Diamond Distributors Shuts Down - We Won't Be Getting Any New Comic Books For A While

Diamond Distributors Shuts Down - We Won't Be Getting Any New Comic Books For A While

Self isolation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic can be a tedious business, but at least we have the continuing adventures of our favorite comic book characters to look forward to, right? Wellll....

By MarkCassidy - Mar 23, 2020 05:03 PM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Comics
Source: Via THR

It's the announcement comic book fans the world over have been dreading: Diamond Distributors, the distributor for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, Boom! Studios and Dynamite, has informed publishers that it will no longer be accepting new product at its warehouses, and all shipping to retailers will cease from April 1.

Diamond founder Steve Geppi posted the following to the company's website.

"My only logical conclusion is to cease the distribution of new weekly product until there is greater clarity on the progress made toward stemming the spread of this disease. Product distributed by Diamond and slated for an on-sale date of April 1 or later will not be shipped to retailers until further notice."

Diamond is the largest distributor of English-language comics and graphic novels in the world, so this announcement effectively shuts down the comic book industry for the time being.

There is a possibility that digital releases will still be available, but it seems just as likely that publishers will prefer to maintain day-and-date releases in both digital and print.

We should know more over the next few days, but if had been meaning to re-read some of your favorite comic book runs, now's the time!

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Nightwing1015
Nightwing1015 - 3/23/2020, 5:44 PM
Wait the entire comic industry depends on 1 distributer?

That's incredibly stupid. I didn't know that. You learn something every day I guess
Cbmfilmjunkie
Cbmfilmjunkie - 3/23/2020, 5:47 PM
I miss the before time.

This shit sucks.
noahthegrand
noahthegrand - 3/23/2020, 5:50 PM
It seems like Diamond Distributers is a monopoly to me
PsychoticSpaceRaccoon
PsychoticSpaceRaccoon - 3/23/2020, 5:50 PM
Countless small business comic book shops, already living month to month, will also shut down -- I doubt the government small business stimulus will be enough, sadly.

We're all f**ked.
Bluesman
Bluesman - 3/23/2020, 6:13 PM
@PsychoticSpaceRaccoon - the virus is killing us, man. That's for sure
KWilly
KWilly - 3/23/2020, 5:51 PM
I'm surprised they're all under one roof. Like dang.
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 3/23/2020, 5:56 PM
This is terrible, what will everyone on comic related sites pretend to care about now?
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/23/2020, 6:10 PM
@Reeds2Much -

AbidNaga
AbidNaga - 3/24/2020, 2:39 AM
@Reeds2Much - You mean I'm NOT allowed to get mad at a headline of a series I'm not reading and wish for x/y publisher to go back to their non-existent golden age where everything was perfect?????



But on topic with the Diamond discussion. Things will more than likely go back to how they were within this regard after this whole thing passes. However, from what I've heard from people far more knowledgeable about comic distribution (be it people from my LCS or more well-read opinions online), Diamond has a strong grip around smaller stores so maybe they can come out of this with some kind of change? Again, I don't know enough about how Diamond functions but anyone who does can possibly give some more informed input.
BritishMonkey
BritishMonkey - 3/23/2020, 5:58 PM
Isn't it just until this pandemic is over?
E4Nigma
E4Nigma - 3/23/2020, 6:02 PM
[frick] YOU, CORONAVIRUS!

TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 3/23/2020, 6:02 PM
Yeah this completely sucks. One thing you can actually do while stuck at home and now you can’t get the comics. I mean safety first but damn does this whole thing suck. I can’t imagine how many shops won’t make it. Such a huge blow.
dracula
dracula - 3/23/2020, 6:03 PM
Any way they can distribute their books themselves
SKetCH
SKetCH - 3/23/2020, 6:05 PM
My local comic shop in the California Bay Area is owned & operated by the gentleman that started Free Comic Book Day for the rest of the world. I've met some amazing talent behind some of the greatest comics ever at this location, and they hosted Stan Lee for what I believe was his final appearance in Northern California.

Before this virus, they were already struggling to stay open, as digital sales were hammering in the final nail in the coffin.

Once the shelter-in-place orders were issued for the area, they remained open for curbside pick-ups on new releases for their most loyal customers (those that had their name in Flying Colors' system for subscriptions to books) because the escapism that comes from the world of comics can be considered "essential" to some individuals.

Now, with Diamond Distributors shuttering their doors for the foreseeable future, I'm so heartbroken for Joe & his team. Everything they have done for the industry over the last 4 or 5 decades... I genuinely hurt thinking that this will be what pulls the plug on their business.

From meeting Jim Lee (my artistic idol) to taking my son to the last four Free Comic Book Days, I can't stand to think of a world without Flying Colors.

It may seem trivial to some, especially when compared to the backdrop of the world right now, but comics have been one of the biggest parts of my life for as long as I can remember.

I pray we all make it through this to a world as identical as possible to the one we left.

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay informed, my CBM family!
ElJefe
ElJefe - 3/23/2020, 7:14 PM
@SKetCH - Nice post I enjoyed reading that ... it is sad though and I hope they are able to come back after the world returns to normal. Damn, curbside comic book pickup. Those were some dedicated gents.

Stay safe bro!
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/23/2020, 6:13 PM
Damn one distributor?


That’s a monopoly. Maybe this will make the industry realize they will need more than one in the future; even just as a contingency if the main distributor becomes compromised for any reason.
Oberlin4Prez
Oberlin4Prez - 3/23/2020, 6:15 PM
@BlackBeltJones - Industry is practically dead dude, it's about to become mostly digital before long.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/23/2020, 6:36 PM
@Oberlin4Prez - true but still. One distributor? Come on.
Oberlin4Prez
Oberlin4Prez - 3/23/2020, 6:14 PM
That's ok, after the crap that was announced last week, I don't think there will be too many tears. I feel bad for those employees though.
SensitivityII
SensitivityII - 3/23/2020, 8:29 PM
@Oberlin4Prez - what was announced last week?
shadowspider9
shadowspider9 - 3/24/2020, 10:42 PM
@SensitivityII - The new New Warriors book. It's beyond tone deaf and universally hated.
Bluesman
Bluesman - 3/23/2020, 6:15 PM
Jesus f@*king Christ... One distributor??
soberchimera
soberchimera - 3/23/2020, 6:21 PM
With Marvel Unlimited, Comixology, and now DC Universe, I don't think I've bought a physical comic in 10 years.
MrCamw1
MrCamw1 - 3/23/2020, 6:27 PM
@soberchimera - I bought some a month ago from an antique store that was shutting down.
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