Direct market retailers may not have been able to get all the copies of Frank Miller's Sin City graphic novel series that they wanted, but they got enough to help drive sales of graphic novels up 28%, which was more than enough to compensate for a 5% decline in periodical comic book sales.  Sales of graphic novels have grown over 2004 totals in every month so far in 2005.  April graphic novel numbers were enough to pull the over-all comic market in the direct channel up 4% vs. April 2004.  This continues the pattern in the first quarter of 2005 in which a 27% growth rate in graphic novels far outdistanced a 3% growth rate for periodical comics.

 

For the top 300 comics in April, see 'Top 300 Comics Actual--April 2005.'
 
For the top 100 graphics novels in April, see 'Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--April 2005.'
 
For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in April, see 'DC Closes the Gap in April.'
 
For the top 300 comics in March, see 'Top 300 Comics Actual--March 2005.'
 
For the top 100 graphics novels in March, see 'Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--March 2005.'
 
For an over-view and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in March, see 'New Marvels Drive Up Numbers in March.'  For an analysis of the dollar trends in March, see 'Comic Dollars Up 15%.'
 
For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through April 2005, see 'ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 100 GNs Index.'