Comics reversed a rare decline in sales in November by rising 3% in December while graphic novels shot up 11%, which yielded a 4% gain for the month in combined comics and graphic novel sales. For the fourth quarter comics sales were up 3% and graphic novels rose by 15% with combined sales up 5%. The rise in combined sales in Q4 was the lowest of the year. Combined comic and graphic novel sales were up 13% in each of the first two quarters of 2007 before slowing down to 6% in Q3.
It is clear that overall 2007 was a very strong year for comic sales (up 7% compared with 2006), graphic novels (up 18%), and combined sales (up 9%), though the increases in comic and combined sales not quite as strong as in 2006, during which comics (when compared with 2005) sales rose 14%, while graphic novels were up 8% and the combined total was up 13%.
For the top 100 graphics novels in December, see 'Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--December 2007.'
For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in December, see ''Ultimates 3' Tops December Comic Sales.'
For the top 300 comics in November, see 'Top 300 Comics Actual--November 2007.'
For the top 100 graphics novels in November, see 'Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--November 2007.'
For an over-view and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in November, see ''World War Hulk' Finishes Strong.' For an analysis of the dollar trends in November, see 'Comic Dollars Slip in November.'
For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through December 2007, see 'ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 100 GNs Index.'