Your weekly pull-list is in jeopardy. Diamond Comic Distributors, the distributor for some of the most beloved comic book titles including Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, Boom! Studios, and Dynamite, has announced that amid times of struggling businesses, the industry giant has fallen victim to COVID-19, and will be ceasing shipping from 1 April 2020. And no, it’s not April Fool’s.
Informing publishers that it will no longer accept any more new warehouse products, company founder Steve Geppi has taken to its official website to announce the news –
As everyone knows, the world faces ever-increasing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its effects on the comics & collectibles and tabletop gaming industries have been felt far and wide. We are hearing from thousands of retailers that they can no longer service their customers as they have in the past, many of them forced to close by government action or resort to in-person or curbside delivery. Even those still open are seeing reduced foot traffic in most cases, a situation that seems likely to worsen with time.
– Diamond Distributors founder Steve Geppi, on the company’s shutdown.
Our publishing partners are also faced with numerous issues in their supply chain, working with creators, printers, and increasing uncertainty when it comes to the production and delivery of products for us to distribute. Our freight networks are feeling the strain and are already experiencing delays, while our distribution centers in New York, California, and Pennsylvania were all closed late last week. Our own home office in Maryland instituted a work from home policy, and experts say that we can expect further closures. Therefore, 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.
Diamond’s impending shutdown certainly spells bad news for the comics community, especially with it being the world’s largest distributor of English-language comics and graphic novels. It’s not known if digital releases will still be available (chances are it’s a yes), but now would be the best time to reread some of your favourite titles, or finally catch up to that completed comic that you’ve always wanted to check out.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Edwin Teo
