Just one day after Diamond Comic Distributors dubbed Free Comic Book Day 2020 "Free Comic Book MAY," the company has announced the annual event has been postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
"The severity and timing of the impact of the COVID-19 virus can’t be predicted with any certainty, but the safety of our retailer partners and comic book fans is too important to risk," Diamond CEO Steve Geppi said in a statement. "As always, we appreciate your enthusiasm for and support of the comic industry’s best event and look forward to celebrating with you later in the Summer."
This move comes shortly after Geppi sent a notice to comic book retailers informing them of measures Diamond was taking to give shops more flexibility when it came to issuing this year's free titles. This included accomodating stores that preferred to distribute the books throughout the month of May versus a crowded all-day affair.
In the meantime, Diamond is encouraging readers to stay tuned to its website and social media channels for updates as they become available.
For more information on COVID-19, along with basic protective measures such as social distancing, please visit the World Health Organization website.