Orders for comic books have hit a twenty year high

10.26 million units is a significant figure, because the last time stores ordered in that volume was December 1996. In the following years, the industry faced some significant troubles, with its total market share dropping to $255 million in sales in 2000. Since then, it has dramatically rebounded, with an estimated $940 million in sales last year.

Vulture points to the huge number of comic book adaptations in theaters as a likely reason for the dramatic growth in sales in recent years, while the Washington Post notes that ease of access for consumers is another contributing factor: internet sales through retailers such as ComiXology have grown in recent years, while the number of dedicated comic book shops have risen in recent years. Given the number of comic book adaptations planned for the next decade, the comic book industry will likely continue to receive a residual benefit.