Marvel released information to retailers today on their plans to start releasing new comics to shops again. The first day of shipping to shops is for sale date of May 27th and includes the anticipated Venom #25. See below for the full press release and shipping schedule.
Update on Marvel Comics FOC and Release Schedules
* As Diamond continues its efforts to reopen distribution for the retail community, Marvel will be gradually releasing print comics and trade collections on an alternating weekly schedule starting May 27 (see release and FOC schedules below). This balanced short-term schedule will allow everyone — industry partners, comic shops, Marvel, and our fans — to work through an incredible amount of change at every level while providing new product to purchase and giving retailers a clear plan to adjust their weekly FOC orders. Marvel comics going on sale May 27 will be Re-FOC’d by May 4.
* Starting July 15, Marvel will resume weekly releases for new comic titles and trade collections not previously FOC’d in the most thoughtful way we can, taking in all factors throughout the industry. Marvel will release more information on these titles at a later date.
o These new comics will be FOC’d for the first time on June 15; new trades will be FOC’d for the first time on June 1 (for on-sale July 22).
* Marvel’s digital comic book releases will resume day-and-date to their respective print release dates on May 27.
* We look forward to the industry ramping up operations and retailers returning to business over the next few months.
Back In Action Plan for Retailers
* To help the industry get back up and running, Marvel will be introducing the Marvel Comics: Back In Action program which will give retailers tools to bring fans back into comic shops. This program will include FREE promotional items and variants, deep discounts on backlist titles, and more. Full details to be announced shortly.
Update on Retailer Discounts
* As previously announced, Marvel offered retailers deep discounts for books originally scheduled to go on sale between March 18 and April 8, addressing FOC orders that had already been placed and locked.
* Given the recent challenges in distribution, Marvel is now allowing retailers to adjust orders according to the demands of their customers and therefore will move back towards the original discounts for books originally solicited for April 1 and April 8 on-sale.
* Please note that the March 18 and March 25 discounts were applied and granted, and credit should appear on the next available invoice. Books that were originally scheduled to go on sale April 1 and April 8 are being Re-FOC’d, and many are being rescheduled for later street dates.
* Retailer discount levels earned and established as of 3/3/20 will be extended, and standard retailer discounts will be held steady until further notice.
* Marvel is making this continuation in order to better support retailers during these challenging times and alleviate pressure during the temporary downturn.
* Orders for variants with qualifiers will not be Re-FOC’d but will be reviewed and adjusted as necessary.
Marvel Comics Release Schedule (dates subject to change):
All variant covers directly related to the regular covers below will also be released.
Wednesday, 5/27 (5/4/20 FOC):
* AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 43 (FEB200924)
* AVENGERS 33 (FEB200982)
* MARAUDERS 10 (FEB200894)
* STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA 1 (FEB201023)
* VENOM 25 (FEB200939)
Wednesday, 6/3 (5/11/20 FOC):
* ASTONISHING X-MEN BY JOSS WHEDON & JOHN CASSADAY OMNIBUS HC (OCT191092)
* GHOST RIDER VOL. 1 TPB (JAN201057)
* MEPHISTO: [CLASSIC] TPB (JAN201070)
* SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS HC (OCT191099)
* SPIDER-MAN & VENOM: DOUBLE TROUBLE GN-TPB (JAN201078)
* SW DARTH VADER POSTER BOOK (NOV190977)
* THE AMAZING MARY JANE VOL. 1: DOWN IN FLAMES, UP IN SMOKE TPB (JAN201059)
* X-MEN VOL. 1 TPB (JAN201051)
Wednesday, 6/10 (5/18/20 FOC):
* BLACK CAT 11 (FEB200950)
* DAREDEVIL 20 (FEB201010)
* DEADPOOL 5 (JAN200984)
* EXCALIBUR 10 (FEB200891)
* MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN 17 (FEB200810)
* NEW MUTANTS 10 (FEB200892)
Wednesday, 6/17 (5/25/20 FOC):
* CONAN: THE BOOK OF THOTH TPB (JAN201065)
* DAREDEVIL BY CHIP ZDARSKY VOL. 3 TPB (JAN201061)
* DAWN OF X VOL. 5 TPB (JAN201049)
* IRON MAN EPIC COLLECTION VOL. 17 TPB (JAN201069)
* MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE AVENGERS VOL. 20 HC (OCT191105)
* SILVER SURFER OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC (NEW PRINTING) (OCT191090)
* STAR WARS: AGE OF REBELLION HC (OCT191126)
* THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL: BIG SQUIRRELS DON’T CRY GN-TPB (JAN201080)
Wednesday, 6/24 (6/1/20 FOC):
* 2020 RESCUE 2 (FEB200910)
* CAPTAIN AMERICA: MARVELS SNAPSHOTS 1 (FEB200899)
* EMPYRE 0 AVENGERS (FEB200772)
* IMMORTAL HULK 34 (FEB200979)
* IRON MAN 2020 4 FLUORESCENT (FEB200905)
* SPIDER-HAM 5 (FEB200998)
* STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS 3 (FEB201029)
* THOR 5 (FEB200961)
* AMAZING FANTASY OMNIBUS HC (NEW PRINTING) (NOV190945)
* FANTASTIC FOUR EPIC COLLECTION: NAME IS DOOM TPB (FEB201069)
* IRON MAN: THE ULTRON AGENDA TPB (JAN201062)
* MARVEL-VERSE: BLACK WIDOW GN-TPB (JAN201075)
* MORBIUS THE LIVING VAMPIRE OMNIBUS HC (NOV190952)
* YONDU TPB (JAN201055)
Wednesday, 7/1 (6/8/20 FOC):
* DAWN OF X VOL. 6 TPB (JAN201050)
* EXCALIBUR TPB (JAN201053)
* INFINITY GAUNTLET MARVEL SELECT HC (DEC190973)
* MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN VOL. 3 HC (NOV190949)
* MARVEL’S BLACK WIDOW PRELUDE TPB (JAN201074)
* TIMELY’S GREATEST: THE GOLDEN AGE SUB-MARINER BY BILL EVERETT – THE POST-WAR YEARS OMNIBUS HC (OCT191094)
* WHAT IF? CLASSIC: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 4 TPB (FEB201068)
* X-MEN MILESTONES: MESSIAH WAR TPB (FEB201064)
* YOUNG AVENGERS BY GILLEN & MCKELVIE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB (FEB201067)
Wednesday, 7/8 (6/15/20 FOC):
* BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA 8 (FEB200985)
* DR. STRANGE 5 (FEB200965)
* EMPYRE 0 FANTASTIC FOUR (FEB200776)
* GHOST RIDER 7 (FEB200994)
* MARVELS X 4 (FEB200895)
* STRANGE ACADEMY 2 (FEB200849)
* X-FORCE 10 (FEB200893)
* X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS EXTENDED CUT 1 (FEB200885)
* AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY NICK SPENCER VOL. 7 TPB (JAN201056)
* IMMORTAL HULK VOL 2 HC (NOV190959)
* MARAUDERS VOL. 1 TPB (JAN201052)
* MARVEL MONOGRAPH: THE ART OF FRANK CHO TPB (JAN201071)
* MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN POSTER BOOK TPB (JAN201064)
* MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN (NEW PRINTING) (DEC190974)
* SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS VOL. 3 HC (NOV190954)
* STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION: LEGACY VOL. 3 (JAN201076)
I am surprised Marvel is not being more aggressive with their release schedule given their past tendency to flood the market. Maybe they will re-evaluate that practice going forward. It would seem to make more sense to release a combination of single issues and trades each week to help retailers draw customers back. Fortunately, it’s only a short-term thing while everyone regains their footing. Thankfully, it appears they are keeping with the Wed. release day (since they are sticking with Diamond). I prefer visiting my LCS (and sometimes alternate shops) on Wed. It just works better for my schedule…and it’s nice to get books on hump day. I truly hope release day does not become Tues. or we get into multiple release days or competing release days b/c of DC’s distribution changes. Just unnecessary IMO.
Speaking of Marvel releases, I was at my local Walmart yesterday and there was a new display of Marvel 3-packs with variants. There appeared to be 8 new variants — 3 had re-colored logos, and 5 had completely new covers (I think). See list below…
Re-colored Logos were…Bounty Hunters #1, Road to Empyre #1, and Spiderwoman #1.
New covers were…Avengers Black Widow (Gameverse) #1, Outlawed #1, Spiderman Noir #1, Strange Academy #1, and Thor #1.
I would have tried to post some pics, but not sure how to do so. I have only seen a few of them (Bounty Hunters, Spiderwoman, and Thor) pop up on Ebay so far.
And speaking of Walmart, I was able to get a couple of DC’s Our Fighting Forces Giant #1’s at my nearby store a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, of the 3 copies available, all had minor bottom spine crunch. Copies at another local Walmart were no better. I also grabbed a minty Aquaman Giant #4 and an Amazing Spiderman #33 variant 3-pack.
Sucks that walmarts in Canada don’t get these.
I am not hitting Walmart’s right now but collect the three packs so it’s killing me. I want to add these to my stash.
Marvel’s road map is almost exactly what I would have asked them to do as a retailer.
They took their time. Didn’t make multiple contradictory announcements. Didn’t stir up needless drama over future distribution. They’re ramping up slowly and not burying me with huge invoices while my customers are awakening from hibernation. And when they did make their announcement it’s complete and covers two months worth of plans.
I don’t even fault the backtrack on extra discounts for April 1 and April 8 product because they’re letting me reduce orders on those.
The difference between how Disney is run and how AT&T is run.
Marvel is the stable girlfriend you wish you had. DC is the girlfriend your friends warned you about who chugs tequila, throws shoes, and might key your car when she misremembers something you said three years ago.
I can tell you which publisher I’ll be more likely to order shelf copies of, even if that means the other winds up a better high risk spec play.
Lol. The DC comparison is awesome.
Amen new titles from marvel and dc were getting back on the road to recovery it’s a start.
Nice way to kick-off my birthday! Heh.
Oh yeah, you share the same birthday as my daughter. Well, check the Redneck winner article, you got an early Birthday gift coming as well.. 😉
Dumb ol’ Marvel should’ve just had Venom 25 come out in March and all would be well…
I’m nominating that comment for ‘overstatement of the year’…?
Donny Cates wanted to push it off further