ICv2, in conjunction with metrics site Comichron, gathers market data on the North American comics industry, tracking sales of periodicals, trade books (aka “graphic novels,”) and download-to-own digital comics. After comic books vanished from newsstands in the early 1980s, nearly all periodical comic books were sold through a network of independently-owned retail comic shops. While comic shops tend to focus on longtime fans - often older readers who grew up on and collect superhero comics – mass-market bookstores sell to everyone, including younger readers and those outside of traditional comics fandom. US Comic and Graphic Novel share by Category, YTD 9/21/19, shared by NPD Group/Bookscan at ICv2 Conference, October 7, 2019. Superheroes represent a declining share of the fastest-growing segments and channels of the comics market.

Source: Forbes October 08, 2019 15:33 UTC