The Nielsen BookScan service has provided ICv2 with a ranking of the top 20 graphic novels of 2008, drawn from sell-through information in bookstore and other outlets tracked by the service. The rankings are based on piece sales for the entire year. Watchmen was the #1 graphic novel of 2008; although it was selling great all year, sales were turbocharged by the Watchmen trailer released in conjunction with The Dark Knight, the #1 movie of the year. Batman: The Killing Joke Special Edition, another 20 year old volume written by Alan Moore, was the #5 title of the year.
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Rank
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Title
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Author
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Pub
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PubDate
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1
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WATCHMEN
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ALAN MOORE
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DC
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4/1/95
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|
2
|
NARUTO VOL. 28
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MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
3/1/08
|
|
3
|
NARUTO VOL. 29
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
5/1/08
|
|
4
|
NARUTO VOL. 30
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
7/1/08
|
|
5
|
BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE SPEC. ED.
|
ALAN MOORE
|
DC
|
3/1/08
|
|
6
|
NARUTO VOL. 27
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
12/1/07
|
|
7
|
NARUTO VOL. 31
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MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
9/1/08
|
|
8
|
NARUTO VOL. 26
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
12/1/07
|
|
9
|
DEATH NOTE VOL. 1
|
TSUGUMI OHBA
|
VIZ
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10/1/05
|
|
10
|
FRUITS BASKET VOL. 19
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NATSUKI TAKAYA
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TKP
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3/1/08
|
|
11
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FRUITS BASKET VOL. 20
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NATSUKI TAKAYA
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TKP
|
7/1/08
|
|
12
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DEATH NOTE VOL. 2
|
TSUGUMI OHBA
|
VIZ
|
11/1/05
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|
13
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BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURN
|
FRANK MILLER
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DC
|
5/1/97
|
|
14
|
VAMPIRE KNIGHT VOL. 4
|
MATSURI HINO
|
VIZ
|
4/1/08
|
|
15
|
NARUTO VOL. 1
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
7/1/03
|
|
16
|
NARUTO VOL. 32
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
12/1/08
|
|
17
|
BLEACH VOL. 22
|
TITE KUBO
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VIZ
|
2/1/08
|
|
18
|
NARUTO VOL. 25
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ
|
12/1/07
|
|
19
|
DEATH NOTE VOL. 13
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TSUGUMI OHBA
|
VIZ
|
2/1/08
|
|
20
|
VAMPIRE KNIGHT VOL. 1
|
MATSURI HINO
|
VIZ
|
1/1/07
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Naruto was the top manga, with nine volumes in the top 20, led by volume 28, the first in the Shippuden series, at #2 over-all. Six of the top ten graphic novels of the year were Naruto volumes. Even volume 1 appeared in the list, a great sign that new readers are still joining the ranks of Naruto readers.
Three other manga series joined Naruto in the top 20: Death Note (three volumes), Fruits Basket (two volumes), Vampire Knight (two volumes), and Bleach (one volume).
The only other American title was Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, which came in at #13.
Note: We've also published a revised version to this chart (click here) that includes kids and YA titles not included here.
