Independent comic book distribution companies

They range in size from very small to quite large, and they publish in almost every conceivable subject area and for almost every audience. Entertainment and many others, diamond is your fullservice source for a complete line of bestselling comic books and graphic novels. While they monopolies in some ways, dimonds model is eroding in terms of its representation and control of market distribution. As an independent comic writer, i wont cry as covid19. Top 7 blackowned book publishers that you should know about march 06 2016 every year, thousands of new books are released and most of them are published by hundreds of book publishers. Cold cut distribution is a wholesale distributor of small press and independent comic books we sell to comic book retailers, not to individual comic readers. Marvel comics was the months top publisher overall. How to start a comic book publishing company pen and the pad. Book distributors help publishers get their books placed into bookstores, libraries, specialty stores, schools and other markets. Submit the required description of the comic strip, book, or other creation, including the comics title and any previously used titles. Alterna comics publishes creatorowned stories distributed all over the world since 2006.

However, getting into stores is a huge challenge unless authors submit their books to diamond comic distributors, the only nationwide distribution platform that exists in the comic book world. Image comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. The definitive list of comic publisher submission guidelines. Stranger comics is a comic book publishing company with full publishing and distribution services. Before i do that, im going to write in a longwinded manner about the history of the modern comic book business, to put my ideas in context. Ipg client publishers are an extremely diverse group. Expert distribution services for innovative publishers. Fantagraphics is an indie publishing company thats been putting out amazing comics, art books and guides for the last 40 years. A sustainable comic book from the big two is about 35000 units.

Comic book distribution proposal 20th century books. A publisher contracted with a national distributor. Marvel and dc are taking steps to save comic book shops. Publishers accepting submissions careers in comics. Weve shipped over 150,000 orders and printed more than 3 million comics. Where are the indie distributors for comic books, graphic novels and. Aside from writing for rt, he hosts the podcast micah and the hatman, and is an independent comic book writer. As comics direct market struggles, a surprising publisher rises. The concept of the direct market was created in the 1970s by phil seuling. Heres the best book ive ever read on selling a graphic novel.

Its not easy to get in, as diamond pays too little attention to indie works. Alternative comic books span a wide range of genres, artistic styles, and subjects. Alternative comics present an alternative to mainstream superhero comics which in the past have dominated the american comic book industry. Comic book work is preferred, but theyll also accept any published fiction writing that will highlight your skills as a possible dc writer. In addition to selling printed books print on demand, bookbaby ebook distribution allows you to publish and sell your book digitally, through the largest ebook stores online, for ereader devices such as kindle, ipad, and nook. Top 7 blackowned book publishers that you should know. The uks leading independent book distributor providing publisher. The submission guidelines for every comic publisher in 2019. Image has gone on to become the third largest comics publisher in the united states. Being able to sell your printed books in stores is great, but being able to sell them in the biggest bookstores all over the world is the dream of every writer. A new seattlebased company has been established that one day hopes to offer competition to the predominant distributor of comic books in north america, diamond comic distributors. The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for american comic books.

Kablam digital printing comics, paperbacks, manga and. And thats just what bookbaby delivers with our print on demand book distribution services. Of those are hundreds of book publishers, quite a few of them are blackowned meaning they are owned by african american entrepreneurs and usually produce. Were proud to be one the few comic book publishers that prints in the u. Oct 05, 2015 reimagining themselves as entertainment companies, independent comic book publishers are creating internal divisions to work with distribution or finance partners, or are funding production. Why you need to make a new years resolution even if you wont keep it. Top 7 blackowned book publishers that you should know about. Publishers like marvel, dc, image, tko, dark horse, and archie are all taking. If you want to put your comic into comic book stores, youll need diamond distribution. How can an independent comic book creator distribute hisher. To self publish a comic book, start by digitizing your finished pages, including a cover design, using software like photoshop. Learn more original music label, housing the rights to a diversified array of musics best future artists.

Proulx said some independent publishers are trying to ease the pain on retailers by. A new comic book distributor with big ambitions launches. Marketing and distribution the comic book industry is an oligopoly, with the big two companies marvel entertainment group, inc. Mar 24, 2020 my 2012 book comiccon and the business of pop culture mcgrawhill looks at trends in entertainment, media, marketing and technology through the lens of the worlds wildest fan event, san. Although pdf is the easiest format, epub allows for guided view, which lets the reader read panel per panel rather than page by page. Youve most likely already heard of fantagraphics, but if you havent, you probably will soon or right now. It currently consists of diamond comic distributors, which has monopolized such distribution having exclusive deals with major comic book publishers. You know that diamond is owned by the big comic book publishers.

Ipg is the original independent book sales and distribution company in the united states. Then, decide which format to use, such as pdf or epub. The companies may provide exclusive distribution rights, or act as a wholesaler or. This is a list of book distributors, companies that act as distributors for book publishers, selling primarily to the book trade. Last updated by mat inferiorego elfring on apr 12, 2010 10. Specify what material is new if your submission is a variant of a previous work.

Our comprehensive sales and marketing approach, extensive account reach, and innovative digital services ensure access into every imaginable channel, including gift, specialty, wholesale, and digital accounts worldwide. Kickstarter has been a godsend to independent comic creators and small. The direct market brought with it the rise of a huge independent comics. My 2012 book comiccon and the business of pop culture mcgrawhill looks at trends in entertainment, media, marketing and technology through the lens of. It currently consists of diamond comic distributors, which has monopolized such distribution having exclusive deals with major comic book publishers, and the majority of comics specialty stores, as well as other retailers of. Our friendly and knowledgeable customer service team is here to help you on your selfpublishing journey. Diamond rules the market, delivering for everyone from dc and marvel down to small indie presses. What they have in common is a commitment to producing only titles that meet very high standards in regard to content and production values. Thanks to diamond comic distributors nearmonopoly on new comic distribution, the impact of covid19 is changing how comic books are bought and sold in. A brief history of comics distribution and that pesky industry collapse. List of book distributors and wholesalers nonfiction. Kablam digital printing comics, paperbacks, manga and more.

Though they have plenty of comics they continue wit. The post office and other shippers are behind schedule and some shipments may experience multiday delays. The comic book industry began mainly to reprint comic strips published in newspapers during the 1930s, but soon the industry changed with the commission of original strips for the format. The list includes defunct and mergedacquired companies, and distributors whose primary business is not books, such as comic books. Specify the year of creation and earliest date of publication public display, distribution, or sale. Publishing has always had a razorthin profit margin and a publisher has to sell books to make money to recoup their printing costs. Diamond postpones free comic book day 2020 as the impact and spread of the coronavirus covid19 continues to evolve, diamond comic distributors has made the difficult decision to postpone the event to a date later in the summer. A sustainable comic book from the big two is about 35,000 units. Polarity, a diversified global media company polarity ltd.

May 08, 2019 as comic book industry grows, smaller publishers learn to adapt a merger of two independents, lion forge and oni press, is the latest example of new strategies that are shaping the business. In the comic book direct market, orders from the distributor are usually. Over 39,000 retailers, libraries, and indie stores are waiting, along with their eager techforward customers. Diamond says that while it wont ship new books from publishers to its.

While their authors push politics and badmouth fans, independents like me can finally seize the day. What most of the larger selfpublishing companies mean by printondemand publishing is the combination of digital printing with digital online distribution. Everything you need to know about selfpublishing comics. The coronavirus pandemic has plunged the comicbook world. Nov 15, 2011 thanks for the explanation of comic book distribution. Bookbaby has two different book distribution networks. The king is undead was the months bestselling graphic novel. Now local comic book shops and independent publishers face an unprecedented existential threat. Print on demand book distribution sell books on amazon. Robert kirkman, erik larsen, todd mcfarlane, marc silvestri, jim valentino, and eric. As an independent comic writer, i wont cry as covid19 kills. Mar 31, 2020 thanks to diamond comic distributors nearmonopoly on new comic distribution, the impact of covid19 is changing how comic books are bought and sold in america. As comic book industry grows, smaller publishers learn to adapt a merger of two independents, lion forge and oni press, is the latest example of new strategies that are.

An american independent comic book and graphic novel publisher based in portland, oregon. The establishment and growth of independent publishers and self publishers. You and your team retain full rights to the intellectual property. The following list of book distributors and wholesalers features the largest distributors at the top, followed by distributors in alphabetic order scroll down for book distributors in canada and uk. A new seattlebased company has been established that one day hopes to offer competition to the predominant distributor of comic books. Image currently has six individuals on the board of directors.

We are shipping all orders on time, but please expect possible delays in transit. Comic shops, publishers adjust as distributor stops shipping. The companies may provide exclusive distribution rights, or act as a wholesaler or warehouser of publishers titles. Indie comic book publishers make moves toward tv and film. Write what you know even if its about a mouse thats driving you insane. Coresource is ingrams allinone platform that combines digital file management with global distribution to ensure that your ebooks reach their full potential and you can maximize sales. A brief history of comics distribution and that pesky. We offer instant reorders on over 10,000 comic books and graphic novels from hundreds of independent publishers, all at competitive reorder discounts that often match or beat the prices. Reimagining themselves as entertainment companies, independent comic book publishers are creating internal divisions to work with distribution or finance partners, or are funding production.

The oldest comic publishing company on this list is the nowdefunct book publishing company, david mckay publications that was founded in 1882 and published comics from 1935 to 1950. Mar 14, 2017 a new seattlebased company has been established that one day hopes to offer competition to the predominant distributor of comic books in north america, diamond comic distributors. Retailer products we offer diamond comic distributors. Sadly todays comic market doesnt sell enough titles to sustain at any retail level. She is the publisher of the hot sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named publishing commentator of the year by digital book world in 2019 in addition to being a columnist for publishers weekly. Alternative comics cover a range of american comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Thanks to diamond comic distributors nearmonopoly on new comic. Submission guidelines for independent comic publishers. But only bookbaby gives you added distribution to dozens of additional ebook retailers. As a selfpublished author, finding the right book distributors can be overwhelming. As the exclusive distributor to the comic book specialty market for our premier publishers marvel comics, dc comics, image comics, dark horse comics, idw publishing, dynamite entertainment and boom. As comic book industry grows, smaller publishers learn to. Jan 28, 2019 however, getting into stores is a huge challenge unless authors submit their books to diamond comic distributors, the only nationwide distribution platform that exists in the comic book world. Apr 04, 2020 if the coronavirus ends up killing off the comic book industry, it will be a grave theyve dug themselves.

Digital distribution has opened the market to readers who would never set foot in a comic book store, and allowed readers and publishers to take risks sampling titles that fall outside the. Kick it oldschool with a traditional comic book sized at 6. They transport comic books from both big and small comic book publishers. Apr 02, 2019 a short compositionequivalent to about a page, or 2000 charactersexplaining why you want to be a dc comic book writer. They are not exactly supporting the independent publisher.

How can an independent comic book creator distribute his. Most comic publishing companies were established in the united states of america where comics became popular in the mid 1900s. Its the volume of sales that keeps a title in print. Unlike some comic book companies, you retain 100% ownership of the finished product, giving you complete creative and marketing control with morris publishing. Unlike some comic book companies, you retain 100% ownership of the finished product, giving you. Thanks for the explanation of comic book distribution. Dc comics used independent news, which was owned by the same parent company.