Marvel Comics Changes Distributors to Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Last week, Marvel announced that they were changing up their distribution plan. Starting in October, Marvel Comics will no longer be distributed by Diamond, but rather through Penguin Random House Publisher Services. Comic stores will be able to order directly through Penguin Random House or Diamond as a wholesaler in the US and UK. Graphic novels and trade collections will still be distributed to the book market through Hachette Book Group though.
Talking about the change, Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Entertainment said:
Marvel’s entire history is built on telling great stories. And as we’ve seen for decades, those stories go hand in hand with equipping the comic shops who share them. Marvel and Penguin Random House stand by that vision, and we are excited to build and expand those opportunities for our talent, retailers, and fans. Comics are the core of the Marvel Universe, and we are confident this new partnership will continue to grow and evolve this resilient industry. We look forward to advancing our capabilities with PRHPS to serve our fans and the Direct Market. We thank Diamond for their many years of support and partnership as we continue our relationship with them in other areas.
One of the things being touted as a big positive is the fact that Penguin Random House is a free-freight company, “allowing retailers to simplify their business models while alleviating the volatility and complexity of reducing freight costs and planning. Through many of PRH’s standard offerings, like its rapid replenishment program for graphic novels and advanced supply chain, Direct Market retailers will experience more flexibility to manage inventory and stock their stores to best serve their customers.”
Sharing his excitement, the president of Penguin Random House Publisher Services, Jeff Abraham, said:
This is an exciting time for comics, and we’re thrilled to partner with Marvel in taking the next steps to support the growth of the marketplace, together with our Direct Market retail partners. Based on the foundation of our relationships with physical retailers, we’re confident in the significant growth of the comic book industry and welcome the opportunity to further collaborate with and invest PRHPS’ resources in the Direct Market. Combining the standard-setting supply chain and sales capabilities of PRH with Marvel’s renowned universe of stories and characters, we expect to reach even more fans of its artists and writers throughout the world.
How do you think this shift will affect comic shops? Is it a good move? Will Marvel Comics crumble with this change?