Diamond Comic Distributors has been on the decline for years as the former monolith in comic book store distribution, but now a message from their CEO revealed the company is filing chapter 11 bankruptcy.Comic shop owners have always grumbled about Diamond Distribution. Their ordering platform, customer service, and deliveries often left a lot to be desired.Troubles for the company started during the pandemic, when Marvel and DC Comics, among other smaller companies, opted to move their distribution outlets to Penguin Random House through a standard book distributor, abandoning Diamond.The company was left with a specialty collector’s market in action figures, as well as the smaller publishers’ work that still needed distribution.Last year, Diamond Distribution had troubles delivering early in the holiday season, the worst time possible for comic shops that often have their years made or broken from their fourth quarter Christmas sales. The shipping woes followed the closing of their Pittsburgh warehouse, which they had intended on moving anyway, but the landlord evicted them early as they had their lease going on a month to month business while they decided what to do. As a result, Thanksgiving week comics and supplies were delivered a week late.
Further troubles compounded in December when Diamond apologized for more shipping delays. The owner sent a message to retailers, “Disruptions from the consolidation of accounts to Diamond's Olive Branch Distribution Center have been compounded by the Thanksgiving holiday, despite the Distribution Center teams working through the weekend. For product with an on-sale date of December 4, many shipments will be delayed to Wednesday or Thursday of this week. Due to the changes to how we process shipments, Operations is unable to provide Retailer Services with information on shipments any earlier than when they appear on the Retailer Services Website's Shipment Tracking page. The most up to date information for retailers is on that page, so please check there each morning for tracking information. With a full 7 days to work this week, the Operations teams' goal is to minimize disruptions for products with an on-sale date of December 11, but December is a challenging month under the best circumstances so we will provide further updates as they are available. We appreciate your support and patience during this complex change, and are working diligently to resolve these issues and return to a reliable schedule such as we have maintained in the past.Now, a new message has gone out to retailers about Diamond Distribution declaring bankruptcy. The message read see pic.X user @Thor_Odinson reacted to the bankruptcy, “The end result of #GetWokeGoBroke. The comic industry fully embraced DEI while pushing out older fans in pursuit of the “modern audience.” Problem is, they chased away the core audience while the modern audience never materialized. And now here we are with a collapsing industry.”Nerdrotic also chimed in on the situation, “Diamond Comic Distributors has filed for bankruptcy.” He also included a GIF signaling his joy.
Kneon from Clownfish TV also mocked the bankruptcy, “Hey, maybe we’ll look into distribution through Diamond for our books, and —-“ along with a GIF of a baby running around in circles.It seems most fans and comic industry insiders are more amused by the distribution company going bankrupt than surprised or frightened by it. However, it is another sign that the legacy comic book industry model is no longer working, with independent publishers at risk of losing their spot in stores
Sad really poor diamond.
>>147138001So...does this mean (big 2 cape) comic fans have to order straight from Marvel/DC HQ?
>>147138001That is not a blow to mainstream comics. The diamond distribution method was terrible and the defacto monopoly it created was horrible for businesses.
>>147138001>Diamond Comic Distributors Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy In Another Blow To Mainstream Comic BooksWhat retard wrote this?
>>147138438Dc and marvel haven’t used diamond in like two years you faggot ass casual. >>147138452You have it backwards, it was created because business was terrible.
>>147138001>copy pasting that shitty fandompulse substack blogThe writer can't even go two seconds without inserting his stupid culture war outrage opining based on random twitter posts. You'd think Diamond's longtime monopoly position would be more of a focus... but no this dumbfuck needs to drive engagement to his monetized blog and twitter account.
>>147138479Why do they suck so bad at selling comics?
