Due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Diamond Comic Distributors CEO Steve Geppi is turning May's Free Comic Book Day into a month-long event.
In a letter sent out to comic book retailers, Geppi noted Diamond wants to give retailers more flexibility given the impact coronavirus has had and will continue to have on business across the globe. This includes accomodating stores that may wish to distribute books to customers in smaller groups versus a crowded all-day affair. As such, Diamond will be referring to 2020's FCBD as "Free Comic Book MAY."
Geppi's statement can be read in its entirety below:
With restaurants and other businesses closing and many areas implementing event restrictions, we know that Free Comic Book Day will be impacted to varying degrees throughout the world. With the books already printed and en route, we have worked with our publisher partners to give retailers as much flexibility as possible in their handling of this event.
To minimize the impact on our primary distribution operations, prioritizing the distribution of weekly new comics and restocks, a number of FCBD titles will be included with each regular weekly shipment for the next several weeks. These titles will be invoiced at no charge, as we extend the billing out approximately 90 days, to the first week in August. The books may not be in separate boxes from the rest of the shipment, except when full cases are shipping.
With a longer period to utilize the books before being invoiced, retailers will be free to use the books in whatever manner suits their individual marketing needs, beginning May 2, 2020. We anticipate stores needing to be creative in how they hold events, perhaps having to distribute the books in new ways or to smaller groups of customers than the single big day you typically experience. To that end, we will be referring to the event as 'Free Comic Book MAY' and retailers can use their online Comic Shop Locator Service / FCBD profiles to update customers on their plans.