Coronavirus knocks out direct market - Diamond stops deliveries

[Last Son of Krypton]

DC Comics Puts Black Label and Generation Five Titles on Pause: https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-c...on-five-pause/

[Noodle]

DC Comics Puts Black Label and Generation Five Titles on Pause: https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-c...on-five-pause/

"Unannounced books no longer coming out on their unannounced time."

[superduperman]

DC Comics Puts Black Label and Generation Five Titles on Pause: https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-c...on-five-pause/

They have no way to distribute anything right now so it might be a good time to reconsider this whole "5G" thing altogether. The original plan was to re-tweak a lot of it when Didio was fired anyway. This virus has put them in a position where it sounds like they really don't have to go through with it if they really don't want to. Some Black Label stuff is already in the middle so that's a problem but this "5G" thing hasn't even gotten off the ground yet. They can pull the plug on it if they really want to.

[DragonPiece]

Seems like bleeding cool got that scoop wrong as DC's still working for now: https://twitter.com/graemem/status/1247582007216844800

[Digifiend]

Wouldn't that require recalling the FCBD comics, which are sitting in Diamond's warehouse? It's part of Generations.

[vasir12]

Seems like bleeding cool got that scoop wrong as DC's still working for now: https://twitter.com/graemem/status/1247582007216844800

I don't recognize this person. Are they in the know?

[cranger]

I don't recognize this person. Are they in the know?

Who knows, I have seen them tweeting with other people who are probably closer to being in the know than any of us, but that BC article is almost utterly 100% true if just a couple Black Label projects have been paused, which happens all the time anyway, and the 5G was already pushed back for reasons. It was far from claiming pencils were down at DC (it even points out that DC was more or less full steam ahead except a couple things now). And I hate defending BC.

[Clark_Kent]

Seems like bleeding cool got that scoop wrong as DC's still working for now: https://twitter.com/graemem/status/1247582007216844800

BC made an error? Say it isn't so They ever find an editor to fix the glaring mistakes on the blogs? Er, I mean, "articles?"

[Factor]

I think DC should seriously consider distributing new content through DC Universe. Create a new, more expensive plan for those that want to keep up to date.
As for print, a way to reduce the amount of books and facilitate distribution is to focus on 100 page digests. Publish 12 digests instead of 48 regular floppies and have digital as the place for single issues.

[DragonPiece]

I don't recognize this person. Are they in the know?

Reporter for THR. Very connected in the comic industry. Also a editor for black label said on twitter bleeding cools report was false

[Digifiend]

I think DC should seriously consider distributing new content through DC Universe. Create a new, more expensive plan for those that want to keep up to date.
As for print, a way to reduce the amount of books and facilitate distribution is to focus on 100 page digests. Publish 12 digests instead of 48 regular floppies and have digital as the place for single issues.

There aren't 48 regular floppies. It's a little over half that.

This is what came out last month. Remove minis, Hill House, Dollar Comics and other reprints, and one-shots. It's more like 30 ongoing books, if I counted right. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Category%3A2020%2C_May

[Factor]

There aren't 48 regular floppies. It's a little over half that.

This is what came out last month. Remove minis, Hill House, Dollar Comics and other reprints, and one-shots. It's more like 30 ongoing books, if I counted right. https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Category%3A2020%2C_May

It's not about the number of books (48 or 30), it's about offering single issues in packages so there is a higher perception of value for money.
New or casual readers don't want to pay 4 bucks for 20 pages, but they might pay 5 for 100 (the price of DC's Wallmart Giants).
Of course, this would only work if DC manage to bring in more readers through new distribution channels and focus on the digital market.

[The Overlord]

Apparently CBR is suggesting the same things I have been suggesting:

https://www.cbr.com/diamond-shutdown...-comics-model/

[Ascended]

Apparently CBR is suggesting the same things I have been suggesting:

https://www.cbr.com/diamond-shutdown...-comics-model/

It's nice to see others share the opinion. And nice to see some numbers connected with it, even if it's not the deep dive through the production chain I'd like to see (not CBR's job, I know).

Only thing I take any issue with here is the insinuation that publishers haven't been trying this. DC has been pushing for this kind of expansion since same-day-digital and the earth-1 line. It's not a question of the publishers needing to make this change, it's a matter of risk assessment and investment I think. Publishers have only dipped their toes in to test the waters, but I suspect the real challenge is how they transition markets without cutting their feet out from under them. And now, with the losses they'll be taking due to the pandemic....I can't decide if this is the best time to take bold action and assume some risk, or the worst time.

[Rich Johnston]

BC made an error? Say it isn't so They ever find an editor to fix the glaring mistakes on the blogs? Er, I mean, "articles?"

a) what errors and b) I have spoken to comics creators who have confirmed that their titles are on hold.