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In the Wolverhampton comics shop Forbidden Planet, a notable shift is underway. Traditionally serving adult enthusiasts who are drawn to well-known US superhero comics from Marvel and DC, the store is now seeing an influx of younger readers. Chris Ball, the store manager with nearly three decades of experience, describes this as a “healthy wave” of young people engaging with the medium. While children have historically been part of the comics audience, the recent resurgence among youth is significant enough to catch Mr Ball’s attention.
This renewed interest partly reflects the impact of blockbuster superhero films, which have brought lesser-known comic characters into the cultural spotlight and boosted sales in specialist shops. Similarly, the popularity of Japanese anime is drawing attention to manga, Japan’s distinctive comic style. “It’s huge at the moment – particularly with young people – so that’s getting them through the door,” Mr Ball explains. While this is just one example, it hints at a broader pattern across the UK.
Sales figures support the notion that younger demographics are increasingly involved with comics. Mark Fuller, chief executive of Comic Book UK—a collective representing comics publishers, creators, and retailers across Britain—confirms the market is booming, especially for children’s comics designed specifically for younger audiences. Well-known titles such as The Beano and The Phoenix, alongside adult-favored 2000 AD, collectively reach about 200,000 readers each week. In addition, the sales of bound collections and graphic novels for kids have surged, growing nearly 30% to an all-time high of £20.2 million in 2024, nearly closing the sales gap with adult-oriented comics.
Mr Fuller points to several reasons for the medium’s appeal despite the lure of more digitally flashy entertainment. Beyond the cultural ubiquity of comic characters in films and streaming shows, comics offer an affordable and accessible form of entertainment compared to pricier options like video games or cinema outings. The medium is also evolving with wider availability through subscriptions, specialist shops, and digital platforms, including web comics and apps—The Beano plans to introduce scrolling panel experiences to attract younger readers. What remains uniquely compelling about comics, he says, is their combination of visual art and storytelling, which encourages active engagement. “With a movie, you go at its pace. With comics, you decide,” he notes, highlighting the medium’s distinctive interactive quality.
This creative potential resonates beyond entertainment into social impact. In Birkenhead, Merseyside, the social enterprise Comics Youth CIC uses comics to empower disadvantaged young people. By offering workshops where children can both enjoy reading and create their own works, the group fosters imaginative expression and helps elevate young voices. Anna Macdonald, an art director there, describes how involvement with “exciting visuals and incredible storylines” provides children with a welcome escape, saying, “It’s lovely to see
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