Earlier today shockwaves through the comic industry were felt as Marvel announced an exclusive deal with Penguin Random House to distribute their comics to the direct market (ie comic shops). This is a major hit to Diamond Comic Distributors, the current distributor, and comes about 9 months after DC left Diamond.

Diamond Comic Distributors Chairman, President & CEO Steve Geppi has released a statement regarding the change:

We value our almost 40-year relationship with Marvel and are pleased that we will continue selling Marvel products to the Direct Market and other channels,” the statement reads.

The change Marvel announced today represents a behind-the-scenes shift in how Diamond interacts with Marvel for certain products, but does not impact our ability to supply our customers with Marvel comics, trades, and graphic novels. I expect the discount terms under which our retail partners order these Marvel products to change, and Diamond will communicate that information to our customers well in advance of any adjustments. While there are still details of this new arrangement to work through, my leadership team and I are committed to making this supply change as operationally seamless as possible for our retail partners and we look forward to our continued distribution of Marvel products.

Marvel’s deal with Penguin Random House will begin on October 1. Diamond will remain as a distributor as well but Diamond would be getting their product from Penguin Random House as to re-distribute.