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USA Today Booklist, February 23-March 1: 5 Manga Rank (Updated)
posted on by Egan Loo
An unprecedented five manga volumes appeared simultaneously on the USA Today newspaper's list of the top 150 bestselling books for the week of February 23 to March 1. The official shipping date for three of those five volumes was actually a week later; these volumes made the list based on early sales alone.
The first of these three new books, volume 38 of Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga, debuted at #120. It was followed by volume 40 in the #126 spot and volume 39 at #131. Volume 41, the last one that is being published this month, had not yet sold enough copies to make it onto the list. All three officially shipped on March 3.
Viz published four earlier volumes a month ago to launch its Generation Ninja campaign, which will consist of 11 books in three months. Of those four earlier volumes, two still remained as bestsellers. Volume 37 dropped from the previous week's #86 position to #141, and volume 36 held the last spot on the list, down from #97. Volumes 34 and 35 dropped even further, and were not on the newest list.
Update: Volume 39's ranking corrected. Thanks, LOUiECOG.
follow-up of USA Today Booklist, February 16-22: Naruto Still Strong
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history