Indie Comics without Diamond
The uncertain future of Indie comics distribution
I create and publish comics. Given the recent upheaval in the industry, I feel compelled to talk about the 800 pound gorilla in the room.
Diamond Comics Distributors announced it is filing bankruptcy, sending shockwaves throughout the comic industry, particularly affecting independent comic creators and publishers. Without a buyout of Diamond’s Comic Service, by April 1st, they will close the doors and many independent publishers will have no way to get their books into comic shops.
While Diamond will continue to operate for the next few months, sending them new products to list appears futile, as printing and sending books feels like a losing proposition.
Following the COVID lockdown, most major publishers began leaving, setting the stage for the inevitable fallout we are witnessing now. Retailers started placing orders with two new distributors, Penguin Random House (PRH) for Marvel Comics and Lunar for DC Comics, causing orders for independent comics to decline. This trend culminated in the current state of affairs.
Penguin Random House, with its recent acquisition of Boom, seems to be expanding into publishing to boost sales. However, they’re not interested in distributing smaller publishers. Instead, they’ll pass on the losses from Diamond’s filing to other publishers they distribute, like IDW. IDW’s Media Holdings reported a $1.4 million loss last year, and Marvel has even moved its book editions to Dark Horse. Things look bleak.
Indie comics still make up a significant portion of the overall comics market, with Marvel at 32.5%, DC at 29.3%, Image at 12%, and the remaining 26.2% going to independent publishers.
Lunar Distribution, which distributes DC comics, also runs the Discount Comic Book Service website, directly competing with the retailers they distribute to. Lunar isn’t taking on any small publishers and is still finding its footing after becoming DC’s distributor.
I hope someone will step up and take over where Diamond left off, doing a better job of distributing independent comics. Indie comics still make up a significant portion of the overall comics market, with Marvel at 32.5%, DC at 29.3%, Image at 12%, and the remaining 26.2% going to independent publishers. Even if you subtract Dynamite and Boom, the remaining indie comics are still substantial. Some publishers have opted to go directly to retailers, but retailers don’t have the time or resources to deal with many different publishers.
When the comics market crashed in the 1990s there were few to no ways to get your comic out. Today the landscape is much different and there are options available. Here are some to consider until the dust settles.
What to do?
Sell Direct.
Sell your books on your website and generate demand on social media. Print-on-demand and digital printing capabilities enable you to produce small runs for online sales and conventions. Ka-Blam facilitates the printing and sale of your book on the Indie Planet platform.
Go Digital.
With Digital format you can sell and serialize your books on your website or digital platforms like Global Comics, Webtoons, Tapas, Arkhaven, Hiveworks, INKR, and WebcomicsFeed.
Crowdfunding.
Crowdfunding your comic book is an alternative to selling directly to an audience and raising funds for printing. Kickstarter, the largest and most well-known crowdfunding platform, has attracted many major players. While NSFW projects often generate substantial funding, long-time creators often struggle to secure funding. The crowdfunding landscape has evolved over the past few years, and new indie creators should study the platform, adapt to trends, and set realistic funding goals. There are alternative platforms to consider, such as Indiegogo, Fund My Comic, and Zoop.
Until the dust settles on the comic distribution upheaval I will continue to do what I have always done, create comics.
