Dynamite Entertainment will offer relief to Direct Market comic book retailers in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement released by Dynamite Entertainment's owner Nick Barrucci, the company said they would allow retailers to return comics either through Diamond Comic Distributors or, if necessary, directly to Dynamite Entertainment. Barrucci stressed that they are working as fast as possible to help retailers, but that these initiative could take time. The full statement can be found below:
Dear Retail Partners,
We know you’re awaiting word from all of your publishing partners, but a quick word to let you know we are here, listening. We are discussing and working with Diamond on an informed response, and hope to have news shortly about easing your burden in the coming weeks. One option we would like to offer is that Dynamite would take returns (as Image has announced and other publishers may do as well) - but Diamond has a large amount of volume, and has many factors to consider, and we are understanding of that in case it’s not feasible overall. If Diamond has challenges doing so, we at Dynamite will take returns directly. Obviously, we have to coordinate any logistics with each retailer if we are doing so directly. The answers may not be coming quick enough, but they are coming. Diamond is a great company and works with retailers and publishers day in and day out, but this is an unprecedented situation, so please be patient with them, but I wanted to let you know that Dynamite is here for you.
best!
Nick Barrucci
Dynamite follows Image Comics, which also announced relief for comic book stores. According to Image's statement, it is "in conversations with Diamond regarding returnability, delayed billing, and potentially staggering the release of new product."
(Via Newsarama.)