UPDATE: Marvel Comics has issued a statement to CBR clarifying the "one-third" number, reflected below.
With the comic book industry still in a tough spot amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Marvel Comics has announced it will be "pausing" work on (and the release of) about one-third of its May and June issues, effective immediately.
Marvel told Newsarama this decision was made in order to "help spread the amount of publishing product over the coming weeks and months." The company did not reveal the specific titles that will be affected by this change, nor did it reveal when it plans to resume publishing the unaffected books. In a follow-up statement to CBR, Marvel clarified the "one-third" number, explaining the books being put on hold are "actually 15-20 percent of the title count, but considering double ships that month, it works out to be about a third of the issue count."
Per Newsarama, the House of Ideas has already informed the creators attached to the affected comics of its decision. Marvel assures, "all talent will be paid for their work to date."
With the COVID-19 outbreak putting comic book shops in a predicament since day one, Marvel was among the slew of publisher that attempted to take some of the pressure of retailers, offering deep discounts on its titles. However, with the news that Diamond Comic Distributors would be temporarily closing its doors and that no physical comics with an on-sale date of April 1 or later would be shipped, thing became more complicated. Publishers were dealt another blow when it was revealed Diamond's payments would also cease for the time being. ComicHub proposed a temporary digital-first distribution system for major publishers amid the turmoil, though that initiative is no longer moving forward.
With different publishers trying to figure out how to traverse the situation moving forward, Marvel explained it had a larger-scale plan in the works, though also revealed its April 1 titles would not be published digitally (although the publisher is offering a free month of its digital subscription service Marvel Unlimited). The long-term implications of indefinitely delaying a third of its upcoming slate remain to be seen.