Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
4 posters
:: Forum Home :: American Comics
Page 1 of 1
Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Several different sources have reported this. Here's an article from forbes.com's site:
You can read the rest of the article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2020/03/24/final-crisis-diamond-comic-distributors-halts-shipments-of-new-comics-in-response-to-covid-19-shutdowns/#5760c5f42c71Final Crisis? Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments Of New Comics In Response To COVID-19 Shutdowns
Mar 24, 2020, 01:29pm EDT
Rob Salkowitz - Senior Contributor
The COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly being referred to as an “extinction-level event” for certain kinds of businesses and industries, and nowhere is that closer to the truth than the fragile network of small businesses that sells comics at retail. In addition to all the other issues and uncertainties facing small retailers everywhere, this direct market, thought to comprise roughly 2000 shops in North America and hundreds more worldwide, relies on a single distributor, Baltimore-based Diamond Comic Distributors, to coordinate weekly shipments of new product from dozens of publishers.
On Monday, March 23, Diamond announced it would suspend shipments of new products “until further notice,” in response to a myriad of economic, regulatory and public health concerns related to the COVID-19 situation. In other words, retailers will have no supply of new product, and publishers will have very limited channels to bring their periodicals to market, formalizing what already looks to be an existential crisis for an industry that generated roughly $1.1 billion in sales in 2019 and serves as a primary IP foundry for today’s movie, television, video game and licensing industries.
Economic circumstances really forced Diamond’s hand. With increasing numbers of retailers subject to closure by government shut-down orders, uncertainties throughout the supply chain, shipments on the way to stores that couldn’t receive them, and concerns about the welfare of the company’s own warehouse workers, Diamond realistically had few options.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
MajorHoy wrote:Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments Of New Comics In Response To COVID-19 Shutdowns
I saw that, and today saw stories about digital distribution being halted. I would guess it's an effort not to drive people from the shops.
Mbast1- Posts : 1720
Join date : 2012-02-02
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
I haven't seen anything about overall digital distribution also being suspended yet.Mbast1 wrote:I saw that, and today saw stories about digital distribution being halted. I would guess it's an effort not to drive people from the shops.MajorHoy wrote:Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments Of New Comics In Response To COVID-19 Shutdowns
Newsarama has an article about Dark Horse Comics not releasing any new monthly comic books in digital format until the print versions can once again be made available through stores: https://www.newsarama.com/49605-dark-horse-vows-not-to-release-comics-digitally-until-print-distribution-resumes.html
And according to this article from the Cosmic Book News (https://cosmicbook.news/comic-book-market-collapses-pencils-down), while some independent publishers may be planning to put a halt to work in progress at present, it didn't seem like either DC or Marvel were doing that (yet).
cosmicbook.news wrote:As of now, it seems "pencils down" is only affecting the indie comic book market, as reportedly, both DC Comics and Marvel have told their creators it's business as usual and to keep working on new comic books, which may mean DC and Marvel will release them digitally as presently there really is no way to distribute comic books physically, plus most of the shops are closed.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
MajorHoy wrote:I haven't seen anything about overall digital distribution also being suspended yet.
I think, after reading more, that you're absolutely right. Seems like some independent companies are also dropping digital distribution but that Marvel and DC are not.
Mbast1- Posts : 1720
Join date : 2012-02-02
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
There was this posted on Newsarama yesterday:Mbast1 wrote:I think, after reading more, that you're absolutely right. Seems like some independent companies are also dropping digital distribution but that Marvel and DC are not.MajorHoy wrote:I haven't seen anything about overall digital distribution also being suspended yet.
You can read the rest here: https://www.newsarama.com/49628-dc-s-weekly-comics-to-continue-digitally-during-diamond-stoppage.htmlDC's Weekly Comics to Continue Digitally During DIAMOND Stoppage
By Chris Arrant, Editor
March 29, 2020 12:40pm ET
DC plans to continue digital distribution of its weekly comic books despite the stoppage of its print comic books' release due to the Diamond Comic Distributor's shutdown, according to the publisher's Director of Marketing Services Adam Phillips. In DC's private Facebook page for Direct Market comics book retailers, Phillips confirmed the decision - and explained their reasoning.
"Here's where we are on digital. All our data shows the digital consumer and the physical consumer are two different audiences. For now, we're going to continue to release digital comics, but will revisit this if the pipeline for physical distribution continues to be challenged and disrupted," Phillips posted.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
DC have at least said that when they are able to ship physical copies again, everything solicited from March to July will be returnable. Marvel seem totally uninterested in the plight of retailers.
tony ingram- Admin
- Posts : 7143
Join date : 2009-12-24
Age : 55
Location : The Wilds of Suffolk
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
I guess we'll have to wait and see if/what Marvel may eventually offer to do once everything works its way through the bloated Disney bureaucracy.tony ingram wrote:DC have at least said that when they are able to ship physical copies again, everything solicited from March to July will be returnable. Marvel seem totally uninterested in the plight of retailers.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
tony ingram wrote:Marvel seem totally uninterested in the plight of retailers.
Over the years I've noticed that happen often. That the big publishers don't seem to care about the retailers as much as other venues. I used to see books sometimes released to bookstores before comic shops, and other exclusives to non comic stores. It's weird.
Mbast1- Posts : 1720
Join date : 2012-02-02
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
It's publishers like DC and Marvel trying to find other profitable venues for sales beyond just comic book stores, which are not exactly a growing concern these days. That's why DC tried those exclusive comic books through Walmart here in the U.S. General newsstand sales weren't really succeeding here (especially when you have unsold product that's returnable), so they want to find workable sources in addition to just the comic book stores.Mbast1 wrote: . . . I used to see books sometimes released to bookstores before comic shops, and other exclusives to non comic stores. It's weird.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
I do wonder if any publishers will be releasing their July solicitations this month or not.
After all, they're going to have to deal with eventually rescheduling the late-March through June books that had previously been solicited, and that would probably cover July under a best-case-scenario. (And we don't even know yet when Diamond might be resuming distribution of previously ordered titles.)
After all, they're going to have to deal with eventually rescheduling the late-March through June books that had previously been solicited, and that would probably cover July under a best-case-scenario. (And we don't even know yet when Diamond might be resuming distribution of previously ordered titles.)
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Per Bleeding Cool: "Diamond Comics Makes Plan to Return to Distribution in May"
The following was posted on the Bleeding Cool website:
To read the letter from Diamond, see: https://bleedingcool.com/comics/diamond-comics-plan-return-distribution-may/Bleeding Cool wrote:Confirmed: Diamond Comics Makes Plan to Return to Distribution in May
Posted on April 17, 2020 | by Rich Johnston
The following letter was sent by Diamond Comic Distributors to retailers and publishers today. 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 stock. Bleeding Cool previously reported that Diamond were allowing deliveries to retailers' home addresses if their business addresses are closed up. Previously Bleeding Cool scooped the news of May 17th as a date that Diamond Comics was planning to restart distribution again. The following letter confirms this, stating mid-to-late May as the current intended date. But this will take some ramping up first, and everything currently planned for publication will need a reshuffle.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
So, from what we read now, the "new" Dc Comics distributors for USA, Lunar Distribution and UCS Comic Distributors, virtually unknown entities until now, owned by small comic book seller chain Midnight Comics in NY and DCBS mail order service (can you say "conflict of interests"? ) have started distributing new (but maybe not so interesting) DC comics, like the Dreaming # 20, a 3rd printing of a very recent Batman, Daphne Byrne # 4 (Who?!?) , a new Walmart Giant and so on, printed as of now, while Diamond plans to restart distribution of other Dc comics, like Batman # 92 which have been stored in its warehouses for weeks, along with Marvel, Image and other companies new comics starting next 20 May.
Me, I haven't been to my local comic shop for about two months; also here in Italy all publishers have stopped distributing in comic shops since then and you guys, have you been able to reach your LCS last days to check these "new" Dc comics' output?
Me, I haven't been to my local comic shop for about two months; also here in Italy all publishers have stopped distributing in comic shops since then and you guys, have you been able to reach your LCS last days to check these "new" Dc comics' output?
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
The comic book shop I go to isn't all that "local", and my state (Connecticut) here in the U.S. hasn't really started lifting the orders that required "non-essential" businesses to stay closed yet.Barry_Allen wrote: . . . Me, I haven't been to my local comic shop for about two months; also here in Italy all publishers have stopped distributing in comic shops since then and you guys, have you been able to reach your LCS last days to check these "new" Dc comics' output?
I haven't contacted the store to see if they have any alternatives in place (like curbside pickup of orders placed on line or by phone), but they could have something like that for all I know. The last messages I see posted on the Facebook page were from back in late March, when Diamond announced they weren't going to be shipping new comic books for the foreseeable future.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
FYI, here's some information that was posted on ComicList regarding return dates for some publishing of new comic books again here in the U.S. market:
http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/lists/comiclist-new-comic-book-releases-list-for-05-05-2020DC Comics continues to get comics to retailers through Lunar Distribution and UCS Comic Distributors. Alterna Comics and Scout Comics have announced they will get their products to retailers directly. Other publishers appear to be waiting until Diamond Distribution starts shipping again. Diamond plans on making May 20 their next new comics Wednesday. Marvel Comics has announced they will have new comics available again starting May 27.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Thanks for the info MajorHoy and while Alterna Comics is a very little publisher, Scout Comics (formerly Ardden Entertainment which published Flash Gordon, Casper (!) and a failed revamp of Martin Goodman's Atlas Comics) actually publishes some very interesting comics with new titles every month but I remember that in the past all publishers that tried to sell directly to stores failed, somebody remember Bob Layton and David Michelinie's Future Comics? Of course things could be different now since "boutique" publishers lile TKO Studios appears to be doing fairly well now, judging from their output...
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
According to Newsarama, several publishers would have inquired with the new Direct Market distributor Lunar Distribution about distributing their books to comic shops.
The photo included in the article here linked correctly identifies Christina and Cameron Merkler from DCBService, the mail order service which originated Lunar Distribution last month. The pair has told Newsarama that they have had "several inquiries" from "a few smaller publishers," but have confirmed that Direct Market leader Marvel is not among those interested parties at this time.
"We have had several inquiries and we plan to follow up with them in the next week or so," Merkler tells Newsarama. "We are still adding to our infrastructure and processes and do not want to take on more until those are complete and we have our systems running smoothly."
UBS and Lunar's first week of distribution began last 28 April, with some lesser known DC titles and various reprints on-sale with participating retailers.
The photo included in the article here linked correctly identifies Christina and Cameron Merkler from DCBService, the mail order service which originated Lunar Distribution last month. The pair has told Newsarama that they have had "several inquiries" from "a few smaller publishers," but have confirmed that Direct Market leader Marvel is not among those interested parties at this time.
"We have had several inquiries and we plan to follow up with them in the next week or so," Merkler tells Newsarama. "We are still adding to our infrastructure and processes and do not want to take on more until those are complete and we have our systems running smoothly."
UBS and Lunar's first week of distribution began last 28 April, with some lesser known DC titles and various reprints on-sale with participating retailers.
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Finally it's Wednesday again and so there are new comics coming, among which we have Avengers # 33 (Vs. Moon Knight, pictured below) and Wonder Woman # 755, just see the complete list here!
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Steve Orlando still writing Wonder Woman?
Why?
I'm sorry, but his Rebirth run on Supergirl truly turned me off, and there's not much of what he's written that I really liked.
The one thing from DC that I might be interested in is the one-shot Generation One: Age of Mysteries, but who knows what DC will be doing with that whole event in the post-DiDio continuity of things.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
By the way, now that new comic books are back to being released here in the U.S., are any of them showing up in Europe yet?
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Well, so far my supplier of all things from Diamond Uk has told us customers that some items due to come late March had finally arrived in May, for example they are:
- BATGIRL #45 TERRY & RACHEL DODSON Variant Cover
- CIMMERIAN QUEEN OF BLACK COAST #2 CVR C ED BENES
- DOOMSDAY CLOCK HC VOL 01 Hope Volume 2 with the free slipcase will resurface too soon....
- FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN GIANT #1
- HEATHEN #10
- SPIRIT 80TH ANNIV CELEBRATION TP VOL 01
- TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #121 20TH ANNIVERSARY
- TRUE BELIEVERS Reprints, like EMPYRE VISION #1
I'll let you know as soon I'll have some news about the other items distributed by Diamond Uk from 20 May-on
- BATGIRL #45 TERRY & RACHEL DODSON Variant Cover
- CIMMERIAN QUEEN OF BLACK COAST #2 CVR C ED BENES
- DOOMSDAY CLOCK HC VOL 01 Hope Volume 2 with the free slipcase will resurface too soon....
- FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN GIANT #1
- HEATHEN #10
- SPIRIT 80TH ANNIV CELEBRATION TP VOL 01
- TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #121 20TH ANNIVERSARY
- TRUE BELIEVERS Reprints, like EMPYRE VISION #1
I'll let you know as soon I'll have some news about the other items distributed by Diamond Uk from 20 May-on
Last edited by Barry_Allen on Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:31 am; edited 1 time in total
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Btw the SPIRIT 80TH ANNIV CELEBRATION TP VOL 01 is a great book, with fantastic colous by Laura Martin!
Also coming, should be right now...:
- BATMAN GIANT #4
- CIMMERIAN RED NAILS #1 Cover Cassegrain wraparound
- DC CLASSICS: THE BATMAN ADVENTURES #1
- Image Comics' FAITHLESS II #1 Connecting Cover
- OUR FIGHTING FORCES GIANT #1
- RISE AND FALL OF TRIGAN EMPIRE TP VOL 01 hopefully with this new reprint, this time I'll be able to complete this great series...
- 377/0530 SWAMP THING (last?) GIANT (to be published?) #4
Also coming, should be right now...:
- BATMAN GIANT #4
- CIMMERIAN RED NAILS #1 Cover Cassegrain wraparound
- DC CLASSICS: THE BATMAN ADVENTURES #1
- Image Comics' FAITHLESS II #1 Connecting Cover
- OUR FIGHTING FORCES GIANT #1
- RISE AND FALL OF TRIGAN EMPIRE TP VOL 01 hopefully with this new reprint, this time I'll be able to complete this great series...
- 377/0530 SWAMP THING (last?) GIANT (to be published?) #4
Last edited by Barry_Allen on Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:35 pm; edited 1 time in total
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
My local comic shop started getting deliveries again last week. Though Marvel are apparently shipping only intermittently.
tony ingram- Admin
- Posts : 7143
Join date : 2009-12-24
Age : 55
Location : The Wilds of Suffolk
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
It seems there will be more problems for the revenues of the Diamond group of companies,
this time in distribution in the book channel; in fact, according to Milton Griepp website, Diamond Books Distributors has lost 5 (small) publishers in recent weeks, which they all signed with Simon & Schuster, and they are:
Ahoy Comics,
Heavy Metal Magazine and comics,
Red 5 Comics,
Source Point Press and
Vault Comics.
Small sci-fi publisher Vault Comics made (small) news some month ago when, with a market share of about 1+% entered the top ten publishers of Diamond Comics Distributors in 10th position, as for the market share.
Here's the link
this time in distribution in the book channel; in fact, according to Milton Griepp website, Diamond Books Distributors has lost 5 (small) publishers in recent weeks, which they all signed with Simon & Schuster, and they are:
Ahoy Comics,
Heavy Metal Magazine and comics,
Red 5 Comics,
Source Point Press and
Vault Comics.
Small sci-fi publisher Vault Comics made (small) news some month ago when, with a market share of about 1+% entered the top ten publishers of Diamond Comics Distributors in 10th position, as for the market share.
Here's the link
Last edited by Barry_Allen on Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:09 am; edited 1 time in total
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Diamond must be getting concerned. They've had a virtual monopoly for so long, they seemed unassailable. Evidently not.
tony ingram- Admin
- Posts : 7143
Join date : 2009-12-24
Age : 55
Location : The Wilds of Suffolk
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
And I don't think they can try and buy out their competition as they may have done in the past, but only time will tell.tony ingram wrote:Diamond must be getting concerned. They've had a virtual monopoly for so long, they seemed unassailable. Evidently not.
I also wonder what may be hurting Diamond more: other options for distribution or digital comic books, especially the digital options like Marvel Unlimited that only charge a flat monthly fee rather than a per-an-issue fee.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
tony ingram wrote:Diamond must be getting concerned. They've had a virtual monopoly for so long, they seemed unassailable. Evidently not.
Yes, they have been very skilled in business during last decades in buying all competitors, also competitors which had previously bought other competitors, like Capital City did with Friendly's Frank before, for example; Marvel had previously bought Heroes World in 1994 but....you know it endedMajorHoy wrote:And I don't think they can try and buy out their competition as they may have done in the past, but only time will tell.
MajorHoy wrote: I also wonder what may be hurting Diamond more: other options for distribution or digital comic books, especially the digital options like Marvel Unlimited that only charge a flat monthly fee rather than a per-an-issue fee.
In the past they tried to put a feet in digital distribution by linking the reader's account to the comic shop Diamond account, to earn and make a few percentage of profits to the store but I don't know if this worked given the success of Comixology... About Marvel Unlimited I know that there are also here some readers who usually buy only paper comics who have a Marvel Unlimited account which they use only for Marvel Masterworks reading offers, for example.
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
And now it looks like Marvel Comics may also be dropping Diamond?Barry_Allen wrote:It seems there will be more problems for the revenues of the Diamond group of companies,
this time in distribution in the book channel; in fact, according to Milton Griepp website, Diamond Books Distributors has lost 5 (small) publishers in recent weeks, which they all signed with Simon & Schuster . . .
* https://bleedingcool.com/comics/marvel-exclusively-distributed-to-comic-shops-by-penguin-random-house/
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Sure this means a drop in the amount of invoiced comics for Diamond but, reading the comments written by comic book shop managers on BC it seems that Penguin Random House has a terrible record in serving them and its Free Shipping politics doesn't seem to convince many to choose PRH; also the distributor has no experience at all in distributing comic books, so we'll see what will happen, and someone wrote, do you rembember *Heroes World Distribution* (owned and operated by Marvel in 1995/1997 and whose role as Marvel's exclusive distributor was a failure from the beginning)?
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
Yeah, I remember Heroes World. They did a lot of mail order stuff and had some comic book stores originally. I use to go to one of those stores at the Livingston Mall in New Jersey: I think it was the first comic book shop I ever had been to (back in the late 1970s).Barry_Allen wrote: . . . and someone wrote, do you remember *Heroes World Distribution* (owned and operated by Marvel in 1995/1997 and whose role as Marvel's exclusive distributor was a failure from the beginning)?
MajorHoy- Posts : 2820
Join date : 2012-06-17
Location : Connecticut, North America, Eastern Time Zone, USA
Barry_Allen likes this post
Re: Diamond Comic Distributors Halts Shipments of New Comic Books
MajorHoy wrote:
Yeah, I remember Heroes World. They did a lot of mail order stuff and had some comic book stores originally. I use to go to one of those stores at the Livingston Mall in New Jersey: I think it was the first comic book shop I ever had been to (back in the late 1970s).
I think that was the time when it was operated by founder and original owner Ivan Snyder who had succesfully taken his company to become the third player in the US comics market, with a quota of 8%, when Marvel bought it. I have been a subscriber to The Comics Journal for several years and so followed these "distribution wars" which we had, in a minor way, also in Italy, when Pan Distributione, owned by Panini, started battling the second distributor, Star Shop (itself originated by a comics and manga publisher, Star Comics); nevertheless, they settled ouf of court and started publishing together a catalog, called Anteprima (sort of italian Previews, still published here every month, although now is Panini news, sort of...) where the output from Panini and Star Comics is featured prominently and all other publishers have only a few pages to list (with very few descriptions) their production.
Similar topics
» DC Comics is parting ways with Diamond Distributors
» Diamond Comics Distributors top 2000 Graphic Novels for the 2021!
» What comic books (non-DC / non-Marvel) from American publishers have you been buying?
» What current comic books do you normally buy / read?
» Bakuman - a comic about making comics! By comic-makers!
» Diamond Comics Distributors top 2000 Graphic Novels for the 2021!
» What comic books (non-DC / non-Marvel) from American publishers have you been buying?
» What current comic books do you normally buy / read?
» Bakuman - a comic about making comics! By comic-makers!
:: Forum Home :: American Comics
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum