DC Comics goes around Diamond in an email to comic book stores:
A couple of weeks ago we told you we were working on a solution-focused plan to address the current climate and help us all get back to the business of selling DC comic books, graphic novels, and collectibles in these difficult times, including the exploration of a multi-distributor model that would help to mitigate any further disruption to getting product into the hands of readers. We’d now like to share the details of our plan and next steps for its execution – which took into account your feedback, the market outlook, and the resources available at our disposal.
Current Orders
First, because of the global distribution disruption, all orders placed with Diamond Comic Distributors for in-store dates of 4/1, 4/8, and 4/15 have been cancelled with Diamond. You will need to resubmit orders for DC’s upcoming titles. To that end, instead of simply “lifting and shifting” the same scheduled titles for each of the missed in-store dates, we’ve made changes to the publishing schedule. The new schedule is designed to allow each of you to begin ordering a limited amount of DC product at first, and then ease back into the number of books that represents a normal release schedule from DC when your business can accommodate it.
This tends to indicate further disruption in the establishment comics world even when the lockdowns are lifted, as Bleeding Cool reported yesterday.
Right now, even though Diamond will be returning to comics distribution in a month’s time, we still don’t know if DC Comics will return to Diamond, if other publishers will copy DC’s moves, set up their own rival distributors or join with DCBS and Midtown. Most publishers Bleeding Cool contacted last night were blindsided by DC’s decision and weren’t saying anything right now.
Apparently the comic stores are deeply underwhelmed by DC’s new distribution strategy, which does tend to remind one of Marvel’s failed experiment with Heroes World that led to the establishment of the Diamond monopoly in 1997.
But all this turmoil is of little concern to Arkhaven, which continues to roll without hitch or hesitation thanks to our much-appreciated backers, and is even creating new series and entering new territories. Speaking of which, it’s Monday, so there is a new episode of Chuck Dixon’s Avalon #1, The Street Rules Episode 3: Zero Paperwork, up at Webtoons for your perusal, and, one hopes, enjoyment.
We’re also pleased to show off some of the work of our new Quantum Mortis: A Man Disrupted colorist, an experienced industry veteran who just joined the Arkhaven team last week. This is the cover of the forthcoming Issue #6, and he’s recoloring the first issue prior to that beginning its appearance on Webtoons. It will appear regularly on Thursdays.