Information from Circana BookScan is the gold standard for graphic novel sales information, and ICv2 (and on an annual basis, the excellent analysis by Brian Hibbs on Comics Beat) is the only authorized source of BookScan graphic novel sales rankings and actual sales info. Any other source of that information is likely to be inaccurate, incomplete, or both.

For the first time this year, we’re reporting full year 2023 sales rankings for Adult and Kids Graphic Novels, and for the Author, Superhero, and Manga categories.  Thanks to Circana for this additional information for our readers.

Top 20 2023 Adult Graphic Novels
As is generally the case with our monthly charts, the Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels list for the full year is also dominated by manga, with the top four manga titles a roll call of VIZ Media first volumes.

It’s no surprise that the 2023 adult list is dominated by manga, but what is surprising is the types of non-manga titles that cracked the chart top 20 unit sales for the year chart.  For starters, the fact that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, which was released in 2022, came in at #2 for the full year in units, at a cover price more than double most manga, is incredible.

Also a surprise is Bill Watterson’s The Mysteries, which was released in October but still hit #14 on the full year chart.

Note: All volumes are trade paperbacks unless noted as hardcovers.

Top 20 2023 Kids Graphic Novels
Graphix took all the slots on the full year Kids Graphic Novel charts, with Dav Pilkey accounting for 13 of the Top 20.  New titles making the Top 20 include Five Nights at Freddy’s (behind the movie release) and Heartstoppers (behind the hit Netflix series).

Note: All volumes are trade paperbacks unless noted as hardcovers.

For charts of full year 2023 graphic novel sales from Circana:
Full Year 2023 Circana BookScan – Top 20 Author, Superhero, and Manga Graphic Novels

For the charts with the actual sales numbers from Circana, see these articles on the ICv2 Pro site:
Full Year 2023 Circana BookScan – Top 20 Adult and Kids Graphic Novels, with Actual Sales
Full Year 2023 Circana BookScan – Top 20 Author, Superhero, and Manga Graphic Novels, with Actual Sales


Circana collects weekly point-of-sale data on print books from over 16,000 locations including e-tailers, chains, mass merchandisers, independent bookstores, and more.  Circana covers approximately 85% of the U.S. trade print book market.  The ranks on this chart are based on piece sales.  Some publishers classify titles that are primarily text, or art books, as graphic novels; we've removed those titles from the ranking above.

For our monthly Top 20 Graphic Novel charts, see the "Top 20 Graphic Novels Index."