Comic and graphic novel orders from pop culture stores jumped sharply in April, posting the best dollar total since January and ending four consecutive months of seasonal declines.

Estimated quantities for initial orders on graphic novels shipping in April 2002 from pop culture stores ordering from Diamond US.

The game industry gathers in Las Vegas next week, in a year that looks to have continuing change after a tumultuous, mostly successful 2001.

January is a transition month in the pop culture products business, with the first week or two typically showing strong post-Christmas sales, followed by slowing traffic as the winter doldrums set in. But there was a lot of activity in pop culture stores this January, with especially strong releases in the comic category.

Although the total for sales of traditional toys rose only 2% in 2001, the action figure category registered a solid increase of 36% according to figures released at Toy Fair by Toy Industry Association.

These ads are directed at companies and industry professionals in the pop culture products industry.

These ads are directed at companies and industry professionals in the pop culture products industry.

Free Comic Book Day is gaining strength as more publishers have agreed to participate and as the promotional heat picks up.

For 2003 Tide-Mark has stepped to the plate and acquired a number of key titles based on properties published by Dark Horse and Image Comics.

Lord of Rings: Fellowship of the Ring finished number one at the U.S. domestic box office for the third week in a row, earning some $23 million and pushing its cumulative total past $200 million in just 19 days.