Dark Horse Comics’
Avatar: The Last Airbender by Gene Luen Yang topped bookstore graphic novel sales in February according to the Nielsen BookScan list of the Top 20 adult graphic novels. All three volumes of
Sailor Moon remained on the list, though the Volume 3 slipped to the number two spot. After putting just one title on the list in January, Robert Kirkman’s
The Walking Dead placed four volumes in the Top 20 in February as the second half of Season 2 of the TV series got underway with huge ratings during the month.
Another media-aided book on the list was Dark Horse’s adaptation of
Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, which benefited from the 3-D release of the film during the month. Movies and TV shows aren’t the only drivers of graphic novel sales, the Blizzard Entertainment video game tie-in
Diablo III: Book of Cain dropped from #5 to #10, but remained on the list for the third month in a row.
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BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels in February 2012
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Rank
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Title
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Author
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Publisher
|
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1
|
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: THE PROMISE PART 1
|
GENE YANG
|
DARK HORSE COMICS
|
|
2
|
SAILOR MOON VOL. 3
|
NAOKE TAKEUCHI
|
KODANSHA COMICS
|
|
3
|
THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 15
|
ROBERT KIRKMAN
|
IMAGE COMICS
|
|
4
|
NARUTO VOL. 54
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ MEDIA
|
|
5
|
NEGIMA! VOL. 33
|
KEN AKAMATSU
|
KODANSHA COMICS
|
|
6
|
BLEACH VOL. 38
|
TITE KUBO
|
VIZ MEDIA
|
|
7
|
BLUE EXORCIST VOL. 6
|
KAZUE KATO
|
VIZ MEDIA
|
|
8
|
THE WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM ONE
|
ROBERT KIRKMAN
|
IMAGE COMICS
|
|
9
|
BLACK BUTLER VOL. 8
|
YANA TOBOSO
|
YEN PRESS
|
|
10
|
DIABLO III: BOOK OF CAIN HC
|
DECKARD CAIN
|
INSIGHT EDITIONS
|
|
11
|
THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1
|
ROBERT KIRKMAN
|
IMAGE COMICS
|
|
12
|
THE WALKING DEAD BOOK 1 HC
|
ROBERT KIRKMAN
|
IMAGE COMICS
|
|
13
|
MAXIMUM RIDE: THE MANGA VOL. 5
|
JAMES PATTERSON
|
YEN PRESS
|
|
14
|
SAILOR MOON VOL. 1
|
NAOKE TAKEUCHI
|
KODANSHA COMICS
|
|
15
|
BAKUMAN VOL. 9
|
TSUGUMI OHBA
|
VIZ MEDIA
|
|
16
|
NARUTO VOL. 53
|
MASASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ MEDIA
|
|
17
|
SAILOR MOON VOL. 2
|
NAOKE TAKEUCHI
|
KODANSHA COMICS
|
|
18
|
DURARARA!! VOL. 1
|
RYOHGO NARITA
|
YEN PRESS
|
|
19
|
STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE
|
HENRY GILROY
|
DARK HORSE COMICS
|
|
20
|
NARUTO: THE OFFICIAL CHARACTER DATA BOOK
|
MASHASHI KISHIMOTO
|
VIZ MEDIA
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After five months on the list Craig Thompson’s
Habibi dropped out the Top 20. It should be noted that
Habibi has clearly been the bestselling new literary graphic published in 2011. .
For the second month in a row manga took 13 spots on the list. The manga juggernaut may not be what it used to be, but it remains a key player in the bookstore graphic novel market. Three volumes associated with Masashi Kissimoto’s
Naruto (two volumes of manga and a character guide) made the list.
Naruto has remained the bestselling manga property in North America for over five years, an unprecedented run for sure.
For past BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novel lists, see the "
BookScan Top 20 GNs Index."
