Comics and graphic novel sales in comic stores turned positive for the year to date in November, according to information released by Diamond Comic Distributors today.  The total comics and graphics novel market for the first 11 months of the year was up 1.87% over the first 11 months of 2010.  If this trend continues, 2011 will be the first up year for comic sales in the direct market since 2007.
November was an exceptionally strong month, showing 19.44% growth vs. the year ago period.  Comics were up 23% and graphic novels up 12%.  We took a look back to see whether November 2010 was an unusually weak month and it was about the same size as October, so the increase looks legit.
DC was once again the top publisher, although its margin of victory shrank substantially from the shellacking it gave Marvel in October (see “DC Crushes Marvel”).  DC had a 34.69% dollar share; Marvel had a 33.30% share in November.  
Justice League #3 was the top comic, followed by Batman #3, Action Comics #3, and Green Lantern #3.  Marvel’s Point One charted at #5, a strong showing for a $5.99 book (but it should be noted that Marvel overshipped free copies to retailers equal to 100% of their initial orders); Avenging Spider-Man #1 came in at #6 and at #7 was Uncanny X-Men #1.

Batman: Noel HC was the top graphic novel in comic stores in November.

For an overview and analysis of comic sales in November, see "'Justice League' Stays on Top"

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during November, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--November 2011."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during November, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--November 2011."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books shipped during October, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--October 2011."

For our estimates of actual sales by Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels shipped during October, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--October 2011."

For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in October, see "New 52 #2s Down Only 6%."  For an analysis of the dollar trends in October, see "DC Crushes Marvel."

For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through November 2011, see "ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 300 GNs Index."