Comic books have been around since the end of the 19th century. Over the last couple of decades, the industry has had a niche following but those that adore comics definitely were big fans not just of the heroes that star in them, but also of the artists behind them as well.
The heroes we’ve come to know and love are appearing in movies, TV shows, video games, and even slot machines. For slot machines, you can find a full list here of some comic book-themed slots that you can play online. True enough, the influence of comic books has gone above and beyond the once niche market.
What of the comics themselves? Have they become just as mainstream as the other mediums that the heroes themselves appear in? Some believe that until now, comic books are still a pretty niche market. It’s time to settle the score on whether or not comic books are finally mainstream this 2021.
Comic Books Selling Better Than Ever Before
Since the turn of 2010, comic books have started to become bigger sellers. Then past the half-mark of the previous decade, comic books have begun selling more than they ever did in a span of 20 years. There’s no doubt that comic books have already reached mainstream popularity.
By now, you’re probably well aware of why they’ve become popular once again. That’s because of the massively successful Marvel Cinematic Universe which first began in 2008 with Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. What started as a simple project expanded into an entire universe featuring films, TV shows that have made the heroes more popular than they were.
Aside from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we also have the DC Extended Universe to thank for the newfound popularity of comics as well. Although DC is yet to find similar success when it comes to films, there’s no doubting that they’ve dominated the TV show space with amazing series like The Flash, Arrow, and many more.
How did the movies and TV shows help in making comic books more popular again? For one, it made the heroes more accessible in a medium that kids, families, and adults can enjoy. Of course, it also helps that the artists that portrayed the comic book favorites did such a fine job.
Because of their popularity, kids and other people are now willing to explore the world of superheroes beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe. What better way to explore the lives of these heroes than with comic books. What’s even better is that there are decades worth of content to get into.
There are many story arcs for comic books to get into. Both DC, Marvel, and other comic book publishers are exploring many great stories. What’s even better is that there are some stories that are directly related to the film franchise so it’s a good starting point for fans that got in through the films.
Currently, the most popular series are those in relation to the films. For instance, Marvel is making it big with the Infinity Gauntlet saga. Although the comics are classics by today’s standards, people are still loving to explore the true origins of the Mad Titan himself.
For the most part, it’s not just comic books themselves that have become popular as well. It’s the entire superhero genre that has taken the world by storm. The only major hindrance when it comes to the popularity of comic books is that the price of certain issues is growing more and more.
The truth is that the comic book industry is and has always been intended for hobbyists and collectors. Never did publishers expect that the popularity of movies will help bring a new age for comic books. While comic books are becoming expensive, people are looking towards other mediums to begin supporting the heroes they’ve come to know and love.
What are the mediums that are taking the comic book world by storm?
Video Games
Superheroes and video games go well together. There have been many great superhero video games before the launch of the MCU and DCEU but since these film franchises have launched, we’ve started to see more and more amazing console and mobile games based on comics.
Some amazing games that have launched over the last couple of years include Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Marvel’s Avengers, and Injustice 2. These video games let us live out our superhero fantasies in an interactive medium which is why they are so successful.
Toys
Comic book-based toys have always been popular but since the beginning of the rise of comic books, we’ve started to see a growing number of comic book-based toys even more. There are collectible figurines and action figures based on the heroes we love and it’s amazing what toymakers can come up with.
Kids are now more excited to drop by the toy store because they know that there’s always a new action figure of the superhero they love. Like comic books, these toys can satisfy the hearts of collectors as well.
Online Comic Slots
Online casinos are tapping into the hype by creating online slot machines based on superheroes and comic books. For the most part, these are just traditional slots but with exciting prizes and mechanics. It’s a good way to encourage comic book fans who are also gamblers at heart.
These comic slots are readily available in online casinos. If you want to give your luck a test, it would be a great way to do so with the guidance of your favorite heroes. These slots have great and exciting prizes too so the gamble you take may very well pay off if you’re lucky enough.
Comic books are definitely mainstream. They actually have been for a long while now. There’s no doubt that the journey ahead for the industry is long and rewarding. For fans, there’s just a lot of content to get into in the next couple of years and possibly even decades. Let’s just hope that publishers can keep up with the demand.
