batman, New Avengers, and Wolverine posted increases.
 
In addition to Batman: The Dark Knight, DC Comics placed two Green Lantern titles and two Brightest Day books in the top five followed by Batman Incorporated #2 and Batman and Robin #18.  DC secured eight of the top ten spots in December and 13 out of the top 25.
 
The top Marvel title was New Avengers #7, which came in at number eight.  Although Marvel nosed out DC in the Unit Share of titles sold via Diamond with 38.9% to DC’s 36.99%, DC scored a relatively rare victory over Marvel in December in Dollar Share with 33.07% to Marvel’s 32.28%. 
 
DC’s market share was aided by a strong showing on the graphic novel side, where led by Bill Willingham’s Fables Vol. 14 and JMS’ Superman: Earth One HC, DC dominated the list with six of the top ten titles.  The TV success of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead was reflected in the presence of three Walking Dead volumes in the top ten, led by Volume 1, which came in at number 3, indicating that new readers are jumping on the series.  Dark Horse’s Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 6 rounded out the graphic novel top ten.
 
Tite Kubo’s Bleach Vol.33, which is published by Viz Media and came in at #14, was the top manga title in the direct market in December.
 
Here are ICv2’s estimates of the sales by Diamond Comic Distributors to comic stores on the top 25 comic titles in December:
 
89,985             Batman: The Dark Knight #1
76,360             Green Lantern #60
75,450             Brightest Day #15
74,871             Brightest Day #16
72,302             Green Lantern #61
71,544             Batman Incorporated #2
68,814             Batman and Robin #18
67,840             New Avengers #7
67,056             Avengers #8
63,262             Batman #705
57,348             Wolverine: Best There Is #1
56,304             Flash #7
55,996             Amazing Spider-Man #650
55,770             Uncanny X-Men #531
55,520             Uncanny X-Force #3
54,387             Green Lantern Corps #55
54,048             Secret Avengers #8
53,975             Flash #8
53,005             X-Men #6
52,812             Wolverine #4
48,501             Justice League of America #52
46,072             Nemesis #4
45,142             Thor #618
44,261             Shadowland #5
44,077             Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #5

For an analysis of the dollar trends in December, see "December Comic Sales Down."

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 2010."

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 2010."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during November, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--November 2010."

For our estimates of actual orders to Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during November, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--November 2010."

For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through December 2010, see "ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 300 GNs Index."