Top 100 Graphic Novels: November 2011

Batman experiences past, present, and future as writer/artist Lee Bermejo riffs on Charles Dickens' classic ghost story A Christmas Carol for the Christmas-themed original hardcover graphic novel from DC Comics, Batman: Noel, which was November's top-selling graphic novel to the comics specialty market.

Overall, DC Comics had a strong month for graphic novels, taking five of the top ten spots on the best-sellers list. Other titles in the top ten include Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin Volume 2: Batman Vs. Robin ranked #5, Scalped Volume 8: You Gotta Sin to Get Saved at #6, Green Lantern: war of the Green Lanterns at #7, and Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy's Joe the Barbarian at #10.

Dark Horse Comics had two books in the top ten, led by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben's Hellboy: House of the Living Dead at #2, followed by B.P.R.D.: Being Human at #9.

Image Comics' The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye, collecting the first six issues of Robert Kirkman's zombie series and the source for AMC's acclaimed and highly-rated television series, continued its run in the upper echelons of the graphic novels sales chart in November with a sales ranking of #4.

Also in the top ten in November was Kodansha Comics with Sailor Moon Volume 2 at #8.

Rounding out the Premier Publishers, Marvel Comics' top book in November was Deadpool Volume 7: Space Oddity at #19. IDW Publishing's top selling graphic novel in November was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Volume 1 at #25.

TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in November 2011

This information may not be reproduced in any format without the express permission of Diamond Comic Distributors.

For retailers, Diamond offers the Top 300 Comics and Top 300 Graphic Novels sales charts on the Diamond Tools page of the Diamond Retailer Services website to provide more information about the industry's top selling publications.

How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.

Data for Diamond’s sales charts – which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts – are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 3,500 accounts, comprised of comic book specialty shops and other merchant stores and buyers. The shops are primarily located in North America, with a percentage of sales also to international stores and buyers located throughout the world. The account base includes not only brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, but also Internet stores, chain stores, and other specialty stores.

Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.

About the Diamond Sales Index: The Sales Index of selected monthly Best Seller Charts is presented as a comparative tool for retailers and publishers. It presents Diamond’s monthly sales for individual titles in relation to Diamond’s total sales for the issue of DC Comics' monthly Batman comic book. (Batman is used as the control title – with a value of 100 – because sales of Batman usually remain relatively stable.) This allows for easy comparison to other titles and helps retailers gauge their orders for all other titles. This formula is only a guide, other factors may impact a titles’ ability to sell in certain locations and clientele.