ICv2 reports in its new ICv2 Retailers Guide to Graphic Novels #3 that both retailers and distributors interviewed for the issue are reporting that the graphic novel market continues to grow, but not as fast as the number of new graphic novel releases.

For example, in the direct market channel, stores that used to be manga completists are reporting that they now have to be more selective and carry less than a full line of every new manga release. 

At the publishing level, not only are manga publishers competing with mainstream houses entering the manga business, smaller comic publishers are also competing with big book houses for literary graphic novel properties.