DC COMICS DIRECT CHANNEL SPECIAL
JUNE 5, 2020
Dear DC Direct Market Retailer,
First and foremost, we hope this finds you safe and well especially during what has been an incredibly challenging year. We are writing today to share with you that DC's long-standing relationship with Diamond Comic Distributors is coming to a close effective following Diamond's distribution of product offered on DC's FOC list of June 1st. We want to thank Steve Geppi and the great people at Diamond for all the years of service.
We recognize that, to many of you, this may seem like a momentous decision. However, we can assure you that this change in DC's distribution plans has not been made lightly and follows a long period of thought and consideration. The change of direction is in line with DC's overall strategic vision intended to improve the health of, and strengthen, the Direct Market as well as grow the number of fans who read comics worldwide.
In the near term, Diamond will only be fulfilling orders placed through June 1 Final Order Cut-Off and will not solicit the sale of new DC titles further. To ensure a smooth transition for retailers, DC will suspend Final Order Cut-Off for June 8, making those books available to order on Final Order Cut-Off on June 15.
Moving forward, we will continue our distribution relationship with
Lunar Distribution and
UCS Comic Distributors for distribution of periodicals and graphic novels, and
Penguin Random House for distribution of graphic novels, worldwide.
We believe this new distribution system will bring you world class service using top of the line and modern systems that will provide you the most efficient operational supply chain. DC will continue to look for ways, together with our new partners, to better serve you and the fans to the best of our ability. We remain committed to the Direct Market and look forward to partnering with you to grow your business and to get the best comic books and graphic novels to the fans in the most efficient and seamless manner.
All the best,
DC
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is DC doing this now?
DC has been analyzing its Direct Market distribution for some time, long before COVID, specifically in light of sustained stagnant market growth. The timing of the decision to move on from Diamond was ultimately dictated by the fact that DC's contract with Diamond has expired, but incidentally, the disruption by COVID to the market has required DC to forge ahead with its larger growth strategies that will benefit both the Direct Market and DC.
How do I order my books next week?
Retailers will need to contact Lunar Distribution, UCS Comic Distributors, or Penguin Random House to receive books with on sale dates beginning 06/30/20 and forward.
What about the books I've already ordered through Diamond's ordering system? Will I still get those?
Retailers who have already ordered titles with a 5/18, 5/25, or 6/1 FOC date should still expect to receive their books through Diamond. Titles with an FOC date of 6/8 are being moved to 6/15, and all DC titles with FOC dates of 6/15, 6/22, and 6/29 (and beyond) will need to be ordered through one of the three distributors listed above.
I have books to return -- where do I send them?
All DC periodicals and graphic novels that were sold to comic book specialty store customers with in-store dates between 4/28/20 - 6/24/20 are returnable to the distributor from which they were ordered. Each of these titles shall become eligible for return during the 30-day window of time specified here, and such titles must be bundled together in shipments as follows. Titles returned after the applicable 30-day window shall not be accepted.
- Return titles with in-store dates of 4/28, 5/5, & 5/12 should be sent in together beginning 6/26 and received no later than 7/26;
- Return titles with in-store dates of 5/19 & 5/26 should be sent in together beginning 7/10 and received no later than 8/9;
- Return titles with in-store dates of 6/2 & 6/9 should be sent in together beginning 7/24 and received no later than 8/23;
- Return titles with in-store dates of 6/16 & 6/23 should be sent in together beginning 7/23 and received no later than 8/22.
Distributors will provide electronic return authorization labels to cover returns shipping costs.
Customers will receive full credit from the applicable distributor for the return of the titles. U.S. customers must return full copies in salable condition to the distributor from which they were ordered. DC will accept affidavit returns from customers located outside the continental United States. All returns must be accompanied by a Return Authorization Form from your applicable distributor. DC shall have the right to audit such returns as DC deems necessary.
Which distributor should I use?
Retailers may choose from these three distributors as they like, but we suggest that U.S. and Canadian retailers on the west coast choose Lunar Distribution and those on the east coast choose UCS Comic Distributors to maximize shipping timelines. For retailers outside North America, please choose any of the three distributors.
How does this impact my discount structure?
Your current discount plateau will remain the same with Lunar and UCS. This discount structure is based on the volume of your purchases.
What about my credit terms?
Credit terms are set with your distributor.
Why is DC committed to having books on sale on Tuesdays, instead of Wednesday?
DC is committed to Tuesday on sale dates so that all our product is offered on the same day in all retail channels.
ITEMS ON FINAL ORDER CUTOFF
JUNE 15, JUNE 22, AND JUNE 29
The following items are on Final Order Cutoff on June 15, 2020
| TITLE |
SRP |
VARIANT
TYPE |
DESCRIPTION |
IN-STORE
DATE |
| Batman: The Adventures Continue 2 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Batman: The Adventures Continue 2 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| DC Classics: The Batman Adventures 2 |
$1.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| DCeased: Dead Planet 1 |
$4.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| DCeased: Dead Planet 1 |
$5.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/7/20 |
| DCeased: Dead Planet 1 |
$5.99 |
OPEN |
Movie Homage Card Stock |
7/7/20 |
| DCeased: Dead Planet 1 |
$4.99 |
BLANK |
|
7/7/20 |
| Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds 7 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Harley Quinn 74 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Harley Quinn 74 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| Justice League 48 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Justice League 48 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| Lois Lane 12 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Lois Lane 12 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| Strange Adventures 3 |
$4.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Strange Adventures 3 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Aquaman Vol. 2: Amnesty |
$17.99 |
|
|
8/4/20 |
| Collapser Vol. 1 |
$16.99 |
|
|
8/4/20 |
| Green Lantern: Earth One Vol. 2 |
$24.99 |
|
|
8/11/20 |
| House of Mystery: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 2 |
$150.00 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Robin: 80 Years of the Boy Wonder The Deluxe Edition |
$29.99 |
|
|
9/1/20 |
| Wonder Woman Book 1: The Last True Hero |
$39.99 |
|
|
8/4/20 |
| Wonder Woman: Steve Trevor |
$19.99 |
|
|
8/4/20 |
| Batman 94 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Batman 94 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/7/20 |
| Batman 94 |
$4.99 |
1 in 25 |
Card Stock |
7/7/20 |
| Batman & the Outsiders 14 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Batman & the Outsiders 14 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| Detective Comics 1023 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Detective Comics 1023 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/7/20 |
| Hawkman 25 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Hawkman 25 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity-Secret Files 1 |
$5.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity-Secret Files 1 |
$5.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Justice League Odyssey 22 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Justice League Odyssey 22 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| Superman 23 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Superman 23 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| The Batman's Grave 8 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| The Batman's Grave 8 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/7/20 |
| The Flash 757 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| The Flash 757 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| The Green Lantern Season Two 5 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| The Green Lantern Season Two 5 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/7/20 |
| Wonder Woman 758 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Wonder Woman 758 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/7/20 |
| Young Justice 16 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/7/20 |
| Young Justice 16 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/7/20 |
| Animal Man by Grant Morrison 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Book Two |
$39.99 |
|
|
9/8/20 |
| Batman & the Outsiders Vol. 2: A League of Their Own |
$16.99 |
|
|
8/11/20 |
| Batman by Paul Dini Omnibus |
$125.00 |
|
|
9/8/20 |
| DC Poster Portfolio: Clay Mann |
$24.99 |
|
|
12/22/20 |
| DCeased: Unkillables |
$22.99 |
|
|
8/25/20 |
| RWBY |
$16.99 |
|
|
8/11/20 |
| Wonder Twins Vol. 2: The Fall and Rise of the Wonder Twins |
$16.99 |
|
|
8/11/20 |
| Wonder Woman: The Many Lives of Maxwell Lord |
$16.99 |
|
|
8/11/20 |
The following items are on Final Order Cutoff on June 22, 2020
| TITLE |
SRP |
VARIANT
TYPE |
DESCRIPTION |
IN-STORE
DATE |
| Aquaman 61 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Aquaman 61 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Catwoman 23 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Catwoman 23 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Daphne Byrne 6 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Daphne Byrne 6 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal 2 |
$4.99 |
1 in 25 |
|
7/14/20 |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal 2 |
$4.99 |
1 in 100 |
|
7/14/20 |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal 2 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Aquaman |
7/14/20 |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal 2 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Lobo |
7/14/20 |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal 2 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Harley Quinn |
7/14/20 |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal 2 |
$4.99 |
|
Foil - Embossed |
7/14/20 |
| Justice League 49 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Justice League 49 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Looney Tunes 255 |
$2.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Metal Men |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Metal Men |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Nightwing |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Nightwing |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Teen Titans |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/14/20 |
| Teen Titans |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/14/20 |
| Batman Adventures: Batgirl-A League of Her Own |
$9.99 |
|
|
8/18/20 |
| Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 8 |
$125.00 |
|
|
9/15/20 |
| Joker: Killer Smile |
$29.99 |
|
|
9/15/20 |
| The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child Deluxe Edition |
$17.99 |
|
|
9/15/20 |
| The Power of Shazam! Book 1: In the Beginning |
$49.99 |
|
|
8/18/20 |
| Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Love is a Battlefield |
$19.99 |
|
|
8/18/20 |
The following items are on Final Order Cutoff on June 29, 2020
| TITLE |
SRP |
VARIANT
TYPE |
DESCRIPTION |
IN-STORE
DATE |
| Action Comics 1023 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Action Comics 1023 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/21/20 |
| Amethyst 4 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Batgirl 47 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Batgirl 47 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/21/20 |
| Batman 95 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Batman 95 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/21/20 |
| Batman 95 |
$4.99 |
1 in 25 |
Card Stock |
7/21/20 |
| Batman Beyond 45 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Batman Beyond 45 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/21/20 |
| Books of Magic 21 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| DC Cybernetic Summer 1 |
$9.99 |
|
|
7/28/20 |
| Detective Comics 1024 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Detective Comics 1024 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/21/20 |
| Justice League Dark 24 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Justice League Dark 24 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/21/20 |
| Shazam! 13 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Shazam! 13 |
$4.99 |
OPEN |
Card Stock |
7/21/20 |
| The Flash 758 |
$3.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| The Flash 758 |
$3.99 |
OPEN |
|
7/21/20 |
| The Last God 7 |
$4.99 |
|
|
7/21/20 |
| Batman: The Demon Trilogy |
$75.00 |
|
|
9/22/20 |
| gen:LOCK |
$16.99 |
|
|
8/25/20 |
| Justice League Odyssey Vol. 3: The Final Frontier |
$16.99 |
|
|
8/25/20 |
| Justice League Unlimited: Galactic Justice |
$9.99 |
|
|
8/25/20 |
| Legion of Super-Heroes: Five Years Later Omnibus Vol. 1 |
$150.00 |
|
|
9/22/20 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 1 |
$49.99 |
|
|
8/25/20 |
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