Today, the kind proprietor of San Diego’s Rising Sun Comics – Ed Sherman – wrote a piece for SKTCHD. Sherman shared a detailed look at the performance he saw in his shop in 2015. It’s a great look at what sold in both graphic novels and manga (including a combined list) at his shop, as well as a look at the lift he saw in his three main channels of products: comics; graphic novels; and manga. Give it a read below, and if you’re ever in the area, stop by the shop!

TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS ONLY

1. SAGA VOL 01 TPB
2. SAGA VOL 04 TPB
3. SAGA VOL 02 TPB
4. SAGA VOL 05 TPB
5. SAGA VOL 03 TPB
6. CIVIL WAR TPB
7. LUMBERJANES VOL 1 TPB
8. BEE AND PUPPYCAT VOL 1 TPB
9. BATMAN:KILLING JOKE HC
10. DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE TPB
11. WICKED AND THE DIVINE VOL 1:FAUST ACT TPB
12. BOB’S BURGERS VOL 1 TPB
13. STEVEN UNIVERSE VOL 1 TPB
14. BITCH PLANET VOL 1:EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE TPB
15. WYTCHES VOL 1 TPB
16. HELLBLAZER VOL 01:ORIGINAL SINS TPB
17. LUMBERJANES VOL 2 TPB
18. WOLVERINE:OLD MAN LOGAN TPB
19. WALKING DEAD VOL 01:DAYS GONE BYE TPB
20. INFINITY GAUNTLET TPB
21. STAR WARS:SHATTERED EMPIRE TPB
22. STAR WARS:DARTH VADER VOL 1:VADER TPB
23. LOW VOL 1:THE DELIRIUM OF HOPE TPB
24. DEADPOOL DANIEL WAY COLLECTION VOL 1 TPB
25. TRUE LIVES OF THE FABULOUS KILLJOYS TPB
26. BATMAN:THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TPB
27. WATCHMEN TP NEW ED
28. DESCENDER VOL 1:TIN STARS TPB
29. HARLEY QUINN 2 VOL 1:HOT IN THE CITY TPB
30. OUTCAST VOL 1 TPB
31. MS MARVEL 3 VOL 1:NO NORMAL TPB
32. DEADLY CLASS VOL 1:REAGAN YOUTH TPB
33. WALKING DEAD VOL 24:LIFE AND DEATH TPB
34. WALKING DEAD VOL 23 TPB
35. BATMAN 2:DEATH OF FAMILY BOOK AND JOKER MASK SET
36. BATMAN 2 VOL 1:COURT OF OWLS BOOK AND MASK SET
37. BATMAN:THE LONG HALLOWEEN TPB (NEW PTG)
38. SEX CRIMINALS VOL 1 TPB
39. INJUSTICE:GODS AMONG US VOL 2 TPB
40. BRYAN LEE O MALLEY SECONDS GN
41. SERENITY VOL 4:LEAVES ON THE WIND HC
42. BATMAN:HUSH COMPLETE TPB
43. JOKER:DEATH OF THE FAMILY TPB
44. SANDMAN 01:PRELUDES
45. FABLES VOL 01:LEGENDS IN EXILE
46. RAT QUEENS VOL 1:SASS AND SORCERY TPB
47. NIMONA GN
48. DISNEY PRINCESS TREASURY VOL 1 TPB
49. TEEN TITANS GO! VOL 1:PARTY PARTY TPB
50. MY LITTLE PONY OMNIBUS VOL 1 TPB

51. MOUSE GUARD VOL 1:FALL 1152 HC
52. SANDMAN 02:THE DOLL’S HOUSE TPB
53. FINAL CRISIS TPB (NEW EDITION)
54. SERENITY VOL 2:BETTER DAYS HC
55. FLASHPOINT TP
56. FLASH 4 VOL 1:MOVE FORWARD TPB
57. INJUSTICE:GODS AMONG US VOL 1 TPB
58. NAILBITER VOL 1:THERE WILL BE BLOOD TPB
59. STAR WARS VOL 1:SKYWALKER STRIKES TPB
60. MAD MAX FURY ROAD TPB
61. RAT QUEENS VOL 2:TENTACLES OF N’RYGOTH TPB
62. MORTAL KOMBAT X VOL 1:BLOOD TIES TPB
63. THIS ONE SUMMER GN
64. WAYWARD VOL 1:STRING THEORY TPB
65. MS MARVEL 3 VOL 2:GENERATION WHY TPB
66. COMPLETE MAUS HC
67. SECRET WARS TPB
68. V FOR VENDETTA BOOK & MASK SET
69. METAL GEAR SOLID OMNIBUS
70. BLACKEST NIGHT TP
71. PREACHER BOOK 1 TPB
72. BATMAN:THE JIRO KUWATA BATMANGA VOL 1 (OF 3)
73. LADY MECHANIKA VOL 1:MYSTERY MECHANICAL CORPSE TPB
74. STAR WARS:KANAN THE LAST PADAWAN VOL 1 TPB
75. AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL VOL 01 TPB
76. POSTAL VOL 1 TPB
77. STAR WARS EPIC COLLECTION:EMPIRE VOL 1 TPB
78. TREES VOL 1 TPB
79. AVENGERS VS X-MEN TPB
80. I WAS THE CAT HC
81. Y THE LAST MAN BOOK 1 TPB
82. JOKER HC
83. UMBRELLA ACADEMY 1:APOCALYPSE SUITE TPB
84. SERENITY VOL 1:THOSE LEFT BEHIND HC
85. MY LITTLE PONY:PONY TALES VOL 2 TPB
86. DEADPOOL 4 VOL 1:DEAD PRESIDENTS TP
87. SEVERED TPB
88. ADVENTURE TIME VOL 01 TPB
89. TEEN TITANS GO!:TITANS TOGETHER TPB
90. VENOM VS CARNAGE TPB
91. RICK & MORTY VOL 1 TPB
92. STAR WARS:PRINCESS LEIA TPB
93. WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM VOL 3 TPB
94. AVATAR:THE LAST AIRBENDER:SMOKE AND SHADOW 1
95. WICKED AND THE DIVINE VOL 2:FANDEMONIUM TPB
96. INJUSTICE:GODS AMONG US YEAR 2 VOL 2 HC
97. DEADPOOL’S ART OF WAR TPB
98. SEX CRIMINALS VOL 2:TWO WORLDS ONE COP TPB
99. SUPERMAN:EARTH ONE VOL 3 HC
100. WALKING DEAD HC VOL 01

Publisher = # of books in Rising Sun Comics Top 100 (% of total Top 100 GN Units sold in 2015) // (% of total Top 100 GN Sales $ in 2015)

Image = 27 (39%) // (30%)
DC = 30 (24%) // (27%)
MARVEL = 18 (16%) // (20%)
BOOM = 7 (8%) // (7%)
DARK HORSE = 6 (4%) // (5%)
OTHER = 12 (9%) // (11%)

There is no doubt that if Star Wars Trades were released at the beginning of the year they would have been in the Top 10.

If publishers could keep trades available at Distributors, trades like Bee & Puppycat, Lumberjanes Vol One, Rick & Morty, Steven Universe, Lady Mechanika, Afterlife With Archie Vol One, Amazing Gumball and Bob’s Burgers would be selling like Saga. I don’t understand why they let these books go out of stock ever for any reason ever. Get it together guys!

We sold more Image trades than DC and Marvel combined. It is going to be even more this year as DC trades are are selling just as bad as the DC monthlies. DC is in collapse as I write this. Thank God for Image and Boom!

Image is doing everything right and the Big Two are doing everything wrong. It is time for new management at Marvel and DC, if it isn’t already too late…

TOP 100 MANGA ONLY

1. TOKYO GHOUL #01
2. ZELDA:LINK TO THE PAST
3. ATTACK ON TITAN #01
4. TOKYO GHOUL #02
5. TOKYO GHOUL #03
6. FAIRY TAIL #01
7. BLACK BUTLER #01
8. AKAME GA KILL #01
9. SWORD ART ONLINE PROGRESSIVE #01
10. SAILOR MOON #01
11. LEGEND OF ZELDA:HYRULE HISTORIA HC
12. PRINCESS MONONOKE FIRST STORY HC
A13. TTACK ON TITAN #02
14. ONE PUNCH MAN #01
15. SWORD ART ONLINE #01:AINCRAD
16. ZELDA #01 OCARINA OF TIME 1
17. ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM #01
18. BIG HERO 6 #01
19. HATSUNE MIKU UNOFFICIAL HATSUNE MIX
20. SWORD ART ONLINE #02:FAIRY DANCE 1
21. ZELDA #02 OCARINA OF TIME 2
22. ATTACK ON TITAN #15
23. MONSTER MUSUME #06
24. ONE PIECE OMNIBUS #01:01-03
25. DURARARA #01
26. ATTACK ON TITAN NO REGRETS #01
27. BLUE EXORCIST #01
28. SWORD ART ONLINE GIRLS’ OPS #01
29. IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A D? #01
30. NARUTO #69
31. FAIRY TAIL #02
32. SERAPH OF THE END #01
33. ATTACK ON TITAN #09
34. ATTACK ON TITAN NO REGRETS #02
35. DEVIL IS A PART TIMER #01
36. ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM #02
37. KINGDOM HEARTS:358/2 #05
38. GANGSTA #05
39. ATTACK ON TITAN #08
40. ATTACK ON TITAN #11
41. ZELDA #03 MAJORA’S MASK
42. DEADMAN WONDERLAND #01 (OF 13)
43. NISEKOI #01
44. MONSTER MUSUME #07
45. AKAME GA KILL #02
46. KAGEROU DAZE #01
47. MY NEIGHBOR SEKI #01
48. ATTACK ON TITAN #03
49. ATTACK ON TITAN #04
50. ATTACK ON TITAN #10

51. ATTACK ON TITAN #12
52. BLACK BUTLER #02
53. FAIRY TAIL #03
54. KINGDOM HEARTS:358/2 #01
55. KINGDOM HEARTS:358/2 #04
56. MY LITTLE MONSTER #01 (OF 12)
57. NARUTO #70
58. NARUTO #71
59. ONE PUNCH MAN #02
60. POKEMON ADVENTURES #01
61. SERVAMP #01
62. SWORD ART ONLINE #03:FAIRY DANCE 2
63. ZELDA #06 FOUR SWORDS 1
64. ZELDA #10 PHANTOM HOURGLASS
65. ATTACK ON TITAN #07
66. ATTACK ON TITAN #14
67. ATTACK ON TITAN #16
68. ATTACK ON TITAN BEFORE THE FALL #04
69. DEADMAN WONDERLAND #02
70. DEMON PRINCE OF MOMOCHI HOUSE #01
71. DEVILS AND REALIST #01
72. FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST #01-03
73. GANGSTA #06
74. HAVEN’T YOU HEARD? I’M SAKAMOTO #01
75. KINGDOM HEARTS II #01
76. KINGDOM HEARTS II #03
77. MY LITTLE MONSTER #02
78. NARUTO #72
79. NORAGAMI #01
80. ONE PIECE #73
81. SECRET #01
82. SERAPH OF THE END #02
83. UBEL BLATT #01
84. YOUR LIE IN APRIL #01 (OF 11)
85. ZELDA #08 MINISH CAP
86. ATTACK ON TITAN BEFORE THE FALL #05
87. PRISON SCHOOL #01
88. DEVIL IS A PART TIMER #02
89. SERAPH OF THE END #05
90. SWORD ART ONLINE #04:FAIRY DANCE 3
91. BLACK BUTLER #19
92. NORAGAMI #03
93. FLCL OMNIBUS
94. BARAKAMON #02
95. DRAGON BALL OMNIBUS #01:1-3
96. DURARARA #02
97. GANGSTA #01
98. ATTACK ON TITAN #05
99. ATTACK ON TITAN #13
100. ATTACK ON TITAN BEFORE THE FALL #01

Publisher = # of books in Rising Sun Comics Top 100 (% of total Top 100 MANGA Units sold in 2015) // (% of total Top 100 MANGA Sales $ in 2015)

VIZ = 35 (39%) // (38%)
YEN PRESS = 28 (25%) // (27%)
KODANSHA = 29 (28%) // (23%)
DARK HORSE = 3 (3%) // (7%)
SEVEN SEAS = 5 (4%) // (4%)
VERTICAL = 1 (1%) // (1%)

TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS AND MANGA Combined

1. SAGA VOL 01 TPB
2. SAGA VOL 04 TPB
3. SAGA VOL 02 TPB
4. SAGA VOL 05 TPB
5. TOKYO GHOUL #01
6. SAGA VOL 03 TPB
7. ZELDA:LINK TO THE PAST
8. CIVIL WAR TPB
9. LUMBERJANES VOL 1 TPB
10. BEE AND PUPPYCAT VOL 1 TPB
11. BATMAN:KILLING JOKE HC
12. DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE TPB
13. ATTACK ON TITAN #01
14. WICKED AND THE DIVINE VOL 1:FAUST ACT TPB
15. TOKYO GHOUL #02
16. TOKYO GHOUL #03
17. FAIRY TAIL #01
18. BOB’S BURGERS VOL 1 TPB
19. STEVEN UNIVERSE VOL 1 TPB
20. BITCH PLANET VOL 1:EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE TPB
21. WYTCHES VOL 1 TPB
22. HELLBLAZER VOL 01:ORIGINAL SINS TPB
23. BLACK BUTLER #01
24. WOLVERINE:OLD MAN LOGAN TPB
25. LUMBERJANES VOL 2 TPB
26. WALKING DEAD VOL 01:DAYS GONE BYE TPB
27. AKAME GA KILL #01
28. INFINITY GAUNTLET TPB
29. SWORD ART ONLINE PROGRESSIVE #01
30. SAILOR MOON #01
31. STAR WARS:SHATTERED EMPIRE TPB
32. STAR WARS:DARTH VADER VOL 1:VADER TPB
33. LEGEND OF ZELDA:HYRULE HISTORIA HC
34. DEADPOOL DANIEL WAY COLLECTION VOL 1 TPB
35. PRINCESS MONONOKE FIRST STORY HC
36. TRUE LIVES OF THE FABULOUS KILLJOYS TPB
37. BATMAN:THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TPB
38. WATCHMEN TP NEW ED
39. ATTACK ON TITAN #02
40. LOW VOL 1:THE DELIRIUM OF HOPE TPB
41. ONE PUNCH MAN #01
42. DESCENDER VOL 1:TIN STARS TPB
43. HARLEY QUINN 2 VOL 1:HOT IN THE CITY TPB
44. OUTCAST VOL 1 TPB
45. ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM #01
46. MS MARVEL 3 VOL 1:NO NORMAL TPB
47. DEADLY CLASS VOL 1:REAGAN YOUTH TPB
48. SWORD ART ONLINE #01:AINCRAD
49. ZELDA #01 OCARINA OF TIME 1
50. WALKING DEAD VOL 24:LIFE AND DEATH TPB

51. BIG HERO 6 #01
52. WALKING DEAD VOL 23 TPB
53. BATMAN 2:DEATH OF FAMILY BOOK AND JOKER MASK SET
54. BATMAN:THE LONG HALLOWEEN TPB (NEW PTG)
55. BATMAN 2 VOL 1:COURT OF OWLS BOOK AND MASK SET
56. HATSUNE MIKU UNOFFICIAL HATSUNE MIX
57. SEX CRIMINALS VOL 1 TPB
58. SWORD ART ONLINE #02:FAIRY DANCE 1
59. ZELDA #02 OCARINA OF TIME 2
60. BRYAN LEE O MALLEY SECONDS GN
61. BATMAN:HUSH COMPLETE TPB
62. JOKER:DEATH OF THE FAMILY TPB
63. SANDMAN 01:PRELUDES
64. SERENITY VOL 4:LEAVES ON THE WIND HC
65. INJUSTICE:GODS AMONG US VOL 2 TPB
66. ONE PIECE OMNIBUS #01:01-03
67. DURARARA #01
68. MONSTER MUSUME #06
69. FABLES VOL 01:LEGENDS IN EXILE
70. ATTACK ON TITAN #15
71. ATTACK ON TITAN NO REGRETS #01
72. RAT QUEENS VOL 1:SASS AND SORCERY TPB
73. BLUE EXORCIST #01
74. ATTACK ON TITAN #09
75. ATTACK ON TITAN NO REGRETS #02
76. DISNEY PRINCESS TREASURY VOL 1 TPB
77. FAIRY TAIL #02
78. FINAL CRISIS TPB (NEW EDITION)
79. FLASH 4 VOL 1:MOVE FORWARD TPB
80. FLASHPOINT TP
81. INJUSTICE:GODS AMONG US VOL 1 TPB
82. IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON? #01
83. MOUSE GUARD VOL 1:FALL 1152 HC
84. MY LITTLE PONY OMNIBUS VOL 1 TPB
85. NAILBITER VOL 1:THERE WILL BE BLOOD TPB
86. NARUTO #69
87. NIMONA GN
88. SANDMAN 02:THE DOLL’S HOUSE TPB
89. SERAPH OF THE END #01
90. SERENITY VOL 2:BETTER DAYS HC
91. SWORD ART ONLINE GIRLS’ OPS #01
92. TEEN TITANS GO! VOL 1:PARTY PARTY TPB
93. STAR WARS VOL 1:SKYWALKER STRIKES TPB
94. MAD MAX FURY ROAD TPB
95. RAT QUEENS VOL 2:TENTACLES OF N’RYGOTH TPB
96. MORTAL KOMBAT X VOL 1:BLOOD TIES TPB
97. THIS ONE SUMMER GN
98. WAYWARD VOL 1: STRING THEORY TPB
99. DEVIL IS A PART TIMER #01
100. MS MARVEL 3 VOL 2: GENERATION WHY TPB

Publisher = # of books in Rising Sun Comics Top 100 (% of total Top 100 GN and Manga Units sold in 2015) // (% of total GN & MANGA Sales $ in 2015)

Image = 20 (30%) // (24%)
DC = 21 (16%) // (20%)
MARVEL = 10 (10%) // (13%)
VIZ = 13 (14%) // (12%)
YEN PRESS = 10 (8%) // (7%)
BOOM = 5 (6%) // (6%)
DARK HORSE = 5 (4%) // (6%)
KODANSHA = 9 (8%) // (5%)
OTHER = 7 (4%) // (13%)

2014 vs 2015 Sales by Category

Comics +18.6%: This figure is rather misleading. Most of that increase was before the ongoing collapse of DC and Marvel’s rather mundane relaunch. Marvel is selling pretty much the same quantities as before the ANAD gimmick. Thank God for Star Wars or else Marvel would be looking only slightly better than DC. Creator owned books are slowly increasing but not fast enough to offset the management made disasters from DC and Marvel.

Graphic Novels +38.1%: Graphic Novels have exploded. I believe it is due to the treasure trove of creator owned properties being produced by the smaller publishers with Image leading the way. That coupled with the unprecedented amount of new readers of all types and genders makes 2016 look really exciting! Most of these new readers are not that interested in single issues. They want trades!

Manga +3.2%: Manga continues with a nice slow and steady comeback. That is what happens when publishers go for quality instead of quantity. Pay attention DC and Marvel. Fixing your companies really isn’t rocket science!

All in all I am rather optimistic about 2016. The challenge is to get more people to read more creator owned monthlies from other publishers. Their trades are already flying off the shelves.

That is where I will be focusing my time and energy in 2016!