2025 has been off to a rocky start for the comic book industry with Diamond Comic Distributors‘ announcement they were declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While many companies come out stronger after such legal move, many fear this is a sign Diamond will go under impacting not just comic shops and those they owe, but especially smaller comic publishers who may not find other comic distributors as welcoming. Black Panel Press is one of those publishers impacted with Diamond owing them $28,000.

With uncertainty and the impact of Diamond’s debt, the publisher has postponed the release of its new titles by eight weeks at which point they’ll evaluate the situation and deciding on their next steps.

Check out the full announcement sent as an email below:

We’re reaching out today to share an important update regarding our operations at Black Panel Press.

As you may have heard, Diamond Comic Distributors recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While Diamond’s official statement assures partners that their operations will continue during this process, the uncertainty surrounding their financial restructuring has already begun to impact publishers like us.

Currently, Diamond owes Black Panel Press over $28,000, a significant amount for an independent publisher like ours. To protect our creators, our team, and our ability to continue bringing you high-quality graphic novels, we have made the difficult decision to postpone all releases of new titles by eight weeks while we evaluate the situation and adjust our strategies.

During this time, the best way to support Black Panel Press is by ordering directly from our website. Every purchase helps us stay strong, weather these challenges, and continue delivering the stories you love.

We are incredibly grateful for your understanding and support during this uncertain time. Your encouragement and passion for our work inspire us to keep pushing forward.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. If you have any questions or just want to share your thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reply to this email.

Sincerely,
Andrew Benteau