Anyone have an idea of how many active comic collectors there are these days? 1 1

[gadzukes]

I was looking thru my "Photo Journal Guides to Comics" and there was a graph listing the estimated number of comic collectors from the years 1962 - 1995.

The final amount for 1995 showed about 35,000 collectors (I'm not sure how they determined that number).

So, here we are in 2020.  How many comic collectors are there now?  Hopefully more than 35,000.

Is the number going up or down?  I suspect down, but I'm not 100% sure.

Edited January 2, 2020 by gadzukes

[theCapraAegagrus]

Probably about tree fiddy.

[MR SigS]

28 minutes ago, gadzukes said:

I was looking thru my "Photo Journal Guides to Comics" and there was a graph listing the estimated number of comic collectors from the years 1962 - 1995.

The final amount for 1995 showed about 35,000 collectors (I'm not sure how they determined that number).

So, here we are in 2020.  How many comic collectors are there now?  Hopefully more than 35,000.

Is the number going up or down?  I suspect down, but I'm not 100% sure.

I also wonder what qualifies as a "collector". Before I returned to the hobby, I had a small stack boxed in a closet for years. Would that have counted in their guesstimate?

I agree the number will likely drop, but I'm thinking paper comics. Maybe the digital comics will replace. I hope not, though.

Edited January 2, 2020 by MR SigS

[theCapraAegagrus]

4 minutes ago, MR SigS said:

...I agree the number will likely drop, but I'm thinking paper comics. Maybe the digital comics will replace. I hope not, though.

I'm on the "hate" fence of digital comics.

I already work at a computer for about 8 hours/day. I watch hockey games and play video games at home. Have a phone on me constantly for research and etc. Paper comics are one of the very few things I do non-digitally. I appreciate the medium tremendously for that.

[Old_Man_Adam]

I truly believe that with the success of the films it has done one of if not both of the following things :

1) create/ spurn a new generation of comic book collectors

2) rekindle dormant comic book collectors in their late 20’s on 

- in reality, I could speculate that with the onset of things like Key Collector - there is an unquantifiable number of people who just “ buy “ comics to flip , who wouldn’t generally be defined as “ collectors “ per say 

[MR SigS]

1 minute ago, theCapraAegagrus said:

I'm on the "hate" fence of digital comics.

I already work at a computer for about 8 hours/day. I watch hockey games and play video games at home. Have a phone on me constantly for research and etc. Paper comics are one of the very few things I do non-digitally. I appreciate the medium tremendously for that.

I wasn't a fan of the idea when it first hit either, but I have been considering looking into it- Not to read the comics, but to have the quick reference ability, or to get a panel or page image with a few clicks on the keypad. But I'm slow when it comes to updating. 

 

[Robot Man]

I don’t know about “collectors” but the market continues to be very strong. I have seen a big rise in the amount of younger buyers in my area. Guys in their ‘20’s-‘30’s. Especially in GA/SA/BA. Many more “flippers” as opposed to “collectors”. 

I do a lot of shows. Mostly collectibles and antiques. I always bring a few boxes of affordable mostly GA and SA books. There are people in those boxes all day long buying. The comic book market is a lot stronger than most other items I deal in (old toys, advertising, sports and other vintage collectibles). This stuff, if quality, still sells but a lot slower. 

So, I would say more. I just don’t consider them “collectors”...

[THE_BEYONDER]

As already stated, One would have to define “collector” first....

[comicquant]

I think there are more year over year for the past few years.  We even had a new comic shop open in Indy recently which hasn't happened in 30 years.  It also seems like Marvel, DC, Image etc are producing more quality content and making an investment in talented writers.  Some of the series I've read over the last couple of years have been excellent and that has to draw new and dormant readers/collectors.  My 6 year old has "collected" comics for a couple of years but lately I've noticed him reading them frequently.  Last night we were both in the living room reading a stack of comics and he mentioned he was surprised by how good some of the stories were.  I can't give any specific stats etc like some of the dealers here but it definitely "feels" like theres been an increase in interest.  I read printed comics as well as on the glass.  I find digital comics very convenient and I really enjoy comixology unlimited, marvel unlimited and dc universe.  There are 10's of thousands of comics available to read at any time.  But...  I still prefer to go into the LCS and pick up a stack to read.  Its just fun.

[Red_Hood]

18 minutes ago, THE_BEYONDER said:

As already stated, One would have to define “collector” first....

Exactly.... in this day and age... I think they would be defined as "gamblers" more then actual collectors.

[kav]

I would define collector as someone who has at least 2 full longboxes, actively buys back issues and has a decent amount of SA/BA books.

I would put the number at around one million.

[rjpb]

Are we including those who only collect dreck?

[the blob]

35,000 in 1995 sounds absurdly low. I know some people were getting out of the hobby then, but still. Weren't there like 5,000 comic shops at that point? About 500,000 comic listings (could be singles or lots) are sold on ebay a month. We have conventions, stores, other venues. I'd like to think there are 100K+ collectors out there.

[the blob]

"Many more “flippers” as opposed to “collectors.”"

We're getting pretty subjective here. I'd be flipping a lot more if I had the energy to. Does that make me not a collector too?

[Marty Mann]

I stopped collecting in 1954...now I just maintain a collection.

Marty

[the blob]

14 minutes ago, ISureAm said:

Just as long as we don't use R.M.A.'s definition of collector...

Elaborate?

 

[JollyComics]

NYCC and SDCC are pretty overcrowded in last few years. I am sure lot of products that sell everywhere to collectors worldwide.

[Badger]

45 minutes ago, the blob said:

35,000 in 1995 sounds absurdly low. I know some people were getting out of the hobby then, but still. Weren't there like 5,000 comic shops at that point? About 500,000 comic listings (could be singles or lots) are sold on ebay a month. We have conventions, stores, other venues. I'd like to think there are 100K+ collectors out there.

Around 1993 the comic store I worked at had about 100 people with pull lists. Even cutting that in half means that with 5000 shops there were 250,000 solid collectors in the U.S.  I think there are more than that now especially if you include anime and TPB buyers.

[Spidey 62]

2 hours ago, the blob said:

"Many more “flippers” as opposed to “collectors.”"

We're getting pretty subjective here. I'd be flipping a lot more if I had the energy to. Does that make me not a collector too?

Can't someone be both?  I look to find comics that I can flip in order to buy more books for my collection.  My luck is very hit or miss. 

[Robot Man]

Yes, they can. Many people are both. I, myself fall into that category. I pick up books priced right that I can make a little money off too. I usually always, put that profit back into books for my personal collection. There are times I have sold books to pay a bill, put my kids through school or other reasons. I am ultimately a collector in the long run. Nothing wrong with being a "flipper" but I think it a bit sad that some of them just look at the books as a "commodity" and have no real love for the medium its self. But different strokes...