Fans of DC Comics are finally in for some good news, after ceasing printing and shipping of physical comic books in response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Now, the publisher has confirmed their books will once again be stocked in retail stores starting Tuesday, April 28th.
The news comes after the announcement that Diamond Comics Distributors will reopen in May after they halted shipments across America to stop the spread of COVID-19. Diamond stopping distribution hit many stores hard, as the exclusive distributor for many publishers including Marvel, DC, Image, IDW, Dark Horse, Boom! and Dynamite. Both publishers and comic creators have been doing what they can to help the struggling stores still able to remain open, with DC themselves donating $250,000 to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), and comic book writers and artists started the #Creators4Comics online auction to raise money for the BINC. And soon comic fans will be able to offer their own support -- by buying comic books.
As outlined to retailers (via Newsarama) DC surveyed more than 2,000 comic book stores to find that shop owners were coming up with new and inventive comic sales strategies to ensure their customers were still receiving their weekly dose of comics (safely). With a lot of the world still in lockdown, the comics will only be available from the shops that are able to remain open. To find out which stores are still open and will be stocking the new titles, you can use the Comic Shop Tracker on DC's website. The weekly releases will be winding up slowly, and the new comics will include the following titles over the next few weeks:
Tuesday April 28th:
- Batman #89 (3rd Printing)
- Daphne Byrne #4
- The Dreaming #20
- Nightwing #70 (2nd Printing)
- Batman GIANT #4
Tuesday May 5th:
- Batman and the Outsiders #12
- DC Super Stars #17 (Facsimile Edition)
- The Flash #753
- The Green Lantern Season Two #3
- Hawkman #23
- House of Whispers #20
- Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity #4
Tuesday May 12:
- Harley Quinn #72
- Justice League #44
- Justice League Odyssey #20
- Lois Lane #10
- Metal Men #6
As readers can see, the releases intended to work out the kinks of the new distribution system are a mixture of new books and high-profile reprints. For instance, Batman #89 is a third printing, but it is also the first appearance of the new Joker henchwoman Punchline. There is still very little known about the character, apart from the fact she will be The Joker's new girlfriend, and her story will have a big impact leading into The Joker War storyline launching later this year. And with comic fans scooping up the issue when it first released, it seems DC is relying on that enthusiasm to begin the long trek to get back in business.
The coronavirus has knocked more than just the comic book industry back on its heels, with film and TV productions -- many of which are adapting the stories from comics books -- being halted as well. While DC sending their stock to retailers is a positive sign, it is still just the first in the fight back against the impact of COVID-19. The damage has been done for some retailers, but hopefully the next month will provide a better outlook than the last.
Source: Newsarama