It is that time of the month when we get to check out the latest graphic novels sales numbers. As always, ICv2 is the best source for these sales numbers. ICv2 released several sales charts for December 2022 including the Top 20 Author Graphic Novels, Top 20 Superheroes Graphic Novels, Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels, and Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels.
The Top 20 Author Graphic Novels, Top 20 Superhero Graphic Novels, Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels, and Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels sales charts are all based on NPD BookScan numbers. NPD BookScan collects weekly point-of-sale data on print books from over 16,000 locations through direct reporting from all major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, independent bookstores, and many others. NPD BookScan covers approximately 85% of the U.S. trade print book market.
NPD BookScan December 2022 Top 20 Author Graphic Novels
NPD BookScan December 2022 Top 20 Superhero Graphic Novels
NPD BookScan December 2022 Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels
NPD BookScan December 2022 Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels
NPD BookScan December 2022 Top 20 Author Graphic Novels
Top 10
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME THREE (Del Rey) 22,044 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME TWO (Del Rey) 17,575 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME ONE HC (Del Rey) 14,266 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 12,112 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME ONE (Del Rey) 9,727 units
- KILLING STALKING: DELUXE EDITION VOL. 2 (Seven Seas) 7,896 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 5 (Yen Press) 7,725 units
- THE REMARRIED EMPRESS VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 7,449 units
- VILLAINS ARE DESTINED TO DIE VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 7,449 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 2 (Yen Press) 7,225 units
The publisher battle in the Top 10 was close. Yen Press grabbed first place with five volumes in the Top 10. Del Rey came in second place with four volumes in the Top 10. Seven Seas took third place with one volume in the Top 10.
It has become obvious that the Top Author Graphic Novels chart has basically become the South Korean sales chart. All of the titles in the Top 10 are from South Korea or New Zealand. The Top Author Graphic Novels chart also continues to be dominated by titles that originally started as webcomics.
Killing Stalking is a South Korean manhwa that was originally published online from 2016-2019. The Remarried Empress is a South Korean webnovel that became a webtoon. Villains Are Destined To Die is a South Korean online tappytoon that is now getting a print manhwa.
Lore Olympus continues to be a total sales beast. Lore Olympus placed four volumes in the Top 10. Lore Olympus took the Top 3 spots and four out of the Top 5 spots.
Solo Leveling continues to be the next most popular franchise as it placed three volumes in the Top 10.
Sales were up at the up compared to last month. In November 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 14,532 units. In December 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 22,044 units. Sales dropped below the 8,000 unit mark by the number 2 spot in November 2022 while sales did not drop below the 8,000 unit mark until the number 6 spot in December 2022. In November 2022, the title in the number 10 spot sold 3,858 units. In December 2022, the title in the number 10 spot sold 7,225 units.
Year-over-year numbers were down at the very top. In December 2021, the volume at the number 1 spot sold 31,901 units. However, sales were up further down the Top 10 as sales in December 2021 dropped below 7,000 units by the number 8 spot.
Top 20
- YOU ARE HOME HC (Andrews & McMeel) 7,182 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME THREE (Del Rey) 6,886 units
- CRITICAL ROLE: VOX MACHINA ORIGINS VOL. III (Dark Horse Comics) 6,287 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME TWO (Del Rey) 5,528 units
- THE WORLD AFTER THE FALL VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 5,392 units
- DUCKS: TWO YEARS IN THE OIL SANDS HC (Drawn & Quarterly) 5,182 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 4 (Yen Press) 5,169 units
- INVINCIBLE COMPENDIUM VOL. 1 (Image Comics) 4,859 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 3 (Yen Press) 4,821 units
- MY GENTLY RAISED BEAST VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 4,550 units
The publisher battle for the Top 20 was won by Yen Press which placed nine volumes in the Top 20. Del Rey came in second place with six volumes in the Top 20. Seven Seas, Andrews & McMeel, Dark Horse Comics, Drawn & Quarterly, and Image Comics all tied for third place with one volume apiece.
Lore Olympus placed six titles in the Top 20 and Solo Leveling placed five titles in the Top 20. We continue to see the domination of webtoons in the Top Author Graphic Novels chart as both The World After the Fall and My Gently Raised Beast are South Korean webtoons.
As we move through the Top 20 we continue to see the domination of South Korean titles. Ten of the volumes in the Top 20 are South Korean. Six of the volumes are from New Zealand. One volume is from Canada. That means only two volumes in the Top 20 are from the Untied States: Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins and Invincible Compendium.
Sales in the bottom half of the Top 20 were also up. In November 2022, the volume in the number 11 spot sold 3,470 units. In December 2022, the volume in the number 11 spot sold 7,182 units. In November 2022, the volume in the number 20 spot sold 1,549 units. In December 2022, the volume in the number 20 spot sold 4,550 units.
Year-over-year sales were slightly up. In December 2021, sales dropped below the 4,000 unit mark by the number 14 spot. In December 2022, sales never dropped below the 4,000 unit mark.
NPD BookScan December 2022 Top 20 Superhero Graphic Novels
Top 10
- TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN HC (IDW Publishing) 22,693 units
- THE SANDMAN BOOK ONE (DC Comics) 9,813 units
- WATCHMEN (2019 EDITION) (DC Comics) 4,381 units
- STRANGER THINGS GRAPHIC NOVEL BOXED SET (Dark Horse Comics) 4,149 units
- BATMAN: YEAR ONE (DC Comics) 3,576 units
- FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE HC (Harry Abrams) 3,376 units
- BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE DLX. ED. HC (NEW EDITION) (DC Comics) 3,120 units
- THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN HC (Penguin Classics) 2,930 units
- THE SANDMAN BOOK TWO (DC Comics) 2,907 units
- FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR HC (Marvel Comics) 2,900 units
DC Comics took first place with five volumes in the Top 10. Two from the Batman franchise. Two from the Sandman franchise. All of them are ancient old comics.
IDW Publishing, Dark Horse Comics, Harry Abrams, Penguin Classics, and Marvel Comics all tied for second place with one title apiece in the Top 10.
What is Marvel Comics doing? The only Marvel Comics volume is a cross-over with Fortnite which is what drove the sales. Penguin Classics did publish an Amazing Spider-Man volume of old Stan Lee Silver Age stories.
Sales were up at the top in November 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 14,532 units. However, once you get past the number one spot, sales were actually down. In November 2022, sales dropped below the 5,000 unit mark by the number 8 spot. In December 2022, sales dropped below the 5,000 unit mark by the number 3 spot.
Year-over-year numbers were up at the number 1 spot as the volume in the number 1 spot in December 2021 sold 7,085 units. However, sales were flat for the rest of the Top 10. In December 2021, the volume in the number 3 spot sold 4,284 units and the volume in the number 10 spot sold 2,670 units. In December 2022, the volume in the number 3 spot sold 4,381 units and the volume in the number 10 spot sold 2,900 units.
Top 20
- STAR WARS: A VADER FAMILY SITHMAS (Chronicle Books) 2,783 units
- THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS (DC Comics) 2,529 units
- THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (Penguin Classics) 2,520 units
- STRANGER THINGS: SCIENCE CAMP (Dark Horse Comics) 2,250 units
- BATMAN ’89 HC (DC Comics) 2,196 units
- FLASHPOINT BEYOND (DC Comics) 2,121 units
- BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN (DC Comics) 2,067 units
- GODZILLA VS. THE MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS (IDW Publishing) 2,066 units
- BATMAN: HUSH (NEW EDITION) (DC Comics) 2,000 units
- THE SANDMAN BOOK THREE (DC Comics) 1,982 units
DC Comics took first place with eleven volumes in the Top 20. Seven from the Batman franchise. Three from the Sandman franchise. All of the volumes are old comic books. The only newer ones would be Batman ’89 which trades on nostalgia. The other new one is Flashpoint Beyond from 2022. Geoff Johns saves DC Comics’ bacon once again.
IDW Publishing, Penguin Classics, and Dark Horse Comics tied for second place with two volumes apiece in the Top 20.
Harry Abrams, Penguin Classics, and Marvel Comics all tied for third place with one title apiece in the Top 20.
Only a single Marvel Comics title in the Top 20 is embarrassing. Even if you credit the two Penguin Classics titles to Marvel Comics it is not much better. Those two Penguin Classics titles are old Silver-Age Spider-Man stories. Marvel Comics continues to fail to generate any reader interest in anything they have done over the past five years.
Sales were slightly up in the lower half of the Top 20. In November 2022, the volume at the number 11 spot sold 1,127 units and sales dropped below 1,000 units by the number 15 spot.
Year-over-year sales were largely flat. In December 2021, the volume at the number 11 spot sold 2,552 units and sales dropped below the 2,000 unit mark by the number 17 spot. In December 2021, the volume in the number 20 spot sold 1,779 units.
NPD BookScan December 2022 Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels
Top 10
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 1 (Viz Media) 53,600 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 2 (Viz Media) 36,371 units
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 1 (Viz Media) 35,565 units
- SPY X FAMILY VOL. 1 (Viz Media) 35,137 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 3 (Viz Media) 31,714 units
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 18 (Viz Media) 31,195 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 4 (Viz Media) 29,410 units
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 1 (Viz Media) 27,037 units
- DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 17 (Viz Media) 25,019 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 5 (Viz Media) 22,357 units
Viz Media has no competition in the manga industry in the United States. Viz Media swept the Top 10 with no opposition.
Chainsaw Man was the franchise that Godzilla stomped all over the Top 10. The massive sales numbers posted by Chainsaw Man were definitely boosted by the new Chainsaw Man anime that debuted on October 11, 2022.
Sales were way up across the Top 10. In November 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 32,608 units and sales dropped below 20,000 units by the number 5 spot. In November 2022, the volume in the number 10 spot sold 12,884 units.
Year-over-year numbers were up at the number 1 spot. In December 2021, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 46,860 units. The year-over-year numbers for the rest of the Top 10 were flat. In December 2021, sales dropped below the 30,000 unit mark by the number 6 spot and the volume in the number 10 spot sold 23,810 units.
Top 20
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 2 (Viz Media) 22,191 units
- BERSERK DELUXE VOL. 1 (Dark Horse Comics) 21,059 units
- SPY X FAMILY VOL. 2 (Viz Media) 20,228 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 9 (Viz Media) 20,023 units
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 0 (Viz Media) 19,500 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 6 (Viz Media) 18,849 units
- BLUE LOCK VOL. 1 (Kodansha Comics) 18,611 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 10 (Viz Media) 18,564 units
- SHUNA’S JOURNEY HC (First Second Books) 18,214 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 7 (Viz Media) 18,013 units
In the battle of the publishers, Viz Media took first place with seventeen volumes in the Top 20. Dark Horse Comics, Kodansha Comics, and First Second Books tied for second place with one title apiece.
We have talked about this before, but it is important that the other Japanese manga publishers finally wake up to the success Shueisha (via Viz Media) is having in the United States. The manga market has become vibrant and successful in North America. 2023 needs to be the year that the other big manga publishers in Kodansha and Shogakukan finally start getting serious about the United States market. The more competition the more the consumers will benefit.
Chainsaw Man dominated all of the other franchises by placing nine volumes in the Top 20. Spy X Family, Demon Slayer, and Jujutsu Kaisen all tied for second place with two volumes apiece in the Top 20.
Sales were up compared to last month. In November 2022, the volume in the number 11 spot sold 12,550 units and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 11,335 units.
Year-over-year numbers were largely flat. In December 2021, the volume at the number 11 spot sold 23,187 units and the volume at the number 20 spot sold 18,564 units.
NPD BookScan December 2022 Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels
Top 10
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 1 (Viz Media) 53,600 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 2 (Viz Media) 36,371 units
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 1 (Viz Media) 35,565 units
- SPY X FAMILY VOL. 1 (Viz Media) 35,137 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 3 (Viz Media) 31,714 units
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 18 (Viz Media) 31,195 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 4 (Viz Media) 29,410 units
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 1 (Viz Media) 27,037 units
- DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 17 (Viz Media) 25,019 units
- TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN HC (IDW Publishing) 22,693 units
Manga dominated once again. There were nine manga volumes in the Top 10. The only non-manga title was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin. Turtle power, indeed.
Top 20
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 5 (Viz Media) 22,357 units
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 2 (Viz Media) 22,191 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME THREE (Del Rey) 22,044 units
- BERSERK DELUXE VOL. 1 (Dark Horse Comics) 21,059 units
- SPY X FAMILY VOL. 2 (Viz Media) 20,228 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 9 (Viz Media) 20,023 units
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 0 (Viz Media) 19,500 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 6 (Viz Media) 18,849 units
- BLUE LOCK VOL. 1 (Kodansha Comics) 18,611 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 10 (Viz Media) 18,564 units
Manga obliterated the completion. There were eighteen manga volumes in the Top 20. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Lore Olympus: Volume Three were the only non-manga titles in the Top 20.
The best-selling comic from DC Comics was The Sandman Book One which moved 9,813 units. That is nowhere even close to the manga volume in the number 20 spot which was Chainsaw Man Vol. 7 which sold 18,013 units
The situation was even worse for Marvel Comics. The best-selling comic from Marvel Comics was Fortnite x Marvel: Zero War which moved just 2,900 units. The gap between manga and American superhero comics from Marvel Comics and DC Comics remains as massive as ever.
All right, that is it for December 2022. Will manga continue its utter dominance in the Top 20 in January 2023? We will find out! Until then, stay safe and be good!
To comment on this article and other Comic Book Revolution content, visit our Facebook page, our Twitter feed, and our Instagram feed. Also, catch up with all of Rokk’s other musings about comics, anime, TV shows, movies, and more over on his Twitter page.