Newsarama have had a news update around Diamond and the possiblity that new comics will be being distributed very soon.
OFFICIAL: Diamond ‘Targets’ May 20 For Distribution Return
Updated April 28, 2020: Diamond Comic Distributors is putting more official weight behind its plans to resume comic book distribution on May 20 with a strong letter to retailers Tuesday morning.
“While we know that the pace and process of reopening stores will be different throughout the country, we have set a target on-sale date of May 20,” the letter reads (via comic book retailer Ryan Higgins of Comics Conspiracy).
On Saturday, Newsarama confirmed that Diamond set May 20 as a “placeholder” date necessary so retailers could place DC order, but this new communication redefines it as a “target” date.
This comes on the same day that DC has begun shipping out new comic books with new, alternate distributors.
Developing…
Original Story from April 25, 2020: Diamond Comic Distributors has begun taking orders for DC products again, in anticipation of the resumption of distribution in mid- to late-May, but according to Diamond there is still no firm date when actual distribution will resume.
“We continue to work toward a mid- to late-May resumption of weekly comic distribution, but numerous factors will affect the actual date we are able to deliver our first weekly shipment,” Diamond told Newsarama Saturday evening. “Placeholder dates are an approximation of when we hope to resume weekly operations, but are not yet firm. DC Comics needed final order numbers for books being printed next week. That is independent from our shipment date.”
The email came in response to comic book retailer Ryan Higgins, owner of Comics Conspiracy in Sunnyvale, CA., who tweeted earlier Saturday evening that a new Diamond Comic Distributors ordering page is online, that allows their retail accounts to order DC titles due to be shipped by Diamond on Wednesday, May 20.
Newsarama reported Higgins’ tweet Saturday evening in an earlier version of this story before Diamond clarified the May 20 date is not firm and is considered a placeholder.
Diamond previously announced they anticipated re-establishing distribution in mid- to late-May after suspending operations at the beginning of this month due to the coronavirus crisis.
According to Higgins the titles available in the system with a FOC (Final Order Cut-off) of Monday are the same titles the publisher has announced will be available through new regional distributors Lunar and UCS and on digital platforms on Tuesdays beginning April 28. Check here and here for those DC lists.
The retailer added, “We’re expecting all other publishers on FOC next week for 5/20.”
In an email to Newsarama later Saturday evening Higgins described his expectations for all other publishers to follow next week as “just an assumption,” due to Diamond’s previously stated and now reaffirmed timetable.
The DC ordering page going online was preceded Saturday morning by an “urgent notice” to retailers from Diamond parent company Geppi Family Enterprises informing retailers they had to submit new DC order quantities at the publisher’s request by Monday, again citing a return in mid- to late-May as their target.
“DC Comics will be releasing these products through other sources prior to our distribution, but we will have inventory to fill your orders in our first shipment,” the letter reads, reminding retailers it is crucial they submit updated orders for those products by noon Monday.
The letter goes to inform retailers that DC periodicals with an on-sale date of May 26th (also a placeholder) will be added to the FOC list on Monday along with a small number of DC Collectibles products.
The letter does not address product from other publishers.
For those of us missing our new comic book fix, this could be great news. We will keep you posted with any further developments as they happen.
