The kind folks at Challengers Comics + Conversation in Chicago do great work in spreading the gospel of comics. You can tell because they won an Eisner for their excellent work. With 2015 coming to a close, they put together analysis of their top 100 selling trades and graphic novels of the year, and with their permission I’m sharing that with the readers of SKTCHD.

The top is all about the books that led the way for them in terms of overall sales – as co-owner W. Dal Bush shares at the top, this list is based on copies sold for each title – and co-owner Patrick Brower shares some additional commentary about performance by publisher at the bottom as well. Give it a read, and make sure to follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook for great insight into their world!

W. Dal Bush: As we’ve done in years past (based on posts from other retailers like Brian Hibbs from Comix Experience), here’s our list of the top 100 graphic novels at Challengers in 2015. This list is based on the number of copies each title sold, with the higher priced book being listed first in the case of a tie. I’m sure we’ll be discussing this list on an upcoming episode of Contest of Challengers, so keep an eye or ear or whatever open for that in the coming week. Otherwise, feel free to discuss things in the comments down below!

1. Saga TP VOL 04
2. Saga TP VOL 05
3. Nimona GN
4. Ms Marvel TP VOL 01
5. Sex Criminals TP VOL 02
6. Saga TP VOL 01
7. Southern Bastards TP VOL 01
8. Sex Criminals TP VOL 01
9. Lumberjanes TP VOL 01
10. Wicked & Divine TP VOL 01
11. Civil War TP
12. Saga TP VOL 03
13. Batman TP VOL 01
14. Witches of Echo Park
15. Batman the Killing Joke HC
16. Saga TP VOL 02
17. Descender TP VOL 01
18. Wytches TP VOL 01
19. Sculptor HC
20. Displacement GN
21. Low TP VOL 01
22. He-Man & Masters of Universe Mini-Comic Collection HC
23. Alex + Ada TP VOL 02
24. Rat Queens TP VOL 01
25. Star Wars TP VOL 01
26. God Hates Astronauts TP VOL 01
27. Batman TP VOL 02
28. Alex + Ada TP VOL 01
29. Birthright TP VOL 01
30. Hawkeye TP VOL 04
31. Autumnlands TP VOL 01
32. Batman Dark Knight Returns TP
33. Flash TP VOL 01
34. Fables TP VOL 22
35. Black Science TP VOL 02
36. Southern Bastards TP VOL 02
37. Rumble TP VOL 01
38. Apocalyptigirl
39. Wicked & Divine TP VOL 02
40. Outcast By Kirkman & Azaceta TP VOL 01
41. Bitch Planet TP VOL 01
42. Batman TP VOL 03
43. Ms Marvel TP VOL 02
44. Trees TP VOL 01
45. Walking Dead TP VOL 23
46. Revival TP VOL 01
47. Chew TP VOL 09
48. Fables TP VOL 01
49. Amulet SC VOL 01
50. Copperhead TP VOL 01

51. God Hates Astronauts TP VOL 02
52. Private Eye Dlx Ed HC
53. Batman Noel Deluxe Edition HC
54. Rat Queens TP VOL 02
55. Step Aside Pops
56. This One Summer GN
57. Hawkeye TP VOL 01
58. Batman TP VOL 04
59. Black Science TP VOL 03
60. Batgirl TP VOL 01 (Burnside)
61. East of West TP VOL 04
62. Walking Dead TP VOL 24
63. Bone Color Ed SC VOL 01
64. Just the Tips HC
65. Preacher TP Book 01
66. Star Wars Darth Vader TP VOL 01
67. Nimona GN HC
68. She-Hulk TP VOL 01
69. Unbeatable Squirrel Girl TP VO1
70. Gotham Academy TP VOL 01
71. Mae GN
72. Batman Hush Complete TP
73. Jessica Jones Alias TP VOL 01
74. Transformers Vs Gi Joe TP VOL 01
75. Fables TP VOL 21
76. Alex + Ada TP VOL 03
77. Fade Out TP VOL 01
78. East of West TP VOL 01
79. Batman HC VOL 07
80. Batman TP VOL 05
81. Deadpool Kills Marvel Universe TP
82. East of West TP VOL 03
83. Athena Voltaire Compendium HC
84. Black Science TP VOL 01
85. Daredevil TP Man Without Fear
86. Deadpool TP VOL 01
87. Walking Dead TP VOL 01
88. East of West TP VOL 02
89. Space Dumplins GN VOL 01
90. Batman Earth One TP
91. Amulet SC VOL 06
92. Attack On Titan GN VOL 01
93. Sixth Gun TP VOL 01
94. Mind Mgmt HC VOL 01
95. Flash TP VOL 02
96. Lady Killer TP
97. Deadpool TP VOL 02
98. Chew TP VOL 10
99. Sisters GN
100. Sam Zabel and the Magic Pen HC

Here’s a breakdown of their top 100 sellers by publisher, units sold and dollars brought in, with some added details from Brower in the mix.

Patrick Brower: Publisher = # of books in Challengers’ Top 100 (% of total GN Units sold in 2015) // (% of total GN Sales $ in 2015)

Image = 44 (23%) // (19%)
DC = 19 (21%) // (24%)
Marvel = 14 (16%) // (20%)
Dark Horse = 5 (5%) // (5%)
Graphix = 4
First Second = 3
Fantagraphics = 2
Harper Teen = 2
BOOM! = 1
Drawn & Quarterly = 1
IDW = 1 (2%) // (2%)
Kodansha = 1
Novel = 1
Oni = 1
Self-Published = 1
Sidekicks = 5 (13%) // (10%)

Sidekicks is our All-Ages room and Graphic Novels in Sidekicks are categorized by the designation “Sidekicks” as opposed to publisher. For example, all IDW “My Little Pony” graphic novels are in Sidekicks, and not reflected in IDW’s sales % or $.

What we find most interesting is the difference in cover prices. Take for instance Marvel vs. Image. We sold 750 more individual Image graphic novels than Marvel graphic novels in 2015. Yet Marvel’s yearly graphic novel sales are $2,357.83 higher than our Image yearly graphic novel sales, simply because Marvel graphic novels cost more per book. DC also has a higher sales rate than Image while selling 149 graphic novels less.

Thanks to W. Dal Bush and Patrick Brower both for permission to run their original piece and the additional insight into their business. It’s great to see, especially with a diverse list of releases and publishers doing well at their shop.