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 November 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 November 2022 Top 20 Author Graphic Novels
NPD BookScan November 2022 Top 20 Superhero Graphic Novels
NPD BookScan November 2022 Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels
NPD BookScan November 2022 Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels
NPD BookScan November 2022 Top 20 Author Graphic Novels
Top 10
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME THREE HC (Del Rey) 14,532 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME TWO HC (Del Rey) 7,329 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME THREE (Del Rey) 7,036 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME ONE HC (Del Rey) 6,688 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 6,259 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 5 (Yen Press) 6,214 units
- VILLAINS ARE DESTINED TO DIE VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 5,379 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME ONE (Del Rey) 4,665 units
- THE WORLD AFTER THE FALL VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 4,221 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 2 (Yen Press) 3,858 units
Once again, the Top Authors Graphic Novels chart is completely dominated by Eastern titles. There is little interest in American stories at the moment. As always, Lore Olympus dominates the Top 10 by placing five volumes in the Top 10 and sweeping the Top 4 spots. There is no stopping the popularity of this New Zealand webtoon.
Solo Leveling, the South Korean webtoon, takes second place with three volumes in the Top 10. Then we have two newcomers to the Top 10 Author Graphic Novels chart. Villains Are Destined to Die is a South Korean manhwa that managed to score the seventh spot. The World After The Fall is a South Korean webtoon that managed to snag the ninth spot.
The publisher battle comes to a draw, as both Del Rey and Yen Press place five volumes apiece in the Top 10.
Sales at the top were way down compared to last month. In October 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 40,292 units. In November 2022, the number volume in the number 1 spot sold just 14,532 units.
Month-over-month numbers were down for most of the Top 10. In October 2022, sales dropped below the 9,000 unit mark by the number 6 spot. In November 2022, sales dropped below the 9,000 unit mark by the number 2 spot. In October 2022, the volume in the number 10 spot sold 3,765 units. In November 2022, the volume in the number 10 spot sold 3,858 units.
Year-over-year sales were way down. In November 2021, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 68,977 units. In November 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold only 14,532 units. In November 2021, the volumes in the number 2 and 3 spots sold 38,447 units and 14,445 units respectively. This was much higher than in November 2022.
However, sales in the bottom half of the Top 10 were a bit better in November 2022. In November 2021, sales were in the 4,000 unit range by the number 6 spot and in the 3,000 range by the number 7 spot.
Top 20
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME TWO (Del Rey) 3,470 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 4 (Yen Press) 3,237 units
- YOU ARE HOME (Andrews McMeel) 3,175 units
- THE REMARRIED EMPRESS VOL. 1 (Yen Press) 3,079 units
- SAGA VOL. 10 (Image Comics) 2,923 units
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 3 (Yen Press) 2,225 units
- THEY CALLED US ENEMY (Top Shelf Prod.) 2,078 units
- DUCKS: TWO YEARS IN THE OIL SANDS HC (Drawn & Quarterly) 2,062 units
- GENDER QUEER: A MEMOIR (Oni Press) 1,915 units
- WHY RAELIANA ENDED UP AT THE DUKE’S MANSION VOL. 2 (Yen Press) 1,549 units
Lore Olympus continues its domination by taking first place with six volumes in the Top 20. Solo Leveling takes second place, with five volumes in the Top 20. The remaining nine spots are taken up by nine different franchises. The first American offering comes in at the number 13 spot with You Are Home.
The battle of the publishers was won by Yen Press, which placed nine volumes in the Top 20. Yen Press won because it had far more diversity of products in the market than Del Rey. Del Rey snagged second place with six volumes in the Top 20.
Sales for the Top Author Graphic Novels sales chart in the bottom half of the Top 20 remain unimpressive. Month-over-month sales were largely flat. In October 2022, sales dropped below the 3,000 unit mark by the number 13 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 2,079 units. In November 2022, sales dropped below the 3,000 unit mark by the number 15 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 1,549 units.
Year-over-year numbers were slightly up. In November 2021, sales dropped below the 2,000 unit mark until the number 15 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 1,722 units.
NPD BookScan November 2022 Top 20 Superhero Graphic Novels
Top 10
- TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN HC (IDW Publishing) 8,190 units
- THE SANDMAN BOOK ONE (DC Comics) 3,739 units
- STRANGER THINGS GRAPHIC NOVEL BOXED SET (ZOMBIE BOYS, THE BULLY, ERICA THE GREAT) (Dark Horse Comics) 3,666 units
- FORTNITE X MARVEL: ZERO WAR HC (Marvel Comics) 2,960 units
- GODZILLA VS. THE MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS (IDW Publishing) 2,485 units
- BATMAN/SPAWN: THE CLASSIC COLLECTION (DC Comics) 2,214 units
- WATCHMEN (2019 EDITION) (DC Comics) 1,810 units
- BATMAN: YEAR ONE (DC Comics) 1,416 units
- THE SANDMAN BOOK TWO (DC Comics) 1,318 units
- BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE DLX. ED. HC (NEW EDITION) ALAN MOORE (DC Comics) 1,134 units
DC Comics destroyed the competition by placing six volumes in the Top 10. Three volumes were from the Batman franchise. Two volumes were from the Sandman franchise. The last volume was from the Watchmen. All six volumes are ancient old comic books. Once again, DC Comics failed to get anyone interested in their stories from the past five years.
IDW Publishing took second place with two volumes in the Top 10. IDW Publishing has to be happy that they scored the number one overall spot and also beat Marvel Comics in the Top 10. This is the second month in a row that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin has topped the Superhero Graphic Novels chart. IDW Publishing’s only success is due to the power of three huge and incredibly popular franchises: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and Godzilla.
Dark Horse Comics and Marvel Comics tied for third place, with just one title apiece in the Top 10. The sole Marvel Comics offering was a Fortnite tie-in story. It was Fortnite carrying Marvel Comics’ dead body across its shoulders and into the Top 10. Marvel Comics has to be alarmed at the complete lack of interest in their newer products.
Month-over-month sales were up at the top of the chart. In October 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 3,501. In November 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 8,190 units.
The rest of the Top 10 was up by a slight amount. In October 2022, sales dropped below the 2,000 unit mark by the number 4 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 942 units. In November 2022, sales dropped below the 2,000 unit mark by the number 7 spot and the volume in the number 10 spot sold 1,134 units.
Year-over-year numbers were up at the number 1 spot and largely flat throughout the Top 10. In November 2021, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 4,046 units. Sales dropped below the 2,000 unit mark by the number 5 spot and the volume in the number 10 spot sold 1,303 units.
Top 20
- THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS (DC Comics) 1,127 units
- THE SANDMAN BOOK THREE (DC Comics) 1,104 units
- FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE HC (Harry Abrams) 1,033 units
- STAR WARS: A VADER FAMILY SITHMAS (Chronicle Books) 1,024 units
- V FOR VENDETTA (DC Comics) 911 units
- BATMAN ’89 HC (DC Comics) 861 units
- BATMAN: HUSH (NEW EDITION) (DC Comics) 858 units
- BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN (DC Comics) 818 units
- STAR WARS: THE HALCYON LEGACY (Marvel Comics) 809 units
- THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (Penguins Classics) 801 units
DC Comics cruised to an easy victory with twelve volumes in the Top 20. That is impressive. Of course, eight of the twelve volumes came from the Batman franchise. Three of the twelve volumes came from the Sandman Franchise. The two volumes outside the Batman and Sandman franchises? Two 1980s Alan Moore stories in the Watchmen and V For Vendetta.
At some point, this has to hit home with someone in management at DC Comics. It is clear that DC Comics’ editorial staff ave completely dropped the ball over the past several years. The only new comic from 2021-2022 is Batman ’89. But, that is hardly good news, as Batman ’89 is a nostalgia title focusing on an old 1980s franchise. It is stunning how DC Comics has completely failed to get any reader interest in any of their newer content.
IDW Publishing and Marvel Comics tied for a distant second place with two volumes apiece in the Top 20. This is an embarrassing showing for Marvel Comics.
Dark Horse Comics, Harry Abrams, Chronicle Books, and Penguins Classics. Yes, there are two Marvel Comics properties in this Top 20 chart from Penguin Classics and Harry Abrams. But, they are old Silver Age stories. This does not remedy Marvel Comics’ obvious problem of a lack of interest in their more recent offerings.
Month-over-month numbers were up slightly. In October 2022, sales dropped below the 1,000 unit mark by the number 8 mark and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 697 units. In November 2022, sales dropped below the 1,000 unit mark by the number 15 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 801 units.
Year-over-year numbers were actually down slightly. This is alarming given how dead the Superhero Graphic Novels market was a year ago. In November 2021, sales dropped below the 1,000 unit mark by the number 16 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 837 units.
All in all, sales for superhero comic books continue to be atrocious. The year-over-year numbers paint a grim picture, as it appears that readers have little interest in returning to DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
NPD BookScan November 2022 Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels
Top 10
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 1 (VIZ Media) 32,608 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 2 (VIZ Media) 24,003 units
- SHUNA’S JOURNEY (First Second Books) 22,082 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 3 (VIZ Media) 21,633 units
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 1 (VIZ Media) 19,836 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 4 (VIZ Media) 18,994 units
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 2 (VIZ Media) 14,465 units
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 32 (VIZ Media) 13,809 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 5 (VIZ Media) 12,924 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 9 (VIZ Media) 12,884 units
Chainsaw Man obliterated the competition by placing six volumes in the Top 10. It is impressive how much the anime has supercharged Chainsaw Man manga sales. Demon Slayer came in second place with two volumes in the Top 10. Shuna’s Journey and My Hero Academia tied for third place with one volume apiece.
VIZ Media had nine volumes. First Second Books had one volume.
Month-over-month numbers were down at the very top. In October 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 34,465 units. In November 2022, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 32,608 units.
However, month-over-month sales for the rest of the Top 10 stayed flat. In October 2022, sales dropped below the 20,000 unit mark by the number 5 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 12,054 units. In November 2022, sales dropped below the 20,000 unit mark by the number 5 spot and the volume in the number 10 spot sold 12,884 units.
Year-over-year numbers were up. In November 2021, the volume in the number 1 spot sold 30,437 units. Sales dropped below the 20,000 unit mark by the number 3 spot. The volume in the number 10 spot sold 13,003 units.
Top 20
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 7 (VIZ Media) 12,550 units
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 1 (VIZ Media) 12,549 units
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 1 (VIZ Media) 12,323 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 10 (VIZ Media) 12,290 units
- SPY X FAMILY VOL. 8 (VIZ Media) 12,251 units
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 0 (VIZ Media) 11,788 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 11 (VIZ Media) 11,787 units
- ONE-PUNCH MAN VOL. 24 (VIZ Media) 11,675 units
- KAIJU NO. 8 VOL. 4 (VIZ Media) 11,512 units
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 3 (VIZ Media) 11,335 units
Chainsaw Man took first place with nine volumes in the Top 20. Demon Slayer came in second place with three volumes. My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen tied for third place with two volumes apiece. Shuna’s Journey, Spy x Family, One-Punch Man, and Kaiju No. 8 all tied for fourth place with one volume apiece.
I am surprised to see Spy x Family plummet so much in the Top 20 Manga sales chart. Spy x Family was certainly supercharged by the release of its anime, but it has dropped off a cliff. I am genuinely surprised that this brilliant franchise only placed one volume in the Top 20 for November 2022.
I was thrilled to see One-Punch Man pop into the Top 20 this month. I adore One-Punch Man, and it remains my favorite manga. Well, outside Kinnikuman, of course!
Kaiju No. 8 is the manga that, I think, is lurking in the background and ready to make that big jump. We know we are getting a Kaiju No. 8 anime at some point in 2023. I have a feeling that Kaiju No. 8 will be a breakout hit in the sales chart once that anime debuts.
VIZ Media had nineteen volumes in the Top 20. First Second Books had one volume. It is astonishing that no publisher is even attempting to challenge VIZ Media in the manga market.
Month-over-month numbers were up big. In October 2022, sales dropped below the 11,00 unit mark by the number 13 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 8,064 units. In November 2022, sales never dropped below the 11,000 unit mark.
Year-over-year numbers were up. In November 2021, sales dropped below the 11,000 unit mark by the number 14 spot and the volume in the number 20 spot sold 9,642. In November 2022, sales never dropped below the 11,000 unit mark.
The best-selling superhero volume was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, which sold 8,190 units. That did not even come close to the manga in the number 20 spot with 11,335 units.
Even more stark is that the best-selling superhero volume from either Marvel Comics or DC Comics was The Sandman Book One, which sold a pathetic 3,739 units. That is nowhere even remotely close to the manga volume sitting at the number 20 spot. The gap between manga and American superhero titles is massive and shows no signs of shrinking.
NPD BookScan November 2022 Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels
Top 10
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 1 (VIZ Media) 32,608 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 2 (VIZ Media) 24,003 units
- SHUNA’S JOURNEY (First Second Books) 22,082 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 3 (VIZ Media) 21,633 units
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 1 (VIZ Media) 19,836 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 4 (VIZ Media) 18,994 units
- LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME THREE HC (Del Rey) 14,532 units
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 2 (VIZ Media) 14,465 units
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 32 (VIZ Media) 13,809 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 5 (VIZ Media) 12,924 units
It was almost a clean sweep for manga in the Top 10. The only non-manga title to crack into the Top 10 was Lore Olympus.
Top 20
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 9 (VIZ Media) 12,884 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 7 (VIZ Media) 12,550 units
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 1 (VIZ Media) 12,549 units
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 1 (VIZ Media) 12,323 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 10 (VIZ Media) 12,290 units
- SPY X FAMILY VOL. 8 (VIZ Media) 12,251 units
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 0 (VIZ Media) 11,788 units
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 11 (VIZ Media) 11,787 units
- ONE-PUNCH MAN VOL. 24 (VIZ Media) 11,675 units
- KAIJU NO. 8 VOL. 4 (VIZ Media) 11,512 units
Manga rules them all. Manga accounts for nineteen spots in the Top 20. The only non-manga title in the Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels sales chart is Lore Olympus: Volume Three in the number 7 spot. That is it.
All right, that is it for November 2022. Will manga continue its utter dominance in the Top 20 in December 2022? We will find out! Until then, stay safe and be good!
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