Top draw as sector smashes annual record

The Graphic Novels sector has been in the ascent in recent years, and a concerted push into the UK market by Manga lists bore fruit once again in 2021

In its 42 weeks of sales last year, Graphic Novels shifted £39.1m, absolutely obliterating 2016’s previous full-year high of £29.9m. All four Graphic Novel sub-categories—General, Superhero, Non-fiction & Literary, Manga—were in at least double-digit growth, led by Manga’s eye-popping 157% leap to £19.3m, the first time it has ever eclipsed the £10m mark in a calendar year. 
 
Manga’s jump has been due to retailer buy-in, which has corresponded with a huge push into the UK market in recent years by publishers Kondansha, Yen Press and, particularly, Viz Media. Viz had 23 of the top 30 Manga titles in 2021, 10 of which come from star Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia series. Netflix has unquestionably boosted the popularity of the sector, too with a My Hero Academia adaptation and a multitude of other series that are either direct Japanese imports or those that use Manga/anime style or intellectual property, including “DOTA: Dragon’s Blood”, “Ultraman”, “Death Note”, “Demon Slayer” and the “Cowboy Bebop” live-action remake.