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.

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.