An ICv2 Release.  ICv2 has announced the release of ICv2 Retailers Guide to Graphic Novels #8, which includes an analysis of the graphic novel market in the U.S. for the first quarter of 2006.  ICv2 has updated its estimate of graphic novel sales for 2005 to well over $250 million, and predicts that if the sales trends evident in the first quarter continue for the rest of the year, the market will experience substantial growth once again in 2006.

 

The new Retailers Guide to Graphic Novels notes the increasing number of major mainstream publishing houses that are releasing graphic novels and also identifies the best-selling manga and non-manga releases of 2006 so far.

 

By far the top-selling graphic novel (in dollar terms) in both the bookstore and comic shop markets so far in 2006 is Alan Moore and Dave Lloyd's V for Vendetta, and this issue of the Retailers Guide examines the works of Alan Moore and identifies some key backlist titles retailers can use to support the soaring sales of V for Vendetta, which has finished its theatrical run, but is due to be released on DVD in August.  

 
ICv2 is the undisputed expert in the graphic novel field and publishes news and information on pop culture products in the anime, comics, games, toys, and movie and TV merchandise categories daily on its Website, ICv2.com, and in its magazines, the ICv2 Retailers Guide to Anime/Manga, the ICv2 Retailers Guide to Graphic Novels, and the ICv2 Retailers Guide to Games.  ICv2 also provides marketing, distribution, and general business consulting services to companies involved in the pop culture products industries.

 

The Guide is available free to retailers (send an email to DViau@icv2.com) and to others for $10 plus postage and handling via the ICv2 online store (click here).