Penguin Random House Publisher Services will exclusively sell and distribute worldwide Marvel Comics' newly published and backlist comic books, trade collections, and graphic novels to comics shops, known as the "direct market." The agreement begins October 1.
Direct market retailers can order Marvel products direct from PRHPS, or alternatively, through Diamond as a wholesaler under terms established by Diamond in the U.S. and the U.K. Hachette Book Group will continue to manage distribution of Marvel's graphic novels and trade collections to the book market.
The companies noted that PRHPS is "a free-freight company, allowing retailers to simplify their business models while alleviating the volatility and complexity of reducing freight costs and planning. Through many of PRH's standard offerings, like its rapid replenishment program for graphic novels and advanced supply chain, direct market retailers will experience more flexibility to manage inventory and stock their stores to best serve their customers."
Dan Buckley, president of Marvel Entertainment, which is a subsidiary of Disney, said, "Marvel's entire history is built on telling great stories. And as we've seen for decades, those stories go hand in hand with equipping the comic shops who share them. Marvel and Penguin Random House stand by that vision, and we are excited to build and expand those opportunities for our talent, retailers, and fans. Comics are the core of the Marvel Universe, and we are confident this new partnership will continue to grow and evolve this resilient industry. We look forward to advancing our capabilities with PRHPS to serve our fans and the direct market. We thank Diamond for their many years of support and partnership as we continue our relationship with them in other areas."
Marvel's full print and online October Marvel Previews catalog and comic book solicits will be available in July and distributed by PRHPS to active accounts. All comic book and trade orders for titles going on sale this October should be made through PRHPS. Early solicit titles will be available for order starting on May 26. Retailers can open PRHPS accounts now to register for Marvel's monthly title catalogs and solicits, which will continue to be available to retailers approximately three months ahead of on sale.
Marvel and PRHPS will share more information with retailers in the coming months. Direct market retailers can e-mail PRH for more information: U.S. retailers, Canadian retailers, international retailers.