Sadly todays comic market doesnt sell enough titles to sustain at any retail level. 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. The publisher is creating a new distribution network for print comic books. Comics price guide was the first online price guide for comic books back in 1995. Comics retailers hope to rebound in 2018 publishers weekly. How distribution has saved and is now killing comics duration. Thank you for your patience and feedback during this process. While i do think this is an interesting strategy probably hearkening back to the days of watchmen and dark knight returns, both prestige comics that sold better as trades i think its not enough. Mar 30, 2020 neither the second world war nor 911 stopped weekly comic book distribution to comic stores. Sep 11, 20 comic book problems how to store and organize. New comic books will not be distributed until further notice. Comic store owners have shuttered their shops and the distribution of new titles has been frozen. Twx bought into a single distribution idea that begat diamond comics distributors, inc.
Diamond comic distributors furloughs some employees due to. Diamond comics announced they have shut down new weekly comic distribution going forward. Product distributed by diamond and slated for an onsale date of april 1st or later will not be shipped to. The industrywide fear is that the covid19 epidemic and its aftermath will push the number of comic shops below a critical mass where the current distribution system makes economic sense. Coronavirus in pa will comic books be changed forever after. What you should know about diarrhea guatemala, 1993 people have been writing us for 510 years about referencing a jack t chick comic. The history behind dcs comic book distribution changes. New comics delayed across industry in wake of coronavirus. Americas main comic books distributor just shut down amid. It was the great depression of comic books, and recovery remains elusive. The challenge facing all comic book publishers is just how to respond to the current situation. So far, since june, weve yet to receive a single issue of the new dc rebirth comics that hasnt been hulksmashed into oblivion.
Aug 30, 2019 today, the most important thing any author needs to know about distribution is that more than half of all book sales regardless of format take place online. Writers and artists continue to produce work, not knowing how or when readers will be able to see it. Diamond comic distributors exclusive distributor of dc comics, marvel comics, and image comics will stop shipping new books for an indefinite period. Dc, for example, has already chosen to reduce their line by somewhere between 10 and 15 percent in order to lessen the amount of content on the shelves at any one time. 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.
In an email to their vendors, obtained by newsarama, president of geppi family enterprises stan heidmann explains the reason for putting their payments on hold is due to cash flow problems resulting from the fact that their customers are no longer paying them. Entertainment and many others, diamond is your fullservice source for a complete line of bestselling comic. Diamond comics is the largest comic book distributor that ships new books from marvel comics, dc comics, image comics, dark horse comics, valiant entertainment, boom. Heroesworld were not equipped to deal with nationwide distribution. This kind of approach poses significant barriers to casual readers, who are thinking of dipping their toe into comics. They offer incredible deals, and have a highfunctioning web site. Looking at those numbers, things look like they have stabilized or even improving in recent years. That first year, just 6% of their total distribution was direct sales to comic shops and said to be over 10% for more popular titles like xmen, but by the 19851986 timeframe it was an even 5050 split. Coronavirus in pa will comic books be changed forever. Lets have a quick run around the current direct market comic book distribution issue, shall we. The comic books themselves and various articles on the subject matter were analyzed to come to a conclusion.
Mar 14, 2019 if you read the headlines, you might firmly believe that the comic book industry is in a state of total, imminent crisis. What exactly is the problem with diamond comic distributors. As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same at least for the comic book. The coronavirus pandemic has brought the comic book industry to a screeching halt, with no new comic books arriving in stores for the past three weeks. 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. 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. Selfpublished authors have the same access to online retail distribution as the major publishers. These comic book shops differ from larger retail bookstores in that they offer a wider and more exclusive selection of comic books and feature rare collectibles.
Publishing has always had a razorthin profit margin and a publisher has to sell books to make money to recoup their printing costs. Retailer products we offer diamond comic distributors. Apr 10, 2020 dan didio on where dcs new 52 went wrong, the problem with rebirth. In the early days of the comic book industry, comic books were distributed like newspapers to newsstands and drug stores. Thank foc its monday for dc comics, ucs, lunar and diamond. 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. Last updated by mat inferiorego elfring on apr 12, 2010 10. With everything going on in the world right now, its been made even more apparent that diamonds monopoly on comic distribution is a serious problem.
Marvel comic books are one of the grand comic books produced by marvel entertainment. I organized my comics by title and distribution company marvel, dc, image, ec, exc. The two big players marvel and dc, today owned respectively by walt disney co nyse. Last week i wrote about how we can build a better comic book industry. Borys kit the distributor for marvel, dc and other companies predicts a mid to latemay time frame for. Diamond comic distributors releases official statement on. Largest us comics distributor wont ship new books until. I think part of the problem is that places that report comic book sales are reporting what get shipped from the distributor, diamond comic distributing, since they are the one and only left. You should watch this part of sfdebris rise and fall of the comic empire in order to understand everything that happened, but basically. Captain america comic book at a store in new york march 7, 2007.
Mar 31, 2020 diamond comic distributors is holding previouslyscheduled payments to its vendors this week, attributing their decision to cash flow difficulties due to coronavirus impact on the supply chain. The concept of the direct market was created in the 1970s by phil seuling. Dan didio on how dcs new 52 went wrong, rebirths problem. A brief history of comics distribution and that pesky. A new comic book distributor with big ambitions launches. The research found that comics have many instances in which social problems are included in the story line. Dcbs is a highly professional comic book preorder site. Comics released every few weeks, as opposed to the collected editions available in bookshops or on amazon, arent returnable.
Comic book retailers struggling after diamond pulls plug. Bookscan reported that graphic novel sales fell 5% last year although they rose 12% in 2016. During a drink and draw livestream alongside marvel editorinchief joe quesada, didio discussed where he felt. Diamonds figures only cover retailer purchases in the united states, and thats a very limited dataset. Written and edited by archie goodwin, with artwork by such industry notables as gene colan, frank frazetta, john severin, alex toth, and wally wood, it featured war stories in both contemporary and period settings, unified by a humanistic theme of the personal costs of war, rather. Some will, some wont, but the landscape of the comic book industry will change. The premier online comics price guide free comic book values. But as he runs out of other peoples problems to solve, hell finally have to face his own. The move essentially paralyzes a significant part of the comic book industry for the foreseeable future. Diamond halts all comic book distribution during coronavirus pandemic. Why are comics shops closing as superheroes make a mint. 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. Read over 75,000 comics and over 700 free comics available from publishers such as marvel, dc, image, boom, idw, top shelf, and oni press on your iphone, ipad. Distribution has historically been a problem for the comic book industry with many mainstream retailers declining to carry extensive stocks of the most interesting and popular comics.
Marvel and dc are taking steps to save comic book shops. My point is that ive been a keen observer of book and magazine distribution since the 60s, and the changes and evolution and the problems that ive seen during all this time are fairly astonishing. It just kind of galvanizes me into wanting another distributor, or hell, starting one. Comics the problems with distribution the dreamcage. In this instance, there have been a few books that have had a problem with the mylar inside the holder having a wavy factor. Diamond comic distributors has released an official statement on its move to no longer receive shipments of new comics at its warehouses. Mar 23, 2020 how distribution has saved and is now killing comics duration. Entertainment and many others, diamond is your fullservice source for a complete line of bestselling comic books and graphic novels. Comic shop retailers voted now find out which suppliers and products have been honored. The real reasons for marvel comics woes the atlantic. State of comics with diamond, marvel, dc, image and more. 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. In reality, though, the data hides a lot of problems.
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. I prefer the convenience of a book or dvd on a shelf and the ease of finding a title. Marvel comics have different titles and mostly the stories talks about superhuman characters or fantasy and nonfiction stories. This week i wanted to get more specific and identify discrete problems and the possible opportunities therein that were facing. Back in 2017, a meet the publishers panel at san diego comic con kicked off a storm when the heads of dc comics states an intention to stop the collapse of the comic book industry. Top digital comics distributor opens its platform to independent artists. That, or comic book titles would have to be bundled up into one book, much like japanese manga. An honest discussion about comic book distribution youtube.
Diamond comic distributors halts shipments of new comics in response to covid19 shutdowns. As comics direct market struggles, a surprising publisher rises. How to save the comic book industry observation deck. Following its announcement that it will cease shipping new comics as of this week, diamond comic distributors informed vendors that it will be unable to make payments as it experiences cash flow. Our traditional comic book format can be bound with a budgetfriendly saddlestitched stapled binding or print your series anthology with our perfect binding. Its the volume of sales that keeps a title in print. Comic book stores are usually defined by their community business style. May 24, 2017 the real reasons for marvel comics woes.
It was a good place for comics at the beginning, but the system had three big problems. Comic book industry shows signs of reopening hollywood reporter. The impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic has reached the hall of justice and avengers mountain. Diamond distributors, the distributor for marvel and dc, will no longer be shipping. Comic book distribution service better business bureau. This week, our artists paired sonic the hedgehog and sonicrelated characters with other comic book characters. It was a massive week for television trailers and promos, with all of the biggest assembled right here. So can someone eli5 on why this company is hated so much. Kick it oldschool with a traditional comic book sized at 6.
I heard they have bad distribution and screw over local comic book shops but i think there might be more to it. Comic book stores sell comic books and related paraphernalia, such as action figures, models, posters, and more. The idea isnt to be negative about the industry, but to take the first step toward addressing the issues by exposing the problems. From our humble beginnings, we have grown to the largest, most complete comic book price guide with well over 1,000,000 comics in our database. Distribution of comic book creation on comic books into. There are many different authors of marvel books coming in series. 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. Diamond comics distributors ceases receiving products for.
Dan didio on how dcs new 52 went wrong, rebirths problem cbr. Im not a fan of long boxes and the hassle of pulling the heavy things out when im gonna look for a specific title. Digital distribution has opened the market to readers who would never set foot in a comic book store, and. This access is also largely without upfront costs, making it straightforward for any. Digital distribution has opened the market to readers who would never set foot in a comic book store, and allowed readers and publishers to take risks sampling titles that fall outside the. New comic books will not be distributed until further notice 2057787 posted by williamjames88 on march. Is the comic book industry dying the actual physical. Diamond comics distributors, the company that controls distribution for every major comic book publisher in the u.
The main issue is the retail model of comics themselves, which involves retailers purchasing comics from diamond distribution, then selling them on to customers. Sold by big robs books and ships from amazon fulfillment. Okay, heres our first link to something about a jack t chick comic. We have values for any marvel, dc, image, idw, darkhorse, or dell comic book that is in your collection. They ship their products safely and securely, they send out tracking. Get a 30day free vrv trial now for adfree access to all your favorite shows, anime, and cartoons using my link.
The problem is that the comics are not selling in stores. However, they are not the only graphic novel distributor as graphic novels tend to be spread across multiple distributors in the book market. Former dc copublisher dan didio has spoken about the issues with the new 52, as well as the biggest problem with the dc rebirth initiative. Yes, diamond would be the biggest and most used when it comes to comic book distribution. Diamond comics distributors experiencing cash flow problem, wont pay vendors this week. One of the unique challenges in comics is the monthly gamble on what will sell.
Diamond comics announces they will hold payments to vendors. In order to purchase a comic, a prospective reader has to go out of their way to find a local comic book retailer that happens to stock the book theyre interested in. Its hardly breaking news that sales at comics shops were down significantly in 2017 compared to 2016. Diamond warns of cash flow problems, halts payment to vendors. The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for american comic books.
The real reasons for marvel comics woes a recent push for diversity has been blamed for weak print sales, but the companys decadesold business practices are the true culprit. Temporary comic book distribution solution using comichub. My 2012 book comic con and the business of pop culture mcgraw. Full set of dells lobo comics the first african american character to get his own comic book series. Nov 15, 2011 thanks for the explanation of comic book distribution. Legendary comics creator nicola cuti, creator of eman and moonchild the starbabe, has passed away at the age of 75. After saving the universe, steven is still at it, tying up every loose end. Here, then, are all the problems that the comic book industry has and potential solutions. Other sites discussing new cgc case problems the comic. The smartphone and the tablet have turned out to be an ideal medium for online distribution.
Jan 18, 2019 2018 was a dire year for the network of independentlyowned comic book stores that form the backbone of the distribution channel for periodical comics in the united states. In nearly a year of being a customer with diamond comic distribution, im willing to bet ive only received a handful of weekly orders that havent been at least partially damaged. In late march diamond comic distributors announced that they would be closing down their warehouses as a result of covid19, which left comic book stores if they are still open with no new issues. But covid19 means production and distribution is now on hold, and the future of comics is up in the air. The question this study asks is what the relationship between comic books and social problems is. Currently dubbed as the new distributor wars of 2020, over twenty years since the last flurry. In a recent livestream, former dc copublisher dan didio discussed the problems that befell the new 52 and rebirth initiatives. Dec 06, 2018 an honest discussion about comic book distribution alterna comics. Diamond comics distributors experiencing cash flow problem. With all the existing distribution and other problems, i dont think this would work. Blazing combat was an american warcomics magazine published quarterly by warren publishing from 1965 to 1966. Nov 08, 2015 and for many of these comic book examples, it takes an understanding of the difference between direct edition and newsstand edition copies, before you can truly appreciate just how collectible some of these rarities are. I did my homework on the company and i do know it is the last remaining comic book distributor and i do hear how everyone and i mean everyone hates this company.
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