Q1 U.S. book channel graphic novel sales grew by 4 million units over Q1 2020 as overall book sales were exploding, according to NPD BookScan information released Monday.  Overall U.S. print book sales were up 29% in Q1, to the highest volume of Q1 print sales since NPD BookScan began tracking sales in 2004.  Non-fiction was the fastest-growing part of the adult market, although fiction, where graphic novels were the biggest growth contributor, also grew rapidly.

Manga accounted for over 80% of the growth in graphic novel sales.  We’ve been reporting on big increases in manga sales in our monthly BookScan graphic novel reports; March sales of manga in the Top 20 chart were triple the sales in March 2020 (see "Pro: March 2021 NPD BookScan – Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels with Actual Sales").

Kids book sales were up 32% overall in Q1, with Dog Man a big contributor to growth.