The Great Sales War: Why DC is Dominating Marvel in 2026

Back in January, we asked a question that was on a lot of minds: Is DC Really Beating Marvel? (In Sales). At the time, the numbers were starting to shift, but it wasn't totally clear how big the change was. Now we've got a few more months of data, and it's worth circling back.

The Numbers

In Q1 2026, DC had a 34.7% market share. Marvel had 29.4%. That's a 5.3 point gap, which is the biggest lead either company has had over the other since the New 52 launched back in 2011.

To put that in context, in Q4 2025, DC was at 32.6% and Marvel at 29.6%. So DC grew by about two points while Marvel actually dropped a little. The trend is pretty clear.

What's Working for DC

The Absolute Universe

The Absolute line launched in October 2024, and it's been the main driver of DC's numbers. These are new versions of the classic characters, and they're selling well.

Absolute Batman is the biggest one. Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta are on it, and the book is moving around 300,000 copies per issue. That's the new baseline, not a peak. Issue #1 did closer to 400,000 in its first six weeks and has gone back for eleven reprints. Most successful comics get two or three.

The first fourteen issues of Absolute Batman sold over 3 million copies total. The entire Absolute line moved over 8.2 million units in 2025. For comparison, Snyder's New 52 Batman #1 sold about 225,000 copies back in 2011. So the Absolute book is outperforming that run by a decent margin.

Compact Comics

The other piece of this is the DC Compact Comics line. These are $9.99 collections that pack a full story arc into one book. They're cheap, easy to find, and they seem to be bringing in people who don't normally buy comics.

In January 2026, fifteen of the top twenty superhero graphic novels were from DC. Eight of those were Compact Comics titles. It's not just existing fans buying these—the format is pulling in new readers and people who drifted away from the hobby.

What's Going on with Marvel

Marvel hasn't had a big hit on the same level as Absolute Batman. The Ultimate Universe 2.0 has been winding down, and the publisher has had some internal issues, including layoffs that have affected morale.

The one area where Marvel has held strong is crossovers. The Deadpool/Batman and Superman/Spider-Man books have sold well. But those are team-ups, not Marvel solo titles.

What We're Seeing in the Shop

At the shop, we've noticed the Absolute books moving consistently. Absolute Batman #15 introduced the Absolute Joker and sold over 300,000 copies, but the main cover was still going for $15 a week later. Variants were hitting $50. That kind of aftermarket activity usually means people are actually buying these to hold onto, not just to read and flip.

The question we asked in February—"Is DC Really Beating Marvel?"—has a pretty clear answer now. Yes, they are, and the gap is bigger than it's been in a long time.

Whether DC can keep this going or whether Marvel has something planned to catch up is the next question. We'll see what the rest of the year brings.

What are you seeing at your local shop? Are the Absolute books moving where you are? Or is Marvel still the main draw for your pull list? Drop a comment below or swing by the shop and let us know. We're curious how this looks in different parts of the country.