akira comics sl
Akira Comics SL is a privately held Madrid-based specialty retailer founded in 1993 that sells comics, manga, books, games, and pop culture merchandise through a single physical store with an integrated museum, a global e-commerce site, and mobile apps, serving comic enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What akira comics sl does
Akira Comics SL is a privately held Spanish specialty retailer of comics, manga, books, games, and pop culture merchandise, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Madrid. The company operates a single physical retail store at Avenida de Betanzos 74, which integrates a free permanent museum (Museo Akira Comics) of approximately 80 square meters displaying nearly 100 original comic art pieces by artists including Dave Gibbons, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Jim Lee, and Alex Ross. In 2012 it became the first Spanish store to win the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics, and in 2025 it became the first store in history to win the award twice since rule changes in 2022. Customer reputation is anchored by a 9.8/10 average across 26,775 Ekomi reviews.
The core product offering is a broad multi-publisher catalog distributed through omnichannel touchpoints. The e-commerce storefront runs on Oleoshop, supported by dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, a YouTube channel called Akira Comics TV, a blog, an email newsletter, and an event ticketing platform. Academia Akira provides structured reader-training for new customers, while the Obra Social and Cuentacuentos programs extend the brand into cultural and social programming. Authorized retail relationships with Panini Comics, Norma Editorial, Planeta Comic, ECC, Yermo Ediciones, and Salamandra underpin the supply side.
The business model is straightforward direct-to-consumer retail: unit-priced transactional sales of single issues, collected editions, manga volumes, and collectibles, with pricing ranging from approximately €3.33 for budget single issues to €150+ for premium collector editions. Supplemental revenue is generated through in-store events, author signings, and workshops. There is no subscription, licensing, or recurring-revenue model disclosed, no institutional investment, and no disclosed headcount; January 2026 expansion of the physical store with a focus on the manga section represents the most recent concrete growth signal.
akira comics sl firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- akira comics sl
- Legal name
- AKIRA COMICS, S.L.
- Website
- https://akiracomics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Akira Comics SL is a privately held Madrid-based specialty retailer founded in 1993 that sells comics, manga, books, games, and pop culture merchandise through a single physical store with an integrated museum, a global e-commerce site, and mobile apps, serving comic enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
akira comics sl industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Comic Book and Manga Retail
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (459120)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Comic Books & Graphic Novel Collectibles Retail (CRALAGAH), Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA), Adult/Seinen/Josei Comics Publishing (MPAJAGAJ)
Keywords
Where akira comics sl is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madrid
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
akira comics sl business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: One-time transaction-based sales of comics, manga, books, games, and collectibles through physical store and e-commerce platforms
- Event Revenue: Revenue from events, workshops, and author signings at the store
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single comic issues |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Collector's editions and graphic novels |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Manga volumes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Collectibles and merchandise |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
akira comics sl product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Akira Comics SL sells comics, manga, books, games, gifts, and pop culture merchandise through a physical store in Madrid, an e-commerce website (akiracomics.com), and dedicated iOS and Android apps. The store also features a free permanent museum (Museo Akira Cómics) displaying nearly 100 original comic art pieces, and runs the Academia Akira program to develop new comic readers. Revenue is complemented by ticketed events, author signings, and workshops hosted at the store.
Product overview
Akira Comics SL operates a specialized comic book and pop culture retail business with both physical and online channels. The core offering is the Akira Comics Tienda (online and physical store) selling comics, manga, books, games, and gifts. This is complemented by the Museo Akira Comics (a free permanent museum with nearly 100 original comic artworks), Academia Akira (reader development programs), mobile apps for iOS and Android, Akira TV video content, a blog, and event ticketing services. The business has received the prestigious Eisner Spirit of Comics award twice (2012 and 2025).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Museo Akira Cómics: A museum within the Akira Comics store featuring original comic artwork from famous artists including Watchmen, El Edificio, Los Eternos, Wildcats, and other notable works.
Products and services
- Akira Comics Tienda Online (E-commerce storefront) Online storefront selling comics, manga, books, games, and gifts from multiple publishers, with delivery services and product catalog search functionality. Targeted at individual comic and manga readers and collectors worldwide.
- Akira Comics Tienda Física (Physical retail store) Brick-and-mortar retail store in Madrid at Avenida de Betanzos, 74, offering comics, manga, books, games, and gifts with personalized expert service and themed retail districts. Targeted at walk-in customers in Madrid and domestic Spanish visitors.
- Museo Akira Cómics Free permanent museum displaying nearly 100 original comic artworks from European and American artists including Dave Gibbons, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Jim Lee, and Alex Ross, located within the store. Targeted at comic art enthusiasts, collectors, and cultural visitors.
- Academia Akira (Reader development academy) Educational program offering workshops, courses, and activities to cultivate new comic readers and develop appreciation for the comic medium. Targeted at individuals new to comics and manga.
- Akira Comics Eventos (Author signings and ticketed events) Ticketed events and author signings hosted at the Madrid store, including presentations, workshops, and special cultural events. Targeted at comic readers, fans, and cultural visitors.
Companies that use akira comics sl
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
akira comics sl technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
akira comics sl partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Publisher Distribution NetworkcoreDistributes products from multiple major publishers including Panini Comics, Norma Editorial, Planeta Comic, ECC, Yermo Ediciones, Salamandra, and others. Acts as authorized retailer for these publishers.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
akira comics sl competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Dragon: Canadian comic book specialty retailer that tied with Akira Comics for the 2012 Eisner Spirit of Comics award. Most direct peer given shared global recognition at the industry's highest award level and comparable independent-store positioning.
- Forbidden Planet: Largest comic, manga, and pop culture specialty retailer in the UK with a multi-store footprint and strong online platform. Directly comparable to Akira in category focus (comics, manga, games, collectibles) and omnichannel model, though at substantially greater scale.
- Midtown Comics: Major US comic book retailer with Manhattan storefronts and a large online store offering comics, manga, graphic novels, and collectibles. Comparable to Akira through physical-store-plus-e-commerce model and similar product mix.
- Things From Another World (TFAW): Long-running US comic book and pop culture retailer with a strong online store carrying comics, manga, graphic novels, toys, and collectibles. Comparable assortment and similar e-commerce-led specialty retail model to Akira.
- InStockTrades: US-based online comic and graphic novel retailer known for deep discount pricing on new releases and back-issues. Comparable to Akira's online comic retail model, though operates purely digitally with no physical store.
Broad incumbents
- Norma Editorial: Major Spanish comic and graphic novel publisher that also operates its own retail presence. Comparable because it controls both upstream publishing and downstream retail distribution of the same manga/comic categories that Akira sells.
- Panini España: Spanish arm of Panini, the major comics publisher that distributes Marvel, DC, and manga editions in Spain. Relevant peer because it is both a key supplier to Akira and a competing retail/distribution channel for the same content.
- Casa del Libro: Largest Spanish bookstore chain with a sizeable comic and manga section in physical stores and online. Comparable because it competes for the same Spanish-language comic and manga consumer, though from a generalist-book retail base.
- FNAC España: Major Spanish consumer electronics, books, and entertainment retailer with a meaningful comic and manga catalog. Comparable as a multi-category competitor for the same Spanish comic/manga consumer wallet, with greater scale and broader assortment.
- El Corte Inglés: Spain's largest department store chain with a dedicated book and entertainment section including comics and manga. Relevant as a generalist retailer competing for the same consumer spending on physical comic and manga products, especially during seasonal gifting periods.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
akira comics sl social profiles
Digital presenceakira comics sl financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
akira comics sl leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
akira comics sl funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
akira comics sl M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about akira comics sl
What does akira comics sl do?
Akira Comics SL sells comics, manga, books, games, gifts, and pop culture merchandise through a physical store in Madrid, an e-commerce website (akiracomics.com), and dedicated iOS and Android apps. The store also features a free permanent museum (Museo Akira Cómics) displaying nearly 100 original comic art pieces, and runs the Academia Akira program to develop new comic readers. Revenue is complemented by ticketed events, author signings, and workshops hosted at the store.
Is akira comics sl a public or private company?
akira comics sl is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was akira comics sl founded?
akira comics sl was founded in 1993.
Where is akira comics sl based?
akira comics sl is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does akira comics sl make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Retail Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are event Revenue.
Who are akira comics sl's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Dragon, Forbidden Planet, Midtown Comics, Things From Another World (TFAW) and InStockTrades. Broad incumbents are Norma Editorial, Panini España, Casa del Libro, FNAC España and El Corte Inglés.
Does akira comics sl have an API?
No public API is recorded for akira comics sl.
What industry is akira comics sl in?
akira comics sl's product category is Comic Book and Manga Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAAAF, Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail, with a secondary code of CRALAGAH, Comic Books & Graphic Novel Collectibles Retail. Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5945.