Subject spotlight: Comics & Graphic Novels

Welcome back to Subject Spotlight, your go-to source for quarterly data-driven insights into the performance of particular subjects in the Canadian book market.

Previously, we looked at the sales and library circulation for the Non-Fiction / Cooking BISAC subject. In this instalment, we shine the spotlight on Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels titles.

According to the Canadian Leisure & Reading Study 2024, across all formats and across all subjects and genres, in 2024, 19% of Canadians read comics, manga, or graphic novels. How did Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels titles perform during the second quarter of 2025? We find out with the help of our SalesData and LibraryData services.

Buying Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels

Compared to 2024, the overall sales of Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels titles were up 7% over the entire second quarter. Looking at the graph below, sales of Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels decreased by 4% from April to June 2025. In the second quarter of 2024, sales of Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels were up by 1%.

These are the BISAC subcategories with the highest year-over-year increase in sales:

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Asian American & Pacific Islander — up 16,900%

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Slice of Life — up 524%

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Food — up 500%

From April to June 2025, the most purchased Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels subcategories were:

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / East Asian Style — 67% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels sales

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes — 8% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels sales

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Fantasy — 7% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels sales

Borrowing Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels

From April to June 2025, library loans of Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels titles were up 11% and renewals were up 8% when compared with the same time period in 2024.

Year-over-year, loans increased by 6% in April, 16% in May, and 9% in June. Overall, loans increased by 3% in the second quarter of 2024 and increased by 6% in the second quarter of 2025.

Year-over-year, renewals increased by 10% in April, 6% in May, and 7% in June. Overall, renewals decreased by 3% in the second quarter of 2024 and decreased by 5% in the second quarter of 2025.

Which Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels BISAC subcategories were the most popular in Canadian public libraries? From April to June 2025, these subcategories saw the greatest increases in library circulation compared to 2024:

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / European Style (incl. Bandes Dessinées) — loans up 132% and renewals up 650%

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Coming of Age — loans up 364% and renewals up 209%

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Food — loans up 164% and renewals up 13%

During the second quarter of 2025, the most circulated Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels subcategories were:

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / East Asian Style — 53% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels loans and 49% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels renewals

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes — 13% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels loans and 15% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels renewals

• Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Fantasy — 7% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels loans and 7% of all Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels renewals

Reading Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels

Here are the top selling and top borrowed Non-Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels titles from the second quarter of 2025.

Top borrowed

1. Jujutsu Kaisen series by Gege Akutami

2. My Hero Academia series by Kohei Horikoshi

3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba series by Koyoharu Gotouge

4. Naruto series by Masashi Kishimoto

5. One Piece series by Eiichiro Oda

Top selling

1. Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 26 by Gege Akutami

2. Solo Leveling, Vol. 12 (comic) by Chugong

3. Chainsaw Man, Vol. 18 by Tatsuki Fujimoto

4. Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 25 by Gege Akutami

5. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 7--Steel Ball Run, Vol. 1 by Hirohiko Araki

Until next time!

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