Gen Z and Millennials are often blamed for the decline of industries like the diamond market, but now Gen Z is being celebrated for reviving a unique industry: superheroes. More specifically, they are bringing comics back from the brink, transforming a once-struggling market into one experiencing an unprecedented surge over the past year.
Gen Z is leading a new era for comics and superheroes.
It’s no secret that comics, and by extension superheroes, have struggled in recent years, with once-beloved comic shops forced to close due to declining sales. Many factors were blamed for the downturn, including superhero fatigue, lack of accessibility, and an overwhelming amount of content that made it difficult for new or returning readers to find a starting point.
However, a recent report from retailer programming at NYCC reveals that comic sales are now on the rise, and prehaps even more surprising is that we have Gen Z to thank.
Marvel and DC Are Reviving Comics for a Whole New Generation
Reimagined Universes Make It Easy for Anyone to Jump Into Stories
One of the biggest challenges affecting comic sales was accessibility. With decades of history, new and returning readers often struggled to find easy entry points without extensive back-reading. Marvel and DC recently addressed this problem with their Ultimate and Absolute Universes, creating fresh starting points that allow anyone to jump into stories without prior knowledge, opening the door for a wider audience.
These universes reimagined familiar characters, wiping the slate clean and providing fresh origins. This approach lets readers start reading immediately, without needing years of back issues. The result has been a surge of new readers entering the comic world. By making stories more accessible, Marvel and DC have helped revitalize interest in comics, particularly among younger audiences.
Gen Z Is Leading Comics’ Biggest Comeback in Years
Data from NYCC and Industry Experts Reveal a Massive Rise in Sales
The rise in comic sales was highlighted at NYCC, where ComicsPRO-sponsored retailers shared encouraging news. One retailer noted they had never seen more 15- to 24-year-olds in their shop. American businessman Milton Griepp reported that comic shop sales are up 27 percent in 2025, according to ComicHub data, signaling a strong rebound for an industry that had been struggling for years.
The sales increase has been confirmed across multiple sources, including the Prana DM Comic Industry Insiders podcast. Atom Freeman and Brian Garside of Manage Comics reported an average 18 percent rise in sales for 2025. While some shops see smaller gains of 2 to 3 percent, others are experiencing jumps of 30 to 40 percent, highlighting the uneven but overall significant growth in the market.
These numbers are a major milestone for an industry long in decline. The most exciting part is that much of this growth is driven by young readers, marking a win for both comic sales and the next generation discovering the joy of reading. Based on these testimonies it appears that Gen Z is leading a new era for comics and superheroes.
Source: ComicsBeat