How the estimate is built
The base is the per-copy range for a 32-page, full-colour, standard-size, saddle-stitched comic at each run size, gathered from public pricing at Mixam, Ka-Blam, PrintNinja and print-on-demand services. Multipliers then apply: page count (extra pages cost about 75% of proportional because setup is fixed), black and white at 0.6x, perfect binding at 1.25x, premium stock at 1.2x, digest size at 0.85x and oversize at 1.3x. A sale price gives the margin per copy; the suggested price is the indie rule of thumb of three to five times cost.
These are planning numbers. Every printer quotes per job, and shipping is on top.
Questions
How much does it cost to print a comic?
For a 32-page colour comic, roughly $2.50 to $4.50 per copy at 100 copies, $1.40 to $2.75 at 500, and $0.90 to $2 at 1,000 on offset. Black and white is about 40% cheaper.