Posted in: Comics | Tagged: bubble wrap, dc comics, diamond, distributor wars, lunar, ucs

DC Comics Arrive In Stores – In Bubble Wrap

Published Sat, 25 Apr 2020 17:15:54 -0500

Last updated Sun, 26 Apr 2020 07:33:09 -0500

Now that is how you make an impact on comic book retailers as a new distributor of comic books. Bleeding Cool has reports that retailers have started to receive DC Comics titles for sale on Tuesday. though, without actually receiving any restrictions for sale date, they could start selling them right now. But Lunar Distribution – also known as DCBS – seem to have learnt from their own need to sell comic books in decent condition and have left nothing to chance. Retailers received their comic books is as close-to-mint condition as possible, courtesy of copious and oversized bubble wrap. Retailers have reported to Bleeding Cool that they have never known distribution like it.

DC Comics Arrive In Stores - In Bubble Wrap. — DC Comics Arrive In Stores – In Bubble Wrap. Art from retailer source.

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So what books have retailers been receiving? Batman Giant #4, of course, over a month after Walmart had it. and naturally printed at Transcontinental Printing in Canada back in February,

Batman Giant #4, of course, over a month after Walmart had it. and naturally printed at Transcontinental Printing in Canada back in February. Art from retailer source.

DC had two reprint books available to stores this week, Batman #89 third printing and Nightwing #70 second printing. It also has two new books, Daphne Byrne #2 and The Dreaming #20. But where did they come from, given that DC Comics's printers, Transcontinental Printing of Canada closed down and the print runs are being held at Diamond Comic Distributors' warehouses, also closed down. Well now, here is Daphne Byrne #2, as received today.

Here is the first page, with very recognisable art from Kelly Jones. It is possible that these events have brought new prominence to the comic books in question.

Talking of which, here is a look at The Dreaming #20. With a look at the final title page.

But zooming in on that indicia, we get a better idea of what's going on. These are copies of Daphne Byrne and The Dreaming that were printed on March 20th, before the shutdown. We presumed that Diamond had all these, but they may instead be overrun that DC kept, now repurposed for these new distributors.

These are copies of Daphne Byrne and The Dreaming that were printed on March 20th.

Could this be why DC Comics chose these titles for week one, product they already had in their own warehouses and enough to satisfy likely demand? Something that might not be true of Batman #92? Maybe.

The same goes for the reprint titles. These do not appear to be additional printings on top of those stored at Diamond, but part of the original print run from the original printers, and dated as such.

These do not appear to be additional printings on top of those stored at Diamond, but part of the original print run from the original printers.

What will happen in subsequent weeks, we don't yet know. But there is another wrinkle when it comes to additional printings not designated as such. Transcontinental Printing of Canada is open for business again, and that includes comics. The New Distributor Wars of 2020 just got even more interesting.

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