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.
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BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels in July 2012
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|
Rank
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Title
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Author
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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."
