path2hope: Graphic Novels Are the New Big Thing

It seems like these "Graphic Novels Are the New Big Thing" articles roll around every month. Staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor Matthew Shaer writes Graphic Novels, All Grown Up in the June 30, 2008 edition.

He cites that the graphic novel market hit $375 million last year, according to ICv2.

I don't know what a graphic novel is so far as that figure is concerned.

Is it a literary graphic novel like the ones he writes about? Is it bound editions of superhero comics (new and old)? Is it comic strip reprint books? I looked at Amazon to define what a graphic novel is. It's a mixed bag. Below are today's hourly best-sellers.

Top Sellers in Graphic Novels

1.		Watchmen by Alan Moore $19.99 $13.59
2.		Y: The Last Man, Volume 10: Whys and Wherefores by Brian Vaughan $14.99 $10.19
3.		Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney $12.95 $10.15
4.		Wanted by Mark Millar $19.99 $13.59
5.		Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller $14.99 $10.19
6.		Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore $17.99 $12.23
7.		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) by Jeff Kinney $12.95 $10.15
8.		Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making Comics: Manga, Graphic Novels, and Beyond by Jessica Abel $29.95 $19.77
9.		Astonishing X-Men Vol. 4: Unstoppable by Joss Whedon $19.99 $13.59
10.		Fables Vol. 10: The Good Prince by Bill Willingham $17.99 $12.23