Top 50 Manga Graphic Novels & TPs: April 2010

Yen Press continued their run atop the manga sales charts in April with Yotsuba&! Volume 8, the latest volume in the fan-favorite series about a quirky five year-old who experiences the world as only a child can — with bemusement, embafflement, excitement, and wonderment. Last month's top manga, Twilight: The Graphic Novel Volume 1, based on best-selling novelist Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance, charted again in April, placing #5 on the chart.

Dark Horse Comics placed two books in the top ten of the manga sales charts for April — Gunsmith Cats Burst Volume 5 at #2 and Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project Volume 4 at #3.

VIZ Media dominated the rest of the top ten in April with 6 books. Rosario Vampire Season II Volume 4 placed at #4, Yu-Go-Oh! R Volume 4 placed at #6, and One Piece, the popular pirate saga, filled out the rest, with Volume 43 at #7, Volume 40 at #8, Volume 39 at #9, and Volume 41 at #10.

TOP 50 MANGA
Based on Total Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in April 2010

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

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 retail dollar 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 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.