Canadian Bestsellers

compiled/edited by B. Munn

This semi-regular feature of Sequential presents a snapshot of comics sales in Canada. This week: Is Scott Pilgrim mania approaching?
Intro: The bestselling graphic novels and comics collections in Canada, courtesy of BookManager. The full list by BookManager is available, with some work, here. The list is compiled by BookManager based on sales through over 400 independent bookstores, including several comic book stores and the D+Q store. Sales through most comic shops and larger retailers like Chapters-Indigo are not reflected in this list. For balance, you might want to try the Amazon.ca and Chapters-Indigo lists. See here for our previous list.

Sequential’s Over-All Top 30
from BookManager

1 (1) Twilight 1, Stephanie Meyer et al (Orbit)
2. (2) Warriors 2, Erin Hunter (Harper Collins)
3. (3) Naruto 47, Masashi Kishimoto (VIZ)
4. (6) Book of Genesis, Robert Crumb (WW Norton)
5. (4) Rosario+Vampire II 1, Akihisa Ikeda (VIZ)
6. (5) Seekers: Toklo’s Story, Erin Hunter (Harper Collins)
7. (-) Footnotes in Gaza, Sacco (Pantheon)
8. (12) Zombie Survival Guide, Max Brooks (Crown)
9. (7) Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, Camille Rose Garcia (HC)
10. (11) Red: A Haida Manga, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Douglas & McIntyre)
—–
11. (13) Maus 1, Spiegelman (Pantheon)
12. (8) Vampire Knight 9, Matsuri Hino (VIZ)
13. (-) The Gentlemen’s Alliance + 11, Arina Tanemura (VIZ)
14. (14) Zeus, George O’Connor (First Second)
15. (9) Naruto 46, Masashi Kishimoto (VIZ)
16. (10) Yu-gi-oh R4, Akira Ito (VIZ)
17. (15) Black Bird 3, Kanoko Sakurakoji (VIZ)
18. (-) Cartoon History Modern World, Gonnick (Harper Collins)
19. (18) Black Bird 1, Kanoko Sakurakoji (VIZ)
20. (16) Maximum Ride: The Manga 2, James Patterson/NaRae Lee (Orbit/Yen)
—–
21. (17) Persepolis 1, Satapi (Pantheon)
22. (-) Simpsons Futurama Crossover, Groeining et al (Abrams)
23. (-) Mortal Fear, Greg Iles (NAL)
24. (27) Black Bird 2, Kanoko Sakurakoji (VIZ)
25. (-) Bloody Kiss Volume 1, Furumiya Kazuko (Tokyopop)
26. (-) Daniel X, James Patterson (Little, Brown)
27. (-) Asterix Olympics, Goscinny/Uderzo (Orion)
28. (-) Asterix Obelix Birthday, Goscinny/Uderzo (Orion)
29. (21) Black Butler 1, Yana Toboso (Orbit/Yen)
30. (22) Pokemon: Diamond + Pearl 1, Shigekatsu Ihara (VIZ)
Canadian Content:
You have to wade through an awful lot of translated Japanese manga, U.S. superhero fantasies, and collected editions of Sherman’s Lagoon to come up with a list of 30 bestselling books created by Canadians. In total, BookManager lists over 4000 graphic novels, trades, and strip collections, the vast majority of which are not by Canadians. On this list, a single sale in a single tiny bookstore can make all the difference. This list does not include books that are only illustrated but not written/created-by Canadians.

Sequential’s All-Canadian Top 30
from BookManager

1. (1) Red: A Haida Manga, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Douglas & McIntyre)
2. (3) Louis Riel, Chester Brown (D+Q)
3. (2) Skim sc, Mariko Tamaki/Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood)
4. (9) Scott Pilgrim 1, Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni)
5. (5) Skim HC, Mariko Tamaki/Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood)
6. (4) Scott Pilgrim 5, Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni)
7. (18) Burma Chronicles, Guy Delisle (D+Q)
8. (6) Scott Pilgrim 4, Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni)
9. (-) Scott Pilgrim 2, Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni)
10. (8) Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws, Chad Solomon (Lone Pine)
—–
11. (12) Scott Pilgrim 3, Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni)
12. (14) Home Sweat Home, Lynn Johnston (Andrews McMeel)
13. (10) Bigfoot 1, Graham Roumieu (Plume)
14. (16) Rabbit and Bear Paws: True Heart, Chad Solomon (Lone Pine)
15. (23) Nightschool 1, Svetlana Chmakova (Orbit/Yen)
16. (24) Nightschool 2, Svetlana Chmakova (Orbit/Yen)
17. (26) Important Artifacts, Leanne Shapton (FSG)
18. (7) The Hipless Boy, Sully (Conundrum)
19. (11) Senior’s Discount, Lynn Johnston (Andrews McMeel)
20. (15) Pyongyang, Guy Delisle (D+Q)
—–
21. (21) Rabbit and Bear Paws 2,Chad Solomon (Lone Pine)
22. (17) It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken, Seth (D+Q)
23. (19) The Plain Janes, Castelucci/Rugg (Minx/DC)
24. (20) Hot Potatoe: Fine Ahtwerks, Marc Bell (D+Q)
25. (22) Essex County, Jeff Lemire (Top Shelf)
26. (25) The Big 5-0, Lynn Johnston (Andrews)
27. (27) Runaways: Homeschooling, K. Immonen/Pachilli (Marvel)
28. (30) Collected Doug Wright 1, Doug Wright (D+Q)
29. (-) New Frontier 1, Darwyn Cooke (DC)
30. (-) New Frontier 2, Darwyn Cooke (DC)