Rocket Bomber - manga

Brigid Alverson (whom I’ve never met but know on twitter) has an excellent write-up currently posted to Publisher’s Weekly on the current state of the American manga industry: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/56693-manga-2013-a-smaller-more-sustainable-market.html

I was first informed of this excellent article via the equally excellent comics-news blog The Beat [aka comicsbeat.com] : http://comicsbeat.com/must-read-shocker-there-is-still-a-us-manga-industry/

And now that I’m done thanking others for their hard work and excellent journalistic instincts —

[no, really, what I do here is much easier; being in the peanut gallery is not only less work, we get to pick-and-choose when it comes to predictions]

…I’d like to take a moment to congratulate myself for posting this way back in 2008:

[blockquote]
Manga isn’t growing by leaps and bounds anymore; it never was a license to print money and now the initial boom (which I’ve dated to 2004-2007, though others say it started earlier) is settling into something more like steady single-digit [year-on-year] growth.

Steady single-digit growth isn’t just good, it’s excellent. We all need to get our heads to a place where we can agree on that, instead of obsessing over what the fan world used to look like and lamenting the crash of the anime DVD market. It’s a shame, that, but manga isn’t anime and with Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan all partnered-up (or getting into the game themselves) the books will be available for quite some time.

quick review for those who haven’t been reading my stuff for the past year:
Between the 5 of them, these companies account for about half of the US book business. [48.8% – Source: Michael Hyatt, Dec 2006] Each of the 5 also acts as their own distributor, shipping new titles direct to book stores. Since not everyone is going to know this off the top of their head

• Random House = Del Rey
• HarperCollins partnered with Tokyopop
• Simon & Schuster partnered with Viz Media
• Hachette = Yen Press
• Macmillan partnered with Seven Seas
  The only major player not in the game is Penguin. see also: 5by8 #25, Squeeze Play, on publishers and licensing, and 5by8 #26, What’s the Target? on publishing and sales.

We can discuss which third tier (or major) manga publisher is going to go under or is struggling or might not meet their deadlines (or has never met their deadlines) but at $10 a pop and with this much publishing muscle behind it, manga as a category isn’t going anywhere.

Steady single-digit, year-on-year growth is a Great place to be.
Got it?

Good.

[/blockquote]

Since 2008, a few things have changed:

Random House still has an excellent business relationship with Kodansha, and Vertical, and distributes DC Comics to bookstores besides. While Del Rey is merely one of the top 3 sci-fi/fantasy/spec. fic. imprints with a much reduced comics line-up: Del Rey is One Of the Top 3 Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Spec. Fic. imprints, and Kodansha in direct control of those US manga licences hasn’t been a bad thing either.

HarperCollins, if someone at corporate had been paying attention, could have launched a whole YA Graphic Novels imprint into the hole Tokyopop left, using the Warriors GNs as a base and other nee-HC-Tokyopop titles as a built-in backlist. Huge Missed Opportunity, guys.

I think the Scholastic Graphix imprint is another big deal in this space – yes, obviously manga is a bigger market than just YA/Teen — but just like pop/rock music: tweens and teens are the manga market leaders and the biggest growth opportunity.

I also want to encourage Seven Seas. Damn. You guys are tenacious – whatever keeps things running over there: please keep doing it. I don’t buy all your books but I love that you’re still in business.

…even when all of our locals are run by the same company.

So it wasn’t that long ago that I came to the internet with what I thought was a scoop: Tokyopop titles going on clearance at Barnes & Noble – from all company directives and certainly from what I saw in my store: this was the real deal.

Once Monday rolled around, though, I was hearing from my tweeps that they were getting pushback & incredulous stares when they followed my heartfelt advice and actually went into a bookstore as I recommended, and attempted to buy books.

[the moral of the story is I should never tell people to buy books. wait… that’s not quite right…]

Several folks shared their personal experience with me on twitter; together we tried to figure out what was going on. Without any definite word from my employer [and none coming, I assure you] we’ll have to take our best guesses and actual experience in store as the final say on this.

That is to say, some Tokyopop books are on sale, somewhere, but Your Mileage May Vary.

Twittertape Follows:

##

@MangaXanadu Lori Henderson
@ProfessorBlind I went to my local Barnes and Noble and they hadn’t heard of the 50% off Tokyopop books promotion.
5 hours ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@MangaXanadu Tell them to go to “e-planner” and actually read the directions. “All Tokyopop trade titles will be part of the Sept Clearance”
2 hours ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@MangaXanadu or they could take their fancy scanner (a “PDT”) & scan a barcode & listen to it beep for clearance.
2 hours ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@MangaXanadu or we could be dealing with idiots. If you see T’pop on the shelves & not in clearance bins, grab ‘em anyway: they’re on sale
2 hours ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
You know, I actually feel kinda bad now sending you folks into B&N – our stores are not executing well on the clearance sale.
2 hours ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
Anyone else go to a B&N for the clearance and not find any Tokyopop titles yet?
2 hours ago

@JRbBrown J. R. Brown
@ProfessorBlind I tried to buy Happy Cafe 7 and was told it wasn’t on sale, only the volumes that had been put on the “clearance table”.
2 hours ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@JRbBrown did they take it to the register or customer service desk to check? Sounds sloppy or lazy.
2 hours ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@JRbBrown clearance lists are store-specific, but if a T’pop book was listed in their store inventory, it should have popped on their list
2 hours ago

@JRbBrown J. R. Brown
@ProfessorBlind Spoke to an isle staffer who said it should be on sale, took it to the register, they scanned it in and said no.
1 hour ago

@JRbBrown J. R. Brown
@ProfessorBlind Probably would have bought it anyway, but it was pretty banged up and I didn’t want to pay full price for a damaged copy.
1 hour ago

@JRbBrown J. R. Brown
@ProfessorBlind The store only had ~20 vols of TP books, 15 or so on clearance table & ~5 on shelf. Vol I tried to buy was on shelf.
1 hour ago

@jsyadao Jason S. Yadao
@ProfessorBlind It’s odd – only 80% of the TP books I bought @ 1 of my local stores rang up at sale price – those from a special display.
1 hour ago

@jsyadao Jason S. Yadao
@ProfessorBlind The rest were shelved with the rest of the manga – and were regular price. Would’ve argued, but it was 5 mins to closing.
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@jsyadao Monday morning I went to our manga section & rescanned every tokyopop book – the only 1 not on sale also showed 0 on hand.
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
My only thought is that since Tpop changed distributors only TP titles from HarperCollins went on sale – TP/DBD titles are still returnable?
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
Tpop made the Diamond Book Dist. announcement very close to their close, should only be the newest books – books my store never got
1 hour ago

@JRbBrown J. R. Brown
@ProfessorBlind That’s entirely possible. Happy Cafe 7 isn’t even on the B&N website; maybe it was a special order that wasn’t picked up?
1 hour ago

@lore13 lore
@ProfessorBlind – I am going to be bitter about not getting Happy Cafe 8 forever, for example #tokyopopfail
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@lore13 the TPop thing was not only crass & classless, it made no business sense. Why not wind it down? finish a few series only 1 vol away?
1 hour ago

@AnimeNewsdotbiz Humberto Saabedra
@ProfessorBlind I’m getting a lot of resistance in the Dallas and Ft. Worth locations from the younger staff about the TP clearance.
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@AnimeNewsdotbiz twitter consensus now is that seems the very newest titles, the last released, didn’t make the clearance list.
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@AnimeNewsdotbiz Something I did not know, as those titles never shipped to my store.
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@AnimeNewsdotbiz but all that .hack, Fruits Basket, Loveless, Kyo Kara Maoh that sat on shelves for a couple of years: on clearance.
1 hour ago

@AnimeNewsdotbiz Humberto Saabedra
@ProfessorBlind That’s interesting and it implies that B&N is trying to eke out the most profit possible on that last run.
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@AnimeNewsdotbiz I think it has more to do with distro: Tokyopop titles bought from Diamond are returnable? but HC is refusing returns.
1 hour ago

@AnimeNewsdotbiz Humberto Saabedra
@ProfessorBlind Diamond was the last point of purchase for TP books so that makes sense, but why consider returning them knowing the demand?
1 hour ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@AnimeNewsdotbiz Yes, my company is run by greedy, selfish bastards who’d step over my still warm corpse for a $, so is more than possible
1 hour ago

@AnimeNewsdotbiz Humberto Saabedra
@ProfessorBlind Worked for GameStop and they operate under that same principle. At least B&N got me laid once. :)
1 hour ago

@MangaXanadu Lori Henderson
@ProfessorBlind I went to the reg & they rang up full price.
3 minutes ago

@MangaXanadu Lori Henderson
@ProfessorBlind nothing in the clearance bin, no special display.
1 minute ago

@ProfessorBlind Matt Blind
@MangaXanadu so it looks like I need to post a clarification [and an apology] to the ‘nets based on what we’ve figured out on twitter today
1 minutes ago

edit: less than 3 hours to go — and let me note, we (as in my store) tend to have quite a bit more clearance than will initially fit on the tables, so you *might* not see Tokyopop books right away. It’s OK. Come back later, or be annoying and pester the poor, overworked booksellers until they root through boxes in the back for you — but really, might be better to come back later. Also, all Tokyopop titles are included, so if they were overlooked and left on shelves in the manga section: grab ‘em.

original post follows.

I’ve reviewed my company’s code of business conduct and ethics — hell, I’ve probably read & reviewed it more often than anyone above me in the food chain — I only mention it now because I have some ‘insider information’ [sic] that I *absolutely have to share with the manga fanbase*

Set your alarm now, to wake up before 9AM on Monday.

[figure in local transit times to get to a B&N store @ 9AM]

You want to be first in line at the door this Monday AM — trust me on this — and if you can’t quite make it at 9AM, plan to come in right after work, or during your lunch break if you can swing it.

On Monday morning all Tokyopop titles currently on shelves at ALL Barnes & Noble locations will be put on clearance — starting at 50% off.

I’ll be honest: I doubt these will stick around long enough to be marked down further. Or that they’ll even be there on Tuesday.

[strong]
You Need To Be At A Barnes & Noble On Monday.
[/strong]

The bad news is, Tokyopop titles will soon transition to out-of-print, ebay, Amazon marketplace, used-but-like-new status this week. But we all knew this was coming, back when Tokyopop suddenly announced they were closing back in April. My own reaction to the news is not only a matter of public record but also the second most popular article I’ve posted to this blog. ever.

The good news is: any T’Pop titles left on shelves at Barnes & Noble are going to be had for the taking—starting at 50% off Monday—and supposing any are left in coming weeks, to be had for much less.

But I’d snap them up sooner rather than wait; folks like me will buy the whole slate not caring what the actual titles are, and will fill in missing volumes off of ebay later.

Your Executive Summary and Index, Week Ending 11 September 2011

##

last week’s charts
about the charts
analysis & commentary

The Weekly Charts:
Week Ending 11 September 2011

Internet Archive Link: http://www.archive.org/details/MangaRankingsWeekEnding11September2011

Manga Top 500

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [439.6] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [413.9] ::
3. ↑22 (25) : Black Bird 10 – Viz Shojo Beat, Sep 2011 [400.3] ::
4. ↑1 (5) : Maximum Ride 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2009 [363.7] ::
5. ↓-2 (3) : Black Butler 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [347.6] ::
6. ↑40 (46) : Bleach 36 – Viz Shonen Jump, Sep 2011 [335.3] ::
7. ↑6 (13) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [333.6] ::
8. ↑4 (12) : Sailor Moon 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [332.3] ::
9. ↓-5 (4) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 7 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [329.2] ::
10. ↓-4 (6) : Vampire Knight 12 – Viz Shojo Beat, Jun 2011 [322.1] ::

[more]

Top Imprints
Number of titles ranking in the Manga 500:

Viz Shonen Jump 87
Yen Press 83
Viz Shojo Beat 75
Kodansha Comics 34
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 30
Vizkids 28
DMP Juné 20
Del Rey 15
Dark Horse 14
HC/Tokyopop 13

[more]

Top 50 Series:

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon – Kodansha Comics [934.4] ::
2. ↑1 (3) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [783.4] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [761.7] ::
4. ↓-2 (2) : Black Butler – Yen Press [750.7] ::
5. ↑4 (9) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [702.3] ::
6. ↑2 (8) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [667.3] ::
7. ↔0 (7) : Negima! – Del Rey [636.9] ::
8. ↓-3 (5) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat [594.7] ::
9. ↓-3 (6) : Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Shonen Jump [594.5] ::
10. ↑6 (16) : Dengeki Daisy – Viz Shojo Beat [557.3] ::

[more]

Top 50 New Releases:
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [439.6] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [413.9] ::
3. ↑22 (25) : Black Bird 10 – Viz Shojo Beat, Sep 2011 [400.3] ::
6. ↑40 (46) : Bleach 36 – Viz Shonen Jump, Sep 2011 [335.3] ::
9. ↓-5 (4) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 7 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [329.2] ::
11. ↑62 (73) : Dengeki Daisy 6 – Viz Shojo Beat, Sep 2011 [316.5] ::
22. ↓-4 (18) : Omamori Himari 4 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [253.0] ::
24. ↑5 (29) : xxxHolic 17 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [252.1] ::
25. ↓-2 (23) : Blue Exorcist 3 – Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Aug 2011 [251.0] ::
26. ↑7 (33) : K-On! 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [246.8] ::

[more]

Top 50 Preorders:

8. ↑4 (12) : Sailor Moon 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [332.3] ::
34. ↑14 (48) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [220.7] ::
61. ↓-5 (56) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [169.3] ::
73. ↑2 (75) : Sailor Moon 3 – Kodansha Comics, Jan 2012 [157.5] ::
85. ↓-8 (77) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [150.3] ::
101. ↓-6 (95) : Negima! 32 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [130.9] ::
177. ↑47 (224) : Drops of God 1 – Vertical, Oct 2011 [84.4] ::
184. ↑100 (284) : Negima! 33 – Kodansha Comics, Jan 2012 [81.1] ::
201. ↑9 (210) : About Love – DMP Juné, Nov 2011 [73.3] ::
206. ↑1637 (1843) : Black Butler 9 – Yen Press, Jul 2012 [72.0] ::

[more]

Top 50 Manhwa:

204. ↓-3 (201) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [72.3] ::
251. ↑24 (275) : One Thousand & One Nights 7 – Yen Press, Apr 2009 [60.9] ::
302. ↑90 (392) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [50.9] ::
338. ↓-18 (320) : Bride of the Water God 8 – Dark Horse, May 2011 [45.5] ::
418. ↑97 (515) : Evyione: Ocean Fantasy 2 – Udon, Sep 2008 [36.9] ::
446. ↓-135 (311) : One Thousand & One Nights 11 – Yen Press, Aug 2010 [34.8] ::
574. ↑166 (740) : Bride of the Water God 6 – Dark Horse, Aug 2010 [26.8] ::
604. ↑ (last ranked 14 Aug 11) : Jack Frost 2 – Yen Press, Nov 2009 [25.0] ::
619. ↑377 (996) : 13th Boy 5 – Yen Press, Oct 2010 [24.2] ::
706. ↓-256 (450) : 13th Boy 4 – Yen Press, Jun 2010 [19.7] ::

[more]

Top 50 BL/Yaoi Volumes:

27. ↑47 (74) : Finder Series 4 Prisoner in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Aug 2011 [246.7] ::
34. ↑14 (48) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [220.7] ::
90. ↑1 (91) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jun 2011 [140.0] ::
150. ↑64 (214) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 3 – Yaoi Press, Jul 2011 [99.3] ::
161. ↑91 (252) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 4 – Yaoi Press, Jul 2011 [91.6] ::
201. ↑9 (210) : About Love – DMP Juné, Nov 2011 [73.3] ::
213. ↓-55 (158) : Private Teacher 1 – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [69.1] ::
228. ↓-25 (203) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [65.4] ::
230. ↑101 (331) : Secrecy of the Shivering Night – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [65.0] ::
247. ↑153 (400) : Mr. Convenience – DMP Juné, Nov 2011 [61.8] ::

[more]

Your Executive Summary and Index, Week Ending 04 September 2011

##

last week’s charts
about the charts
analysis & commentary

The Weekly Charts:
Week Ending 04 September 2011

Internet Archive Link: http://www.archive.org/details/MangaRankingsWeekEnding4September2011

Manga Top 500

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [430.5] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [409.3] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Black Butler 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [398.7] ::
4. ↓-1 (3) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 7 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [353.7] ::
5. ↑10 (15) : Maximum Ride 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2009 [337.0] ::
6. ↔0 (6) : Vampire Knight 12 – Viz Shojo Beat, Jun 2011 [330.6] ::
7. ↓-2 (5) : Black Butler 6 – Yen Press, Jul 2011 [321.4] ::
8. ↑13 (21) : Negima! 30 – Kodansha Comics, Jul 2011 [308.5] ::
9. ↑4 (13) : Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus 2 – Dark Horse, Dec 2010 [306.3] ::
10. ↑1 (11) : Bakuman 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [304.1] ::

[more]

Top Imprints
Number of titles ranking in the Manga 500:

Viz Shonen Jump 95
Yen Press 74
Viz Shojo Beat 72
Kodansha Comics 38
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 31
Vizkids 19
DMP Juné 17
Seven Seas 17
HC/Tokyopop 15
Tokyopop 15

[more]

Top 50 Series:

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon – Kodansha Comics [916.4] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Black Butler – Yen Press [829.7] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [758.0] ::
4. ↑2 (6) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [674.8] ::
5. ↔0 (5) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat [624.3] ::
6. ↓-2 (4) : Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Shonen Jump [621.0] ::
7. ↑6 (13) : Negima! – Del Rey [620.2] ::
8. ↑1 (9) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [560.0] ::
9. ↑2 (11) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [557.2] ::
10. ↑2 (12) : Ouran High School Host Club – Viz Shojo Beat [524.3] ::

[more]

Top 50 New Releases:
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [430.5] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [409.3] ::
4. ↓-1 (3) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 7 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [353.7] ::
10. ↑1 (11) : Bakuman 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [304.1] ::
18. ↑2 (20) : Omamori Himari 4 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [265.4] ::
21. ↑14 (35) : Haruhi Suzumiya Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 9 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [251.5] ::
23. ↑17 (40) : Blue Exorcist 3 – Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Aug 2011 [240.1] ::
25. ↑158 (183) : Black Bird 10 – Viz Shojo Beat, Sep 2011 [238.3] ::
29. ↑21 (50) : xxxHolic 17 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [226.0] ::
33. ↓-4 (29) : K-On! 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [210.8] ::

[more]

Top 50 Preorders:

12. ↑2 (14) : Sailor Moon 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [283.4] ::
48. ↑4 (52) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [190.2] ::
56. ↑12 (68) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [170.5] ::
75. ↓-4 (71) : Sailor Moon 3 – Kodansha Comics, Jan 2012 [157.0] ::
77. ↓-15 (62) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [155.8] ::
95. ↑46 (141) : Negima! 32 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [137.8] ::
158. ↑5 (163) : Private Teacher 1 – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [94.9] ::
177. ↓-2 (175) : Vampire Knight 13 – Viz Shojo Beat, Oct 2011 [82.8] ::
210. ↓-17 (193) : About Love – DMP Juné, Nov 2011 [71.9] ::
224. ↑130 (354) : Drops of God 1 – Vertical, Oct 2011 [68.9] ::

[more]

Top 50 Manhwa:

201. ↑19 (220) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [73.8] ::
275. ↑new (0) : One Thousand & One Nights 7 – Yen Press, Apr 2009 [56.3] ::
311. ↑ (last ranked 26 Sep 10) : One Thousand & One Nights 11 – Yen Press, Aug 2010 [49.5] ::
320. ↑24 (344) : Bride of the Water God 8 – Dark Horse, May 2011 [48.6] ::
392. ↑93 (485) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [39.9] ::
450. ↑ (last ranked 18 Jul 10) : 13th Boy 4 – Yen Press, Jun 2010 [35.0] ::
515. ↑221 (736) : Evyione: Ocean Fantasy 2 – Udon, Sep 2008 [29.7] ::
568. ↑ (last ranked 21 Aug 11) : 13th Boy 3 – Yen Press, Feb 2010 [26.3] ::
582. ↓-98 (484) : JTF-3 Counter Ops (ebook) – RealinterfaceStudios.com, Mar 2011 [25.6] ::
740. ↑230 (970) : Bride of the Water God 6 – Dark Horse, Aug 2010 [18.7] ::

[more]

Top 50 BL/Yaoi Volumes:

48. ↑4 (52) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [190.2] ::
74. ↑223 (297) : Finder Series 4 Prisoner in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Aug 2011 [159.0] ::
91. ↓-16 (75) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jun 2011 [141.3] ::
158. ↑5 (163) : Private Teacher 1 – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [94.9] ::
203. ↓-47 (156) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [73.8] ::
210. ↓-17 (193) : About Love – DMP Juné, Nov 2011 [71.9] ::
214. ↓-32 (182) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 3 – Yaoi Press, Jul 2011 [71.4] ::
252. ↓-19 (233) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 4 – Yaoi Press, Jul 2011 [61.6] ::
274. ↓-109 (165) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 3 – DMP Juné, May 2011 [56.6] ::
331. ↑237 (568) : Secrecy of the Shivering Night – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [46.2] ::

[more]

Your Executive Summary and Index, Week Ending 28 August 2011

##

last week’s charts
about the charts
analysis & commentary

The Weekly Charts:
Week Ending 28 August 2011

Internet Archive Link: http://www.archive.org/details/MangaRankingsWeekEnding28August2011

Manga Top 500

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [424.0] ::
2. ↑3 (5) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [408.4] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 7 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [397.5] ::
4. ↓-1 (3) : Black Butler 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [387.5] ::
5. ↓-3 (2) : Black Butler 6 – Yen Press, Jul 2011 [364.1] ::
6. ↑2 (8) : Vampire Knight 12 – Viz Shojo Beat, Jun 2011 [339.3] ::
7. ↓-1 (6) : Black Butler 4 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [334.1] ::
8. ↑1 (9) : Black Butler 5 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [317.2] ::
9. ↑6 (15) : Warriors SkyClan & The Stranger 1 – HC/Tokyopop, Jul 2011 [302.8] ::
10. ↔0 (10) : Black Butler 3 – Yen Press, Oct 2010 [294.4] ::

[more]

Top Imprints
Number of titles ranking in the Manga 500:

Viz Shonen Jump 81
Viz Shojo Beat 73
Yen Press 73
Kodansha Comics 39
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 31
Seven Seas 22
Vizkids 21
Tokyopop 20
Dark Horse 18
Del Rey 18

[more]

Top 50 Series:

1. ↑1 (2) : Sailor Moon – Kodansha Comics [906.7] ::
2. ↓-1 (1) : Black Butler – Yen Press [874.5] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [705.2] ::
4. ↑1 (5) : Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Shonen Jump [687.8] ::
5. ↑2 (7) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat [677.2] ::
6. ↓-2 (4) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [594.7] ::
7. ↑5 (12) : Warriors – HC/Tokyopop [547.7] ::
8. ↑1 (9) : Pokemon – Vizkids [546.4] ::
9. ↑12 (21) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [535.6] ::
10. ↑15 (25) : Bakuman – Viz Shonen Jump [499.9] ::

[more]

Top 50 New Releases:
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)

3. ↑1 (4) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 7 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [397.5] ::
5. ↓-3 (2) : Black Butler 6 – Yen Press, Jul 2011 [364.1] ::
9. ↑6 (15) : Warriors SkyClan & The Stranger 1 – HC/Tokyopop, Jul 2011 [302.8] ::
11. ↑22 (33) : Bakuman 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [288.6] ::
20. ↓-6 (14) : Omamori Himari 4 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [250.9] ::
21. ↓-10 (11) : Negima! 30 – Kodansha Comics, Jul 2011 [245.1] ::
24. ↑7 (31) : Pokemon Adventures 14 – Vizkids, Aug 2011 [226.8] ::
27. ↑14 (41) : Pokemon Black & White 1 – Vizkids, Jul 2011 [220.2] ::
28. ↑4 (32) : Black Bird 9 – Viz Shojo Beat, Jul 2011 [216.3] ::
29. ↓-17 (12) : K-On! 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [216.3] ::

[more]

Top 50 Preorders:

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [424.0] ::
2. ↑3 (5) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [408.4] ::
14. ↑4 (18) : Sailor Moon 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [271.2] ::
50. ↑52 (102) : xxxHolic 17 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [171.7] ::
52. ↑31 (83) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [169.9] ::
62. ↑17 (79) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [160.8] ::
68. ↑31 (99) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [156.3] ::
71. ↑16 (87) : Sailor Moon 3 – Kodansha Comics, Jan 2012 [155.0] ::
141. ↑90 (231) : Negima! 32 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [108.1] ::
163. ↓-2 (161) : Private Teacher 1 – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [94.1] ::

[more]

Top 50 Manhwa:

220. ↑72 (292) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [71.5] ::
344. ↓-24 (320) : Bride of the Water God 8 – Dark Horse, May 2011 [46.1] ::
484. ↑443 (927) : JTF-3 Counter Ops (ebook) – RealinterfaceStudios.com, Mar 2011 [32.1] ::
485. ↑186 (671) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [32.0] ::
510. ↓-251 (259) : Priest vols 1-3 collection – Tokyopop, Jun 2011 [30.0] ::
736. ↓-144 (592) : Evyione: Ocean Fantasy 2 – Udon, Sep 2008 [17.7] ::
745. ↓-12 (733) : Bride of the Water God 7 – Dark Horse, Feb 2011 [17.4] ::
832. ↓-329 (503) : Laon 3 – Yen Press, Sep 2010 [14.6] ::
855. ↓-180 (675) : March Story 2 – Viz Signature, Apr 2011 [13.9] ::
970. ↓-300 (670) : Bride of the Water God 6 – Dark Horse, Aug 2010 [10.8] ::

[more]

Top 50 BL/Yaoi Volumes:

52. ↑31 (83) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [169.9] ::
75. ↑7 (82) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jun 2011 [152.8] ::
131. ↑84 (215) : A Foreign Love Affair – 801 Media, Mar 2008 [116.0] ::
156. ↓-80 (76) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [100.0] ::
163. ↓-2 (161) : Private Teacher 1 – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [94.1] ::
165. ↑375 (540) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 3 – DMP Juné, May 2011 [92.7] ::
182. ↓-23 (159) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 3 – Yaoi Press, Jul 2011 [85.8] ::
193. ↑16 (209) : About Love – DMP Juné, Nov 2011 [79.9] ::
233. ↓-54 (179) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 4 – Yaoi Press, Jul 2011 [68.0] ::
235. ↑395 (630) : Then Comes Love – DMP Juné, Feb 2011 [67.5] ::

[more]

Your Executive Summary and Index, Week Ending 21 August 2011

##

last week’s charts
about the charts
analysis & commentary

The Weekly Charts:
Week Ending 21 August 2011

Internet Archive Link: http://www.archive.org/details/MangaRankingsWeekEnding21August2011

Manga Top 500

1. ↑3 (4) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [450.3] ::
2. ↓-1 (1) : Black Butler 6 – Yen Press, Jul 2011 [392.8] ::
3. ↑4 (7) : Black Butler 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [380.4] ::
4. ↑9 (13) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 7 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [379.5] ::
5. ↑6 (11) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [367.9] ::
6. ↑11 (17) : Black Butler 4 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [367.5] ::
7. ↓-5 (2) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [361.5] ::
8. ↓-2 (6) : Vampire Knight 12 – Viz Shojo Beat, Jun 2011 [356.6] ::
9. ↑5 (14) : Black Butler 5 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [346.3] ::
10. ↓-1 (9) : Black Butler 3 – Yen Press, Oct 2010 [342.2] ::

[more]

Top Imprints
Number of titles ranking in the Manga 500:

Viz Shojo Beat 84
Viz Shonen Jump 78
Yen Press 70
Kodansha Comics 40
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 33
Tokyopop 27
Vizkids 25
Del Rey 18
HC/Tokyopop 14
Seven Seas 14

[more]

Top 50 Series:

1. ↔0 (1) : Black Butler – Yen Press [908.7] ::
2. ↑1 (3) : Sailor Moon – Kodansha Comics [889.4] ::
3. ↓-1 (2) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [781.0] ::
4. ↔0 (4) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [720.9] ::
5. ↑6 (11) : Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Shonen Jump [696.8] ::
6. ↑2 (8) : Ouran High School Host Club – Viz Shojo Beat [651.1] ::
7. ↔0 (7) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat [639.0] ::
8. ↓-3 (5) : Negima! – Del Rey [602.0] ::
9. ↑3 (12) : Pokemon – Vizkids [594.7] ::
10. ↑4 (14) : Soul Eater – Yen Press [584.0] ::

[more]

Top 50 New Releases:
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)

2. ↓-1 (1) : Black Butler 6 – Yen Press, Jul 2011 [392.8] ::
4. ↑9 (13) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 7 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [379.5] ::
11. ↓-8 (3) : Negima! 30 – Kodansha Comics, Jul 2011 [331.1] ::
12. ↑20 (32) : K-On! 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [318.1] ::
14. ↑7 (21) : Omamori Himari 4 – Yen Press, Aug 2011 [304.8] ::
15. ↔0 (15) : Warriors SkyClan & The Stranger 1 – HC/Tokyopop, Jul 2011 [302.3] ::
20. ↓-15 (5) : Blue Exorcist 3 – Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Aug 2011 [279.6] ::
31. ↑13 (44) : Pokemon Adventures 14 – Vizkids, Aug 2011 [250.6] ::
32. ↓-22 (10) : Black Bird 9 – Viz Shojo Beat, Jul 2011 [249.5] ::
33. ↓-10 (23) : Bakuman 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2011 [242.0] ::

[more]

Top 50 Preorders:

1. ↑3 (4) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [450.3] ::
5. ↑6 (11) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [367.9] ::
18. ↑16 (34) : Sailor Moon 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [290.4] ::
79. ↑13 (92) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [147.4] ::
83. ↑111 (194) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [143.1] ::
87. ↑9 (96) : Sailor Moon 3 – Kodansha Comics, Jan 2012 [141.1] ::
99. ↓-11 (88) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [133.5] ::
102. ↑26 (128) : xxxHolic 17 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [132.8] ::
156. ↑28 (184) : Seven Days Friday-Sunday – DMP Juné, Sep 2011 [94.7] ::
161. ↑100 (261) : Private Teacher 1 – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [92.6] ::

[more]

Top 50 Manhwa:

259. ↑575 (834) : Priest vols 1-3 collection – Tokyopop, Jun 2011 [62.5] ::
292. ↑96 (388) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [55.8] ::
320. ↓-108 (212) : Bride of the Water God 8 – Dark Horse, May 2011 [51.0] ::
503. ↑846 (1349) : Laon 3 – Yen Press, Sep 2010 [29.6] ::
592. ↑ (last ranked 31 Oct 10) : Evyione: Ocean Fantasy 2 – Udon, Sep 2008 [23.5] ::
670. ↑26 (696) : Bride of the Water God 6 – Dark Horse, Aug 2010 [19.6] ::
671. ↑159 (830) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [19.6] ::
675. ↑36 (711) : March Story 2 – Viz Signature, Apr 2011 [19.5] ::
726. ↓-41 (685) : Bride of the Water God 1 – Dark Horse, Oct 2007 [17.9] ::
733. ↓-292 (441) : Bride of the Water God 7 – Dark Horse, Feb 2011 [17.7] ::

[more]

Top 50 BL/Yaoi Volumes:

76. ↑77 (153) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [149.7] ::
82. ↑20 (102) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jun 2011 [143.3] ::
83. ↑111 (194) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [143.1] ::
144. ↓-18 (126) : Finder Series 4 Prisoner in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Aug 2011 [100.6] ::
159. ↓-2 (157) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 3 – Yaoi Press, Jul 2011 [93.9] ::
161. ↑100 (261) : Private Teacher 1 – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [92.6] ::
179. ↓-32 (147) : Maelstrom (Kindle ebook) 4 – Yaoi Press, Jul 2011 [85.3] ::
209. ↑240 (449) : About Love – DMP Juné, Nov 2011 [77.1] ::
215. ↑1697 (1912) : A Foreign Love Affair – 801 Media, Mar 2008 [74.0] ::
301. ↑98 (399) : Secrecy of the Shivering Night – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [54.5] ::

[more]

Helpfully, geek-and-game-news-site ICv2 also recently posted some manga rankings,

Here’s their Top 25 Manga Properties for Q1 & Q2 2011

1. Naruto – Viz Media
2. Bleach – Viz Media
3. Vampire Knight – Viz Media
4. Black Butler – Yen Press
5. Death Note – Viz Media
6. Blackbird – Viz Media
7. Rosario + Vampire – Viz Media
8. Fullmetal Alchemist – Viz Media
9. Dragonball & DBZ – Viz Media
10. Soul Eater – Yen Press
11. One Piece – Viz Media
12. Maximum Ride – Yen Press
13. Alice in the Country of Hearts – Tokyopop
14. Hetalia – Tokyopop
15. Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Media
16. Pandora Hearts – Yen Press
17. Bakuman – Viz Media
18. Fruits Basket – Tokyopop
19. Dendeki Daisy – Viz Media
20. D. Gray Man – Viz Media
21. Yotsuba! – Yen Press
22. Ouran High School Host Club – Viz Media
23. Shugo Chara – Del Rey Manga
24. K-On! – Yen Press
25. High School of the Dead – Yen Press

My Rankings, just posted, have a lot of the same faces, just in different slots. For comparison, I’ll put the ICv2 ranks just to the right of mine:

1. ↑3 (4) : Black Butler – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [0.0] ::
2. ↑10 (12) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press, Jan 2009 [0.0] ::
3. ↓-2 (1) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump, Jul 2003 [0.0] ::
4. ↑10 (14) : Hetalia Axis Powers – Tokyopop, Sep 2010 [0.0] ::
5. ↑20 (25) : Highschool of the Dead – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [0.0] ::
6. ↓-3 (3) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat, Jan 2007 [0.0] ::
7. ↓-1 (6) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat, Aug 2009 [0.0] ::
8. ↓-6 (2) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2004 [0.0] ::
9. ↑13 (22) : Ouran High School Host Club – Viz Shojo Beat, Jul 2005 [0.0] ::
10. ↑6 (16) : Pandora Hearts – Yen Press, Dec 2009 [0.0] ::
11. ↓-4 (7) : Rosario+Vampire – Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Jun 2008 [0.0] ::
12. : Warriors – HC/Tokyopop, Apr 2007 [0.0] ::
13. ↓-3 (10) : Soul Eater – Yen Press, Oct 2009 [0.0] ::
14. : Pokemon – Vizkids, Nov 1999 [0.0] ::
15. ↓-2 (13) : Alice in the Country of Hearts – Tokyopop, Feb 2010 [0.0] ::
16. ↓-1 (15) : Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2003 [0.0] ::
17. ↓-9 (8) : Fullmetal Alchemist – Viz, Apr 2005 [0.0] ::
18. ↑1 (19) : Dengeki Daisy – Viz Shojo Beat, Jul 2010 [0.0] ::
19. ↑5 (24) : K-On! – Yen Press, Nov 2010 [0.0] ::
20. : Negima! – Del Rey, Apr 2004 [0.0] ::
21. ↓-4 (17) : Bakuman – Viz Shonen Jump, Aug 2010 [0.0] ::
22. ↓-4 (18) : Fruits Basket – Tokyopop, Feb 2004 [0.0] ::
23. ↓-14 (9) : Dragon Ball – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2003 [0.0] ::
24. : Dark Hunters – St. Martin’s Griffin, Apr 2009 [0.0] ::
25. : Haruhi Suzumiya – Yen Press, Oct 2008 [0.0] ::

On my chart, but not ICv2:

#12 Warriors (HC/Tokyopop), #14 Pokemon (Vizkids), #20 Negima (Del Rey), #24 Dark Hunters (St. Martin’s Griffin), #25 Haruhi Suzumiya (Yen Press)

on ICv2’s top 25, but not mine, and how they rank:

Death Note (Viz Shonen Jump Advanced) – ICv2 #5, RBR #26
One Piece (Viz Shonen Jump) – ICv2 #11, RBR #34
D. Gray Man (Viz Shonen Jump Advanced) – ICv2 #20, RBR #37
Yotsuba&! (Yen Press) – ICv2 #21, RBR #39
Shugo Chara (Del Rey) – ICv2 #23, RBR #38

that also prompts a by-the-way-mention: While ICv2 only lists a top 25, I list the top 100 series for the quarter, and other breakouts and sub charts.

No accusation levelled at the ICv2 guys, obviously. (Love you guys!)

…just sayin’

It seems like just six weeks ago I was posting another ‘catch up’ set of links, for the Winter charts. Oh wait, that was just six weeks ago.

Life and work, as always, intrude on what we actually want to do, and this year as a bookseller has been very… entertaining… so far. I haven’t always had the time (or the motivation) to sit down to a big plate of data entry and math.

But still — I do enjoy my very odd hobby, especially the ‘posting results’ part:

Weekly Manga 500 Rankings

Week 14, 3 Apr : index/summary & full chart
Week 15, 10 Apr : index/summary & full chart
Week 16, 17 Apr : index/summary & full chart
Week 17, 24 Apr : index/summary & full chart
Week 18, 1 May : index/summary & full chart
Week 19, 8 May : index/summary & full chart
Week 20, 15 May : index/summary & full chart
Week 21, 22 May : index/summary & full chart
Week 22, 30 May : index/summary & full chart
Week 23, 5 Jun : index/summary & full chart
Week 24, 12 Jun : index/summary & full chart
Week 25, 19 Jun : index/summary & full chart
Week 26, 26 Jun : index/summary & full chart

2011 Q2 Spring Cumulative Manga Bestsellers : index/summary & full chart

Those of you following along at home, especially the manhwa fans, might notice the charts look a little sparse here and there.

A contributing factor was the loss/abandonment of some of the less ideal (and occasionally annoying) websites I use as my sources, but the largest chunk is the mountain of printed manga that is available.

As of week 26 (the end of June) my database has over 10,000 entries in it (individual volumes) and with popular series now entering the 30s (or even 50s) there are just a lot more books to consider. Also, Amazon, previously a great source, has combined their Kindle books with regular manga (which is great, actually, as this is apparently a growing part of the market) so to find the gems in the far corners of the market one has to dig deeper.

I’ve already adapted and modified my spreadsheet to draw even deeper from trusted sources, and have thoroughly researched alternate sites to expand my data set — in part to bolster the current sources, but also as a hedge in case Borders.com closes and I lose them as a source.

While it has taken six weeks to catch up to this point, I’m still behind. The good news is that I’ve managed to churn through seven weeks (and the quarertly chart) in just nine days, so I’m cruising at a fair clip and should be able to post ‘live’ charts in a week or two.

Thanks as always for reading. I hope you still find these useful.