A vibrant market with a thriving sales and cultural scene sits beside a sector marked by instability for many writers and the challenges faced by small and medium publishers. This snapshot forms part of the broader picture that a recently released White Paper in Spain aims to illuminate. The Comics Industry, an organization founded in 2020, brings together representatives from all corners of the field — writers, booksellers, editors, translators, librarians, critics, distributors, event organizers, agents — to advocate for the dissemination, quality, and growth of the ninth art.
At the event, the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, and María José Gálvez, the General Manager of Books, Comics and Reading, joined by Sector President Alejandro Casasola and Óscar Valiente, director of Norma Editorial, presented the report. The gathering included around 650 professionals who stressed that the White Paper offers a clear, precise, and plural view of a sector long overlooked by public institutions. They called for measures to support creation with funding and public scholarships, noting that the current level of support changes the weight of comics within the publishing ecosystem from 5 percent to a target closer to eight or ten percent.
Keys
The report from Cesur provides a detailed numerical summary of the White Paper, underscoring that comics stand as a major asset in the Spanish publishing landscape, offering specialized content and engaging four million readers aged 14 and older. The flip side highlights writer insecurity. Under these notes, several keys emerge:
The rich ecosystem of the environment
More than a thousand Spanish artists are active; the sector directly employs about 1,500 specialists, with hundreds of translators, publishing labels, and a robust network of publishers and personal editors. The ecosystem includes more than 200 specialized bookstores that host hundreds of events each year, drawing millions of visitors. The structure also features training centers, university chairs, and numerous associations and foundations dedicated to comics.
Strength of the industry
The sector has shown strong momentum with thousands of new titles published in 2022 and 2023. It generates a yearly turnover around 130 million euros, accounting for a sizable share of the Spanish book market outside textbooks. This aligns with independent analytics that put comics at eight percent of the publishing market by turnover and ten percent by units sold.
Writers’ desperation
The White Paper highlights a stark contrast between strong market indicators and the lived reality of many creators. The figures reveal widespread dedication to comic creation alongside other roles. A closer look shows:
Only about one in five professionals report full income from comic work, with many supplementing by illustration, design, or teaching. Sixty-four percent do not earn the minimum professional salary from comics, and 33 percent report annual net incomes under ten thousand euros. The typical page rate often falls below thirty euros, not counting upfront rights or royalties. Over half of creators earn less than twenty thousand euros net per year, and only a tenth have received corporate support in the past five years. The data clearly indicate that sustainable living in comics is most feasible for those active in international markets.
Feminine Spanish comics
Data from the Tebeosfera association show that among one thousand and thirty-three Spanish creators published in 2022, only two hundred twenty-one were women. Just twenty percent of the creators included in the White Paper are female, a gap noted by Sara Jotabé, who leads the Sector Equality committee. She observes a growing presence of international female contributors and wonders what remains to be done in Spain to participate more fully in this growth. While concrete figures are scarce, it is evident that a large audience of female readers exists across bookstores and events. The White Paper surveys the history of female pioneers who broke barriers in every decade, naming Lola Anglada, Purita Campos, Trini Tinturé, Carme Barbarà, and Núria Pompeia as early trailblazers.
Basic precautions
The industry calls for eight core measures:
– Creation support as previously noted
– Continuing to implement reforms that ensure artist status is recognized and protected
– Introducing a tax and qualification framework tailored to writers in comics
– Integrating comics into educational programs
– Initiatives to promote reading comics
– Expanding presence in libraries
– Safeguards against artificial intelligence misuse and cyber threats
– Preservation of artistic and cultural heritage, including a long-standing demand for a museum or public center dedicated to comics
Visitors at past events illustrate the ongoing attention to the medium within the cultural landscape.
Other important data shows that 47 publishers participated in the White Paper, and 96 percent operate independently from publishing groups while 86 percent are micro-businesses with fewer than ten employees. Regional distribution highlights Catalonia, Madrid, and the Valencian Community as key hubs. The study notes that the five largest publishers account for about 60 percent of launches, underscoring the need to support smaller players in the market.
From comics published in 2021, seventy percent produced Spanish works; forty-eight percent targeted children and youth; forty-one percent were European; twenty-four percent were manga; and thirteen percent originated in North America. The White Paper argues that small- and mid-sized publishers focus more on national products and require additional support. Specialized bookstores remain the primary sales channel, followed by independent general stores, department stores, and direct online sales. The data also show that a sizeable share of comics-related activity occurs through direct channels and that publishers rely on domestic printing to sustain the industry. In 2021, most publishers received some editorial assistance.
The White Paper project was a major objective for the Sector and in 2022 it also catalyzed a public commitment from the Ministry of Culture to celebrate Comic Book Day and related events. This ongoing initiative continues to shape policy and industry awareness across Spain and beyond.