One year ago these pages chronicled what many called an explosion of manga titles and sales across Europe, with Spain leading a surge that mirrored trends in Japan, the United States, and France. A new generation of young readers had begun to embrace Japanese comics after falling in love with anime on streaming platforms during the pandemic. The scene was bright as fresh publishers joined the market, and the year delivered a leap in news coverage with 30 percent more published stories than 2021. Yet a second wave emerged, bringing new viruses in the form of rising costs and the economic uncertainty sparked by the Ukraine conflict. Now the scene shifts to the fore. The pulse of the manga craze beats at the threshold of the 28th Manga Barcelona, an event that keeps drawing devoted fans and opens its doors this Thursday through Sunday at the large expo halls in Barcelona and L’Hospitalet. Tickets have already sold out in presale, a sign that the 2019 pre-pandemic record of 152,000 visitors could be surpassed.
Analysts project a year ending with more than 1,300 new manga releases in 2022, a figure nearly a third higher than 2021, according to José A. Serrano of the Comic Book Critics and Publishers Association. The trend shows an average of over 80 titles per month, continuing a climb from 2019 when 838 titles appeared. Notable titles such as Haikyū!, My Hero Academia, and Tokyo Revengers topped bestseller lists, while major industry groups report sharp growth in manga sales across retailers. A report from FNAC last March highlighted a 184 percent increase in manga sales since 2019, with women representing close to half of buyers.
Visitors at a recent Manga Barcelona stand illustrate the enduring appeal of the medium. The industry analyst Serrano notes that manga could account for roughly 29 percent of Spain’s comic market this year, a rise from 24.9 percent in 2020. Municipal libraries also expanded their manga networks, adding hundreds of thousands of new credits in 2021. New publishers have rushed into the market, with 25 publishers currently active in Spain. Penguin Random House launched Distrito Manga with licenses such as The Darwin Incident, and Catalan publisher Enciclopèdia Catalana announced Kaji, a Catalan-only manga program aiming for about 60 titles annually. Kibook Ediciones and Kimmo joined the scene as well.
Industry insights from Catalan market researchers and publisher executives indicate phenomenal growth for manga in 2022, with head publishers Planeta and Norma setting the pace. They note that the first half of 2022 outpaced 2021, and despite a downturn in the second half caused by Ukraine-related economic strain, the year is expected to close with substantial gains. Norma’s editor-in-chief reports a roughly 15 percent sales increase for 2022, and many houses saw over half their manga turnover come from recent releases. In parallel, Planeta Cómic’s leadership confirms strong market presence, with manga making up a majority of the new releases and a high share of overall catalog sales.
The industry faces a key question: can publishers maintain momentum as costs rise? Executives emphasize the need to shield readers from price hikes while continuing to grow the audience. Norma has kept average prices around nine euros per volume, prioritizing continued access to manga rather than aggressive pricing. The broader consensus is cautious optimism. Publishers believe there will be a durable readership for a wide slate of titles, with action and adventure appealing to younger readers while more diverse offerings attract older fans. The goal remains to sustain reading habits built by past years and to avoid a bubble that could burst if new releases flood the market.
Market observers also point to a stabilizing effect of shifting reader demographics. A growing cohort of adult fans, including grandparents discovering manga through their families, illustrates a shift from a purely juvenile audience to a broader, multi-generational readership. Some translators and industry voices expect a tempered boom, with CPI rises potentially slowing demand but not eliminating the desire to read. The industry sees opportunity in expanding beyond mainstream titles, exploring autobiographies, biographies, non-fiction, and literary adaptations while keeping an eye on niche interests that are not yet saturated.
Catalan manga is gaining prominence again as publishers explore bilingual releases. Planeta Cómic’s early efforts to publish in Catalan alongside Spanish editions date back to 1992 with Dragon Ball and Naruto. Norma joined the bilingual wave in 2022 with titles like Tokyo Revengers and Chainsaw Man, underscoring a commitment to regional language markets. The Enciclopèdia Catalana group plans a Catalan-only imprint, and industry insiders note that local language publishing can expand audience access while reinforcing cultural relevance. The broader takeaway is that manga is no longer a marginal hobby but a thriving, multi-language phenomenon that keeps evolving in the digital age.
As markets mature, the open question remains how publishers will balance growth with sustainable pricing and catalog strategy. The prevailing stance is to prioritize reader value, diversify offerings, and nurture long-term engagement—key elements that retell the story of manga as a global force that resonates across generations and borders. The continued expansion of events like Manga Barcelona, along with new initiatives and collaborations, signals a healthy, evolving landscape where manga fans in North America can expect steady access to popular series and a widening array of titles that speak to diverse interests. This is not a moment of hype; it is a steady, ongoing expansion that invites readers to explore new stories while reconnecting with familiar favorites.