January is a transition month in the pop culture products business, with the first week or two typically showing strong post-Christmas sales, followed by slowing traffic as the winter doldrums set in. But there was a lot of activity in pop culture stores this January, with especially strong releases in the comic category.

An ICv2 release. ICv2, with the support of sponsors Dark Horse Comics and Viz Communications, is launching its 'Tribute to Tezuka' promotion today, which includes free point of purchase display materials for retailers and information on how to market the works of Osamu Tezuka...

Diamond Select showed off a growing collection of licensed products and cool Japanese imports at its showroom at the New York Toy Fair this year.

In Marvel's press conference today, Marketing Manager Bill Rosemann ran down an impressive list of Spider-Man projects scheduled for the spring in order to feed off the heat generated by the Spider-Man movie, which opens May 3.

In contrast to the heady days of the late 90s, Hasbro has pruned back its offerings.

No comic publisher has ever assembled a more formidable phalanx of films based on its characters than Marvel Comics, which has no fewer than five major motion pictures set for theatrical release during the next 18 months.

DC's Dark Knight Strikes Again was the top-selling comic for the third consecutive month, according to orders placed with Diamond US from pop culture stores. The initial raw order was over 171,000 copies, which was around 10% over initial orders on #2, and nearly as high as the initial orders on #1.

Estimated quantities for initial orders on comics shipping in February 2002 from pop culture stores ordering from Diamond US.

The syndicated television series Mutant X will be back for a second season.

WizKids has announced the details of its licensed Marvel collectible miniatures game, which uses a dial base system similar to the Mage Knight system.