The New York Times will resume publishing graphic novel bestseller charts in October, the company announced. The new list, which will be titled "Graphic Books" will be a single monthly ranking incorporating all graphic novels regardless of target age or category. The lists will appear online on October 2, and in print, new for the graphic novel charts, on October 20.
The Times stopped publishing graphic novel bestseller lists in February of 2017, after running them for eight years (see "’New York Times’ Ending Graphic Novel Bestseller Lists"). Those lists were broken out into Hardcover Graphic Books, Paperback Graphic Books, and Manga charts. At the time of their cancellation, a Times spokesperson told ICv2, “The discontinued lists did not reach or resonate with many readers.”
There was a substantial reaction to the cancellations from publishers and creators who saw the charts as adding legitimacy to the medium and as a way to identify the most popular titles. The resumption is a positive step by The Times, which ICv2 applauds.
Next Month
Posted by Milton Griepp on September 27, 2019 @ 7:26 am CT