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Revision 779238840 of "Diamond Comic Distributors" on enwiki{{Infobox company
| name = Diamond Comic Distributors
| logo = [[File:Diamond Comic Distributors.png|200px|The logo of Diamond Comic Distributors.]]
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| foundation = 1982
| location_city = [[Hunt Valley, Maryland|Hunt Valley]], Maryland
| location_country = US
| key_people = {{Plainlist|
* [[Stephen A. Geppi]], CEO
* Chuck Parker, {{small|Exec VP and COO}}
* Larry Swanson, {{small|VP Finance and CFO}}
* Roger Fletcher, {{small|VP Sales and Marketing}}
* John Wurzer, {{small|VP Operations}}
* Chris Powell, {{small|VP Retailer Services}}
* Mike Schimmel, {{small|Sales Director}}
* Dan Manser, {{small|Marketing Director}}
}}
| industry = [[comics]]
| products = comic book distribution
| revenue = $500 million
| num_employees = 540
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.diamondcomics.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.''' (often called '''Diamond Comics''', '''DCD''', or casually '''Diamond''') is the last remaining [[comic book]] [[distribution (business)|distributor]] serving retailers in North America and worldwide, since the end of the comic book distributor wars in the 1990s. They transport comic books from both big and small comic book publishers, or suppliers, to [[retail]]ers. Diamond dominates the [[direct market]] in the United States, and has a distribution monopoly structured by exclusive arrangements with most major US comic book publishers, including [[Dark Horse Comics]], [[DC Comics]], [[IDW Publishing]],<ref>[http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/03/18/idw-become-premier-publisher-with-diamond/ "IDW Becomes Diamond Premiere Publisher"]</ref> [[Image Comics]], [[Marvel Comics]], and more.
Diamond is also the parent company of [[Alliance Game Distributors]], Diamond Book Distributors, Diamond UK, [[Diamond Select Toys]], [[Gemstone Publishing]], E. Gerber Products, Diamond International Galleries, Hake's Americana & Collectibles, Morphy's Auctions, the [[Geppi's Entertainment Museum]], and [[Baltimore (magazine)|''Baltimore'' magazine]],
Diamond is the publisher of ''Previews'', a monthly catalog/magazine showcasing upcoming comic books, graphic novels, toys, and other pop-culture merchandise available at comic book specialty shops. The publication is available to both comic shop retailers and consumers.
==History==
In [[1982 in comics|1982]], Baltimore-based comics retailer Steve Geppi founded Diamond Comic Distributors. Diamond became the successor to direct market pioneer [[Phil Seuling]]'s distribution dream when it took over [[New Media/Irjax]]'s warehouses in 1982. Diamond further bought out early-distributor [[Bud Plant Inc.]] in 1988, and main rival [[Capital City Distribution]] in 1996, to assume a near-monopoly on comics distribution, including exclusivity deals with the major [[List of comics publishing companies|comic book publishers]].
=== Beginnings ===
By 1981/82 Geppi had four comics retail locations and was already "doing a little informal distributing... for smaller retailers."<ref name="Success">Warshaw, Michael with illustration by [[Neal Adams]], "From Mailman to Tycoon," ''[[Success (magazine)|Success]]'' (June, 1994), pp. 28–32</ref> Geppi found himself "one of the biggest accounts" for New Media/Irjax,<ref name="Success"/> and when the distributor "relocated to Florida, he asked Geppi to service more accounts for a bigger discount."<ref name="Success"/> One of the "last loyal customers" when New Media began having fiscal difficulties, Geppi made a deal: "[t]he owner was going into retail," so Geppi agreed to provide New Media/Irjax with "free books for a period of time in return for his account list," buying parts of the company, and founding Diamond Comic Distribution.<ref name="Success"/>
Geppi had been a sub-distributor for Hal Shuster's Irjax in the late 1970s.<ref name="DuinDD">Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "[[Direct market|Direct Distribution]]" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) ISBN 1-56971-344-8, p. 126-130</ref> In what [[Mile High Comics]]' [[Chuck Rozanski]] describes as an "incredibly risky and gutsy move," Geppi took over New Media/Irjax's "office and warehouse space" and, recalled Rozanski, had to "sort out the good customers from the bad overnight" negotiating with creditors to continue Shuster's distribution business as Diamond Comic Distribution.<ref name="DuinDiamond"/> Almost overnight, noted Rozanski, "[h]e went from being a retailer in Baltimore to having warehouses all over the place."<ref name="DuinDiamond"/>
Geppi named his new company 'Diamond' "after the imprint [[Marvel Comics]] used on non-returnable comics," and although the "publisher discontinued the symbol" months later, the name remained.<ref name="Success"/> "Diamond grew an average of 40 percent a year," as comics retail took off.<ref name="Success"/>
In 1983, Diamond hired an accounting firm, and in 1985 hired "no-nonsense CPA," Chuck Parker "as Diamond's first controller."<ref name="Success"/> In 1994, Diamond employee Mark Herr noted that this move was Geppi's "best decision," as Parker "cares nothing about the comics. To him, it's dollars and cents."<ref name="Success"/> Parker describes his role as "smooth[ing] the emotion out of some decisions. Steve [Geppi] is a visionary and a risk-taker... and I tend to be more conservative."<ref name="Success"/>
===Expansion===
After starting his business through buying New Media/Irjax's warehouses and offices in 1982, Geppi's distribution company has bought out many other distribution companies since. Many fans "with little experience" started rival distribution companies only to "find they were in over their heads," allowing Geppi to "[buy] out the smart ones or pick... up the pieces after the stupid ones went out of business," according to Herr.<ref name="Success"/> Diamond was aided in his efforts by the publishers themselves. In the early 1980s, Marvel and DC Comics provided trade terms favorable for larger distributors and those with efficient freight systems, effectively "play[ing] into the hands of the major distributors such as Capital and Diamond," and hastening the demise of smaller distributors.<ref name="DuinDD"/>
==== Bud Plant Inc. ====
Most notably, in 1988, Geppi bought up early mail-order distributor Bud Plant Inc.,<ref>"Bud Plant Sells Out to Diamond," ''The Comics Journal'' #124 (August 1988), pp. 9-10.</ref> who had himself bought out [[Charles Abar Distribution]] in 1982.<ref name="DuinPlant">Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "Bud Plant" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) ISBN 1-56971-344-8, p. 356-357</ref> Plant had, since 1970, been selling [[underground comics]] (a field which Geppi and fellow distributor [[Buddy Saunders]] had tended to steer clear of).<ref name="DuinPlant"/> After making $19m in sales in 1987, Diamond bought West Coast distributor Plant's business<ref>Plant maintains a mail-order and Internet presence in art books, trade paperbacks and rare books, however. Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "Bud Plant" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) ISBN 1-56971-344-8, p. 356-357</ref> in [[1988 in comics|1988]] "and went national"<ref name="Success"/> thereby assuming control of "40 percent of the [[direct market|direct-sales market]]."<ref name="DuinPlant"/> (Diamond and Capital City Distribution had control of at least 70% between them.)
=== Further expansion ===
In 1990, Diamond acquired the Seattle-based sub-distributor [[Destiny Distribution]].<ref name=Diamond-timeline>[http://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/597?articleID=117735 "Diamond Timeline Chronicles 30 Years of Service & Success,"] Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. official website. Accessed Feb. 10, 2015.</ref><ref>"Newswatch: Independent Meets Its Destiny," ''The Comics Journal'' #139 (December 1990), pp. 12-13.</ref> Destiny had been started by Phil Pankow in the early 1980s, and was initially supplied by Bud Plant. Also in 1990, Diamond acquired Oregon-based [[Second Genesis Distribution]]<ref name=Diamond-timeline /> (whose operations folded in 1991).<ref>"Second Genesis Delaying Its Exodus," ''The Comics Journal'' #140 (February 1991), p. 13.</ref>
In 1991, Diamond moved into the [[UK]] market, acquiring [[Pacific Comics|Pacific Distribution, Ltd.]]<ref name=Diamond-timeline /> In 1992, Diamond acquired the British distributor [[Titan Distributors]], an arm of [[Titan Entertainment Group]].<ref>"NewsWatch: Diamond Acquires Titan Distributors," The Comics Journal #154 (Nov. 1992), p. 14.</ref>
In 1994, Diamond acquired Staten Island-based distributor [[Comics Unlimited]].<ref name=Diamond-timeline /> By this point, Diamond had "27 warehouses in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., employ[ing] between 750 and 900 people;" operated its own trucking line; and controlled 45% of the market, making $222 million in sales.<ref name="Success"/>
=== Heroes World and Capital City Distribution ===
In 1995, Marvel Comics challenged Diamond and main rival Capital City by buying the third distributor — [[Heroes World Distribution]] — and distributing its titles in-house.<ref name="DuinCC">Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "Capital City" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) ISBN 1-56971-344-8, p. 69</ref> Diamond reacted by outbidding Capital City for exclusive deals with Marvel's main rivals [[DC Comics]], as well as [[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse]], [[Image Comics|Image]], and [[Archie Comics]].<ref>"Newswatch: Tip 11: Go Exclusive with Diamond" ''The Comics Journal'' #185 (March 1996), p. 27.</ref> Capital City's response saw it sign exclusive deals with [[Kitchen Sink Press]] and [[Viz Comics]], but a year later faced the choice between bankruptcy and selling out. Diamond bought Capital City in the summer of 1996, assuming near-control of the comics distribution system.<ref name="DuinCC"/><ref name="bNet">[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_July_26/ai_18526328 "Diamond Comic Distributors acquires Capital City Distribution; Comic distribution industry stabilized by purchase," bNet: Business Wire (July 26, 1996).]</ref> The purchase price was not disclosed, but the acquisition brought an estimated $50 million in sales revenue to Diamond.<ref name="bNet" />
In early 1997, when Marvel's Heroes World endeavor failed, Diamond also forged an exclusive deal with the House of Ideas<ref>"Hello Again: Marvel Goes with Diamond," ''The Comics Journal'' #193 (February 1997), pp. 9-10.</ref> — giving the company its own section of comics catalog ''Previews'' (not least because the DC/Dark Horse/Image deal gave contractual prominence to those companies) — making "Geppi... the sole king of comics industry distribution in the summer of 1996."<ref name="DuinDiamond"/>
==== Antitrust litigation ====
In 1997, Diamond's position in the comics industry, as "the sole source of most new comics products to comics specialty shops," ultimately saw the company become the subject of "an investigation by the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Justice department]] for possible [[antitrust]] violations."<ref name="DuinDD"/> The Justice Department launched an antitrust investigation into the comics industry and the alleged [[monopoly]] of Diamond Comics. The investigation was closed in November 2000, with no further action deemed necessary<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/comicbrief/archives.cgi?category=1&view=11-00#973711307 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060322213439/http://www.comicbookresources.com/comicbrief/archives.cgi?category=1&view=11-00 |archivedate=2006-03-22 |title=Comic Book Resources > The Comic Brief > DOJ concludes investigation of Diamond Comic Distributors |accessdate=2009-05-29 }}</ref><ref>Dean, Michael, "Will DC Buy Diamond?" for ''[[The Comics Journal]]'', April 5, 2002. Accessed March 6, 2009</ref> on the basis that, although Diamond enjoyed a monopoly in the North American comic book direct market distribution, they did not enjoy a monopoly on book distribution (books including non-comic books).
=== International and book trade ===
In addition to having cornered the American comics distribution market, Diamond includes a number of subsidiary and affiliated companies. UK and European comics distribution is served by Diamond UK, based in Runcorn, England.<ref name="Affil"/> Alliance Game Distributors, Inc. distributes [[role-playing game]]s, "collectible card games, miniature games, [[board game]]s," and other merchandise for gamers.<ref name="Affil"/> as well as publishing ''Game Trade Magazine''.<ref name="Affil"/>
In 2002, Diamond consolidated its book trade into Diamond Book Distributors, marketing [[graphic novel]]s and [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]]s to bookstores including [[Barnes & Noble]], [[Ingram Content Group|Ingram]], [[Baker & Taylor]], [[Amazon.com]] and [[Borders Group|Borders]].<ref name="Affil"/>
==Criticism==
In 1983, Diamond was criticized for taking exception to certain "adult"-themed titles and scenes, effectively causing the cancellation of a series called ''[[Void Indigo]]'' for its excessive violence.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}
In 1987, Geppi responded to "a graphic childbirth scene in ''[[Miracleman]]'' #9 [written by [[Alan Moore]]]." Geppi wrote to retailers that:
{{cquote|"Diamond values its retailers too much to take chances on such a dangerous situation... We are not [[Censorship|censor]]s. We no more want someone deciding for us than you do. We cannot, however, stand by and watch the marketplace become a dumping ground for every sort of graphic fantasy that someone wants to live out. We have an industry to protect; we have leases to abide by; we have a community image to maintain."<ref name="DuinDiamond"/>}}
This call for retailers to refuse to stock ''Miracleman''<ref>"Geppi of Diamond Calls on Retailers to Voice Objections to Publishers," ''The Comics Journal'' #113 (December 1986), pp. 12-14.</ref> led to accusations of censorship,<ref>"Diamond Policies Questioned," ''The Comics Journal'' #116 (July 1987), pp. 18-20.</ref> charges the company was forced to address when it criticized or refused to carry other titles, including books by Kitchen Sink Press,<ref name="TCJ Diamond Back Down" /> and [[Dave Sim]] in 1988,<ref name="TCJ Diamond Back Down">"Diamond Backs Down," ''The Comics Journal'' #121 (April 1988), 7.</ref><ref>"Diamond Distributors Clashes With Aardvark-Vanaheim," ''The Comics Journal'' #122 (March 1988), p. 7.</ref><ref>"A-V, Diamond Clash Again," ''The Comics Journal'' #122 (June 1988), pp. 20-21.</ref><ref>"Diamond Loosens Up," ''The Comics Journal'' #122 (June 1988), pp. 20.</ref> [[Jon Lewis (comics)|Jon Lewis]] in 1994,<ref>"Newswatch: Diamond Refuses to Distribute Xeric Winner ''True Swamp''," ''The Comics Journal'' #166 (February 1994), p. 39.</ref> and [[Mike Diana]] in 1996.<ref name="TCJ Bias">"What's the Story Behind Diamond's Rejection of Mike Diana?: Three Diana Comics Rejected in 1996: Publishers and Distributor give Different Reasons; Accusation of Bias against Small Publishers" ''The Comics Journal'' #192 (December 1996), pp. 7-10.</ref>
Diamond lost customers with this approach, however, "and eventually backed down."<ref name="Success"/> Geppi recalls compromising, and accepting "that as a distributor, I owed the retailers the product they wanted."<ref name="Success"/> In fact, in an attempt to prove Diamond did not practice censorship, the company joined DC Comics in 1993 to raise money for the industry the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] advocacy group [[Comic Book Legal Defense Fund]].<ref>"Diamond and DC Raise Money for CBLDF," ''The Comics Journal'' #160 (June 1993), p. 18.</ref>
Because of its industry dominance, Diamond also faced charges it bullied publishers<ref>Stump, Greg. "News Watch: Paranoia? Some Retailers Fear Diamond," ''The Comics Journal'' #199 (October 1997), p. 12.</ref> and discriminated against small publishers. These charges first surfaced in 1988 when Diamond rejected [[Matt Feazell]]'s comic ''[[Ant Boy]]'',<ref>"Diamond Rejects Ant Boy" ''The Comics Journal'' #124 (August 1988), pp. 15-16.</ref><ref>Baisden, Greg. "Diamond Accepts ''Ant Boy''" ''The Comics Journal'' #125 (October 1988), pp. 17-18.</ref> and in 1989 when it similarly decided not to carry [[Allen Freeman]]'s ''Slam Bang'' anthology.<ref>"Diamond Distributors Rejects ''Slam Bang''" ''The Comics Journal'' #132 (November 1989), pp. 14-15.</ref>
After the industry consolidation of 1996, Diamond faced similar charges in 1996,<ref name="TCJ Bias" /> 1999,<ref>Spurgeon, Tom with Craig McKenney. "Diamond and the Small Press, Part II: Breaking the Cycle: Rick Veitch Leaves Diamond Behind," ''The Comics Journal'' #21 (November 1999), pp. 16-19.</ref> and 2000 (when smaller publishers like [[Fantagraphics]] and [[Drawn and Quarterly]] lodged complaints).<ref>Stroup, Tim and Mark Thompson. "Comic Distribution Headaches," ''Gauntlet: Exploring the Limits of Free Expression'' #19 (2000), pp. 19-23.</ref><ref>Spurgeon, Tom. "Is Diamond Necessary? Small Arts Comics Publishers and their Relationship with Diamond Comic Distributors," ''The Comics Journal'' #222 (April 2000), pp. 20-26.</ref><ref>Spurgeon, Tom. "The View from the Bottom: Do Small Arts Publishers See Diamond as a Help or a Hindrance?," ''The Comics Journal'' #225 (July 2000), pp. 12-17.</ref><ref>Spurgeon, Tom. "Dealing with Diamond: the Big-Little Publishers and the Big-Big Distributor," ''The Comics Journal'' #228 (November 2000), pp. 11-16.</ref>
== Publishing ==
Diamond's monthly comics retail catalog, ''Previews'' has been produced by Diamond for over twenty-five years for store owners and comic shop customers to order their products. It is additionally available for sale to customers to facilitate pre-orders from "pull and hold" or subscription customers who frequent comic shops on a regular basis. Comics publishers vie for space within the publication's pages, with Dark Horse, DC Comics, Image Comics, and [[IDW Publishing]] taking precedence as "Premier" publishers. Marvel Comics has its own mini-catalog of ''Marvel Previews'' available separately, for contractual reasons. Diamond Comic Distributers also celebrates [[Free Comic Book Day]], taking place on the first Saturday of May, is an annual promotional effort by the North American comic book industry to help bring new readers into independent comic book stores. Retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California brainstormed the event in his "Big Picture" column in the August 2001 issue of Comics & Games Retailer magazine. Free Comic Book Day started in 2002 and is coordinated by the industry's single large distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors.
Geppi is also owner of [[Gemstone Publishing|Gemstone Publishing Inc.]], through which he publishes ''[[The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide]]''.<ref name="GEM"/> Gemstone has also published [[Russ Cochran (publisher)|Russ Cochran]]'s [[EC Comics]] reprints, [[Disney comics]] and [[Blue Book]]{{disambiguation needed|date=December 2013}} price guide in the past as well.
=== ''Baltimore'' ===
In 1994, Geppi purchased ''[[Baltimore (magazine)|Baltimore]]'' magazine,<ref>"Newswatch: Geppi Buys ''Baltimore''," ''The Comics Journal'' #174 (February 1995), p. 29.</ref> "a 50,000 circulation monthly and one of the nation's oldest regional publications."<ref name="GEM">[http://www.geppismuseum.com/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=52&s=508&ai=69010 Geppi's Entertainment Museum Press Room: "Geppi's Entertainment Museum President/CEO Stephen A. Geppi Bio"]. Accessed March 5, 2009</ref>
===Gemstone Publishing===
{{main|Gemstone Publishing}}
Geppi's publishing ventures in the comics field saw him create Gemstone Publishing Inc., which was formed in large part from other purchases. In [[1992 in comics|1992]], Diamond bought [[Ernst Gerber|Ernst Gerber Publishing]] (publisher-author of the ''Photo-Journal Guide to Comics'').<ref name="DuinDiamond">Duin, Steve and [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Richardson, Mike]] (ed.s) "Diamond Comic Distributors" in ''Comics Between the Panels'' ([[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Publishing]], 1998) ISBN 1-56971-344-8, p. 125-126</ref> E. Gerber Products, LLC is a Diamond-affiliated company started by Gerber in 1977 which sells [[Mylar]] bags as well as "acid-free boxes and acid-free backing boards" for comics collectors to store their collection in.<ref name="Affil">[http://www.diamondcomics.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=3&s=305&ai=36048 Diamond Comics Distributors, Inc. "Affiliated Companies"]. Accessed March 5, 2009</ref> In 1993, Geppi bought Russ Cochran Publishing.<ref name="DuinDiamond"/> Long-term EC Comics fan Cochran auctioned [[Bill Gaines]]' personal file copies of EC publications, as well as most pages of original EC artwork (which, almost uniquely, Gaines had maintained ownership and possession of), before being granted the reprint rights to the EC back catalog itself. Geppi included Cochran's publications — and Cochran himself — under his new imprint, Gemstone Publishing.<ref name="GEM"/>
In 1994, Geppi bought Overstreet Publishing, taking up the publishing reins of official-Blue Book price guide ''The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide'', and other related publications, bringing them under the Gemstone imprint.<ref name="DuinDiamond"/> Geppi's publishing activities with Gemstone Publishing consist primarily of reprints of classic titles and artworks, as well as publications (including professional [[comics fanzine|fanzines]] "pro-zines") focusing heavily on the history of the comics medium. Many Gemstone publications revolve around ''[[Comic Book Marketplace]]''-editor and EC-shepherd Russ Cochran.
====EC Comics reprints====
{{main|EC Comics|EC Archives}}
Cochran, like Geppi, was a particular fan of [[Carl Barks]]' Disney comics, and had previously-published EC reprints in association with Disney-reprinter Gladstone Publishing. In the early 1990s, Geppi's Gemstone embarked on a full series of reprints of classic EC titles, starting with new reprints of the Cochran/Gladstone-reprints of ''[[The Haunt of Fear]]'', ''[[The Vault of Horror]]'' and ''[[Weird Science (comic)|Weird Science]]'' (all 1992). Gemstone also republished (in single issue and 'annual' — four issues per 'annual' — format) EC's ''[[List of EC Comics Publications#New Trend|New Trend]]'' and ''[[List of EC Comics Publications#New Direction|New Direction]]'' titles between 1992 and 2000.
In 2005, Gemstone added to Cochran's earlier-published oversize, hardback, black & white slip-cased "The Complete EC Library" collections with the complete ''[[List of EC Comics Publications#Picto-Fiction|Picto-Fiction]]'' collection, comprising the EC comics: ''[[Confessions Illustrated]]'', ''[[Crime Illustrated]]'', ''[[Shock Illustrated]]'' and ''[[Terror Illustrated]]'', along with "18 previously unseen stories, never published before".<ref>[http://www.bookpalace.com/acatalog/Home_Complete_EC_Library_31.html The Book Palace's "Complete EC Library" pages]. Accessed 12 March 2008.</ref>
In [[2006 in comics|2006]], Gemstone began producing a more durable and luxurious series of hardback reprint collections; the [[EC Archives]] — similar to the [[DC Archive Editions|DC Archives]] and [[Marvel Masterworks]] volumes — which reprint in full-color hardback ('archival') format sequential compilations of the EC titles. Designed by art director/designer [[Michael Kronenberg]], a number of volumes have been released, with the entirety of the ''[[List of Entertaining Comics publications#New Trend|New Trend]]'' and ''[[List of Entertaining Comics publications#New Direction|New Direction]]'' planned for eventual release.<ref>[http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/sreply/154876/t/WEIRD-SCIENCE-3-Error.html Michael Kronenberg posting at MarvelMasterworksFansite.Yuku.com, July 26, 2008]. Accessed September 1, 2008</ref> These EC Archives volumes have drawn praise for their quality, and feature introductions by such notable EC fans as [[George Lucas]], [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Joe Dante]] and [[Paul Levitz]], et al.
====Disney comics====
{{main|Disney comics|Carl Barks}}
In December 2002, it was announced that "Gemstone Publishing had signed the license to publishing Disney comics in North America," with ex-Gladstone Publishing editor-in-chief John Clark joining Gemstone in the same position over its Disney line.<ref name="ScoopDisney">[http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=265&ai=42560&ssd=1/25/2003&arch=y "Starting Over — The Return of the Disney Comics" online in Diamond's ''Scoop'', January 25, 2003]. Accessed March 5, 2008</ref> Launched with a title for [[Free Comic Book Day]] 2003, the line started soon after with ''[[Walt Disney's Comics and Stories]]'' and ''[[Uncle Scrooge|Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge]]'', both described by Clark as "monthly 64-page prestige-format books at $6.95, which is the same price they were when last produced, in 1998."<ref name="ScoopDisney"/> Other titles followed, and Gemstone held their license until early 2009.<ref>http://www.wolfstad.com/dcw/blog/2009/03/gemstone-ends-disney-license/</ref>
====Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide====
{{main|The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide}}
The (Official) Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, first published by Robert M. Overstreet in 1970 as one of the earliest authorities on [[United States|American]] [[comic book]] industry grading and collection values. Overstreet sold his company to Gemstone in 1994,<ref>"Newswatch: Overstreet Purchase Causes Stir," ''The Comics Journal'' #172 (November 1994), pp. 37-38.</ref> but continued to "serve as author and/or publisher of Geppi's Entertainment Publishing & Auctions' line of books."<ref>[http://www.geppisentertainment.com/bob_overstreet.html "Robert M. Overstreet" bio at ''Geppi's Entertainment'']. Accessed April 7, 2009 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718002412/http://www.geppisentertainment.com/bob_overstreet.html |date=July 18, 2009 }}</ref> Publication of the ''Price Guide'' was taken over by Gemstone in 1998, Gemstone took over publication, and the twenty-eighth edition to the present have been (co-)published by Geppi's Gemstone publications.<ref>[http://www.comicsresearch.org/collect.html Comics Research.org's "Collecting Guides"]. Accessed March 7, 2009</ref> The ''Guide'''s 39th edition was published by Gemstone Publishing in 2009.
Overstreet also produced a variety of smaller publications updating his yearly guides on a monthly schedule. The most recent of these - ''Overstreet's Comic Price Review'' - began publication from Gemstone in July 2003, and was a monthly publication designed to update the yearly price guide more regularly, as well as provide articles, analysis and various lists of comics prices.
Gemstone published more than a hundred issues of the magazine ''Comic Book Marketplace'', a monthly magazine for comics fans focusing heavily on the [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden]] and [[Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver]] ages, while more popular magazines (such as ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'') skew more recent in focus.
====Future====
In early 2009, the future of Gemstone Publishing was unclear, after reports of unpaid printing bills, particularly from the EC Archives.<ref>[http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/02/18/steve-geppis-debt-woes-growing/ Heidi MacDonald, "Steve Geppi’s debt woes growing" in ''The Beat'', February 18, 2009]. Accessed March 5, 2009 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In April, Geppi responded to the uncertainty, noting that while there had been "a reduction in staff at Gemstone," such moves did "not signal the end of Gemstone Publishing."<ref name="ScoopGemstone">[http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=259&ai=81682 "Rumors about Gemstone Publishing?"] in ''Scoop'', April 18, 2009</ref>
In 2008, Diamond introduced ComicSuite, an add-on application for Microsoft Dynamics’ Retail Management System (RMS) software. Together, ComicSuite & RMS give specialty storeowners a point-of-sale (POS) system specifically geared towards their unique business model, offering a host of exclusive features that grant you direct communication with Diamond databases, making it easier than ever before to place orders, track inventory and maintain “pull-and-hold” subscriptions for your customers."
== Affiliated and subsidiary companies ==
In 1995, Geppi founded Diamond International Galleries, which acquired Hake's [[Americana]] & [[Collectibles]] [[auction house]] (2004), and in 2005, Pennsylvania-based Morphy Auctions.<ref name="Antiq">[http://www.journalofantiques.com/Sept06%5Cfeature.html "Sneak Preview Geppi's Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards – Baltimore, Maryland," ''The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles'' (September 2006)]. Accessed March 5, 2009</ref> In 1999, Geppi founded Diamond Select Toys, and in 2006 he founded [[Geppi's Entertainment Museum]] in Baltimore.
=== Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles ===
{{main|Diamond Select Toys}}
Envisioned to create collectibles for children and adults, DST was founded in 1999 and has since licensed a variety of pop culture properties, including Marvel Comics, [[Transformers]], [[G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]], [[Star Wars]], [[Star Trek]], [[Stargate]], [[Ghostbusters]], [[Halo (series)|Halo]], [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]], [[Indiana Jones]], [[Battlestar Galactica]], [[24 (TV series)|24]] and [[Back to the Future]]. While they also make action figures in a variety of sizes, as well as banks, busts, statues and prop replicas, many of their licensed properties are released in the form of [[Minimates]], which has helped make Minimates one of the most prolific and diverse block figure toy lines in the world. In 2007, after years of partnership, Diamond Select Toys made a move to acquire select assets of New York-based design house Art Asylum,<ref>[http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/9319.shtml "Diamond Select Acquires Art Asylum"]</ref> the creators of Minimates and DST has since developed Minimates based on its own concepts, under the brands Minimates M.A.X. and Calico Jack's Pirate Raiders.
=== Diamond International Galleries ===
In 1995, Geppi "opened Diamond International Galleries," a showplace for comics and collectibles, part of Geppi's attempts to "see... collectibles attain serious respect."<ref name="Antiq"/> Nine years later, Diamond International Galleries purchased "one of the country’s first, and most respected, collectibles auction houses: Hake's Americana & Collectibles."<ref name="Antiq"/> In 2005, Geppi added the "[[Denver, Pennsylvania|Denver]], Pennsylvania-based Morphy Auctions" to his growing stable of parts of the collectibles market, which already included publishing the main comics price guide: ''The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide''.<ref name="Antiq"/>
Geppi describes his International Galleries as being "at the heart of many significant opportunities to preserve, promote and present historical comic character collectibles," an endeavor that led to his establishing Geppi's Entertainment Museum.<ref name="Affil"/> Geppi's galleries showcase much of his private collection, including comics, [[film poster|movie poster]]s, toys, original artwork by individuals including "Carl Barks, [[Gustaf Tenggren|Gustav Tengren <small>(sic)</small>]], [[Alex Ross]], [[Murphy Anderson]], [[Joe Shuster]], [[Joe Simon]] and [[Charles Schulz]]."<ref name="Affil"/>
Diamond International Galleries has assisted "in such projects as DC's [[DC Archives|Archive series]]," as well as hosting industry events.<ref name="Affil"/>
=== Geppi's Entertainment Museum ===
{{main|Geppi's Entertainment Museum}}
Geppi's Entertainment Museum is a museum in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], tracing the history of [[Popular culture|pop culture]] in American over the last four hundred years. Its collections include comic books, [[magazine]]s, [[film|movie]]s, [[newspaper]]s, [[television]], [[radio]] and [[video game]] [[Souvenir|memorabilia]], including comic books, movie posters, toys, buttons, badges, [[Breakfast cereal|cereal]] boxes, [[trading card]]s, dolls and figurines. The majority of the exhibits come from Geppi's private collection, while Geppi's daughter Melissa "Missy" Geppi-Bowersox became the executive vice-president of the museum in 2007, after Wendy Kelman left the museum on August 31, 2007, to start her own tourism consulting firm.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Dash
| first = Julehka
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Geppi's daughter takes reins of his new museum
| work =
| publisher = Baltimore Business Journal
| date = 2007-09-14
| url = http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2007/09/17/story5.html
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-07-22}}</ref> The museum's curator is Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg, former editor at Geppi's Gemstone Publishing.
==See also==
*[[List of book distributors]]
==Notes==
{{Reflist|33em}}
==References==
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/diamond-comic-distributors-inc Hoover's profile of Diamond Comic Distributors]
==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.diamondcomics.com}}
*[http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales.html The Comics Chronicles.com: Archive of Diamond comic book sales charts]
*[http://sequart.org/magazine/27826/defending-diamond/ Sequart.org: "Defending Diamond"] — ''defense of the company, by Julian Darius (February 2006)''.
[[Category:Comics industry]]
[[Category:Book distributors]]
[[Category:Baltimore County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1982]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Maryland]]
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