Further, in terms of reach, non-US comics cannot rival or equal Superman, Batman or Spiderman and their ilk.

While internet made it possible for netizens to know non-US comics but as far the global general public is concerned, they are largely unheard of.

On the other hand, Superman Batman, Spiderman and a few other DC/Marvel Superheroes are widely popular not only in North America but also in Europe, Asia and the rest of the world. And in most instances popularity translates to marketability, hence, sales. But I digress.

The US is a tiny comic market.

Comics like Spirou et Fantasio, Tintin, Asterix all eventually sell in *millions* per book, over multiple print runs in dozens of countries, sometimes with *initial* print runs in millions.

Periodicals like Donald Duck & Co. have average sales numbers of 100k-150k per *week* in tiny Norway (5 million people), and probably sell a combined half a million or more a week in Scandinavia alone (though over 3 separate editions). Home grown Norwegian series sell in 100k copies per month. Some Marvel and DC series and other US series like The Phantom have at various times sold substantially more in their Norwegian editions than in the US… (The Phantom at its peak in the 80’s used to sell 150k or more every 2 weeks in Norway…).

Now consider that the Norwegian market is a tiny niche market in Europe – I’m mentioning it because I know it well. Consider the rest of Scandinavia, Germany, France, Belgium etc., and you’ll find series that don’t even get translated into English in some cases that still regularly outsell US comics by large factors. I know e.g. the Japanese market is also massive compared to the US. For that matter, you will find French editions of some Japanese comics likely to outsell most US titles.

And this is without nonsense like the multiple covers and collectors buying tons of issues (in europe, it is normal to assume 3-5 readers per copy sold, rather than multiple copies per reader).