This page provides lists of best-selling comic book series to date. It includes Japanese manga, American comic books, and European comics. This list includes comic books that have sold at least 100 million copies.
There are three separate lists, for three different comic book publication formats: collected comic book volumes, periodical single-issue floppy comics, and comic magazines. They are separated because the sales figures of these publication formats are not directly comparable.
This list is for comics printed in a traditional book format (paperback or hardcover), typically with a similar number of pages as novels. The list includes graphic novels printed exclusively in this format, and trade paperback/hardcover books which compile periodical comic chapters/issues into larger collected volumes. Japanese manga tankōbon volumes and European comic albums account for the vast majority of collected comic book volume sales. [1] American trade paperbacks and graphic novels are also included in the list.
These comic series were originally serialized either as chapters (typically 15-30 pages each) in comic publications (such as comic magazines) or as single-page comic strips in non-comic publications (such as newspapers), before being collected into a larger comic book volume (which compiles either multiple comic chapters or numerous comic strips). [1] For comic series originally serialized as chapters in comic magazines or manga magazines, their estimated circulation figures in those magazines are given in footnotes.
Denotes comic series currently running |
This list is for single-issue floppy comics, also known as the American comic book format. Unlike the paperback book format, floppy comics are thinner periodicals and stapled together. Each floppy comic issue is typically 20–40 pages, and usually consists of a single chapter (as opposed to a larger comic book volume that typically includes multiple chapters). A floppy comic is comparable to a comic magazine, but is thinner in size and is dedicated to a single character or group of characters (whereas a comic magazine is thicker and serializes multiple different unrelated series). [1]
Single-issue floppy comics are the most common publication format for American comics, and account for the vast majority of American superhero comic sales. [40] This list also contains periodical publications from other countries that are similarly dedicated to a single character or group of characters. Some of the numbers reported here may also include sales of trade paperback volumes, which account for a small portion of American comic sales.
According to the most recently available data, the best-selling American single-issue comic of all time was X-Men #1, which was published in 1991 and has since sold almost 8.2 million copies.
Comic series | Creator(s) | Publisher | No. of issues | Serialized | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Superman | Jerry Siegel Joe Shuster | DC Comics | 18,732 [41] | 1938 – present | 600 million [42] [lower-alpha 18] |
Batman | Bob Kane Bill Finger | DC Comics | 23,193 [43] | 1939 – present | 484 million [lower-alpha 19] [lower-alpha 18] |
Spider-Man | Stan Lee Steve Ditko | Marvel | 13,500 [47] | 1963 – present | 387 million [lower-alpha 20] [lower-alpha 18] |
X-Men | Stan Lee Jack Kirby | Marvel | 12,000 [52] | 1963 – present | 260 million [53] [lower-alpha 18] |
Captain America | Joe Simon Jack Kirby | Marvel | 9,000 [54] | 1941 – present | 210 million [53] |
Diabolik | Angela Giussani Luciana Giussani | Astorina | 862 | 1962 – present | 150 million [27] |
Spawn | Todd McFarlane | Image Comics | 600 [55] | 1992 – present | 150 million [56] |
The Phantom | Lee Falk | Frew Publications | 3,000 [57] | 1936 – present | 150 million [53] |
This list is for comic magazines, which are anthology magazines that serialize multiple different unrelated comic series. This list includes Japanese manga magazines, European comic magazines, and English-language comic magazines.
In Japan, manga magazines account for the vast majority of manga sales. Most manga series first appear in manga magazines, before later being sold separately as collected tankobon volumes. [1]
Comic magazine | Publisher | Country | No. of issues | Serialized | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weekly Shōnen Jump | Shueisha | Japan | 2,406 [58] | 1968 – present | 7.6 billion [58] [lower-alpha 21] |
Weekly Shōnen Magazine | Kodansha | Japan | 2,942 [59] | 1959 – present | 5.2 billion [lower-alpha 22] |
Weekly Young Jump | Shueisha | Japan | 1,765 [60] | 1979 – present | 2.2 billion [lower-alpha 23] |
The Beano | DC Thomson | United Kingdom | 4,200+ | 1938 – present | 2 billion [61] |
Weekly Shōnen Sunday | Shogakukan | Japan | 2,805 [62] | 1959 – present | 1.9 billion [lower-alpha 24] |
Weekly Young Magazine | Kodansha | Japan | 1,976 | 1980 – present | 1.8 billion [lower-alpha 25] |
Micky Maus | Egmont Ehapa | Germany | 3,169 | 1951 – present | 1 billion [lower-alpha 26] |
Classics Illustrated | Elliot Publishing Co. Gilberton Company, Inc. Frawley Corporation | United States | 169 | 1941 – 1971 | 1 billion [64] |
Ribon | Shueisha | Japan | 694 [65] | 1955 – present | 594 million [lower-alpha 27] |
MAD Magazine | EC Comics, DC Comics | United States | 557 | 1952 – present | 430 million [66] |
CoroCoro Comic | Shogakukan | Japan | 480 [67] | 1977 – present | 407 million [lower-alpha 28] |
Nakayoshi | Kodansha | Japan | 756 | 1954 – present | 400 million [lower-alpha 29] |
Monthly Shōnen Jump | Shueisha | Japan | 317 [68] | 1970 – 2007 | 215 million [lower-alpha 30] |
Action Comics | DC Comics | United States | 1,000 | 1938 – present | 188 million [lower-alpha 31] |
Pilote | Dargaud | France | 420 [75] | 1959 – 1989 | 117 million [lower-alpha 7] |
Weekly Shōnen Jump is a weekly shōnen manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. The manga series within the magazine consist of many action scenes and a fair amount of comedy. Chapters of the series that run in Weekly Shōnen Jump are collected and published in tankōbon volumes under the Jump Comics imprint every two to three months. It is one of the longest-running manga magazines, with the first issue being released with a cover date of August 1, 1968.
Eiichiro Oda is a Japanese manga artist and the creator of the series One Piece. With more than 523.2 million tankōbon copies in circulation worldwide, One Piece is both the best-selling manga in history and the best-selling comic series printed in volume, in turn making Oda one of the best-selling fiction authors. The series' popularity resulted in Oda being named one of the manga artists that changed the history of manga.
One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump since July 1997, with its individual chapters compiled in 108 tankōbon volumes as of March 2024. The story follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, where he explores the Grand Line in search of the mythical treasure known as the "One Piece" in order to become the next King of the Pirates.
Jigoku Sensei Nūbē is a Japanese manga series written by Shō Makura and illustrated by Takeshi Okano. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from August 1993 to May 1999, with its chapters collected in 31 tankōbon volumes. The series follows Meisuke Nueno, aka Nūbē, the homeroom teacher for Class 5–3 at Dōmori Elementary. More than a teacher, however, he is a skilled exorcist, protecting the town of Dōmori from supernatural threats with strength borrowed from a powerful demon sealed in his left hand—a technique he calls the Demon's Hand. A 49-episode anime television series by Toei Animation was broadcast on TV Asahi from April 1996 to August 1997. The anime resulted in three movies and three original video animation (OVA) episodes.
Material Puzzle is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masahiro Totsuka. It was serialized in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Gangan from 2002 to 2007, followed by gaiden chapters and a short series subtitled Saikō Shōnen, published from 2007 to 2008. A prequel series by Kimitake Yoshioka, titled Material Puzzle: Zero Kreuz, was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Gangan and Gangan Online from 2008 to 2009. Nine years after the original series' finale, Totsuka started another series, titled Material Puzzle: Kaminaki Sekai no Mahoutsukai, in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Morning Two, which ran from 2018 to 2022.
Chameleon is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Atsushi Kase. It was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from April 1990 to February 2000, with its chapters collected in 47 tankōbon volumes. The series follows the antics of tenth-grade student Eisaku Yazawa who wants to become a bōsōzoku.
Ryū to Ichigo (龍と苺) is a Japanese shogi-themed manga series written and illustrated by Mitsuharu Yanamoto. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday since May 2020, with its chapters collected in 14 tankōbon volumes as of December 2023.
Shōnen Ashibe is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromi Morishita. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from 1988 to 1994, with its chapters collected in eight tankōbon volumes. It describes the daily life of Ashibe, an elementary school boy, and his family and friends, including his spotted seal pup named Goma-chan.
Hiiragi-sama wa Jibun o Sagashiteiru is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiroyuki Nishimori. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday from February 2016 to December 2017, with its chapters collected in eight tankōbon volumes.
Nanimo nai Kedo Sora wa Aoi is a Japanese manga series written by Hiroyuki Nishimori and illustrated by Yuuki Iinuma. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from March 2014 to August 2015, with its chapters collected in seven tankōbon volumes.
Kakeau Tsukihi (かけあうつきひ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Sei Fukui. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from May 2021 to July 2022, with its chapters collected in six tankōbon volumes.
Chiisai Hito: Aoba Jidō Sōdanjo Monogatari is a Japanese manga series written by Mitsuhiro Mizuno and illustrated by Jin Kyōchikutō. It was first serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from November 2010 to June 2012, and later in Shōnen Sunday S from June 2012 to October 2013, with its chapters collected in six tankōbon volumes. A sequel, Shin Chiisai Hito: Aoba Jidō Sōdanjo Monogatari, was serialized in Shōnen Sunday S from July 2016 to November 2023, with its chapters collected in thirteen tankōbon volumes.
Tōgen Anki (桃源暗鬼) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yura Urushibara. It has been serialized in Akita Shoten's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion since June 2020.
RuriDragon is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masaoki Shindo. It was originally a one-shot published in Shueisha's Jump Giga magazine in December 2020, before being serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump starting in June 2022. Its chapters have been collected into a single tankōbon volume as of October 2022.
Shiroyama to Mita-san is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuuhei Kusakabe. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from December 2021 to January 2024.
Mikadono Sanshimai wa Angai, Choroi (帝乃三姉妹は案外、チョロい。) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Aya Hirakawa. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday since December 2021.
Super Doctor K is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuo Mafune. It was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from April 1988 to October 1996, with its chapters collected in 44 tankōbon volumes. A second series, Doctor K, was serialized in the same magazine from October 1996 to October 1998, with its chapters collected in ten tankōbon volumes. A third series, K2, was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Evening from May 2004 until February 2023, when the magazine ceased its publication, and moved to the Comic Days online platform in March of that same year. Its chapters have been collected in 46 tankōbon volumes as of December 2023.
5-fungo no Sekai is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiroshi Fukuda. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from April 2018 to September 2019, with its chapters collected in five tankōbon volumes.
Shōnen no Zankyō is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mitsunori Zaki. The manga was first serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius from October 2016 to September 2017. It was then transferred to Kodansha's Palcy manga app, where it ran from May 2018 to September 2021, with its chapters collected in four tankōbon volumes as of July 2019.
Shueisha announced on Thursday that Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga has surpassed 500 million copies published worldwide as of the release of the manga's 103rd compiled book volume on the same day. 416,566,000 of those copies are in Japan, and 100 million copies are in 60 countries and territories outside of Japan.
890,494
296,118
113,968
60,635
36,136
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)the manga's popularity has continued to grow with an astonishing record of 260 million copies sold worldwide
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