Jun 20, 2017 the comic book store, a quaint bit of americana or a dank haven for misanthropic dorks, seems to be perennially on its death bed, the victim of a monopolistic distribution model that keeps killing. It lays out plans for diamond comics to return to distribution of new comic books to comic book stores, where shops are open to take in new. The comic book industry began mainly to reprint comic strips published in newspapers during the 1930s, but soon the industry changed with the commission of original strips for the format. Entertainment and many others, diamond is your fullservice source for a complete line of bestselling comic books and graphic novels. The goto distributor for american comic books is diamond. Diamond will cease comic book distribution to stores. The key to this business is to be a successful trader. Economic woes, pandemic closures and distribution troubles threaten comic book stores daniel p.
So who are lunar distribution and ucs comic distributors. The king is undead was the months bestselling graphic novel. Matt traughber, an owner of the vintage phoenix comic bookstore, packs comics to distribute to subscribers a day early new comics are typically released wednesdays during the covid19coronavirus national emergency in bloomington, the shop will close entirely wednesday after indiana governor eric holcomb issued an order that all non. Comic book network cbn is an integrated content studio and distribution platform fueled by our enduring fascination with comics. William schanes was the teenage founder of pacific comics, the comic store that became a chain, a creatorowned publisher and a comic book distributor before it. While they monopolies in some ways, dimonds model is eroding in terms of its representation and control of market distribution. Comic book dealers have evolved into fullscale entertainment retailers, offering customers a wide variety of comic books, graphic novels, toys, games, trading cards, apparel and more.
Mar 25, 2020 with mondays announcement that diamond comic distributors will be suspending delivery of new comics as of april 1, comic book retailers across the country are expecting to shut their doors. Neither the second world war nor 911 stopped weekly comic book distribution to comic stores. Mar 24, 2020 diamond comics distributors, the company that controls distribution for every major comic book publisher in the u. Diamonds steve geppi to pause distribution of comic books. Comic book retailers struggling after diamond pulls plug. Dc comics will use other distribution methods to get. New comic books will not be distributed until further notice. Marvel and dc are taking steps to save comic book shops disrupted. Mar 31, 2020 thanks to diamond comic distributors nearmonopoly on new comic distribution, the impact of covid19 is changing how comic books are bought and sold in america. Additionally, in order to lessen the financial burden on comic book shops, dc will be making all comics with instore dates between march 18. Portland comic book industry faces double challenge. Americas main comic book distributor just shut down amid.
Diamond stops shipping comics to stores as shelterin. Diamond is the largest distributor of comics in north america, with exclusive distribution arrangements with most major publishers including marvel comics, dc comics, dark horse, idw, image and. When you visit a comic book shop, youre stepping into a world of wonders. A brief history of comics distribution and that pesky. Comic book retailers struggling after diamond pulls plug on. Longtime local comic book shop closes after pandemic halts. Will comic book stores survive without diamond distribution. Some will, some wont, but the landscape of the comic book industry will change. Marvel and dc are taking steps to save comic book shops. Nov 15, 2011 thanks for the explanation of comic book distribution. Komico is one of the first comic book store in montreal. Find out whats happening at your local comic book shop with our 2020 calendar of special occasions and instore events. Diamond postpones free comic book day 2020 as the impact and spread of the coronavirus covid19 continues to evolve, diamond comic distributors has made the difficult decision to postpone the event to a date later in the summer. While we know that the pace and process of reopening stores will be.
You will need to resubmit orders for dcs upcoming titles. I worked in comic book distribution for nearly a decade mostly for diamond. She is the publisher of the hot sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named publishing commentator of the year by digital book world in 2019. Diamond held a virtual monopoly on distribution to comic book stores until this month, when dc announced it would use alternative methods. As the exclusive distributor to the comic book specialty market for our premier publishers marvel comics, dc comics, image comics, dark horse comics, idw publishing, dynamite entertainment and boom. The publication is available to both comic shop retailers and consumers. A sustainable comic book from the big two is about 35,000 units. The major distributors during this period included.
Based in san marcos tx, we are a family oriented company that distributes products for independent. Mar 31, 2020 additionally, in order to lessen the financial burden on comic book shops, dc will be making all comics with in store dates between march 18 and june 24 fully returnable. Marvel comics was the months top publisher overall. Diamond comics makes plan to return to distribution in. Find out why comic book shops are a great place to discover comics and join a community of people just like you. Its the volume of sales that keeps a title in print. Normally, some 6 million extra comics are distributed for the day and around 1. Diamond comics distributors, the company that controls distribution for every major comic book publisher in the u. Dc comics announces new distribution model dc comics news. Diamond dominates the comic book distributor industry. The purchasing guide for starting a comic book store. The nations major comic book distributor is halting distribution of new comics, presenting a significant challenge to portlands comic industry. The email came in response to comic book retailer ryan higgins. Diamond comic distributors is the worlds largest distributor of englishlanguage comic books, graphic novels and related popculture merchandise.
Lunar distribution and ucs distributors are sister companies to discount comic book service and midtown comics, two large presences in the mailorder realm. Apr 17, 2020 the following letter was sent by diamond comic distributors to retailers and publishers today. Thanks to diamond comic distributors nearmonopoly on new comic distribution, the impact of covid19 is changing how comic books are bought and sold in america. Monthly sales data for comics comes from comic book distributors who serve comics shops in north america. Mar 25, 2020 bloomington, united states march 24, 2020. With mondays announcement that diamond comic distributors will be suspending delivery of new comics as of april 1, comic book retailers across the country are expecting to. Thanks to diamond comic distributors nearmonopoly on new comic distribution, the impact of. Apr 17, 2020 i worked in comic book distribution for nearly a decade mostly for diamond. Diamond comics distribution years ago bought out or defeated so many competitors thanks in part to exclusivity arrangements with major publishers that it became comic retailers sole source for. Dc comics will use other distribution methods to get comics. Matt traughber, an owner of the vintage phoenix comic bookstore, packs comics to distribute to subscribers a day early new comics are typically released wednesdays during the covid19coronavirus national emergency in bloomington, the shop will close entirely wednesday after indiana governor eric holcomb issued an order that all nonessential. You must know the fair market prices for rare comic books and you must buy them for less than the going prices in order to resell them for a profit. Coronavirus threatens iowas comic stores already on narrow. Comicstore owners have shuttered their shops and the distribution of new titles has been frozen.
Learn about the daytoday activities of a comic book store owner, the typical target market, growth potential, startup costs, legal considerations, and more. Dc comic books are returning to comic shops beginning tuesday, april 28. Writers and artists continue to produce work, not knowing how or when readers will be able to see. How to save the comic book industry observation deck. Diamond has experienced this kind of threat before, both publicly and behind the scenes, and they have a deep playbook for it. A new seattlebased company has been established that one day hopes to offer competition to the predominant distributor of comic books. It lays out plans for diamond comics to return to distribution of new comic books to comic book. After surveying more than 2,000 stores across the u. Come any time and take the time to browse our huge collection, feel free to ask questions if you have doubts or need help. Founded in 1982, diamond comic distributors has become the lynchpin of comic books and pop culture with its multichannel platform of publishing, marketing and fulfillment services. Apr 10, 2020 comic store owners have shuttered their shops and the distribution of new titles has been frozen.
Diamond comic distributors sets may target to reopen industry. Thanks for the explanation of comic book distribution. The history behind dcs comic book distribution changes. Lee for instance is a bit like a comic book encyclopedia, and has the most amazing stories to tell, so does the rest of the team. Ron hill, owner of new york shop jim hanleys universe, says he. Diamond to ship comics to stores again in may, dc goes it. A new comic book distributor with big ambitions launches. Mar 24, 2020 will comic book stores survive without diamond distribution. Newsstands were plentiful in the 1930s and 1940s and the industry flourished. If lunar and usc can secure distribution rights for marvel as well, they have a chance of succeeding. We are also the exclusive distributor to the comic book specialty market for dark horse comics, dc comics, image comics, marvel comics, and many others.
Steve geppi, head of diamond comic distributors, which distributes nearly. This is an enormous blow to the direct market and will more than likely hit. Diamond stops shipping comics to stores as shelterinplace. As a result, comic book specialty shops have flourished.
Before i do that, im going to write in a longwinded manner about the history of the modern comic book business, to put my ideas in context. The concept of the direct market was created in the 1970s by phil seuling. Dc is creating a new distribution network for print comic books, and in. New comic books will not be distributed until further notice 2057787 posted by williamjames88 on march. Mar 26, 2020 as distribution is cut off, comic book shop owners across the nation weigh in on the uncertain future for their shops and the industry as a whole. Coronavirus in pa will comic books be changed forever after. Find out whats happening at your local comic book shop with our 2020 calendar of special occasions and in store events.
Retailer products we offer diamond comic distributors. A comic book store makes money by purchasing comic books and and reselling them for a profit. Comicspro is a trade association for comic book retailers. Diamond has officially announced that they will cease comic book distribution to stores due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dc announces return to shipping comics for 427 with. I have some ideas, some suggestions, i want to put on the table about comic book distribution.
Back the comeback is a multiphased campaign focused on supporting local comic and game stores as they reopen, restart and rebuild. Publishing has always had a razorthin profit margin and a publisher has to sell books to make money to recoup their printing costs. It currently consists of diamond comic distributors, which has monopolized such distribution having exclusive deals with major comic book publishers, and the majority of comics specialty stores, as well as other retailers of. Sadly todays comic market doesnt sell enough titles to sustain at any retail level. Our guide on starting a comic book store covers all the essential information to help you decide if this business is a good match for you. The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for american comic books. Thanks to diamond comic distributors nearmonopoly on new comic distribution, the impact of covid19 is changing how comic books are bought and sold in. As a consequence of comic book stores across the country being forced to shut their doors amongst the novel coronavirus outbreak, the comic book industry as a whole all but came to a stop. Newsarama is also reporting that any books that were to be released between april 1st through april 15th were canceled, telling stores to re. After a fourweek break, fans can celebrate that new superhero stories will be arriving at operating retail stores. Diamond to ship comics to stores again in may, dc goes it alone.
Diamond comic distributors, inc is a comic book distributor serving retailers in north america. While they are making all comic books from over a week ago until the end of june returnable, it seems that dc comics will. We are a volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the comic book specialty market. Dc comics will use other distribution methods to get comics to stores. Up to 50% off preorder, mail order comics, trade paperbacks and collectibles from dc, marvel, dark horse, image, boom. Marvel and dcs distributor to stop shipping new comic books. Print media is such a major facet of the industry and the current pandemic is taking its toll economically on all sides of business. Mar 14, 2017 a new seattlebased company has been established that one day hopes to offer competition to the predominant distributor of comic books in north america, diamond comic distributors. The comic book store, a quaint bit of americana or a dank haven for misanthropic dorks, seems to be perennially on its death bed, the victim of a monopolistic distribution model that. How can an independent comic book creator distribute hisher.
The comic book industry faces a new fight amid the coronavirus. Before the direct market, most comic books were distributed through newsstands, pharmacies, and candy stores. With mondays announcement that diamond comic distributors will be suspending delivery of new comics as of april 1, comic book retailers across the country are expecting to shut their doors. We are also the exclusive distributor to the comic book specialty market for dark horse comics, dc. Other publishers in talks with lunar for comic shop distribution. Diamond has experienced this kind of threat before, both publicly and behind. Cbn is driven by a mission to deliver creatorowned and independently published content to fans across a dynamic network of digital, linear, and experiential touchpoints. As distribution is cut off, comic book shop owners across the nation weigh in on the uncertain future for their shops and the industry as a whole. First, because of the global distribution disruption, all orders placed with diamond comic distributors for instore dates of 41, 48, and 415 have been cancelled with diamond. Diamond comic holds exclusive distribution rights for most of the biggest comic book publishers in the market.
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