This morning Dark Horse published a press release on their blog that they’ve signed a multi year partnership with Penguin Random House to distribute their comics in books after working with Diamond Publishing for the last 30 years.
I don’t own a comic shop. I don’t have a Diamond or Penguin Random House account but every shop owner that I’ve seen react to this has reacted positively. So… while admitting ignorance on the topic… I’m happy about it.
You can read the official press release below.
DARK HORSE EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHER SERVICES
09/21/2022 9:56am
DARK HORSE EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHER SERVICES WITH A MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT TO DISTRIBUTE DARK HORSE SINGLE-ISSUE COMICS WORLDWIDE
Dark Horse Comics, an industry-leading publisher of comic books, graphic novels, and manga, and Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS), a division of Penguin Random House, today announced an exclusive worldwide multi-year agreement for the sales and distribution of Dark Horse’s newly published and backlist comic book periodicals, graphic novels, and manga to the Direct Market comic shops. The new agreement, which begins June 1, 2023 expands its current partnership, in which PRHPS sells and distributes Dark Horse’s trade-book frontlist and backlist to bookstores.
By continuing to expand its reach into the Direct Market, Penguin Random House’s mission is to support comic shops in fostering for fans of all ages a life-long love of comics, graphic novels, and manga. PRH is a free-freight company, and is committed to bolstering all physical retail, where independently owned comic shops and bookstores are some of the most passionate industry advocates and anchors of their communities. The company’s newest distribution facility, a one-million square-foot fulfillment center in Hampstead, Maryland, in tandem with the company’s fulfillment headquarters in nearby Westminster, are the centerpieces for its comics Direct Market supply chain.
Dark Horse Founder and CEO Mike Richardson said, “It’s an exciting time for the industry, and our move to Penguin Random House for Direct Market distribution comes after our successful partnership in bookstore distribution. Random House will help us expand our reach to retailers and fans around the globe.” Richardson added, “Diamond Distribution has been a key partner for Dark Horse for nearly thirty years. As we move on to this next stage in our company’s growth, we want to say thanks to Steve Geppi, Chuck Parker, and the Diamond team, and while we will be moving our comics distribution to Penguin Random House, it is important to note that our products will still be available through Diamond as well.”
Jeff Abraham, President of Penguin Random House Publisher Services, said, “We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with Dark Horse, and are excited to reach new heights with this expansion. We’ve grown together in an ever-evolving retail landscape for graphic storytelling, and we see this next step as further commitment to supporting Dark Horse, and our retail partners, well into the future.”
Direct Market retailers can choose to order Dark Horse products direct from PRH, or alternatively, through Diamond, as a wholesaler, under terms established by Diamond in the US and the UK. These retailers now have 24/7 access to online ordering at https://selfservice.penguinrandomhouse.biz/ and can also visit www.prhcomics.com, a website for comics, graphic novels, manga, and more, designed specifically for US Direct Market comic shop retailers and consumers.
