The New York Times has created
a new bestseller list for comics and graphic novels. Publisher's Weekly asked Diane McNulty, New York Times executive director of community affairs and media relations, some questions about the change.
PW Comics Week: Why did the Times start a graphic novel list?
Diane McNulty: The ranking of Graphic Books has been an ambition of The New York Times for quite a while. The unveiling of these rankings is in keeping with the ongoing evolution of the Best Seller Lists, which have expanded to include Childrens' best sellers in four categories and the reimagining of Trade and Mass Paperback best sellers as separate entities.
PWCW: Why were these three categories (hardcover, softcover, manga) chosen over others?
DM: Our own research and feedback from retailers and publishers—as well as basic observations of the growth of these shelves—real and virtual—where people purchase their graphic books—led us to conclude that these three graphic categories are a natural place to start.
You can see who made the Times' first-ever comics bestseller list here.
