A list of the top 20 selling graphic novels sold by book retailers in the United States shows something that is beyond dispute - manga is popular and superhero comics are not. It’s not even close.
If I worked over at Marvel or DC, I would be worried. In fact, I would be very worried. Out of the top 20 graphic novels sold in books stores, only two (2) come from Marvel and DC.
The one lone book from Marvel is an adaption from a Laurell K. Hamilton Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novel. The characters don’t belong to Marvel. Both the author and the series has an existing fan base that automatically resulted in sales with readers that may have never read a graphic novel before.
The lone DC book was the acclaimed Alan Moore’s Watchmen. It was first published in 1986 and is considered by almost everyone to be the greatest graphic novel ever written.
Eighteen of the top 20 graphic novels sold in book stores did not come from either Marvel or DC. How can both companies just continue to ignore that? If I was in charge of either Marvel or DC, I would mimic the manga model. I find it remarkable that they don’t.
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Western comics, with their slick presentation and color artwork, require more people and resources to produce. Manga is likely overrunning the market because it costs so little to create, print and buy. Hong Kong cinema invaded the West in a very similar fashion.
I think the main reason manga out sells us comics is because there are way to many story restrictions on us comics. Just look how many people got worked up over that heroes for hire cover. The majority of people that buy manga are teenage boys and young adult males That is why manga with its over the top violence and sexual themes sell so much better because that’s what the prime target audience wants.