A healthy market for comic periodicals has driven a solid increase in the over-all market for comics and graphic novels in comic stores for both March and Q1 2006.  Comic periodical sales through Diamond were up around 13% in March, more than outweighing a drop in graphic novel sales of around 6% (based on the top 100 graphic novels sold in the period), to bring a 9% increase in the over-all comic and graphic novel market in March.  The drop in graphic novel sales was basically due to the fact that the single graphic novel based on V for Vendetta is having a tough time accounting for the same sales that the three Sin City volumes in the top ten did in March of 2005.

 

In Q1, periodical sales were also up 13% over the year-ago period, which combined with  a slight 1% drop in graphic novel sales brings the over-all market up 11% for the quarter, vs. the year ago period.

 

For the top 300 comics in March, see 'Top 300 Comics Actual--March 2006.'
 
For the top 100 graphics novels in March, see 'Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--March 2006.'
 
For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in March, see ''Infinite Crisis' #5 Up 11%.'
 
For the top 300 comics in February, see 'Top 300 Comics Actual--February 2006.'
 
For the top 100 graphics novels in February, see 'Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--February 2006.'
 
For an over-view and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in February, see ''Astonishing X-Men' Leads Strong February.'  For an analysis of the dollar trends in February, see 'Comic Sales Up In February.'
 
For our index to our reports on the top comic and graphic novel preorders for January 2000 through March 2006, see 'ICv2's Top 300 Comics and Top 100 GNs Index.'