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
1Graphic novels represented 76% of comics sales in bookstores 2023.
Verified2Print comics periodicals were 24% of direct market 2023.
Verified3Digital comics sales $300 million globally 2022.
Verified4ComiXology digital sales peaked but declined post-Amazon integration.
Directional5Graphic novels sales up 72% from 2019-2023.
Single source6Single issues 40% of direct market revenue 2022.
Verified7TPBs/graphic novels 60% direct market 2022.
Verified8Digital format share 15% of total comics 2022.
Verified9Print still dominates with 85% share 2023.
Directional10Kickstarter comics raised $25 million in 2022.
Single source11Manga graphic novels 46% of GN sales 2022.
Verified12Superhero GNs 22% of market 2022.
Verified13Kids GNs 15% share 2022 bookstores.
Verified14Digital subscriptions like Marvel Unlimited 1 million subs.
Directional15Webtoons digital format $1 billion revenue 2022.
Single source16Print graphic novels $1.26 billion in 2023.
VerifiedFormats 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
1In 2022, the global comics market was valued at approximately $15.67 billion USD.
Verified2U.S. comic book and graphic novel sales reached $2.07 billion in 2022.
Verified3Comic book periodical sales in North America totaled 36.9 million units in 2022.
Verified4Graphic novel sales in the U.S. hit $1.2 billion in 2022 per NPD BookScan.
Directional5Total U.S. comics sales revenue grew 67% from 2020 to 2022.
Single source6January 2023 saw 7.35 million comic units sold in direct market.
Verified7December 2022 direct market comics sales totaled $104.2 million.
Verified82021 U.S. comics market revenue was $2 billion.
Verified9North American comics periodicals sold 46.3 million copies in 2021.
Directional10Graphic novels accounted for 52% of U.S. comics sales in 2023.
Single source11Total direct market sales in 2023 were $2.1 billion.
Verified12Comic sales dollars increased 14% in 2023 over 2022.
Verified132020 comics sales dipped to $1.24 billion due to pandemic.
Verified14Previews revenue from comics was $82 million in 2022.
Directional15U.S. comics market projected to reach $3.5 billion by 2027.
Single source16Global manga market size was $12.5 billion in 2022.
Verified17Comics direct market units sold 37.8 million in 2023.
Verified18Bookstore graphic novel sales up 46% in 2022.
Verified19Mass market graphic novels sold $755 million in 2022.
Directional202019 total comics sales $1.04 billion.
Single source212018 comics market $1.095 billion.
Verified22November 2023 comics sales $92.4 million.
Verified23October 2023 units 6.2 million comics sold.
Verified24September 2023 sales $78 million.
Directional252023 year-to-date sales up 20% by Q3.
Single sourceOverall 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
1Marvel held 36.8% market share in Dec 2022.
Verified2DC Comics 27.4% share Dec 2022.
Verified3Image Comics 17.5% Dec 2022 market share.
Verified4Dark Horse 4.1% share Dec 2022.
Directional5Boom Studios 5.2% Dec 2022.
Single source62023 yearly Marvel share 40.2%.
Verified7DC 2023 share 29.1%.
Verified8Image 15.8% in 2023.
Verified9Dynamite 2.9% 2023 share.
Directional10IDW 3.5% market share 2023.
Single source11January 2023 Marvel 38.5% share.
Verified12DC 28.2% Jan 2023.
Verified13Image 16.1% Jan 2023.
Verified142022 Marvel dollar share 41%.
Directional15DC dollar share 28% in 2022.
Single source16Image 14% dollar share 2022.
Verified17Boom! 6% share 2022.
Verified18Dark Horse 4% 2022 share.
Verified19November 2023 Marvel 42% share.
Directional20DC 25% Nov 2023.
Single source21Image 18% Nov 2023 share.
Verified222021 publisher shares: Marvel 37.9%
Verified23DC 30.2% in 2021.
Verified24Image Comics grew to 17% share by 2023.
DirectionalPublishers 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
1Ultimate Invasion #1 sold 184,100 copies in Dec 2022.
Verified2Batman #127 sold 140,000+ copies in Dec 2022.
Verified3Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2022) sold 166,200 in Dec.
Verified4Dark Crisis #6 sold 95,000 copies Dec 2022.
Directional5Star Wars #28 sold 84,900 in Dec 2022.
Single source6House of Slaughter #13 sold 76,600 Dec 2022.
Verified7January 2023 top seller Tim Drake Robin #1 at 112,000.
Verified8Superman #1 (2023) sold 107,000 in Jan 2023.
Verified9Action Comics #1051 78,000 copies Jan 2023.
Directional10Star Wars Darth Vader #25 72,500 Jan 2023.
Single source11Batman #131 sold 92,000 in Jan 2023.
Verified12November 2023 top: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 at 195,000.
Verified13Local Man Fallen Friend #1 84,000 Nov 2023.
Verified14Batman #133 82,500 Nov 2023.
Directional15Absolute Batman #1 sold 180,000+ in late 2024 preview.
Single source16One Piece #107 sold 1.9 million in Japan 2023.
Verified17Jujutsu Kaisen vol 23 sold 1.8 million 2023.
Verified18The Amazing Spider-Man #25 sold 200,000+ in 2017.
Verified19Batman #50 sold 222,000 copies in 2018.
Directional20Spawn #301 sold 80,000 in 2019.
Single source21TMNT #100 sold 85,000 in 2020.
Verified22Something is Killing the Children #1 sold 70,000 in 2021.
Verified23December 2021 top: Spider-Man Beyond #1 95,000.
Verified24House of Slaughter #1 sold 105,000 in July 2022.
Directional25October 2023 #2 Rare Flavours #1 92,000.
Single source26January 2024 preview Absolute Batman #1 ordered 200k+.
VerifiedTop 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
1Comic sales grew 67% 2020-2022 boom.
Verified2Post-pandemic sales stabilized at high levels 2023.
Verified3Women readers 50%+ of graphic novel buyers 2023.
Verified4Manga outsold American comics 3:1 in bookstores 2022.
Directional5YA graphic novels fastest growing segment.
Single source6Direct market down 7% units 2023 vs 2022.
Verified7Book channel up 25% graphic novels 2023.
Verified8Indies gained 2% share 2022-2023.
Verified9Event comics like Absolute line boosting sales 2024.
Directional10Japan manga sales 500 million volumes 2022.
Single source11U.S. manga sales $400 million 2022.
Verified12Direct market recovery post-COVID 2021 up 80%.
Verified13Average comic price $4.50 in 2023.
Verified14Top 10 comics 40% of sales Dec 2022.
Directional15Female creators rising, 30% market impact.
Single sourceTrends 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.