How will the coronavirus affect comics?

[Rosebunse]

So many shows and movies are being delayed because of this. Now, personally, I see no problem with that. No reason for people to get sick here.

But how will all of this affect comics? Especially Marvel who is tied closely to Disney and the movies that were supposed to come out.

[stormphoenix]

Good, question...no idea.

Maybe a delay in shipping out the comics on time who knows.

[Phoenixx9]

Well, right now, it seems to be affecting everything.

[Digifiend]

Comics won't be affected as badly as TV and film because the writers, artists, letterers and editors can work from home. They can be produced as normal until they get to the printing and distribution stage. At that point delays may happen due to quarantine related staff shortages.

I do think that there'll be problems for other media. In the movies, New Mutants is already postponed, and I bet Black Widow and DC's Wonder Woman 1984 will meet the same fate. Falcon and the Winter Soldier had to halt filming, so that'll probably be delayed as well. The Arrowverse shows and Riverdale likely won't complete their current seasons as they've halted production too. WandaVision should be OK as that's in the can, ditto the Spider-Man: Absolute Venom cartoon.

[SuperiorIronman]

Creators can and many as far as I can tell work from home so the creative side of things I doubt would be affected that much. The issue primarily will come with physical distribution because you have to get people to actually ship your product as much as you'd have to get people to buy it when it hits shops. Shops will take a hit by them or their clients getting sick.

It's at this point reasonable to expect delays but I don't see one where it doesn't hit street dates. More or less that shipments will likely be late and it will still be available on digital platforms.

[9th.]

I can only assume there will be infinite pushbacks and delayed events, not to mention a sizable dip in sales.

[SuperiorIronman]

I can only assume there will be infinite pushbacks and delayed events, not to mention a sizable dip in sales.

I wouldn't expect anything for a month or two.

Comics are written in advance to make sure a product reaches ship dates with a couple of issues generally "ready to go". Ordering will be affected with shops getting a clearer image of who can actually make it in but I doubt we're looking at anything massive. As of right now products can still ship so there isn't much reason to worry that comics will be hit too hard. Digital services will as of right now still be dropped so it's not like things will miss street date yet.

[fin5]

I was wondering do you risk it shopping at the comic store or online with is safer

[babyblob]

I love going to my comic store. The owner and I have known each other for a few years and he knows my situation with having a hard time leaving the house and how overwhelmed I get. He lets me go in the back if things are getting bad for me and I need a quiet place. He lets me buy comics and graphic novels on credit as long as I do a good job keeping my balance up and dont go nuts, he is fun to talk to and knows a lot about comics. We talk on the phone via text as well. I would rather go somewhere like that then do online shopping. I use the apps for a lot of the older issues I will never have a chance of getting. But I would rather go through him by far then an online shop. I am upset that he has closed because of this.

[MRP]

Most shops are offering some kind of curbside pick up and/or shipping during this all, if they are allowed to remain open. Many of our shops in Ohio had been doing this, but we got a shelter in place order effective tomorrow so shops will have to close as non-essential businesses.

If you usually buy form a shop and like them, you should do what you can to support them through this. If they close or you don't have a regular shop, then online or digital are still options.

-M

[Astral Disaster]

The shop I'd been going to for almost two years (after the owner of the previous shop I went to unexpectedly died of a heart attack) closed at the beginning of the month due to non-coronavirus issues. I managed to pick up all the books I usually get at a couple of other locations which were in the general area, say within 10 miles, but I've resorted to pre-ordering online, so hopefully that works out.

[kilderkin]

I've contacted my shop and asked them how they want to handle it, mine have luckily said they'll hold my pull for a few months coz they know I'm good for it

But I'm not going in nor getting any delivery

Mostly because I have a vulnerable household

But I'm lucky like that my shop understands that

[Digifiend]

They're not layoffs. These people were furloughed, not fired. Though they need to reverse this decision immediately, considering Diamond is planning to resume distribution in three weeks.

[Username taken]

Rather than laying folks off, they need to get all hands on deck and figure out why the books just aren’t good and take action to fix the whole line.

They’re not distributing new comics because of the lockdown. Apart from DC, this is industry and nation wide.

It has nothing to with the quality of the comics. I’m also curious how you want them to take action to “fix the whole line” when comics aren’t even being sold right now.

[Digifiend]

They’re not distributing new comics because of the lockdown. Apart from DC, this is industry and nation wide.

And over in less than a month. It's too late to furlough staff now, they need to get back to work.