Manga Dominates Bookscan's July Adult Graphic Novel Chart
The American graphic novel market continued to show the enduring strength of Japanese manga in July, with Bookscan's monthly Adult Graphic Novel rankings reflecting a landscape thoroughly shaped by titles from across the Pacific. Leading the conversation was Jujutsu Kaisen, which secured the number two spot on the chart — a remarkable achievement for a series that has maintained sustained commercial momentum well beyond the peak of its anime adaptation's cultural moment.
Bookscan data, widely regarded as one of the most reliable barometers of print book sales in the United States, captures point-of-sale data from a broad range of retailers. For manga titles to consistently populate the upper tiers of its adult graphic novel rankings speaks to a fundamental shift in how American readers engage with the medium — one that accelerated during the pandemic years and has not meaningfully reversed course since.
A Broad Field of Contenders
While Jujutsu Kaisen grabbed the headline position at number two, the July chart was far from a one-series story. Across the top rankings, 18 manga volumes made appearances, representing a wide spectrum of genres, tones, and target audiences — a sign that manga readership in the United States is not monolithic but rather a diverse ecosystem of fans with varied tastes.
One Piece, the long-running adventure series by Eiichiro Oda, continued its remarkable longevity on American bestseller charts. With its story now entering its final saga and a recent live-action Netflix adaptation having introduced the series to a new generation of readers, One Piece remains one of the most commercially durable properties in comics publishing, full stop. Its presence on the July list is less a surprise than a confirmation of its permanent fixture status.
Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto also featured prominently, a series that has carved out a uniquely intense and visually aggressive identity within the shonen space. Its blend of horror, dark humor, and emotionally raw storytelling has earned it a devoted readership that reliably drives volume sales month after month. Similarly, Demon Slayer — despite its core story having concluded — continues to find buyers, likely buoyed by ongoing anime content and the series' broad appeal to younger readers and gift-buyers alike.
Breakout and Prestige Titles Make Their Mark
Perhaps more telling than the chart positions of established juggernauts are the appearances of titles that represent newer or more niche corners of the manga market. The Summer Hikaru Died, a supernatural horror manga with a deeply melancholic emotional core, finding space on a mainstream bestseller list suggests that readers are increasingly willing to explore manga beyond the most widely marketed shonen properties.
Witch Hat Atelier, a critically acclaimed fantasy series known for its intricate artwork and thoughtful world-building, similarly represents a prestige tier of manga that appeals strongly to readers who came to the medium through Western comics or literary fiction. Its inclusion alongside titles like Chainsaw Man and One Piece underlines just how wide the commercial tent for manga has become in the United States.
Gachiakuta, a newer series that has been generating significant enthusiasm in online manga communities, also made the list — an indication that word-of-mouth and social media discovery continue to accelerate the commercial trajectory of newer titles in ways that were not possible a decade ago. For a series still establishing itself, a Bookscan appearance is a meaningful signal of market traction.
Diversity of Theme and Audience
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All adds a distinctly different flavor to the July rankings. A romantic comedy with gender identity themes at its center, the series reflects growing reader appetite for manga that engages with contemporary social themes through accessible, emotionally resonant storytelling. Its commercial performance is notable not just as a data point, but as evidence that manga's audience in the United States has broadened well beyond the stereotypical young male demographic that once defined the market.
Steel Ball Run, part of Hirohiko Araki's long-running JoJo's Bizarre Adventure saga, represents yet another dimension of the market — the long-tail collector and completionist reader who is working through an extensive back catalog. Viz Media's ongoing publication of the JoJo parts in English has been a steady commercial performer, and Steel Ball Run in particular is regarded by fans as one of the series' high points, which helps sustain its sales velocity.
Blue Lock, the soccer-focused sports manga that has developed a fervent fanbase on the strength of its anime adaptation, rounds out a list that covers action, horror, romance, sports, fantasy, and literary drama — an extraordinary range for a single monthly chart in a single format category.
What the Numbers Say About the Market
Taken together, July's Bookscan rankings paint a picture of a manga market that is simultaneously maturing and expanding. Established titles like One Piece and Demon Slayer demonstrate that early bestsellers retain commercial staying power well into or even beyond their publication runs. Meanwhile, newer titles and more niche series claiming chart space suggests that the market is not simply recycling the same properties but genuinely absorbing new material at scale.
The presence of 18 distinct manga volumes across the adult graphic novel chart also carries implications for publishers and retailers. For Viz Media, Kodansha USA, and other major licensors, consistent chart performance across a broad portfolio — rather than dependence on one or two breakout titles — represents a healthier and more sustainable business model. It also signals to brick-and-mortar retailers that dedicated manga shelf space is not a niche accommodation but a commercial necessity.
For readers, the diversity of the July list is perhaps the most encouraging signal of all. The American manga audience has grown sophisticated enough to support prestige art comics, emotionally complex horror, gender-expansive romance, and long-form adventure epics all in the same month, all in the same format. That breadth is the market's greatest long-term strength — and July's Bookscan data makes it abundantly clear.