The number of comic releases to comic stores dropped 20% in September vs. September 2019, from 443 in 2019 to 356 in 2020, according to an analysis prepared by ICv2 based on release information provided by comic distributors.  Continuing an ongoing trend, the number of graphic novel releases was actually up; 408 graphic novels were released to comic stores in September, up 11% from 369 releases in September 2019.

While there were many shifts in comic release counts by publisher, at the top of the chart the declines in Marvel Comics and DC comic titles accounted for over 60% of the decline in the number of releases this year compared to 2019.  Marvel released 23 fewer comics this year, and DC released 30 fewer, while the total decline was 87.  Of the seven largest direct market comic publishers, only two publishers did not cut their releases this September:  Image, which put out the same number of comics and graphic novels this year as it did a year ago, and BOOM! Studios, which put out seven more releases this year than it did a year ago, a 22% increase.

The 20% decline in September comic releases was about the same as the 19% decline in August (see "August 2020 Comic Releases Down 19% vs. 2019").

The number of comics in the six-month April through September COVID period was down nearly 50% vs. a year ago, while graphic novels were impacted less, with a 9% decline.

Note:  The release counts for September were corrected on November 11 to reflect complete publisher lists.  Our apologies for the errors in the original version of this article.