It is that time of the month where 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 September 2021 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 Superheroes 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 including e-tailers, chains, mass merchandisers, independent bookstores, and more. NPD BookScan covers approximately 85% of the U.S. trade print book market.
September 2021 Top 20 Author Graphic Novels
- THEY CALLED US ENEMY (TOP SHELF PROD.) 6,109
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 2 (YEN PRESS)
- SOLO LEVELING VOL. 1 (YEN PRESS)
- 1984: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL (MARINER BOOKS)
- INVINCIBLE COMPENDIUM VOL. 1 (IMAGE COMICS)
- MARCH: BOOK ONE (TOP SHELF PROD.)
- MONSTRESS VOL. 6: THE VOW (IMAGE COMICS)
- RUN: BOOK ONE (ABRAMS)
- THE ADVENTURE ZONE: THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM (FIRST SECOND BOOKS)
- FUN HOME: A FAMILY TRAGICOMIC (MARINER BOOKS)
- INVINCIBLE COMPENDIUM VOL. 2 (IMAGE COMICS)
- PUNDERWORLD VOL. 1 (IMAGE COMICS)
- DUNE: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK 1 HC (ABRAMS)
- THE ADVENTURE ZONE: THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM HC (FIRST SECOND BOOKS)
- INVINCIBLE COMPENDIUM VOL. 3 (IMAGE COMICS)
- DID YOU HEAR WHAT EDDIE GEIN DONE? (ALBATROSS FUNNYBOOKS)
- DEVIL’S CANDY VOL. 1 (VIZ MEDIA)
- Y: THE LAST MAN BOOK ONE (DC COMICS)
- FANGS HC (ANDREWS & MCMEEL)
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: A GRAPHIC NOVEL HC (HARPER)
Top 10
The Top 10 of the Author Graphic Novels sales chart was pretty balanced. Yen Press, Top Shelf, Image Comics, and Mariner Books all placed two titles in the Top 10 respectively. The mix was rather diverse as you had a Korean webtoon in Solo Leveling grabbing two of the top 3 spots. Invincible still shows remarkable strength by taking the number 5 spot.
Top 20
The Top 20 of the Author Graphic Novels sales chart was won by Image Comics who placed five total titles in the Top 20. No other published managed to place more than two titles in the Top 20.
All in all, the sales numbers were not that impressive. Compared to the Manga Top 20, even the highest selling Author Graphic Novel title They Called Us Enemy would not have even come close to being able to crack the Top 20 manga titles. By the number 4 spot the sales numbers were already in the 3,000 unit range. By just the number 12 spot the sales numbers were down in the 1,000 unit range.
September 2021 Top 20 Superheroes Graphic Novels
- BATMAN/FORTNITE: ZERO POINT HC (DC COMICS) 16,584
- STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC: EDGE OF BALANCE VOL. 1 (VIZ MEDIA) 5,275
- THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS HC (DC COMICS) 3,422
- STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC VOL. 1: THERE IS NO FEAR (MARVEL COMICS) 2,933
- WATCHMEN (2019 EDITION) (DC COMICS) 2,931
- BATMAN: THE WORLD HC (DC COMICS) 2,541
- BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE DLX. ED. HC (NEW EDITION) (DC COMICS) 2,095
- THE SANDMAN VOL. 1: PRELUDES & NOCTURNES 30TH ANN. ED. (DC COMICS) 1,983
- BATMAN: YEAR ONE (DC COMICS) 1,616
- BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN (DC COMICS) 1,605
- MS. MARVEL VOL. 1: NO NORMAL (MARVEL COMICS) 1,237
- JOKER/HARLEY: CRIMINAL SANITY HC (DC COMICS) 1,133
- HARLEEN HC (DC COMICS) 1,074
- V FOR VENDETTA (DC COMICS) 1,016
- SHANG-CHI BY GENE LUEN YANG VOL. 1: BROTHERS & SISTERS (MARVEL COMICS) 1,008
- THE EC ARCHIVES: VAULT OF HORROR VOL. 1 (DARK HORSE COMICS) 985
- BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT (DC COMICS) 960
- BATMAN VOL. 4: THE COWARDLY LOT (DC COMICS) 920
- THE SANDMAN VOL. 2: THE DOLL’S HOUSE 30TH ANN. ED. (DC COMICS) 912
- DCEASED (DC COMICS) 889
Top 10
DC utterly destroyed Marvel in the Top 10. DC Comics placed 8 Titles in the Top 10. Marvel only pathetically placed one title in the Top 10. Viz, on the back of the Star Wars franchise, snagged the number 2 spot in the Top 10.
Of course, it must be pointed out that DC’s dominance in the Top 10 underscores a continuing weakness of DC Comics. Six of DC’s eight titles in the Top 10 were from the Batman franchise. The other two DC comics in the Top 10? The Watchmen and The Sandman Volume 1. DC continuing to lean on the Batman franchise shows how little DC has to offer outside of that franchise. Also, the fact that ancient old comics in the Watchmen and The Sandman were two of DC’s Top 10 titles shows how DC is struggling to create new comics outside of the Batman franchise that resonate with readers.
The lone Marvel Comics title in the Top 10 was a Star Wars graphic novel. That also highlights how Marvel Comics is struggling to publish based in the MCU that appeal to readers.
Top 20
DC continued their complete and utter humiliation of Marvel Comics by placing 15 comics in the Top 20. Fifteen. Quince. That is stunning. Again, DC continued to lean on the Batman franchise. The Batman franchise represented 10 of DC Comics’ fifteen titles in the Top 20. That is ridiculous.
What is even more concerning is that old comics in the Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and The Sandman comprised four of the 5 non-Batman titles in the Top 20. Only Deceased at the number 20 spot was a newer comic. This really speaks volumes about DC completely failing to create anything outside of the Batman franchise that interests current readers.
All in all, the unit numbers for the Top 20 Superheroes Graphic Novels chart were awful. The best selling graphic novel on this chart, Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point was the only title capable of breaking into the Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels. The number two Superheroes Graphic Novel in Star Wars: The High Republic: Edge of Balance Vol. 1 would not have even come close to cracking in the Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels.
September, 2021 Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 29 (VIZ MEDIA) 51,321
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 1 (VIZ MEDIA) 28,460
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 1 (VIZ MEDIA) 24,005
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 28 (VIZ MEDIA) 18,053
- BERSERK DELUXE VOL. 8 HC (DARK HORSE COMICS) 17,498
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 23 (VIZ MEDIA) 16,785
- TOILET-BOUND HANAKO-KUN VOL. 1 (YEN PRESS) 15,842
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 2 (VIZ MEDIA) 14,894
- DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 14 (VIZ MEDIA) 14,098
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 2 (VIZ MEDIA) 12,439
- SENSOR HC (VIZ MEDIA) 12,110
- GIVEN VOL. 6 (VIZ MEDIA) 11,985
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 11 (VIZ MEDIA) 11,680
- ATTACK ON TITAN VOL. 1 (KODANSHA COMICS) 11,316
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 1 (VIZ MEDIA) 10,936
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 3 (VIZ MEDIA) 10,267
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 6 (VIZ MEDIA) 9,958
- TOMIE: COMPLETE DLX. ED. HC (VIZ MEDIA) 9,818
- THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS VOL. 9 (VIZ MEDIA) 9,388
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 2 (VIZ MEDIA) 9,274
Top 10
Unlike the chart for Superhero Graphic Novels, the manga chart delivered plenty of large sales numbers. My Hero Academia Vol. 29 took the number one spot with a whopping 51,321 units. Viz Media dominated the Top 10 by placing 8 titles in the Top 10. Viz’s success came upon the herculean back of My Hero Academia which accounted for four of Viz’s 8 titles.
Top 20
Viz’s domination continued in the Top 20 by placing 17 titles in the Top 20. Impressive. My Hero Academy accounted for five titles in the Top 20. It is amazing how popular My Hero Academy has become. At this point, the My Hero Academy franchise is as hot as any franchise out there.
I was glad to see Chainsaw Man take two spots in the Top 20. I love Chainsaw Man and it deserves all the success in the world. Demon Slayer and JuJutsu Kaisen both continue to be strong sellers with Demon Slayer placing three volumes in the Top 20 and JuJutsu Kaisen slotting two volumes in the Top 20.
September, 2021 Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 29 (VIZ MEDIA) 51,321
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 1 (VIZ MEDIA) 28,460
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 1 (VIZ MEDIA) 24,005
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 28 (VIZ MEDIA) 18,053
- BERSERK DELUXE VOL. 8 HC (DARK HORSE COMICS) 17,498
- DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA VOL. 23 (VIZ MEDIA) 16,785
- BATMAN/FORTNITE: ZERO POINT HC (DC COMICS) 16,584
- TOILET-BOUND HANAKO-KUN VOL. 1 (YEN PRESS) 15,842
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 2 (VIZ MEDIA) 14,894
- DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 14 (VIZ MEDIA) 14,098
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 2 (VIZ MEDIA) 12,439
- SENSOR HC (VIZ MEDIA) 12,110
- GIVEN VOL. 6 (VIZ MEDIA) 11,985
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 11 (VIZ MEDIA) 11,680
- ATTACK ON TITAN VOL. 1 (KODANSHA COMICS) 11,316
- JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL. 1 (VIZ MEDIA) 10,936
- MY HERO ACADEMIA VOL. 3 (VIZ MEDIA) 10,267
- CHAINSAW MAN VOL. 6 (VIZ MEDIA) 9,958
- TOMIE: COMPLETE DLX. ED. HC (VIZ MEDIA) 9,818
- THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS VOL. 9 (VIZ MEDIA) 9,388
Oh. Well, well, well. Look at that. Is September 2021 another month where Manga completely embarrass and pants both Marvel Comics and DC Comics? Yup. It sure is.
The Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels list which pulls from Superhero Graphic Novels, Author Graphic Novels, and Manga is nearly identical to the Top 20 Manga chart. The only non-manga graphic novel on this Top 20 chart is Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point in the number seven spot. That is how utterly dominant manga has become as Marvel and DC continue to shed long time readers and fail to attract new readers.
DC can at least take some solace in at least placing a single measly title in the Top 20. Marvel? They got nothing. Ouch. Manga continues to get hotter and hotter. It is incumbent upon western publishers to sit back and reflect on their recent decisions and figure out what they think their readers want and what their readers actually desire.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Vol. 9 in the number 20 spot sold 9,388 units absolutely crushed the number 2 best selling superhero title in Star Wars: The High Republic: Edge of Balance Vol. 1 which sold just 5,275. What makes it even worse is if you focus only on a superhero graphic novel set in the DCU or Marvel Universe. That would be The Batman Who Laughs in the number 3 spot selling just 3,422 units. That is not even close to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Vol. 9.
All right, that is it for September, 2021. Will manga continue its utter dominance in the Top 20 in October? We will find out!
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