Italian publisher association reports comics now represent ten percent of book market

Comics now account for one in every ten books sold through trade channels in Italy, la Repubblica reported. The Italian Publishers Association presented its annual report on the state of comic book publishing in Italy during the Lucca Comics and Games convention. [1]

The report highlights strong growth across traditional retail trade channels, which include physical chain bookshops such as Feltrinelli and Mondadori Bookstores. According to la Repubblica, publishers speaking at the event stated that the actual market is worth twice as much as reported, because current data excludes newsagents, festivals, and specialized venues. [1]

Lucca Comics and Games takes place annually in Lucca, Italy, at the end of October. It is the largest comic book festival in Europe and the second largest in the world after Tokyo Comiket. [2]

Industry speakers at the panel called for a comprehensive survey that would capture comic sales from non-traditional outlets, including newsstands and festival grounds, to reflect the full economic scale of the sector. [1]