Diamond Comics Distributors chapter submitting this morning set off a seismic bomb within the comics business. My DMs have been off the charts all day; I needed to flip off notifications simply to work on this text. We’ll have a extra analytical piece tomorrow however for now some information gleaned from courtroom filings and social media postings.
As one FB commenter put it, “this seems like the security rails are gone,” and the comics business is coming into a brand new section, the Publish Diamond period.
Developments:
Lunar: The distro introduced they’d choose up Diamond’s FOC orders for 1/13, with a caveat or two. Picture Comics has been accessible through Diamond as a sub-distributor however It appears unlikely that they may proceed to be accessible.
Attributable to Diamond’s announcement immediately, Lunar can be accepting late 1/13 Picture FOC orders from clients to satisfy their current order positioned with Diamond. Orders positioned solely via Diamond won’t be fulfilled. All 1/13 orders have to be positioned via Lunar. Picture can be printing based mostly on all order numbers that have been obtained yesterday throughout all distributors. You will need to place your up to date 1/13 Picture order via Lunar by 1/15/2025 5:00 PM EST to your order to be coated.
To position your Picture 1/13 FOC order, go to the New Order web page. Scroll down on the FOC Due Dates filter to seek out Previous Dates listed. Choose 1/13 and sort “Picture” within the Writer search field. Any ratio variants that FOC’d on 1/13 will must be added for you thru customer support. Please e mail your ratio variant request, together with the product code and amount, together with any inquiries to xxxxxxxxxx
Filings: Diamond’s chapter filings can be found and run to lots of of pages. Essentially the most instantly attention-grabbing one is the record of the highest 30 unsecured collectors, which is led by Penguin Random Home, to the tune of greater than $9 million. The second firm on the record is Bandai, with solely lower than half of that owed, $4.4 million.
Seven collectors are owed greater than $1 million, however just one is a writer, PRH. Many of the firms on the record are toy firms, suggesting that the shift to carrying different kinds of merchandise was in full swing. Different prime collectors who promote books embody
Disney Client Merchandise ($1,712,447), Simon & Schuster ($600,144), Lunar Distribution ($496,967), Viz Media ($421,204), Titan Publishing ($357,417), Sq. Enix ($315,295), Dynamic Forces (Dynamite) $217,317 and Udon Leisure $202,694. Please be aware that almost all of these firms additionally promote toys so the debt might not be all comics.
Right here’s the High 30 in desk kind.
Firm
Unsecured Declare
PRH
$9,202,181
Bandai
$4,438,743
NECA
$2,682,994
Kin Kin Mould
$1,811,934
Todd McFarlane Productions Intl.
$1,734,814
Disney Client Merchandise
$1,712,447
Hasbro
$1,064,378
Wizards of the Coast
$914,601
Exceeding Partnership Options
$843,496
Little Buddy
$694,628
Simon & Schuster
$600,144
Bandai Namco
$576,072
Lunar Distribution
$496,967
UPS
$476,398
Viz Media
$421,204
Catalyst Video games
$401,483
Military Painter
$386,925
ARA
$378,827
Titan Publishing
$357,417
Sq. Enix
$315,295
Microsoft
$307,816
Pokémon Firm
$280,375
Transcontinental
$243,541
Beast Kingdom
$237,903
Funko
$237,631
Publishers Providers
$223,140
Dynamic Forces
$217,317
Pai
$211,331
Udon Leisure
$202,694
Tremendous 7
$163,686
Another tidbits from the filings: Diamond lists 4 subsidiary firms that are consolidating the filings, Diamond Comedian Distributors, Inc., Diamond Choose Toys & Collectibles, LLC, Comedian Holdings, Inc., and Comedian Exporters, Inc. These are owned 99% by non-debtor SG Useful resource LLC, and 1% by non-debtor Stephen A. Geppi Revocable Belief.
Apparently, Diamond $41 million mortgage from Chase is secured by Debtor Diamond Choose Toys & Collectibles, LLC (“DST”), and non-debtor associates Rosebud Leisure, LLC (“Rosebud”), Sport Consolidators, LLC (“Consolidators”), and Renegade Video games, LLC (“Renegade”), all listed as guarantors and all varied firms personal by Steve Geppi or his companies in some kind. As an example, Rosebud Leisure previously revealed Baltimore Journal.
There’s a lengthy record of affected firms, however simply to present you an concept of what number of comics publishers can be affected by this, right here’s a listing of “Key Clients” those that purchased from Diamond:
Key Clients
2428392, Inc. dba FYE Amazon.com, Inc. Animextreme Inc.Baker & Taylor Books, Inc. Barnes & Noble, Inc. Booktopia Direct Pty Ltd (Air) Booktopia Pty LtdIncrease Leisure, Inc. BZVirtual LLCChaos Pop Pty Ltd Comics-N-StuffCosmic Comics, Inc.DCBS, Inc.Diamond Choose Toys & Collectibles, LLC Distribution Universe, Inc.Dorksidetoys, Inc.Dynamic Leisure, LLCElectronics Boutique Canada, Inc. Leisure Earth, Inc.Harrison’s Comics & Collectibles, Inc. Heathside Buying and selling LtdHEO GmbHThought and Design Works, LLCPicture Comics, Inc.Indigo Books and Music, Inc.Indy Comics LLCIngram E book Group LLCKadokawa World Leisure, Inc. Kaiba CompanyKieren Consulting, LLCLone Star Comics, Inc.Malta Comics & Collectibles, Inc.Marvel Leisure, LLCReplay Toys LLCRosebud Leisure LLCSupply Level Press, LLCPositive Factor Gross sales LLCTerminal Distribuzione S.R.L.The Marmaxx Group, Inc.The Westfield Firm, Inc.THG OnDemand RestrictedIssues From One other World, Inc.
Torpedo Comics Classic & Commerce, Inc. Valiant Leisure, LLCWalgreen Co.
And a listing of “Consignment Events, which incorporates publishers who’ve been out of enterprise for some time – Diamond was nonetheless promoting backstock.
Consignment Events 12 Gauge Comics LLC801 Media IncA Wave Blue World, Inc. Ablaze PublishingAbstract Studios, Inc.Motion Lab Leisure, Inc.Aftershock Comics, LLCAhoy Comics, LLCAit/Planetlar Publishing, LLCAlbatross FunnybooksAlien Books, LLCAlley Cat Video games, LLCAmerican Mythology Productions, LLCAntarctic PressApe Leisure, LLCApex Publishing, LLCArcane Wonders, LLCArchaia Studios Press, LLCArchie Comedian Publications, Inc.Ares Video games SrlArtists Writers & Artisans, Inc.Aspen MLT, Inc.Avatar Press, Inc.Unhealthy Egg, LLCBandai Leisure Inc.Battle Quest Comics, LLCBedside PressBehemoth Leisure, LLCBenitez ProductionsBlack Masks ComicsBlack Panel Press, Inc.Blind Ferret Leisure, Inc.Increase Leisure, Inc.Bundoran Press Publishing HouseBurning Wheel, Inc.Capstone Video games, LLCCatalyst Sport Labs, LLCChaosium, Inc.Chizine PublicationsClover Press, LLCCompass Video games, LLCCryptozoic Leisure, LLCDan Verssen GamesDark Horse Comics, LLCDave Taylor MiniaturesDavinci Editrice SrlDC ComicsDesperado PublishingDex Safety, LLCDietz FoundationDifference Engine Pte LtdDigital Manga Distribution, Inc.Dire Wolf Digital, LLCDraco StudiosDrawn & QuarterlyDrinking Quest/Jason WisemanDstlry Media, Inc.Dynamic Forces, Inc.Elf Greek GamesEros ComixEureka ProductionsFairsquare Graphics, LLCFanroll, LLCFantagraphics Books, Inc.Fiery Studios, Inc.Folded House EoodFrank Miller Presents, LLCG.T. LabsGamelyn Video games, LLCGen Manga Leisure, Inc.Genius Video games, LLCGold Key EntertainmentGood Video games Writer, LLCGood Bother Productions, LLCGoodman Video games, LLCPennsylvania State College Press (Graphic Mundi)Graphitti DesignsGreen Ronin PublishingGungnir Leisure, Inc.Intestine Bustin Video games, LLCHammerdog Video games, LLCHappy Camper, LLCHeavy Metallic MagazineHermes PressHit Level Press, LLCHumanoids, Inc.Hush Hush Initiatives/Dara StudiosIDW PublishingTop Shelf Productions (IDW Publishing)Picture Comics, Inc.Unbelievable Dream Studios, Inc.Indie Boards & Playing cards, LLCStronghold Video games, LLCJoe Books LtdJordan GamesLeft Justified LLCLes Editions Pix’N LoveLev Gleason PublicationsLion Forge, LLCLionwing Publishing LtdLiving The LineLocust Moon PressLoren ColemanLucky Duck GamesLulu Is A Rhinoceros, LLCLuminary GamesMad Cave StudiosMagma ComixMagnetic Press Inc.Manga Classics, Inc.Mantic Leisure LtdMarvel Leisure, LLCMassive PublishingMayday GamesMonte Prepare dinner GamesMoonstone Publishing Mr. B GamesNBM Publishing NetcomicsNight Shade BooksNorma Editorial S.A.North Star Video games, LLCNauvoo GamesOni Press, Inc.Opus Comics LtdPaizo Inc.Panini UK LtdPapercutz Inc.Pegamoose PressPenguin Random Home LLCPrimal HorizonPrime Books LLCQuest Children LLC (DBA Treasure Falls Video games)Rabbit PublishersRadical PublishingReaper MiniaturesRed Big Leisure Inc.Renaissance PressRenegade Sport Studios, LLCResonym, LLCRoll For Fight, LLCS7 GamesScout ComicsSea Lion BooksSeven Seas Ghost ShipSkyscraper Studios Inc. (DBA Roll For Fight)Slave Labor GraphicsSmirk & Dagger GamesSoaring Penguin PressSource Level GamesSource Level PressStarburns Industries PressStorm King Productions, Inc.Sumerian ComicsTwisted Comics (Previously TPub)Tasty Minstrel GamesTeeturtle, LLCTh3rd World StudiosThe Military PainterThe Little Plastic Prepare CompanyThorny GamesTitan ComicsTokyopop Inc.Toonhound Studios LLCTwomorrows PublishingUbiworkshopUdon Leisure Inc.College Video games CorporationValiant Leisure, LLCVan Ryder GamesVault ComicsWargames AtlanticWarlord Video games LtdWicked Cow Studios LLCWildside Press LLCWilliam M Gaines, Inc. (Through Gems)William M. Gaines, Agent, Inc.Worldsforge Non-public LtdWyrm PublishingYaoi Press LLCZ2 ComicsZenescope Leisure Inc.Zombie Love Studios
In brief, there’s nearly no side of the comics business that this transformation just isn’t going to have an effect on.
The New Period begins.
Extra to come back…….
