Ka-Blam’s announcement regarding direct market distribution has been followed with the launch of ComicsMonkey. The site and service, which is promising “No Benchmarks, No Thresholds, No Minimums, No Fees” will offer print-on-demand distribution to direct market comic shops.
The site contains a run-down of the basics, links to some information for publishers and retailers, and the promise of more specifics as the days go on.
ComicsMonkey explains why it pulled the trigger now thusly:
With news of the developments in the direct market in January and their impact on independent publishers, we began getting pummeled with messages and emails all asking a variance of the same thing “When are you guys going to start distributing to comics shops?”
We realized that a multi-month pilot program, an indeterminate retooling period, and an official launch 9 months or so from now were off the table for good. Circumstances were dictating the pace. We couldn’t wait any longer.
We’ve got to go now.
This is less than ideal, but unavoidable. We know that just as with the launch of Ka-Blam and then again with IndyPlanet, there will be unforeseen complications, fits and starts, and hiccups aplenty along the way. Things will not always go smoothly. We’ll make mistakes, but we’ll correct them. It’ll certainly take us a while to get our legs under us and to fully hit our stride. We beg your indulgence during this time and promise you that your patience will be rewarded.
Granted, this is an important story with many facets to analyze. We’ll be reading the details closely and reporting new information as it becomes available. We’ll also have commentary from people in the industry regarding the possible impact of this bold new move.
February 1st, 2009 at 5:26 pm
One of the fears I had when Diamond started their exclusive deals was it would kill the little distributors and then start to kill the indy publishers, all of which has come to pass.
I for one welcome the idea of another distribution channel for the direct market comic shops. Of course we’ll have to see if Ka-Blam’s ComicsMonkey can fill orders with quality end products before celebrating, but it is a step in the right direction.
Good luck Ka-Blam.
February 1st, 2009 at 5:33 pm
This is a REALLY big step for the small press side of things. Essentially, Ka-Balm is going to be doing the same thing with ComicsMonkey that they already do with IndyPlanet now, except on a much larger scale and exclusively to businesses. Ka-Blam’s business model isn’t really changing much from what it has been for awhile now.
The real reason this happening now is the announcement from Diamond. If Diamond had stayed quiet you can bet that we wouldn’t have heard about ComicsMonkey for some time yet.
I don’t really see the venture “failing” so speak, because it’s really impossible for it “fail” in any way, as long as it makes money on every order. Now, that is of course if the intended goal is to keep the service alive in and of itself.
If the intended goal is to truly offer an alternative large scale distribution system that customers and retailers both know and trust, then the system is going to, by default, launch a failure.
It will have to grow into the massive potential for success that depends largely on factors outside of it’s control.
The ideal scenario here would be a large portion of independent creators moving to the service, with the audience encouraging their local shops to carry some titles, and Ka-Blam of course having the staff and infrastructure in place to handle in the massive increase in work.
All of those three things will happen to some degree. It’s to what degree that determine how close the service gets to a true “Internet Age Distributor.”
It’s a wonderful experiment. I already use Ka-Blam and IndyPlanet, and I can’t wait to see where this all goes next.
February 1st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Given the timing, it’s an exciting announcement but, it’s nothing that is going to happen overnight. Creators and publishers need to have some patience and let it grow. As mentioned on the Comicsmonkey website, creators are going to be needed to help get the word out to retailers. Given the people involved and the tenacity of the small/indie press, this has a great chance to succeed down the road.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:22 pm
i haven’t even printed my book yet. an probaly won’t for some time. but ComicMonkey sounds like it’s shifting things to where we need to go. it’s not always easy to change, and try new things, when the tried and tested work just fine. it’s only become apperent we have to change or die. the discussion of how this could fail or what it’ll take to work is great, but the only way it will succeed, is esentially up to us.
peace out
February 1st, 2009 at 11:33 pm
It’s easy to make an announcement like this but less encouraging that they don’t actually seem to have worked out a lot of the specifics.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:42 pm
1) Awesome name.
2) Big news. I hope Newsarama does some interviews with small publishers to get their reactions about this.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I for one will support this effort. I’ve been evaluating the prospect of creating an independent distribution network in addition to my comics line, but I’m willing to put those plans on hold and see how this plan works (along with the proposed “step up” that Haven recently announced with regards to advance orders).
I believe the Indy comics market will be just fine, as long as the shops support projects like this one.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Awesome. Best of luck, guys.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Considering Ka-Blam makes money as soon as the books are printed, making the jump to distributor is a very smart move. The easier you make the comics to order, the more people will order. They will make money off the printing of books that may not have ben ordered before, and those extra sales will more than cover the cost of distribution.
It also simplifies the marketing process for the creator. They don’t have to give their fans a choice between ordering direct from Ka-Blam or giving them the Diamond order number. Now they can go to one spot.
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