Marvel + DC Don’t Make Feb. BookScan Top 20 Adult Graphic Novel List

Marvel and DC received a massive tuchas whooping in the February BookScan-“Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels” sold in bookstores list.  For the first time ever, neither company even made it.  Daaaaaamn, that’s gotta hurt. 

The crazy thing is- this is hardly news.  Almost every month Marvel gets their butts handed to them.  They hardly ever make the list.  DC, on the other hand, always seems to have Batman make an appearance, and the Watchmen will sneak their way in every now and then.

But this month, Image was the king of the mountain with eight titles on the list.  The Walking Dead continues to dominate, making six appearances.  If Robert Kirkman is the World Heavyweight Champion, then Brian K Vaughan is the Intercontinental Champion due to both Saga volumes making the top twenty.  (For those who do not enjoy seeing sweaty, half-naked men fighting- that was a wrestling reference.)

Tying Image with eight titles, Manga seriously represented with books from Kodansha Comics, Yen Press, and Viz Media making strong impressions.  Naruto always carries an impressive following, as does Attack on Titan and Bleach.  The adaptation of the novel Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children also snuck its way onto the list at # 17. Other titles making apearances are BOOM! Studios’ Adventure Time, Dark Horse Comics’ Avatar: The Last Airbender and IDW’s Locke & Key, which came on strong at #5.

Of course, these are only the graphic novels sold at book stores, not in the direct market.  Most comic fanboys and fangirls still buy from their local comic shops; bookstores only make up around 30% of the comic and graphic novel market. But why is it that the big two are getting whooped at bookstores?  Is it because of what titles the bookstores are choosing to promote or does Marvel and DC not understand what the mainstream market is interested in?  Why do you think the big two continue to fall behind?

Check out the list here

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jay Deitcher, LMSW(@mrdeitcher) is a sexy Jew who teaches courses on comic history and runs successful Free Comic Book Day events yearly.  He is the information superhighway.  You can see a listing of his incredible articles at JayDeitcher.com.