Business News

As mentioned previously, we were at BookExpo America all day Wednesday, and will be there all day Thursday. The show is much smaller than in recent years -- the children's book section which once took up the entire bottom part of the Javits is now just a corner of the main floor. The Diamond alley of comics publishers seems smaller this year, as well, although Dark Horse, Image, Dynamite, IDW and Marvel are all set up, along with a few others. By contrast, Fantagraphics was set up in the Norton Booth right at the front of the hall and was practically the first thing you saw as you walked in. They are giving away galleys of Moto Hagio's HERE COMES THE SON and Joyce Farmer's SPECIAL EXITS, which we have and have flipped through, but haven't had time to read yet. Something to look forward to in life, thank God! Fanta assoc. publisher Eric Reynolds explained that he felt that this year it was more effective to pay for more galleys to give away than to have an author appearance, and given the alacrity with which people roaming the floor scoop up those galleys, it might be a good idea.

Ever since the cutbacks at Viz on Monday, the online chatter has been surprisingly quiet. People close to the situation have mainly been in shock, and while the idea that Viz is "too big...

As word of the layoffs at Viz spread yesterday -- 60 people laid off and the entire New York branch closed -- the reaction around the industry, at least as expressed by Twitter and Facebook status updates -- was complete and utter shell shock. Viz personnel we contacted for confirmation were devastated. While the exact cause of the downsizing and the effects it will have on Viz's publishing plans are just emerging, a few manga reporters were commenting:

Comic book fans, have you always wanted to represent our clan in the best possible light? Well here is your chance. A Major National Morning News Show is looking for comic book fans to...

Iconix, the world's second biggest licensing company, has acquired the licensing rights to E.W. Scripps (aka United Media's) comic strips, including Peanuts, Dilber, Get Fuzzy and many, many others, it was reported today. The price was $175 million. As we reported a few months ago, Scripps, had put its lucrative licensing business on the block, given the problems in their other segments, including the newspaper business. The deal will be a joint venture with the family of Charles Schulz continuing to get a share of the licensing income from a previous deal.

Damond has just released its sales charts and market shares for March, and the top publishers list is of some interest: PUBLISHER ...

Starting in September, Marvel will have a new distributor to the book trade, Hachette. Marvel was previously distributed by Diamond Book Distributors; Diamond Comics Distributors will continue to distribute Marvel periodicals and books to...

We've covered Diamond Comics Distribution owner Steve Geppi's debt problems several times here. In what has to be seen as a particularly demoralizing blow, Geppi's historic 19th century 13,000 sq. ft., nine acre estate...

As covered extensively in the local San Diego press, a complex real estate deal has been okayed which would allow the San Diego Convention Center to expand. Control over a seven-acre tract out in back...

With convention season revving up, retailer meeting season is also gathering steam. First up: the annual ComicsPRO meeting, this year in Memphis, TN, on March 24-27th. ComicsPRO is a trade organization for comic book...

A new retailer incentive ring, this one the elusive White Lantern, and this one lights up. "Lighty, brighty" -- Rich J., you are really on to something!

E&P reports that E.W. Scripps, the parent company of comic strip syndicate United Media, is considering spinning off their licensing business, United Media Licensing, which handles Peanuts, Dilbert, and other comic strip giants. Although...