Spurred on by the success of Zack Snyder's movie adaptation, Frank Miller's 300 dominated sales of graphic novels in both the direct and bookstore markets during the first quarter of 2007 according to research conducted by ICv2 for ICv2 Guide #43: Graphic Novels.  Dark Horse's $30 hardcover edition of 300 has already racked up well over $1.5 million in retail sales in the bookstores alone.  Although Naruto Vol.13 recently passed 300 in unit sales, 300 was the number one graphic novel in units for the first quarter and only recently relinquished its lead, which it could possibly regain when the 300 DVD is released (see '300 DVD Out July 31st').

The new ICv2 Guide also focuses on the growing female readership that provides the foundation for manga's domination of the bookstore graphic novels sales.  Eleven of the top 25 manga properties identified by ICv2 are true shojo titles, while other key properties such as Naruto, Full Metal Alchemist and Bleach have substantial numbers of female readers.  The distaff side of the market is also responsible for the increasing sale of 'boys' love' and yaoi titles, stores about relationships between male characters created largely by female artists for female readers.

Mark Millar, the architect of Marvel's Civil War event, is profiled in the Guide's 'Writer's Spotlight' section.  ICv2 predicts that 'event-based' graphic novels such as Marvel's Civil War, Dark Tower, and Anita Blake, DC's 52, and Dark Horse's new Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which Joss Whedon describes as 'Season Eight'), will all make major impressions on the bookstore market in the 2007.

The new Guide to Graphic Novels also contains reviews by noted librarians and the ICv2 staff, including reviews of a number of upcoming releases including Flight Vol. 4 (July) , James Sturm's America (June) , Le Chevalier d'Eon (June), Robot Dreams (August), and Joe Matt's Spent (June).

For more information on obtaining the ICv2 Guide #43: Graphic Novels, which is free to retailers and also identifies the best prospects from the hordes of graphic novel releases set for July, August and September, see 'ICv2 Releases ICv2 Guide #43: Graphic Novels.'