Comic sales to comic stores in June were up a healthy 6% over the year ago period, behind the new Batman and Robin #1, Captain America #600 and Marvel’s Dark Reign promotion.

But sales on the Top 100 graphic novels were down a whopping 35% from June 2008.  Although sales on the top 100 graphic novel titles are an imperfect proxy for graphic novels over-all, that’s a big decline no matter how you look at it.  Four graphic novel titles in June 2008 sold more (in some cases a lot more) than the top graphic novel title in June 2009.  Things further down the graphic novel list were also bleak, with the #100 title in June 2009 selling over 25% less than the #100 title in June 2008.

Comic sales were down 3% vs. the year ago period for the quarter, and 4% for the first half.  Sales on the top 100 graphic nonvels were down 19% for the quarter, and 10% for the half.

Combining the two, sales on comics and graphic novels were down 6% for both the quarter and the half.  It’s worth noting that the declines in comic sales come in the face of significant price hikes on the bestselling titles.  Eleven titles out of the top 25 comics in June 2009 were over $2.99; only three were over $2.99 in June 2008.

For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in June, see "Batman, Cap Top June."

For our estimates of actual orders to Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books scheduled to ship during June, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--June 2009."

For our estimates of actual orders to Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels scheduled to ship during June, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--June 2009."

For our estimates of actual orders to Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on comic books scheduled to ship during May, see "Top 300 Comics Actual--May 2009."

For our estimates of actual orders to Diamond U.S. from comic specialty stores on graphic novels scheduled to ship during May, see "Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual--May 2009."

For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in May, see "'New Avengers' Top Down Month."  For an analysis of the dollar trends in May see "Comic Dollars Crash in May."

For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through June 2009, see "ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 300 GNs Index."