I don’t disagree that Diamond is in a monopolistic position as far as the direct market is concerned (actually, I don’t think I disagree much at all with anything you point out), nor am I saying that the approval procedure isn’t flawed. And I am absolutely not suggesting that commercial standards be the only standard for bringing books to the market. I totally support grassroots efforts such as this… it gives Diamond moral motivation, in lieu of financial incentive, to carry quality, but possibly commercially dubious, titles.

What I don’t understand is 1. why Diamond is getting much of the blame when publishers are equally culpable for the current situation (for example, the Diamond exclusives you mention. Sure, they can release publishers… or the publishers can choose not to be exclusive in the first place. We ourselves are not exclusive *on principle*, and despite knowing the advantages of doing so, we’re quite comfortable living without the perks) and 2. why Diamond is apparently laidened with sole responsibility of supporting all of comics, when all other print distributors of books and periodicals which do not carry comics at all receive a free pass.

When I said “no one else wants us” (which I admit is a generalization for rhetorical purposes), I am not referring to any single point in the past, or any infinite possible futures, but the situation as it is *now.* And the answer is simply that few comics can sustain the sales, and few publishers have the financial wherewithal, that would interest such “mainstream” distributors. In other words, they’re making financial decisions, the very same ones Diamond makes. Except Diamond’s barrier of entry is much, much lower. If Diamond suddenly dissappeared tomorrow, a good majority of us indie publishers would dissappear with it… even if some mainstream distributor were to stand up, the kind of sales and payment terms that’s regularly employed in the book and newsstand world gives small comics publishers little chance of survival.

Marvel going with Heroes World was the nuclear option only in the way that Slim Pickens riding the Atom Bomb down at the end of Dr. Strangelove was.

I don’t see how any figures that were around at the time could have suggested those companies were in danger because Marvel decided to shoot itself in the foot, and seeing as DC kept the nature of their deal a secret, I don’t think they have the right to be believed when they assert that this was so.

Yes, Diamond’s monopoly was the accidental result of Marvel’s disastrous blunder to destroy the rest of the comics industry. We can’t blame Diamond or the publishers who went exclusive with Diamond solely as a means to try to save their asses from Marvel’s use of the “nuclear option.” But, a decade later and those publishers remain exclusive with Diamond in the direct market, gaining a special seat at the table with front page catalog exposure and surely many other perks that newer companies can’t compete against. It is in Diamond’s best interest to protect those partners.

It’s no grand conspiracy it’s just what business types call synergy. The problem though is that this decade old collusion to save their asses from Marvel is now a means for those companies to crowd out the “back of the catalog” wannabees from become major players much as Marvel tried to do to them (though in a slightly less hostile manner). Viper, IDW, Oni, etc. probably don’t stand a chance of being “the next Dark Horse” because there already is one and they’re up at the front because of decisions made 10 years ago in a period of crisis.

Sure, the bookstore market has cracked Diamond’s monopoly but if anyone thinks small publishers have any better chance in bookstores when the big- time book publishers are signing up comics talent to multiple book deals then that’s just as silly as saying Diamond then I’ve got a gold foil embossed variant cover, poly-bagged early 90s Valiant/Malibu crossover comic to sell them.

Now, I thought Leong was crazy for moving from web to print. But obviously ad revenue wasn’t supporting the web endeavor and so he tried print. I even agree with the Diamond rep that a color section would greatly increase the sales but if Diamond can’t see the quality and possibility of future sales enough to give it one chance then you do kind of have to wonder about other motives. If Diamond thinks it’s such a burden to solicit a title that might not sell then why not charge a fee (perhaps even refundable upon meeting the sales minimum) for doing so which would be understandable and provide a defensible barrier for entry instead of acting as a censorous gate-keeper intent of killing art comix or whatever the most recent accusation might be?

It was a case of monkey-see monkey-do. DC and the other publishers could have sat back and conducted business as usual. Well, business as usual after Marvel got dethroned. But, like lemmings, they followed a terrible business model — and Diamond wound up the winner.

Diamond DOES have a monopoly on the comics market. But, like many things, this too shall pass. Diamond rose to the top of the heap in a time when comics were on rocky footing, anyway. With the interest in comics, thanks to the movies, eventually another distributor will come along and start carrying comics. The Diamond will remain at the top, or it will slip into second place. Just like most business.

If you really want to see CF in print, just follow Leong’s advice and politely write a letter to Diamond. It’s worked twice before, and it’ll probably work this time. Profferring conspiracy theories or Diamond-bashing isn’t going to help at all.

Many books are rejected by Diamond — they cannot carry — and are not obligated to carry — everything offered to them.

The market is difficult for print.

And anyone who dismisses the notion that Diamond doesn’t feel pressure to “protect” it’s exclusive publishers doesn’t have a firm grasp on reality or just hasn’t been paying attention for the last decade.

Does Diamond help the comic book industry?!? Definitely, definitely NOT!

No, it couldn’t.

As a reader of the online version since its inception, I’d like to take this time to let you know how UNIQUE and NECESSARY this magazine is for the good of the entire comics community and business.

Considering the reasonable price point, $6.25 and the wealth of intelligent articles from a unique comics lifestyle point of view, it puzzles me that you wouldn’t be carrying this magazine.

The fact that it is B/W is not at all a negative to the hip comics and comics-culture (not fandom, two different things) loving audience who would pick up this magazine to read for its unique viewpoint, and creative features that are not found ANYWHERE in any other comics publication. Many of the folks who would pick up this magazine, are other culture vultures who are into electronic music, fashion, art, etc who all have now been FINALLY converted to the comics medium due in part, to an enormous amount of positive publicity and of course successful comics related films.

Since the magazine started, not only do ALL of the thousands of colleagues of mine, IRL, virtual and otherwise, check out and cherish the online version, BUT it is also, particularly due to the sophisticated and different cover designs, a great magazine for those who are not part of “fandom” per se, who don’t identify with “nerdcore” or whatever, but the thousands of folks nationwide who are now wandering into comics stores because of the enormous increase in mainstream coverage of the medium. These people are very used to b/w music magazines, fashion magazines, zines, hip culture art magazines, etc and Comic Foundry speaks to the long time comics fans and these newer additions to our fold.

Comic Foundry magazine is very clearly the first Post-Comics-are-Cool publication- it just IS cool, without trying. It is perhaps the ONLY one friendly to the NEW wave of comics COLLECTORS who are cropping up. This is not to disparage the other fantastic comics pubs, but to say this one is new, distinct, and deserves to be given a chance.

Hey, I’d buy this magazine in a bookstore or wherever, if I can’t get it through a comic book shop. Good luck, Tim! I hope that you can still publish the mag either way.

Hell, that is one stylish guy. I’m all in favor of a better dressed comic book industry. Hmmmm… I’m going to start my own non-profit to support this move…