In its submission ahead of the Budget on 26th November 2025, Comic Book UK has called on the Chancellor to back the UK’s comic book publishers and push for growth in the sector.
Based on insights gathered from Comic Book UK members, the submission outlines how the government can help achieve the aims of its Industrial Strategy Creative Industries Sector Plan by exploring tax incentives for the publishing industry, putting in place business support to help the comic industry commercialise and innovate, and by targeting access to new markets and trade shows.
The sales of comics in the UK have grown rapidly in recent years, reaching historic highs including breaking through the £50m barrier in 2022, says Comic Book UK, a newly founded trade association representing British comics publishers.
But much of this demand is currently serviced by imported or translated comics and graphic novels, including US-produced comics from publishers like Marvel and DC, and an explosion of Japanese-originated manga, which has gained popularity following the success of streaming adaptations of the content.
Comic Book UK is campaigning for tax incentives in the publishing industry to match those in film, high-end TV, video games and animation, where estimated benefits range from £1.72 per £1 spent by the Treasury in video games, to a massive £8.30 per £1 spent in film.
The association, its remit distinct from creator driven initiatives such as the Cultural Comics Impact Collective and the UK Comic Development Agency established by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, also argues there is also a need for better business support and advice tailored to the comic book sector, including access to specialist legal, intellectual property and tax advice, as well as guidance on how initiatives like the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme can be applied to comics and graphic novel creation.
Comic Book UK has also called on the Treasury to back Department for Business and Trade initiatives to help publishers access markets through advice, connections and funding to take part in trade shows and trade missions in key territories.
“Comics are a global industry and there are huge opportunities in markets all around the world,” says Comic Book UK’s Mark Fuller.
“Backing the UK’s comic industry in these ways would encourage new entrants to the publishing market, help launch new publications and create and safeguard salaried and freelance careers in the sector.”
• You can read Comic Book UK’s full briefing for the Treasury here (PDF Link)
• Comic Book UK is online at comicbookuk.com
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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What British comic industry? Not France, is it?
No, but surely it’s high time we got back to the days when you played a big part in it? The sales figures for several books are stronger than ever – Jamie Smart’s “Bunny vs. Monkey” books for example, for one. Yes, gone are the days when weekly comics sold over 100,000 a week (and were cancelled if they didn’t), but I prefer to be optimistic.