Diamond Comic Distributors
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Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. (often called Diamond Comics, DCD, or casually Diamond) is the largest comic book distributor serving North America. They transport comic books from both big and small comic book makers, or suppliers, to the retailers. Diamond dominates the direct market in the United States, and has exclusive arrangements with most major U.S. comics publishers, including Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics, and Marvel Comics.
Overview
Diamond has what it calls an "open-door policy" to new suppliers. This means that anyone who makes a comic book can send samples of it to Diamond for review. If the comic book has sufficient sales potential, Diamond might distribute the comic book to retail stores for the comic book creator.
In the Summer of 1997, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an antitrust investigation into the comics industry and the alleged monopoly of Diamond Comics. The investigation was closed in November 2000, with no further action deemed necessary [link] on the basis that, although Diamond enjoyed a monopoly in the North American comic book direct market distribution, they did not enjoy a monopoly on book distribution (books including non-comic books), and therefore had competitors.
External links
- [Diamond Comics.com] - Diamond Comic Distributors official website
- Articles
- ["Defending Diamond"] - A February 2006 defense of the company (by Julian Darius at Sequart)
- ["Will DC Buy Diamond?"] - An April 2002 article (by Michael Dean in The Comics Journal)
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