Indie Comic Alliance forms offering Distribution and Printing

With the implosion of Diamond, smaller publishers have been left scrambling to find new distribution either through new companies offering it or new models. A half dozen (or so) new companies have risen focused on solving the issue and offering new avenues for distribution. The Indie Comic Alliance has launched to not just provide distribution but also printing services with the first set of comics to be released in January 2027 with solicitation in October.

Headed by Christopher Reda at Critical Entertainment and Thomas Cho at STS & Associates the alliance has launched with sixteen publishers. Publishers include: Critical Entertainment, DSTLRY, Red 5 Comics, Wise Acre Comics, Outland Entertainment, BentBox Comics, Forbidden Futures, Patriot Comic Books, Diabolik, 2510 Press, World at War Comics, Monkeygong, Bear Treasure Studios, K-Toon Studios, Phantom Blade Productions, and Narwhal Press.

Like other deals that have been announced, some of the publishers will be distributed under the Critical Entertainment label, not their own publishing label and be distributed through Universal Distribution and Philbo Distribution. Some are already offered through Philbo.

DSTLRY is the highest profile of the publishers and currently have an exclusive with Penguin Random House Comics, which could hint that exclusive will be ending soon.

You can read the full announcement below:

The Indie Comic Alliance has officially been created with the first set of Publishers being announced. The Indie Comic Alliance is a Collective of Independent Comic Book Publishers focused on offering original comics in local retailer stores and making independent publishing thrive in a growing comic book market. Headed by Christopher Reda at Critical Entertainment and Thomas Cho at STS & Associates, the Alliance’s goal is to make independent publishers successful while giving readers a destination to find creative stories.

The first set of Publishers are the following: Critical Entertainment, DSTLRY, Red 5 Comics, Wise Acre Comics, Outland Entertainment, BentBox Comics, Forbidden Futures, Patriot Comic Books, Diabolik, 2510 Press, World at War Comics, Monkeygong, Bear Treasure Studios, K-Toon Studios, Phantom Blade Productions, and Narwhal Press.

The Indie Comic Alliance will offer Independent Publishers reasonable Distribution into retail comic book stores and affordable Printing, Shipping, and Storage while creating a competitive advantage in the direct market by having a destination for customers to find Indie Titles. Most Indie Comic Alliance books will be scheduled to release in retail stores on the third Wednesday of each month called Indie Comic Book Day. Indie Comic Alliance will service thousands of Local Comic Book Stores and Brick and Mortar Retail Bookstores. We aim to give Retailers a place they will know where to look for fresh indie comics. Solicitations beginning in October, many of the publishers will be distributed in Universal Distribution and Philbo Distribution through the Critical Entertainment label in the United States and Canada. This first lineup of comics are set to release January 20, 2027. Some of these publishers are already featured in Philbo Distribution and DSTLRY is currently exclusive with Penguin Random House Comics.

Indie Fans can follow the latest Indie Comic Alliance updates on Instagram, X, and www.indiecomicalliance.com.

Source: Graphic Policy