Auction & Marketplace NewsConfirmed
ICv2 estimates 2026 comic shop sales up 19%, graphic novels up 28%
Published Oct 11, 2026 · Updated Oct 11, 2026 · Event date Oct 9, 2026 · 1 min read
What happenedAccording to The Beat's report from New York Comic Con, ICv2's Milton Greipp estimated at Thursday's ICv2 White Paper that comics sales in comic shops are up 19% so far in 2026, with graphic novels up 28%. The Beat notes this comes against even bigger growth last year.
Confirmed: the facts in this update are stated by the official or primary sources listed below. Anything under “What it means for collectors” is our analysis.
What was reported
Comic shop sales are still growing in 2026, according to figures presented at New York Comic Con. At Thursday's ICv2 White Paper, Milton Greipp estimated that comics sales are up 19% thus far in 2026 and graphic novels up 28% in comics shops.
The figures come from The Beat's NYCC wrap-up, not from an ICv2 release, and the page does not say what data the estimate is built on or which period it covers beyond "thus far in 2026." We could not find the White Paper itself, so treat the numbers as an estimate reported second-hand.
The same report describes the mood at retailer events. Other presentations reinforced the idea that comics shop sales are still doing well, led by the Absolute Batman phenomenon. Steve Wacker made his debut at a retailer event as Editor in Chief of Marvel Comics.
ICv2 also publishes monthly chart data. Its charts draw on over 225 stores using two point-of-sale systems, a small, non-random sample of over 3,000 stores selling American comics worldwide, so the rankings may not be typical for all stores. The White Paper estimate may rest on different or broader data, which the source does not say.
What it means for collectors
This section is analysis, not reported fact. Strong retail sales point to healthy demand for new releases, but they do not translate directly into back-issue or graded-book prices. Growth in new-reader and graphic novel sales can widen the pool of future collectors, while high-demand modern issues often see large print runs and reprints that affect long-term scarcity.
If you are weighing whether a modern book is worth slabbing, our guide on whether you should get your comic graded covers the costs and trade-offs, and what sets the price of a CGC graded comic explains where to check recent sales.
Sources
Drafted with AI assistance from the facts and keywords the Rare Comics Collectors team maintains, then put through an automated fact check and our editorial rules. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.
