Batman: Earth One HC topped graphic novel sales in bookstores in July, according to the ranking of "Top 20 Graphic Novels" sold in the book channel provided exclusively to ICv2 by Nielsen BookScan.  That was only one of five Batman titles in the Top 20, reflecting the impact of the theatrical premiere of The Dark Knight Rises and the surrounding release and promotional plans. Batman Knightfall, which was released in May, climbed five slots to #5; and new release The Dark Knight Manual and perennial bestsellers Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: The Killing Joke Dlx. Ed. HC took the #14, #16, and #17 slots, respectively.

The newest Sailor Moon release took the #2 slot, one of five manga titles in the Top 20.  The others were also all new releases, the latest volumes of Naruto, Rosario+Vampire, Vampire Knight, and Black Butler.

BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels in July 2012

Rank

Title

Author

Publisher

1

BATMAN: EARTH ONE HC

GEOFF JOHNS

DC COMICS

2

SAILOR MOON VOL. 6

NAOKO TAKEUCHI

KODANSHA COMICS

3

NARUTO VOL. 57

MASASHI KISHIMOTO

VIZ MEDIA

4

THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 16

ROBERT KIRKMAN

IMAGE COMICS

5

BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL VOL. 1

VARIOUS

DC COMICS

6

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: THE PROMISE PART 2

GENE YANG

DARK HORSE

7

FEVER MOON HC

KAREN MARIE MONING

DEL REY BOOKS

8

GET JIRO! HC

ANTHONY BOURDAIN

VERTIGO

9

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER: THE PROMISE PART 1

GENE YANG

DARK HORSE

10

FABLES VOL. 17

BILL WILLINGHAM

VERTIGO

11

THE WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM ONE

ROBERT KIRKMAN

IMAGE COMICS

12

ROSARIO+VAMPIRE SEASON II VOL. 9

AKIHISA IKEDA

VIZ MEDIA

13

VAMPIRE KNIGHT VOL. 14

MATSURI HINO

VIZ MEDIA

14

THE DARK KNIGHT MANUAL HC

BRANDON T. SNIDER

INSIGHT EDITIONS

15

MARVEL AVENGERS: THE ULTIMATE CHARACTER GUIDE HC

ALAN COWSILL

DK PUBLISHING

16

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS

FRANK MILLER

DC COMICS

17

BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE HC

ALAN MOORE

DC COMICS

18

THE WALKING DEAD VOL. 1

ROBERT KIRKMAN

IMAGE COMICS

19

LOCKE & KEY VOL. 5 HC

JOE HILL

IDW PUBLISHING

20

BLACK BUTLER VOL. 10

YANA TOBOSO

YEN PRESS

Three Walking Dead volumes made the Top 20, Volume 16 at #4 (it was #1 last month), the first Compendium at #11 and the first volume of the trade paperback collections at #18.

Dark Horse's Avatar volumes by Gene Luen Yang remained strong, with both in the Top 10.  Fever Moon HC, Del Rey’s latest graphic novel tied to prose work, launched strong at #7, with Vertigo's Get Jiro! by celebrity author and TV star Anthony Bourdain right behind.

Other notables in the Top 20 included the latest Fables volume, DK's Marvel Avengers Character Guide (still hanging in there, just like the movie), and the latest Locke & Key HC volume from IDW Publishing.

For past BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novel lists, see the "BookScan Top 20 GNs Index."