The publisher shipped copies of Blackest Night #6 to retailers the week before Christmas with large green stickers on their boxes instructing that none be sold before December 30.
But, less than a week before its official release, scanned images from the embargoed comic began appearing on fan forums and a lower quality version of the book was distributed through Bit Torrent sites. DC has since requested all images be removed.
It is not known who leaked the highly-anticipated issue.
When approached for comment by CBR, series writer Geoff Johns said: "I'm glad people are excited about the book."
It is understood that DC sales vice-president Bob Wayne told retailers at a summit in Baltimore, in October, that future opportunities to receive books under embargo would be lost if anyone broke the strict release rules.
