ICv2 released their report detailing the top 20 best selling manga in the United States for the month of April 2024. Circana's Top 20 Manga in the US for April 2024
For this analysis, we'll be focusing on the Top 20 Manga for April 2024 which tracked sales data from April 7th. 2024 through May 4th, 2024. (30 total days of sales data)
You can find our previous break down covering the Top 20 Manga the United States for March 2024 here. and you find our backlog coverage of Circana's Top 20 Manga here
Who is Circana Bookscan?
Circana Bookscan is a platform that collects weekly point-of-sale data on various consumer products print books from over 16,000 locations which include but not limited to: e-tailers, chains, mass merchandisers, independent bookstores, and more.
While Behind The Manga can't personally access this information, Online trade magazine ICv2 publishes a report which showcases the Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels, Top 20 "Superhero" Graphic Novels, and Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels. You can access this information here
What are the Top 20 Manga in the US for April 2024?
Here's a visualization to help categorize how many titles each US Manga Publisher has ranked in the Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels for April 2024
(Source: Circana Bookscan)
What is This Month's Publisher Ranking?
Here's a visualization to help categorize how many titles each US Manga Publisher has ranked in the Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels for April 2024.
Publisher | Titles ranked in the Top 20 Manga |
Viz Media | 16/20 |
Dark Horse | 2/20 |
Yen Press | 1/20 |
Square Enix | 1/20 |
Methodology
To calculate these numbers, we counted how many titles each publisher has in the top 20 manga graphic novels and gave it a fraction. We then converted each fraction into a decimal by dividing the numerator with it's denominator. Finally, we multiply the decimal by 100 to give us our percentage.
(For example, if Viz Media achieved 16 out of 20 total spots, it's fraction would be 16/20. We then divide 16 by 20 to get a decimal value of .80. Finally, We multiply our decimal value of .80 by 100 to give us our percentage of 80% )
How does it compare to last month?
Here's a visualization on how many titles each US Manga Publisher has ranked in the Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels for March 2024.
Publisher | Titles ranked in the Top 20 Manga |
Viz Media | 16/20 |
Dark Horse | 2/20 |
Square Enix | 1/20 |
Kodansha Comics | 1/20 |
Source: Behind The Manga March 2024 Circana Bookscan - Top 20 Author, Manga, Superhero Graphic Novels)
How does it compare to last year?
Here's a visualization on how many titles each US Manga Publisher has ranked in the Top 20 Manga Graphic Novels for April 2023.
Publisher | Titles ranked in the Top 20 Manga |
Viz Media | 17/20 |
Kodansha | 2/20 |
Square Enix | 1/20 |
The Breakdown (Publisher Ranking)
This is the first time this year where the publisher rankings have not changed month to month. Viz still holds it's lead with sixteen of it's titles breaking the top twenty. Dark Horse Manga follows up with two titles making it to the list. Finally, both Square Enix and Kodansha take one spot each.
What's the Total Sales Gross for the Top 20 Manga?
Here's a chart to help visualize how much in total sales each of the top 20 manga grossed for April 2024
Methodology
To calculate these numbers, we took how many units each title sold within the given timeframe. Then we multiplied the total units by its MSRP given by the publisher. The reason we chose this method is because when conducting research for this project, we've discovered that Circana Bookscan uses this same methodology in their reporting. So to stay consistent with their reporting, we decided it would be best to replicate the same methodology. (For example: Berserk Deluxe Volume 1 made it to the top 20: it sold 11,410 units and it's MSRP is $49.99. We multiply $49.99 by 11,410 units to achieve a total gross of $570,385.90. But to stay consistent with Circana Bookscan, we round up the 90 cents to achieve our new total gross of $570,386.)
However, take these numbers with a grain of salt as not "every" unit was sold at MSRP as different retailers can offer the same books at different price points.
If a box set appears on the chart, each unit sold is counted as a single unit. The number of volumes within a box set is not factored into the number of units a box set sold. This is the same methodology Circana and English retailers use when calculating product sales.
The Breakdown (Total Gross Sales)
Berserk Deluxe Vols. 1 and 2 broke the top five achieving a combined gross of $926,964 (Vol. 1: $683,113 and Vol. 2: $243,851). Compared to last month, there was a 10.04% decrease in combined gross sales ( $1,030,443 vs. $926,964). Individually, Vol. 1 saw a 5.75% decrease (March 2024: $724,805 and April 2024: $683,113) decrease and Vol. 2 saw a 20.21% decrease (March: $305,638 and $243,851). With that said, both volumes continued to perform strongly and I expect them to continue to do so moving into next month.
Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 22 is the latest English volume of the series. Historically, each new release would reach the top of the charts which is what we see here. Compared to the release month of the previous volume, it saw an 89.75% increase in both units moved (Vol. 22: 37,298 units versus Vol. 21: 19,656 units) & gross (Vol. 22: $447,203 versus Vol. 21: $235,675) While Vol. 21's release month numbers are lower compared to Vol. 22's. There was an increase in both units moved and gross the following month (December 2023 saw 31,001 Units Moved & $371,701 grossed) so it'll be interesting to see if Vol. 22 also see's an increase like the previous volume. Shifting back to this month, Volume 21 broke the top 20 with 5,253 units and grossed $62,983. Compared to last month, it saw a 13.53% decrease in both units moved (5,253 vs 6,075) and gross ($62,983 vs $72,839)
Looking at the rest of the series, Jujutsu Kaisen Vols. 1 & 2 broke into the top 20. Volume 1 saw a 13.95% decrease in both categories in both categories compared to last month (Units: 6,278 vs. 7,296) (Gross: $75,273 vs $87,479). Volume 2 saw a 23.40% decrease compared to last month (Units: 5,253 vs. 6,858) (Gross: $62,983 vs $82,227)
Similar to Jujutsu Kaisen, Spy x Family's Volume 11 is the latest English volume of the series. Compared to the release month of the previous volume, it saw an 61.01% decrease in both units moved (Vol. 11: 9,773 units versus Vol. 10: 25,070 units) & gross (Vol. 11: $117,178 versus Vol. 10: $300,589) While this might look alarming, keep in mind that the Spy x Family TV Anime's Season 2 was currently airing during the release of Vol. 10.
Looking at the rest of the series, Spy x Family Vol. 1 found itself in the top 20. Compared to last month, it saw a 33.50% decrease in both units moved (4,825 vs 7,256) and gross ($57,851 vs $87,035)
Following the series historic behavior: Chainsaw Man's latest volumes continue to break into the top 20 with Vol. 14 and 13 making an appearance this month. Compared to last month, Volume 14 saw a 51.32% decrease in both units moved (8,447 vs 17,353) and gross ($101,279 vs $208,062). Volume 13 saw a 32.37% decrease in both units moved (4,865 vs 7,194) and gross ($58,331 vs $86,256)
One Piece continued to make an appearance this month latest volume and omnibus release. We also see Ace's story make an appearance unlike it's Shokugeki No Sanji Counterpart.
Compared to last month, Volume 105 saw a 67.02% decrease in both units moved (7,014 vs 21,268) and gross ($84,097 vs $259,319). Omnibus 1 saw a 35.18% decrease in both units moved (6,621 vs 10,215) and gross ($112,490 vs $173,552). Ace's Story Volume 1 saw a 63.97% decrease in both units moved (4,966 vs 13,785) and gross ($59,542 vs $165,282)
My Hero Academia Vol. 37 is in it's second month since release and broke the top 20 this month landing at the #6 spot. Compared to last month, Volume 37 saw a 67.02% decrease in both units moved (7,014 vs 21,268) and gross ($84,097 vs $259,319)
Following in Jujutsu Kaisen and Spy x Family footsteps, Dandadan Volume 7 is the latest English volume of the series with it's last volume releasing in January 2024. Compared to the release month of the previous volume, it saw an 6.25% increase in both units moved (Vol. 7: 6,763 units versus Vol. 6: 6,365 units) & gross (Vol. 7: $81,088 versus Vol. 6: $76,316)
Similar to Dandadan, Komi Can't Communicate also saw it's latest English volume release in April with it's previous volume releasing in January. Compared to the release month of the previous volume, it saw an 9.21% decrease in both units moved (Vol. 29: 6,916 units versus Vol. 28: 7,618 units) & gross (Vol. 29: $82,922 versus Vol. 28: $91,339)
Demon Slayer Kimetsu Academy Volume 2 saw it's latest English volume release in April with it's previous volume releasing in December Compared to the release month of the previous volume, it saw an 9.21% decrease in both units moved (Vol. 2: 6,032 units versus Vol. 1: 10,505 units) & gross (Vol. 2: $82,922 versus Vol. 1: $91,339)
Last but not least, Gokurakugai Volume 1 is the newest title from Viz which ranked 14th in the rankings with 5,269 units moved and $63,175 grossed. For a title that does not have an ongoing anime and from a new author not seen in English, I'm curious if it'll continue to sell into the next month and it's next volume shows up when it drops June 18th, 2024.
Shifting over to Square Enix Manga & Books, My Dress up Darling Volume 11 is the newest volume release in English with it's previous volume releasing in October 2023. Compared to the release month of the previous volume, it saw an 9.21% decrease in both units moved (Vol. 11: 8,545 units versus Vol. 10: 9,392 units) & gross (Vol. 11: $82,922 versus Vol. 10: $91,339). However like other titles that appeared on this list: Each new volume release from this series has broken the top 20 list.
Finally moving over to Yen Press, The Summer Hikaru Died Volume 3 finds itself on the #15 spot with 5,262 units moved and grossing a total of $78,930. This is the first volume in the series to make it into the top 20 on it's release month.
Publisher Analysis & Future Speculation
Everything seems to running business as usual with Viz's best selling titles (Chainsaw Man, Spy x Family, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen). Komi and Dandadan continue to perform well with each new volume release despite the larger release gap in between volume releases.
What's interesting is that Gokurakugai made it to the list, so I'm curious to see if this series will follow a similar behavior as we see in Dandadan and Komi.
With three months away from Anime Expo, it'll be interesting to see what titles in Viz's front list could be receiving an anime adaptation.
The Summer Hikaru Died is shaping up to be Yen Press's next best selling title similar to Oshi No Ko, Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun, and Solo Leveling.
Even though it took three volume releases to break the top 20, I predict that once an anime announced we'll see it's previous volumes make a reappearance.
Dark Horse's staple series Berserk continues to preform and does not appear to be slowing down. It shouldn't be long before we start to see Deluxe Edition 3 break into the top 20 as readers make their way through the story.
Square Enix's My Dress Up Darling still continues to break the top 20 despite the long release gap in between releases despite the anime airing back in 2022. I don't foresee the momentum slowing down at all and when Season 2 releases, we'll see a repeat of it's previous volumes break into the top 20.
Citation
Circana Bookscan. Circana BookScan. (n.d.). https://bookscan.npd.com/
Alverson, B. (2024). Pro: February 2024 Circana Bookscan - Top 20 author, manga, superhero graphic novels with actual sales. ICv2. https://icv2.com/articles/icv2-pro/view/56462/february-2024-circana-bookscan-top-20-author-manga-superhero-graphic-novels-actual-sales
The Publisher Ranking and Total Gross of each volume charts were created & Calculated by MangaAlerts with data supplied by ICv2 & Circana Bookscan.
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