Harlequin Media, producer of fine romantic fictions, has decided that it’s not enough that they’re putting out manga versions of their books through Dark Horse; they’d rather do it themselves (although keeping DH around for help with translation and packaging). Not interested, fanboy? That’s okay - Harlequin isn’t exactly aiming for you:
“Harlequin plans to use its own sales and distribution force to distribute its new manga line, which launches with four titles in September, all of which are priced at $7.99. The Harlequin sales force has demonstrated a great ability to place books in multiple channels including mass-market retailers and grocery stores as well as bookstores. Harlequin does not plan to distribute to comic shops via Diamond Comic Distributors, although interested retailers will be able to order directly from the publisher.”
June 16th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Comics? Outside the Direct Market?
The Deuce you say!
June 17th, 2006 at 9:43 am
Here’s a good Rama-related thread.
http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73999
June 17th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Good for Harlequin, hopefully Marvel will catch on.
June 20th, 2006 at 2:05 am
What by switching to 100-page $8.00 b&w novel-sized comics aimed at girls?
Hopefully not…
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:34 am
“Not interested, fanboy? That’s okay - Harlequin isn’t exactly aiming for you:”
That’s the problem with the Direct Market these days. Too many of the stores don’t even TRY to reach a broader audience, giving away part of the comics market to Bookstores. Sooner or later the better comic shops will be buying their graphic novels via the bookstore distribution system, because so many books won’t be available from Diamond.