DC Comics recently saw mass layoffs due to a corporate restructuring, resulting in it losing at least 20 percent of its staff across the entire company. This caused a stir in the comic community over the last week, as creators and fans alike wondered what the company's future would look like going forward.
DC's Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee sat down with THR for an interview in order to explain how this changed some of the company's business regarding DC Direct. DC Direct, formerly known as DC Collectibles, is the division within Warner Bros. responsible for selling collectibles under the DC brand name.
When asked, Lee responded, "When we started, we were one of the first companies, if not the first, to go out and create a business that catered to that specialty market." He added that that success has resulted in a number of competitors occupying the market. Lee then stated, "So it's about evolving the model. We want to produce those collectible and serve those fans, but we will probably shift to a higher price point collectible and more of a licensing model, working with manufacturers we already work with."
Lee clarified further that from the consumer's perspective, there should be little change, certainly none in regards to quality, "Behind the scenes, how we create it and how we get it to them is going to change. We still have our principal lead of DC Direct, Jim Fletcher, with the company. He will be showcased in a fun panel with J Scott Campbell at Fandome."
DC FanDome is scheduled to begin Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. PT.