New York Times to Stop Publishing Bestseller Lists For Manga, Graphic Novels

The New York Times newspaper announced on Thursday that it will stop publishing weekly bestseller lists for its three graphic book categories on February 5. The categories include hardcover graphic books, softcover graphic books, and manga. The newspaper has not yet announced any plans to fold these books into other categories.

Danielle Rhoades Ha, New York Times vice president of communications, stated that some of the newspaper's book lists were introduced "as an experiment" and that the lists being discontinued "did not reach or resonate with many readers." The newspaper plans to "devote more space and resources to [its] coverage beyond bestseller lists" while still covering news about all book genres in print and online.

The New York Times began publishing its graphic book best seller lists in March 2009. The newspaper has been compiling the lists from "hundreds of independent book retailers (statistically weighted to represent all such outlets); national, regional and local chains; online and multimedia entertainment retailers; university, gift, supermarket, discount department stores and newsstands" as well as "unit sales reported by retailers nationwide that specialize in graphic novels and comic books."

ICv2 publishes a monthly list of the Nielsen BookScan's top 20 adult graphic novels. BookScan rankings represent sales at Barnes & Noble and other book chains, independent bookshops, and online purchases — but not sales at comic book stores, Amazon, Walmart.com, and some other venues.​