BATMAN #19 Tops All Comic Book Sales for April
On the eve of historic ZERO YEAR storyline, Batman titles remain firmly planted atop comic book shop, bookstore and The New York Times bestseller lists
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The dark, evocative and dramatic Batman stories of critically-acclaimed writer Scott Snyder and superstar artist Greg Capullo continued to catapult the iconic vigilante to the top of the sales charts in comic shops and bookstores in the month of April, announced DC Entertainment, the largest English-language comic book publisher in the world. April 2013 saw BATMAN #19 and DETECTIVE COMICS #19 clock in as the top-selling periodicals in units and dollars, respectively, to comic shop retailers, according to the world’s largest comic book distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors.
Batman’s success in the bookstore market was also impressive, with the Dark Knight taking four of the top 20 graphic novels in dollars and units, according to Nielsen Bookscan – including BATMAN VOL. 2: THE CITY OF OWLS, BATMAN VOL. 1: THE COURT OF OWLS and BATMAN: NIGHT OF THE OWLS – all featuring the work of the unstoppable team of Snyder and Capullo.
“Greg and Scott know Batman. Their work on the character falls under ‘instant classic’ – edgy, cinematic and suspenseful. They get to the core of what fans look for in a Batman story, and the response has been amazing. The best part? They’re just getting started,” said Diane Nelson, DC Entertainment President. “At the same time, Batman as a character and icon continues to be one of our hottest sellers, whether it’s a digital title or game like INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, the epic anniversary issue that was DETECTIVE COMICS #19 or graphic novel collections of his adventures. If it’s Batman, it’s a success.”
BATMAN #19 was the first of a two-part tale spotlighting the New 52 debut of a key Batman rogue, the mysterious Clayface, and set the stage for BATMAN #21 – the beginning of the sure-to-be-historic BATMAN: YEAR ZERO storyline, a modern reinterpretation of Batman’s iconic origin, also by Snyder and Capullo. The storyline promises to give fans a unexpected look at how Bruce Wayne took his first steps toward becoming Batman.
As if pulling back the curtain on Batman’s formative days wasn’t enough in June, Snyder will be joining forces with DC Comics Co-Publisher and legendary comic book artist Jim Lee for SUPERMAN UNCHAINED, a new series featuring the hero’s classic supporting cast, villains and an all-new, all-powerful threat. Fans can get a glimpse of what’s to come in the series at their local comic shops tomorrow, as participating stores will be distributing copies of DC Comics’ Free Comic Book Day titles, which include the SUPERMAN LAST SON OF KRYPTON SPECIAL EDITION #1 (featuring a lead story by DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns) and the DC NATION SUPER SAMPLER #1, for our younger readers.
Batman’s presence was also felt in the accolades department, as BATMAN VOL. 2: CITY OF OWLS and DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2: SCARE TACTICS made The New York Times Hardcover Bestseller lists. Also on the list were the DC Comics titles EARTH 2 VOL. 1: THE GATHERING, and Vertigo titles AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOL. 5 and 100 BULLETS: THE DELUXE EDITION BOOK FOUR. Making their debuts on The New York Times’ Paperback Bestsellers lists are DC Comics titles SWAMP THING VOL. 2: FAMILY TREE and WORLDS’ FINEST VOL. 1: THE LOST DAUGHTERS OF EARTH 2, and Vertigo titles PUNK ROCK JESUS and THE UNWRITTEN VOL. 7: THE WOUND.
On the digital side, INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US dominated the sales chart in April, taking each spot of the top 15 selling titles. INJUSTICE is a true phenomenon, driving double digit sales percentage increases for the top 20 titles across all major distribution platforms: comiXology, Kindle Store, iBookstore and Nook Store. INJUSTICE print issues also continue to sell well, with each issue released to-date going back for additional printings.
Also in April, DC Entertainment launched a first-ever crowdfunding initiative for its We Can Be Heroes giving campaign. The crowdfunding initiative has already raised more than $120,000 by offering fun donation perks for fans, as well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences like hanging out with Geoff Johns at San Diego Comic-Con and a private hometown screening of MAN OF STEEL. For more information on We Can Be Heroes, visit www.WeCanBeHeroes.org
About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched www.WeCanBeHeroes.org —a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League Super Heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.
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