Books-A-Million CEO Terry Finley mentioned graphic novels as an important source of growth in the company’s most recent quarter, in the company’s conference call reporting Q2 results.  “We also saw strong growth in the graphic novel category, with continued success with titles related to AMC’s The Walking Dead series and a renewed interest in several manga series [that] drove sales increases,” he said. 

The company managed a same store sales increase of 0.1%, but overall revenues decreased 0.8% in the quarter.  Same store sales without the Nook business were up .8%.

The company lost $3 million in the quarter, roughly the same as in the year ago period after removing the impact of a tax change last year. 

BAM has been struggling of late (see “Book Sales Down at Books-A-Million”), so the improvements in revenue represent a turnaround of sorts. 

The company is planning a Marvel comics promotion that will run through September, with in-store events held around different characters each Saturday from 2-4 p.m.  Events will include training exercises, storytelling, and other “rad, crime-fighting activities.”

Online drawings and an Instagram costume contest will also be conducted.

The characters featured are:
Sept. 6:  Guardians of the Galaxy
Sept. 13:  Captain America and Spider-Man
Sept 20:  Iron Man and X-Men
Sept. 27:  Avengers