Manga soars in Spain: growing by more than 200% as an intergenerational phenomenon
Interest in Japanese graphic novels and the average age of their readers continue to rise: since 2020, sales have increased by almost 200%
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A quick glance at the shelves of bookstores and libraries is enough to realize that there is more and more space dedicated to manga among the rest of the reading options. Japanese graphic novels are no longer perceived as a product of minority interest: there are all kinds of novels, for all tastes and for all types of audiences. In fact, one of the most striking trends regarding the profile of manga consumers in Spain is that There are few differences between male readers (52%) and female readers (48%) .
According to a report by Fnac, the average age has also increased, confirming that this is an intergenerational interest. Although traditionally manga was aimed primarily at young readers, aged 14 to 25, it now has more weight among the thirty-something public. Specifically, 46% of buyers are between 20 and 35 years old , and 22% are between 35 and 45 years old. The remaining 32% is reserved for readers over 45.
The expansion of the age range has resulted not only in a significant increase in sales, but also in a diversification of the stories with the aim of attracting a greater number of readers at increasingly younger ages . Fnac explains that many parents buy manga for themselves but also for their children, a fact that justifies why the publication of comics with children's themes has grown by 227% since 2021.
Thus, this graphic art born in Japan is currently crowned as the most successful in our country, above Marvel and DC superhero comics. The data provided by Fnac reinforces the consolidation of manga last year with a 26% increase in sales compared to 2021, and an increase of 187% in the last three years . This is confirmed by Marc Bernabé, an experienced translator and manga scholar in Spain: throughout 2022, more than 1,400 new works were published in Spanish, Catalan and Basque.
The turning point in the manga phenomenon came in 2019, although the trend was seen reinforced in 2020 with the arrival of the pandemic . A large percentage of the Spanish population began to consume anime series during confinement on different audiovisual platforms, and then they made a natural leap to paper, attracted by major releases such as Haikyuu!! either Tokyo Revengers and classics like Naruto either One Piece .
Fnac highlights that the interest of the Spanish in manga is not a new phenomenon, but a fever that began to emerge in the 80s with the anime of Candy Candy . The series brought together boys and girls of the time every week in front of the television. Its comic version was the first manga to reach Spain, selling out copies in kiosks and bookstores. In the 90s, the first manga to reach Spain was released. boom editorial, thanks to Dragon Ball and Akira . Today, the sector is experiencing its own golden age in graphic narrative. In constant growth, manga consumption is registering historic figures, offering a wide range of possibilities and having a fandom who feels increasingly attracted to the phenomenon and to Japanese culture in general.
