📉 What’s Really Going On With Comics in 2025?

A Real Talk Breakdown – Collector, Creator, and Guy Who's Been Bagging Books Since Before Some of You Were Born

Hey friends,

We’ve been collecting comics for over 30 years. We’ve watched the market explode, crash, reinvent itself, go digital, go retro, and now—here we are in 2025, and things feel... off. Not broken, not hopeless, but definitely not like the glory days.

If you’ve been feeling like your pull list is lighter, your local shop is quieter, or your CGC books just aren’t selling like they used to—trust me, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about what’s really going on in the comic book world this year. I’ll break down the big picture stuff and sprinkle in some of my own thoughts as a guy who’s been in this game a long, long time.

🐻 1. The Market Is Still in Bear Mode

Translation: Most modern and collectible comics are trending downward in value.
There’s actually a tool now called the Collectible Price Index (CPI) that tracks comic book prices kind of like the stock market. And according to it, comics from the Silver Age, Bronze Age, Copper, and especially Modern Age have mostly been losing value.

Now don’t panic. It doesn’t mean your collection is worthless. In fact, Golden Age stuff—those real old-school classics—are still seeing gains. And the true keys (like first appearances or culturally relevant books tied to shows or movies) are holding strong.

Wicked Comic Book Staff's Take: I’m not shocked. The market had an insane boom during the pandemic. People were flush with stimulus money, stuck at home, and nostalgia was high. It’s only natural for things to cool down. I’ve never treated comics just as investments. I collect because I love the stories and the art—and that’s never going out of style.

🚚 2. Supply Chain and Distribution Are Still a Mess

Even years after the pandemic, the comic book industry hasn’t fully recovered when it comes to shipping and logistics. Publishers keep announcing books early, but then pushing them back. That creates a ripple effect: readers get frustrated, retailers get stuck with awkward gaps, and creators scramble to meet changing timelines.

Wicked Comic Book Staff's Take: I’ve seen this up close. I’ve had preorders delayed so many times, I stopped getting excited about release dates. For shops trying to stay afloat, this kind of uncertainty is brutal. You can’t run a business off question marks.

🦸 3. Superhero Overload is Real

Superheroes are the engine of this industry—but even engines overheat. Marvel, DC, and even indie publishers have been pushing cape content hard for years. And now? Readers are starting to feel the fatigue. There’s just so much of the same thing out there.

But here’s the twist: while superheroes dominate print shelves, webcomics and digital series are exploring every genre under the sun—romance, horror, slice-of-life, sci-fi, comedy. And that’s where younger readers are going.

Wicked Comic Book Staff's Take: When I was a younger, superheroes were the fantasy. Now? Most people are living in the multiverse on their phones. They want something new, something weird, something real. We need to give them more than just multiverse events and rebooted origins.

📚 4. Readers Want Bigger Stories, Not Single Issues

The data’s clear: graphic novels and collected editions are outselling single issues by a lot. People don’t want to hunt for Part 3 of a five-issue arc—they just want the whole story in one package.

Wicked Comic Book Staff's Take: I still love my floppies, but I get it. It’s easier, cleaner, and often cheaper to wait for the trade. The challenge for publishers is figuring out how to keep single issues relevant—or accept that the format is evolving.

🎬 5. TV & Movies Still Drive Sales

Despite everything, this old rule holds true: if a character shows up in a TV show or movie, their comics spike. Right now, Daredevil books are hot again thanks to the show. And a bunch of Modern Age CPI books are showing gains thanks to upcoming Marvel and DC projects.

Wicked Comic Book Staff's Take: I’m torn. On one hand, it’s cool to see new readers discover characters I’ve loved for years. On the other hand, speculation-driven collecting always burns out fast. I just hope some of those new buyers stay after the credits roll.

☀️ 6. There’s Still Hope—and Some Good News

Let’s not get too doomsday about this. There are bright spots:

• DC’s Absolute Universe and Marvel’s Ultimate line reboot are bringing fresh energy.

• Omnibus editions and back issues are selling well.

• Local shops are coming up with creative ways to bring readers in—events, signings, community nights.

Wicked Comic Book Staff's Take: The heart of comics is still beating. I’ve seen this industry fall on its face and get back up so many times. If there’s one thing comics teach us, it’s resilience.

🛸 So… What Does This All Mean?

It means the industry is changing—again. Some parts are struggling (modern back issues, distribution), and others are thriving (graphic novels, digital, tie-ins to media). If you’re in this world as a creator, collector, or reader, you’ve gotta stay nimble. This isn’t 1992 anymore. And that’s not a bad thing.

My advice?
Keep buying what you love.
Support your local shop when you can.
Don’t sweat the trends.
And stay curious.

The next big thing might not be a hero in a cape—it might be a talking cactus in a webcomic, or a quiet little zine with a lot to say.

Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts in the comments: What are you noticing in your shop? Are you shifting to graphic novels? Burned out on events? Discovering something totally new?

Let’s keep the conversation going. Comics are evolving—and so are we.

Stay wicked,
—Wicked Comic Book Staff 🖤