A round-up of news that somehow didn’t fit into our regular coverage this week:
§ Oni Returns: Oni had announced a new retainability plan for comics shops: from May through the end of 2023, Oni will be making EVERY ISSUE of its original, creator-owned series fully returnable for retailers who order a minimum of five, non-incentive shelf covers (in any combination) via either Diamond or Lunar.
“As we prepare our war chest of secret projects for the months ahead, we will make it easier than ever for Direct Market retailers to bring our titles to their shelves with a consistent and reliable returnability program – and even more surprises yet to come,” said President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson.
Series that will run under the program LAMENTATION from Cullen Bunn (Ghostlore, Basilisk) and Arjuna Susini (Made Men); and the new SF anthology XINO.
§ Retailers head to the Lonestar state: Speaking of retailers, Diamond Comic Distributors has announced a new partnership with the Fan Expo family of events and will hold its 2023 Retailer Summit in conjunction with FAN EXPO Dallas. The summit will run from June 7-9; Dallas Fan Expo takes place June 9-11.
The 2024 Retailer summit will be held in conjunction with MEGACON Orlando.
“I’m delighted to announce our partnership with FAN EXPO and our 2023 Retailer Summit in Dallas,” said Kathy Govier, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Geppi Family Enterprises. “Dallas not only provides a fun and convenient location for Diamond Retailer Summit attendees, FAN EXPO’s commitment to celebrating pop culture aligns perfectly with Diamond and GFE. We look forward to exploring the full potential of this partnership to bring new offerings and experiences to our retailers and publishers.”
Diamond’s summit brings together retailers, publishers, and other vendors in a packed slate of presentations, meals and seminars.
§ Spider-Boy Sells Out: Spider-Boy is a brand-new member of the Spider-Man family who was just introduced in Spider-Man #7 from Dan Slott and Mark Bagley. And the issue was such a hit it’s getting a second printing with a brand-new variant cover by Luciano Vecchio and a virgin edition of Spider-Boy co-creator Humberto Ramos’ Spoiler Variant Cover.
Spider-Boy – a youth in mids and a spider-suit – appeared at the end of some sort of dimension spanning threat and claims to have known the rest of the Spider-crew forever…only we never knew it because we were reading the wrong universe’s adventures. Or something like that. The mystery is unfolding and everyone wants that precious first issue!
“All I ever wanted to do was tell stories with THIS cast, and it’s been the coolest thing ever to co-create some of the characters who populate it,” enthused Slott. “And this kid, this Spider-Boy, is THE one I’m most psyched about!”
§ Maverick gets boxed: Mad Cave’s kid focused Maverick is getting a MAVERICK YEAR ONE BOX SET, gathering five graphic novels: In the Shadow of the Throne, Good Game Well Played, World Class, Nightmare in Savannah, and Needle & Thread. The set will retail for $75 and arrives in a limited edition of only 500 copies.
§ More sell outs: We may not be getting sales figures from comics distributors, but they still send out signals when a book sells out. In addition to Spider-Boy’s debut, recent sell-outs at the distributor level include
• A Vicious Circle #1 from Boom!, the first issue in a prestige 3-issue original series from artist Lee Bermejo (Batman: Damned, Joker), screenwriter Mattson Tomlin, and letterer Becca Carey (Angel). This tale of a time traveling assassin gets a second printing featuring new cover art by Andrea Sorrentino (Gideon Falls), available in stores May 3, 2023.
• Local Man from Tony Fleecs and Tim Seeley is being rushed back to print from Image Comic; a reprint of Local Man #2 will hit shelves in April alongside the release of Local Man #3.
“We promise we’re just getting started. Issues #3 and #4 are among the best things either Tony and I have ever done,” said Seeley. “I never brag. BUT I’M BRAGGING HERE! Order away!”
The series involves a former superhero turned murder suspect and is presented in a “flipbook” format with a lead story drawn by Fleecs and a superhero flashback drawn by Seeley.
I remember when Marvel would boast how they avoided the things DC did. Now there’s multiple Hulks of different colors, and a Spider-Boy. Of course there is. No new ideas.
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