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New Indie Comic Distributor, Comic Distro, Seeks to Streamline Distribution to Local Shops
A topic we’ve covered many times here at ICD is distribution and what it takes to get your comic into a local comic shop. Today we have another chapter in that saga thanks to Comic Distro, a new indie comic distributor that I recently learned about.
Founded in April 2021 by Austin Osueke, Comic Distro provides a solution for comic book publishers looking to sell their publications directly to comic book retailers. Comic Distro bypasses the traditional direct-market comic book distribution system and allows publishers and retailers to directly engage with each other.
“We aim to democratize the business of comic book distribution to be more accessible and practical for comic book publishers and retailers.” – Austin Osueke, Founder
Comic book publishers upload their files to Comic Distro. They set the pricing and printing details of their book(s). Retailers visit Comic Distro to discover and buy comic books for their stores. Toledo Global Services is an established comic book printing company that handles the orders, printing, and shipping of comic books to stores.
Publishers are notified whenever their book(s) are sold; from there they log in to Comic Distro to access real-time sales reports and receive payment from Comic Distro.
Osueke is a creator himself, he created the series eigoMANGA, so he knows the plight of indie creators. ”There is shared frustration with traditional direct market comic book distribution. They have near domination yet they focused too heavily on enterprise-level comic book publishers. The pandemic showed that they were problematic to retailers as well.”
Comic Distro’s operational model is dedicated and solely focused on the comic book industry━the publishers, the printers, and the retailers.
- Easy to use.
- Get to market fast.
- Keep control.
- Make more money.
- Grow your business.
The traditional direct-market comic book distribution system often exposes comic book retailers to many financial risks and operational challenges; they also cripple the ability of a comic book publisher to operate as a sustainable business. Comic Distro is the platform where comic book publishers and retailers can directly work together and build their comic businesses.
Currently, Comic Distro is working with 41 active retail locations. “We found the most success selling ‘unconventional’ comic book genres like biographies. Many stores like to support local creators or they may cater to a specific community and want to buy comics for their patrons,” Osueke said.
You can find Comic Distro online at:
