Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen topped BookScan’s list of the Top 20 graphic novels sold in bookstores for the fourth straight month, reinforcing its position as the bestselling graphic novel of 2008.  Overall manga still dominated the list with 15 titles versus 5 non-manga releases, but Del Rey’s graphic novel adaptation of Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle (produced by the Dabel Bros.) rocketed to the number three spot.  Two versions of Marvel’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Dark Tower: The Long Road Home made the list.  The standard edition came in at number 11, while the exclusive Barnes & Noble edition followed in fourteenth place.  Obviously Dark Tower would have been a top ten title if its sales had not been diluted by the existence of two different editions. 

The other non-manga title that made the list in October, Alan Moore’s Batman: The Killing Joke Special Edition, remained on the list for the fifth consecutive month.  Judging by its persistence on the BookScan Top 20 list, The Killing Joke, which features superb artwork by Brian Bolland, has established itself as the number two bestselling non-manga graphic novel of 2008 so far.

Typically, Viz Media’s Naruto led the manga contingent by placing three titles in the top 20, a feat that was matched by Viz Media’s new hit shonen series Rosario+Vampire.  Another Viz Media shonen series with considerable potential, Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom, was released on October 7th and made the top 20 in its debut month.  With an anime series from Madhouse debuting in Japan in 2009, this is clearly a series to watch.

Other new manga series that made the list this month include Del Rey’s Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney, Viz Media’s Ral & Grad Vol.2 (which is based on the popular Blue Dragon video game property), and the latest volumes of two popular long-running properties, Viz Media’s Full Metal Alchemist Vol. 17 and One Piece Vol. 19.

Once again Viz Media led all publishers with twelve titles followed by Del Rey Books with three, DC Comics and Marvel with two each, and Tokyopop with one.

For comparisons, see also BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels for September 2008, BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels for August 2008,” “BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels for July 2008,” “BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels for June 2008,” “BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels for May 2008,” and “BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels for April 2008.”