These were the 10 most popular stories about graphic novel and comics published on the Publishers Weekly website during 2014.
10. Comics, Graphic Novels Market Hit $870 Million in 2013
Led by book format comics with $415 million in sales, the North American comics and graphic novel marketplace generated $870 million in sales in 2013, according to a new estimate by ICV2 and Comichron, two comics industry trade news and data sources.
9. How To Throw a Comic Con at Your Library
Graphic novels have become one of the hottest categories at U.S. libraries. It’s no surprise, then, that comics-themed events at libraries are drawing crowds.
8. Eight Great Books About Comic Books
There's also been a boom in books about comics—from examining their history to showing how to make them. Here are some new and upcoming books that should have a place on the shelf of every serious comics enthusiast.
7. Comics Get in Front at BEA 2014
While comics and graphic novels did not have a commanding presence at BEA, comics publishers and imprints were nevertheless spread throughout the show and the category was featured in major panels during BEA and BookCon, BEA’s relaunched consumer event.
6. Despite Early Sales Slump, Comics Retailers Remain Upbeat
Although sales of graphic novels and comics periodicals were down in the early months of 2014, retailers contacted for PW’s annual comics retailers survey reported a strong 2013 holiday selling season. They also cited a continuing migration of comics fans to works from indie comics publishers like Image Comics and away from the superhero genre.
5. Good News, Bad News, and the Future: Manga 2014
In 2014, and for North American manga publishers, the digital revolution is well underway. Where there once were only a handful of publishers offering their titles online or via apps, now almost all offer at least some of their current and backlist manga via digital platforms.
4. Bechdel Reacts to ‘Fun Home’ Controversy in So. Carolina
Acclaimed cartoonist Alison Bechdel responds to an effort at censorship by The South Carolina House of Representatives to cut funding to the College of Charleston for assigning freshmen to read her graphic novel Fun Home because the book depicts same-sex relationships.
3. Panel Mania: A First Look At Telgemeier’s ‘Sisters’
Scholastic released a 200,000 copy printing of Sisters, Raina Telegemier’s most recent graphic novel, in August, marking her ascent as one of the most popular cartoonists in the world. In Sisters, Telgemeier returns to her childhood, this time charting her relationship with her younger sister.
2. Light Novels Arrive in the U.S.—Again
Light novels are Japanese prose works illustrated with manga-style drawings and are often adapted into manga and anime properties. Yen Press, Hachette Book Group’s graphic novel and manga line, has launched Yen On, a light novel imprint that will release at least 24 titles in 2015.
1. Japanese Manga, Anime Firms Debut Latest Antipiracy Project
A consortium of Japanese government organizations, manga publishers and anime production and game companies, announced that they have formed the Manga-Anime Guadians Project, a combined effort to crack down on online piracy.
