Forget the rumors of comics dying—the industry is soaring, with U.S. sales exploding by 67% in just two years to smash records.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the global comics market was valued at approximately $15.67 billion USD.
- U.S. comic book and graphic novel sales reached $2.07 billion in 2022.
- Comic book periodical sales in North America totaled 36.9 million units in 2022.
- Ultimate Invasion #1 sold 184,100 copies in Dec 2022.
- Batman #127 sold 140,000+ copies in Dec 2022.
- Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2022) sold 166,200 in Dec.
- Marvel held 36.8% market share in Dec 2022.
- DC Comics 27.4% share Dec 2022.
- Image Comics 17.5% Dec 2022 market share.
- Graphic novels represented 76% of comics sales in bookstores 2023.
- Print comics periodicals were 24% of direct market 2023.
- Digital comics sales $300 million globally 2022.
- Comic sales grew 67% 2020-2022 boom.
- Post-pandemic sales stabilized at high levels 2023.
- Women readers 50%+ of graphic novel buyers 2023.
The comics market is booming globally, led by strong graphic novel and manga sales.
Formats
- Graphic novels represented 76% of comics sales in bookstores 2023.
- Print comics periodicals were 24% of direct market 2023.
- Digital comics sales $300 million globally 2022.
- ComiXology digital sales peaked but declined post-Amazon integration.
- Graphic novels sales up 72% from 2019-2023.
- Single issues 40% of direct market revenue 2022.
- TPBs/graphic novels 60% direct market 2022.
- Digital format share 15% of total comics 2022.
- Print still dominates with 85% share 2023.
- Kickstarter comics raised $25 million in 2022.
- Manga graphic novels 46% of GN sales 2022.
- Superhero GNs 22% of market 2022.
- Kids GNs 15% share 2022 bookstores.
- Digital subscriptions like Marvel Unlimited 1 million subs.
- Webtoons digital format $1 billion revenue 2022.
- Print graphic novels $1.26 billion in 2023.
Formats Interpretation
The industry is having an identity crisis, as superheroes cling to the floppy single issue for dear life while everyone else, from kids to manga fans, is happily and profitably moving into the graphic novel neighborhood.
Overall Sales
- In 2022, the global comics market was valued at approximately $15.67 billion USD.
- U.S. comic book and graphic novel sales reached $2.07 billion in 2022.
- Comic book periodical sales in North America totaled 36.9 million units in 2022.
- Graphic novel sales in the U.S. hit $1.2 billion in 2022 per NPD BookScan.
- Total U.S. comics sales revenue grew 67% from 2020 to 2022.
- January 2023 saw 7.35 million comic units sold in direct market.
- December 2022 direct market comics sales totaled $104.2 million.
- 2021 U.S. comics market revenue was $2 billion.
- North American comics periodicals sold 46.3 million copies in 2021.
- Graphic novels accounted for 52% of U.S. comics sales in 2023.
- Total direct market sales in 2023 were $2.1 billion.
- Comic sales dollars increased 14% in 2023 over 2022.
- 2020 comics sales dipped to $1.24 billion due to pandemic.
- Previews revenue from comics was $82 million in 2022.
- U.S. comics market projected to reach $3.5 billion by 2027.
- Global manga market size was $12.5 billion in 2022.
- Comics direct market units sold 37.8 million in 2023.
- Bookstore graphic novel sales up 46% in 2022.
- Mass market graphic novels sold $755 million in 2022.
- 2019 total comics sales $1.04 billion.
- 2018 comics market $1.095 billion.
- November 2023 comics sales $92.4 million.
- October 2023 units 6.2 million comics sold.
- September 2023 sales $78 million.
- 2023 year-to-date sales up 20% by Q3.
Overall Sales Interpretation
While the pandemic briefly made us wonder if the superheroes had all flown south, the industry clearly suited back up, as the booming graphic novel market and resilient direct sales prove that our need for sequential art is both serious business and seriously growing.
Publishers
- Marvel held 36.8% market share in Dec 2022.
- DC Comics 27.4% share Dec 2022.
- Image Comics 17.5% Dec 2022 market share.
- Dark Horse 4.1% share Dec 2022.
- Boom Studios 5.2% Dec 2022.
- 2023 yearly Marvel share 40.2%.
- DC 2023 share 29.1%.
- Image 15.8% in 2023.
- Dynamite 2.9% 2023 share.
- IDW 3.5% market share 2023.
- January 2023 Marvel 38.5% share.
- DC 28.2% Jan 2023.
- Image 16.1% Jan 2023.
- 2022 Marvel dollar share 41%.
- DC dollar share 28% in 2022.
- Image 14% dollar share 2022.
- Boom! 6% share 2022.
- Dark Horse 4% 2022 share.
- November 2023 Marvel 42% share.
- DC 25% Nov 2023.
- Image 18% Nov 2023 share.
- 2021 publisher shares: Marvel 37.9%
- DC 30.2% in 2021.
- Image Comics grew to 17% share by 2023.
Publishers Interpretation
Marvel continues to sit comfortably on its throne while DC, its perennial challenger, is left shaking its fist from a not-so-close second place, and Image Comics quietly pockets the spare change as the industry's scrappy and essential third wheel.
Top Comics
- Ultimate Invasion #1 sold 184,100 copies in Dec 2022.
- Batman #127 sold 140,000+ copies in Dec 2022.
- Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2022) sold 166,200 in Dec.
- Dark Crisis #6 sold 95,000 copies Dec 2022.
- Star Wars #28 sold 84,900 in Dec 2022.
- House of Slaughter #13 sold 76,600 Dec 2022.
- January 2023 top seller Tim Drake Robin #1 at 112,000.
- Superman #1 (2023) sold 107,000 in Jan 2023.
- Action Comics #1051 78,000 copies Jan 2023.
- Star Wars Darth Vader #25 72,500 Jan 2023.
- Batman #131 sold 92,000 in Jan 2023.
- November 2023 top: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 at 195,000.
- Local Man Fallen Friend #1 84,000 Nov 2023.
- Batman #133 82,500 Nov 2023.
- Absolute Batman #1 sold 180,000+ in late 2024 preview.
- One Piece #107 sold 1.9 million in Japan 2023.
- Jujutsu Kaisen vol 23 sold 1.8 million 2023.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #25 sold 200,000+ in 2017.
- Batman #50 sold 222,000 copies in 2018.
- Spawn #301 sold 80,000 in 2019.
- TMNT #100 sold 85,000 in 2020.
- Something is Killing the Children #1 sold 70,000 in 2021.
- December 2021 top: Spider-Man Beyond #1 95,000.
- House of Slaughter #1 sold 105,000 in July 2022.
- October 2023 #2 Rare Flavours #1 92,000.
- January 2024 preview Absolute Batman #1 ordered 200k+.
Top Comics Interpretation
While Batman and Spider-Man still dominate the American direct market with respectable five-figure sales, the industry's real superpower is clearly manga, where titles like One Piece casually sell in the millions and make our biggest events look like a brisk day at a niche hobby shop.
Trends
- Comic sales grew 67% 2020-2022 boom.
- Post-pandemic sales stabilized at high levels 2023.
- Women readers 50%+ of graphic novel buyers 2023.
- Manga outsold American comics 3:1 in bookstores 2022.
- YA graphic novels fastest growing segment.
- Direct market down 7% units 2023 vs 2022.
- Book channel up 25% graphic novels 2023.
- Indies gained 2% share 2022-2023.
- Event comics like Absolute line boosting sales 2024.
- Japan manga sales 500 million volumes 2022.
- U.S. manga sales $400 million 2022.
- Direct market recovery post-COVID 2021 up 80%.
- Average comic price $4.50 in 2023.
- Top 10 comics 40% of sales Dec 2022.
- Female creators rising, 30% market impact.
Trends Interpretation
Comic books are no longer a niche boys' club, but a mainstream literary landscape where manga reigns, graphic novels thrive with women readers, and the direct market is nervously watching its own party from outside the bookstore window.