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DC Comics and Viz Media top this week’s NYT graphic books list

March 20th, 2009
Author David Pepose

The New York Times released its Graphic Books list of this week, and by all accounts, DC Comics and Viz Media are the big winners this week:

Graphic Books Best Seller List (Hardcover)
1 WATCHMEN, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. (DC Comics, $39.99, $75.) This epic tale from 1986 signaled a new maturity in comic books.
2. JOKER, by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo. (DC Comics, $19.99.) The Joker, newly released from Arkham Asylum, deals with the rivals who have carved into his territory.
3 BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland. (DC Comics, $17.99.) This critically acclaimed story from 1988 offers a possible origin for the Joker.
4 ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. (DC Comics, $19.99.) These stories, free of the barnacles of continuity, include an encounter with Zibarro, the only sane resident of the Bizarro world.
5 BATMAN: R.I.P., by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. (DC Comics, $24.99.) Thomas Wayne, the father of the caped crusader, is cast in a sinister light.
6 HUMBUG, by Harvey Kurtzman and others. (Fantagraphics, $60.) The 11-issue run of this satirical magazine from the 1950’s receives the hardcover treatment.
7 TARZAN: THE JESSE MARSH YEARS, Vol. 1, by Gaylord DuBois and Jesse Marsh. (Dark Horse, $49.95.) Witness the Golden Age adventures of Tarzan.
8 EERIE ARCHIVES, Vol. 1, by various. (Dark Horse, $49.95.) The gruesome magazine, following in the steps of its cousin Creepy, in a hardcover collection.
9 WORMWOOD: GENTLEMEN CORPSE, by Ben Templesmith. (IDW Publishing, $24.99.) Humor and horror team-up in this series about a maggot that animates corpses and solves supernatural problems.
10 THE COMPLETE PEANUTS: 1971-1972, by Charles M. Schulz. (Fantagraphics, $28.99.) Sally Brown is the cover girl in this latest collection of newspaper strips.

DC Comics did pretty well for itself in that first list, taking all top five for standbys like Watchmen and the Killing Joke, as well as newer Grant Morrison-penned books like Batman RIP and All-Star Superman.

Graphic Books Best Seller List (Paperback)
1 WATCHMEN, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. (DC Comics, $19.99.) This epic tale from 1986 signaled a new maturity in comic books.
2 WOLVERINE: ORIGIN, by Paul Jenkins and Andy Kubert. (Marvel Comics, $16.99.) Revealed at last: the secret history of the mutant known as Wolverine.
3 BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, by Frank Miller. (DC Comics, $14.99.) Another classic from 1986: The caped crusader comes out of retirement to save Gotham City from a depraved street gang that are more monsters than man.
4. V FOR VENDETTA, by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. (Vertigo, $19.99.) A vigilante tries to free London in a world where Germany won World War II.
5 WALKING DEAD, Vol. 1, by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. (Image Comics, $14.99.) The gripping story of the human survivors in a world overrun by zombies continues.
6 SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE UNIVERSE, by Bryan Lee O’Malley. (Oni Press, $11.95.) Can Ramona’s twin ex-boyfriends be defeated? Sounds like a job for… Scott Pilgrim.
7 MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS, Vol. 2, by Mike Allred. (Image, $19.99.) More adventures of Frank “Madman” Einstein, the hero of Snap City.
8 APPLESEED, Vol. 4, by Shirow Masamune. (Dark Horse, $14.95) In the 22nd century, the Extra Special Weapons and Tactics officers must unravel a terrorist plot.
9 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, Vol. 3, by Drew Goddard and others. (Dark Horse, $15.95.) “Season eight” of Buffy continue in Tokyo where she investigates a new threat.
10 FABLES, Vol. 11, by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham. Does Flycatcher (a.k.a. the Frog Prince) have what it takes to stop the deadly Adversary? (Vertigo, $17.99.)

And DC wins again this list, mainly due to Dark Knight Returns, V for Vendetta, as well as a new Fables book. And as you’ll see below, Viz Media continues its streak of utterly owning the Manga list with Naruto and other franchise titles like Bleach.
Graphic Books Best Seller List (Manga)
1 NARUTO, Vol. 41, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.) A secret from the past comes back to haunt Naruto’s teacher, Jiraiya.
2 NARUTO, Vol. 40, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.) A journey to the Land of Rain unveils a secret.
3 NARUTO, Vol. 39, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.) The ninja world of Naruto is threatned by an old enemy.
4 NARUTO, Vol. 38, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.) Naruto fights to protect his best friend from falling under an evil spell.
5 FRUIT BASKETS, Vol. 22, by Natsuki Takaya. (TokyoPop, $10.99.) This series is about humans who are possessed by the animals of the Chinese zodiac.
6 BLEACH, Vol. 26, by Tite Kubo. (VIZ Media, $7.95.) Ichigo Kurosaki sees dead people – and must help souls find their way to the afterlife.
7 VAMPIRE NIGHT, Vol. 6, by Matsuri Hino. (VIZ Media, $8.99.) Cross Academy has day and evening students, but the later have a secret: they are vampires.
8 ROSARIO + VAMPIRE, Vol. 6, by Akihisa Ikeda. (VIZ Media, $7.99.) Tsukune Aono’s new school is filled with vampires and werewolves. How is a human teenager to survive?
9 CODE GEASS MANGA, Vol. 3 by Goro Taniguichi. (Bandai Entertainment, $9.99.) In a future alternate reality where the Holy Empire of Brittania declared war on Japan, a high school student becomes a terrorist and vows to bring down the empire.
10 NARUTO, Vol. 37, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.) Naruto takes on an older and stronger opponent. Is he ready?

One Response to “DC Comics and Viz Media top this week’s NYT graphic books list”
  1. William Burns Says:

    Someone has confused the plot of the V for Vendetta movie with the original GN. Real professionalism there, NYT.

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