2010 a tough year for comics, says 'ICv2'

ICv2 has released its end-of-year summary for 2010.

The market research company said that it had been a "tough" year for comics. Graphic novels outperformed comics in the direct market but also suffered a decline in sales through bookstores.

The popularity of the Scott Pilgrim and Walking Dead adaptations were not enough to arrest the poor sales.

There is some concern that the forthcoming 2011 movie adaptations - including Thor, Green Lantern, Captain America: The First Avenger and X-Men: First Class - are not closely linked to any particular volume or short comics run and so will not be particularly successful in boosting sales figures over the coming year.

It is hoped that television adaptations including the second Walking Dead season and potential Locke & Key and Wonder Woman debuts may help to drive comics and graphic novel sales.

Batman, Superman and Kick-Ass were the top-selling superhero properties in graphic novels for 2010, and The Walking Dead, Twilight and Fables were the top three genre properties.

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