Change in Marvel Distribution?

by Calvin Reid -- Publishers Weekly, 8/16/2004

Marvel caused a stir in 2002 when its switched bookstore distribution from Diamond to CDS—one of the country's largest comics publishers was leaving behind the dominant distributor to the comics market for a company with more general bookstore experience. Now sources tell PW that Marvel is about to switch its bookstore distribution from CDS back to Diamond.

Sources told PW that Marvel is returning to Diamond (which had continued to distribute its books to the comics specialty market) to save money by consolidating all its books in a single warehouse—and because Diamond is more knowledgeable about Marvel's books and the category overall.

Marvel did not respond to calls from PW for comment. A spokesperson for CDS said the company "will not confirm or deny" the switch. The news was first reported on ICV2.com, the comics and pop culture trade news Web site.