Marvel Comics Won't Release Any New Titles Digitally This Week, But That Could Change In Future

Marvel Comics Won't Release Any New Titles Digitally This Week, But That Could Change In Future

Marvel is the final major publisher to weigh in on how the COVID-10 crisis is negatively impacting physical comic book sales, and they've now confirmed that titles will not go on sale digitally tomorrow...

By JoshWilding - Mar 31, 2020 08:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Comics
Source: Newsarama

As we've already reported, the closure of Diamond Comic Distributors means that comic book stores are unable to receive physical copies of new and upcoming titles for the foreseeable future. That's going to hurt retailers in a big way (many of which have been forced to close anyway), and Marvel Comics has now followed DC Comics by cancelling tomorrow's digital sales.

Marvel Entertainment President Dan Buckley shared a statement confirming the news, but noted that this is "a fluid situation with details changing every day." That could point to their stance changing in the coming weeks, especially as Diamond has offered no insight into when they might start printing comics again. Given the ongoing pandemic, however, it's likely to be a while. 

"As you know, unfortunately there will not be any new print titles available at your shops this week. Marvel will also not be releasing any new comic book titles digitally on April 1," Buckley says. "This is a fluid situation with details changing every day, so we appreciate your patience and understanding as we all navigate our way through this."

"As soon as more information is available," he adds "we will outline our longer-term plans and opportunities to support you and the industry."

Continuing to release digital comics puts retailers at serious risk, but Marvel is a business, so there's no way they won't publish comics in some format over the coming months, especially if Diamond is forced to remain closed for a huge part of 2020. It's hard to say what might happen right now.

Titles that were scheduled to be released tomorrow included some Empyre tie-ins, Black Widow #1, Taskmaster #1, and Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1 (all of which are major new titles). 

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TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 3/31/2020, 8:43 AM
I was so looking forward to see Kelly Thompson on Black Widow. This virus is quickly becoming the greatest supervillain of all.
Battabing
Battabing - 3/31/2020, 8:58 AM
@TheUnworthyThor -
Ugh. Her Captain Marvel book is pure dreck.
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 3/31/2020, 9:17 AM
@Battabing - I love it so much. One of my favorite titles going.
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 3/31/2020, 8:48 AM
Wand- ehm, COVID-10: "No More Comics."
Battabing
Battabing - 3/31/2020, 9:02 AM
@Doomsday8888 -
Which villain is COVID-10?
LongMayHeReign
LongMayHeReign - 3/31/2020, 10:11 AM
@Battabing -

Nerdman3000
Nerdman3000 - 3/31/2020, 9:10 AM
I suspect as this pandemic goes on, the comic book industry is going to be forced to go start selling digital only in order to not go bankrupt, and that is pretty much going to be the death of retail comics.
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 3/31/2020, 9:21 AM
@Nerdman3000 - Well Marvel and DC don’t have to worry about going bankrupt but yeah not everyone is going to make it.
JDL
JDL - 3/31/2020, 10:13 AM
@TheUnworthyThor - Yeah I agree on the latter. Some of the smaller publishers will get bought out by content hungry outfits like Netflix but a lot will end up just simply going under imo. As for CB stores its either diversify if you can or prepare yourselves to start circling the drain.
JustALurker
JustALurker - 3/31/2020, 11:41 AM
@Nerdman3000 - going full digital ain’t that bad tho, most of the artists will be freelancers, you don’t have to pay printing companies, more money will be spent promoting comics apps and it gets a wider reach. If comics have any future other than dying out it would be digital.
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 3/31/2020, 10:10 AM
They've taken bars, hockey, baseball, and now comics away from me. I can withstand all that as long as football season isn't delayed because of this shit.
LongMayHeReign
LongMayHeReign - 3/31/2020, 10:16 AM
@blackandyellow -

If it takes away the NFL...

Jackraow21
Jackraow21 - 3/31/2020, 10:27 AM
Let me try to understand this move by Marvel. You’ve got everyone quarantined at home looking for stuff to do. Instead of leaning into digital and promoting heavily via social media channels, you just... stop producing entirely!? To prop up a legacy distribution channel for your physical comic book product which is dying slowly anyway?

This seems... not smart.
JustALurker
JustALurker - 3/31/2020, 11:43 AM
@Jackraow21 - with comics going full digital, artists can become freelancers, quarantine is no longer a problem now and they get to promote their comic apps instead of paying for printing hard copies. EZ money, marvel don’t be stupid.
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 3/31/2020, 11:28 AM
At least that’s one week we’re safe from Marvels “woke comics”.
SerKurtWagner
SerKurtWagner - 3/31/2020, 12:53 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - Oh, good, I hope you enjoy the time in your safe space, away from all the scary people who don't look like you.
rabid
rabid - 3/31/2020, 11:42 AM
Seems like a perfect time to push digital. Same price, less costs on printing and distribution, and far better for the environment. Oh well, I'll go spend $50 on awesome indie books instead.
LSHF
LSHF - 3/31/2020, 12:24 PM
"...But That Could Change In Future".

That goes without saying.
smudgewhat2
smudgewhat2 - 4/2/2020, 1:18 PM
I’m pretty surprised the two majors aren’t going forward with digital. Since that’s the only current option I think many buyers would try it if they haven’t before. In fact unlike movies and tv shows, comics are one medium that could continue to be safely created and distributed by digital means. The Artists never have to leave the house.
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