Artists, Writers & Artisans, also known as AWA Studios, has announced their agreement with Diamond Comic Distributors, giving them exclusive distribution rights for the publisher’s products for comic book specialty markets worldwide. Diamond is the largest distributor of English-language comic books, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise. Their book division, Diamond Book Distributors, will also exclusively distribute their new releases to the North American book market.
Founded by Marvel alumni Axel Alonso and Bill Jemas, along with former CEO of AOL and of Digital Media at News Corp, Jon Miller, AWA Studios is an independent publisher featuring new characters, stories, and worlds for a 21st-century audience. Their aim is to give power back to the creators with a genre-blending approach to storytelling and a new business model that focuses on creators, giving them ownership of their work, the company, or even both.
“Comics aren’t a genre of storytelling—they’re a medium,” said Alonso. “A medium that is only as limited as the talent and tastes of the creators making them and the publishers supporting those creators. At AWA Studios, we want to tap their full potential, with stories that span and blend all genres: crime, horror, war, western, science fiction, journalism—and yes—superheroes.”
Frank Fochetta, Senior Consultant of Sales & Distribution, added, “Similar to AWA Studios’s shared creator culture, we have initiated The AWA Retail Council with comic and book retailers encompassing editorial input, and industry leading financial incentives. Our book content approach is to sell what works with direct retailer say, supporting buys with industry leading discounts and credits. We are offering what we believe to be the best and only fair deal for comic and book retailers by selling you what you want to buy at a price you want to pay. We also provide the opportunity to read all of our stories in full before you make the decision to purchase.”
“We can’t wait to show you more innovative series by top talent and tomorrow’s stars that will entertain, challenge, provoke and expand the boundaries of the medium,” said Alonso.
AWA Studios began releasing their expansive library this spring, with titles such as The Resistance (J. Michael Straczynski, Mike Deodato Jr.) Year Zero (Ben Percy, Ramon Rosanas), Archangel 8 (Michael Moreci, C.P. Smith) Red Border (Jason Starr, Will Conrad), and Hotell (John Lees, Dalibor Talajić) in the first wave. The titles are also set to release as trade paperbacks soon.
“We are excited to begin a partnership with AWA Studios and foresee great market potential for their books,” said Diamond Chief Procurement Officer Tim Lenaghan. “Their continued effort to provide top-quality products that are both relevant and relatable is an asset we value, and we’re greatly looking forward to working with them to promote and sell their line of books.”
Head to AWA Studios’ website for more on their current and upcoming titles as well as free versions to read while you shelter in place.
