Comic books have captured the interest of many people over the years. Fans are willing to spend millions of dollars to collect the latest issues. Comic book series have engaging plotlines, filled with suspense that leaves readers anticipating the next issue. This anticipation builds into high demand that transcends into massive sales upon release.
Comic publishers spend millions of dollars annually on trending and best-selling titles and earn it back in more folds. While comics appear like kids’ books, many adults, especially men, also collect them. These interesting sales statistics will reveal surprising facts about the global comic book market that you probably didn’t know until now.
Key Comic Book Sales Statistics
General Statistics About Comic Book Sales
1. In 2020, Comic Book Sales Increased by About $750 Million.
During the 2020 pandemic, the world was on lockdown, and people didn’t go out. The two major things that kept people busy were the internet and books. Comic books were among many people’s favorites, drastically increasing sales by $750 million.
2. In January 2022, the Best-Selling Comic Book was Spawn: The Scorched #1.
Although Spawn Scorched was not a mainstream comic book series like copies from DC, it made it became the best-selling. Analytics show that this happened in the first month of 2022. The storyline was intriguing, and many people wanted to follow it to the end, so they bought more episodes.
3. Batman Has Sold Over 480 Million Issues Over the Years.
Statistics show Batman is one of the most captivating and iconic DC comic book series. Analytics show it has sold over 480 million issues since it hit the market. Experts say it will sell more in the coming years, regardless of how old it gets.
4. With Over 500 Million Copies Printed Worldwide in 2022, One Piece is the Best-Selling Comic Book in History.
In 2021, the sales record of One Piece volumes worldwide was over 490 million, higher than others. In 2022, the number increased to over 500 million and has improved even more. This makes it the best-selling manga and comic series since no other books have reached its number.
Comic Revenue Statistics
Contrary to what many believe, this industry has brought in huge revenues for people compared to a few other sectors. Let’s examine it more closely for a better understanding.
5. The Japanese Manga Industry’s Worth is Over 693 Billion Yen.
Japanese manga is a staple of the country’s culture and beliefs. However, it is reaching other parts of the world and gaining more fans as the years pass. As a result, its revenue reached over 693 billion Japanese yen in 2023, which is currently over $4.4 billion.
6. In 2021, Comic Book Sales Reached Over $2 Billion.
Records have it that the sales of comic books reached over $2 billion in 2021. This was an over 50% increase from the year before. The sales increased the next year and then after that.
7. Experts predict that the Global Comic Book Market Will Reach About $17 billion in 2030.
With the current growth rate of the global market of this industry, there is no doubt that it will see more growth. Experts have analyzed the current rate and say the market will be worth over $17 billion in 2030. This is a CAGR of 10% from its price in 2022.
8. Comic Books Have Generated Over $11.4 Billion in Revenue Over the Last Ten Years.
Records of the last ten years in this industry show a yearly revenue of about $1.14 billion. Accumulatively, the field has generated about $11.4 billion, and it will surpass this figure in the coming years.
Statistics of Comic Book Market Share
The comic book market is currently big, and many nations share it. Here are some facts about these shares.
9. With about 43%, Japan has the Most Significant Global Market Share of Comic Books.
This industry has spread to many parts of the world, and other countries now have shares in the market. However, Japan has the largest, recording over 43% of the sector’s market share. The United States is another country with a large manga series market.
10. Comichron and Diamond Comics Own Over 90% of the Comic Sales in the US.
The US also has a big market in this industry. However, about 90% of its sales go to only two companies. Diamond Comics (one of the biggest distributors in the field) and Comichron distribute almost all the comics in the country.
11. By the End of 2021, DC Comics Had Accumulated About 27% of the Market Share.
With much work and consistency, DC Comics is becoming popular, with its characters having fans worldwide. By the end of 2021, the company already owned over 27% of the market, making way to get more the following year.
12. Marvel Comics Had Over 31.5% of the Entire Market Worth in 2021.
With a few more percentages, Marvel Comics had more of this market share than DC. The company had over 31.5% by the end of 2021 and aimed to do better the following year.
Statistics of Comic Books Demographics
Another sector to look at is the demographics of comic books. They are having more new titles as months go by, but there are other demographics you need to know.
13. About 71% of Comic Book Purchases Are from White Customers.
Research shows that more white customers buy this item than black customers. Black citizens have proven to be firm fans, too, but not as much as whites. They make up 71% of the purchase, blacks make up 14%, Latinos make up about 11%, and Asians make up 5%.
14. The People Who Buy More Manga Are Between 13 and 29.
People in the 13 to 29 age group love comic books more than others. Young people’s love of anime also leads them to manga. They buy over 57% of the entire published comic book.
15. With about 63%, More Men Purchase Comics and Graphic Novels.
Most of the cartoons that women like are not and can hardly be comic books. Some of them are Barbie, Mickey Mouse, and a few others. So, men purchase about 63% of comic books, leaving the women with 37%.
Statistics of Comic Book Sales By Channels
16. In 2021, Comic Books Generated Over $1.16 billion in Sales Through Bookstores.
Bookstores were highly influential in driving manga sales in 2021. Manga comics generated about 56.14% of the comic book industry’s revenue that year, which was $1.16 billion.
17. Comic Book Stores Generated About 33.9% of the Revenue in 2021.
In 2021, another channel publishers used to sell manga was comic book stores. This channel didn’t do as well as bookstores, as it only generated about 33.9% of the industry revenue for the year, which amounted to about $705 million in sales revenue.
18. Between 2020 and 2021, the Comic Book Revenue from Newsstands Stayed Stable.
Records show that newsstands didn’t generate as much revenue for the industry as bookstores. It only generated about $35 million in 2020; in 2021, the figure was about the same.
19. Comic Books Only Got into Bookselling Mainstream a Few Years Ago.
Records show that comic books didn’t become mainstream bookselling until 2020. According to the 2013 sales record, bookstores drove only 28% of the sales, while comic stores drove 58%.
Comic Book Sales Statistics By Year
20. In 2021, More Than 94 Million Comic Book Copies Were Sold in the US.
Although the United States doesn’t have the largest market share in this industry, it is undoubtedly doing well. According to records, about 94 million copies of the manga were sold in the country, which increased in the next year.
21. In 2021, the Sales of Comic Books Increased By 48.73 from the Value Recorded In 2020.
Although the industry had a good run in 2020, it did better in 2021. This was due to the pandemic in 2020, which made things move a little slower.
22. Comic Book Stores Have Bought Over 881 Million Copies Over the Last 10 Years.
From 2013 to today, comic book stores have bought over 881 million copies, which experts estimate is about 88.1 million copies bought yearly.
Conclusion
Comic books existed for many years before anime TV series started dominating. Most TV shows are based on manga, showing how important they have become. Contrary to popular opinion, the industry has seen a considerable growth rate in revenue and more. In 2021, the industry’s sales reached $2.08 billion, higher than the previous year but lower than the next. Since it all started in Japan, the country has the most significant market share in the industry. The US also has a good market share with DC and Marvel Comics making sound waves. Since the global comic book market is estimated to rise by 10.5% from 2020 to 2030, we can expect more expansion in comic book sales in the coming years.
FAQs
In 2025, the trending categories of comics will be digital, as the age of hardcover books is slowly ending. Some of the already trending comics are web-based, interactive, and others.
With sales of over 500 million, One Piece is the best-selling comic. Following it is Asterix with over 350 million sales and Doraemon with over 300 million.
The name of the current age of comics is the Modern Age. The name covers all the comics from 1985 until today. However, different authors have different names for the ages and the time frame that make them up.
The most expensive comics to sell or acquire are in the action genre. Any action manga is usually expensive because it is in high demand.
One character that always attracts people to buy comics is Superman. Because of its superpowers and ability to beat and be beaten, it has become the favorite of many manga lovers. This character has sold over 600 million copies.
