PRHPS' Expanded Agreement With DARK HORSE Comics Worldwide
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Dark Horse Comics, an industry-leading publisher of comic books, graphic novels, and manga, and Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS), a division of Penguin Random House, on September 21 announced an exclusive worldwide multi-year agreement for its sales and distribution of Dark Horse’s newly published and backlist comic book periodicals, graphic novels, and manga to the Direct Market comic shops. The new agreement, which begins June 1, 2023, expands its current partnership, in which PRHPS sells and distributes Dark Horse’s trade-book frontlist and backlist to bookstores.
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse has cemented its place in American entertainment by publishing the work of creative legends such as Yoshitaka Amano, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Will Eisner, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Kentaro Miura, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Wendy Pini, Richard Pini, Gerard Way, and more.
Dark Horse is also well-known for quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and art books, including properties such as STRANGER THINGS, AVATAR, THE LAST AIRBENDER, MINECRAFT, THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, SUPER MARIO, JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR, MASS EFFECT, THE WITCHER, and HALO.
By continuing to expand its reach into the Direct Market, Penguin Random House’s mission is to support comic shops in fostering for fans of all ages a life-long love of comics, graphic novels, and manga. PRH is a free-freight company, and is committed to bolstering all physical retail, where independently owned comic shops and bookstores are some of the most passionate industry advocates and anchors of their communities.
Penguin Random House’s newest distribution facility, a one-million square-foot fulfillment center in Hampstead, Maryland, in tandem with the company’s fulfillment headquarters in nearby Westminster, are the centerpieces for its comics Direct Market supply chain.
Dark Horse Founder and CEO Mike Richardson said, “It’s an exciting time for the industry, and our move to Penguin Random House for Direct Market distribution comes after years of being thrilled with our partnership with them in bookstore distribution. Dark Horse will continue to champion groundbreaking, character-driven stories, and Penguin Random House will help expand these stories’ reach to retailers and fans around the globe. Diamond Distribution has been a key partner for Dark Horse for nearly thirty years. As we move on to this next stage in our company’s growth, we want to thank Steve Geppi, Chuck Parker, and the Diamond team, and wish them only the best. While we will be moving our comics distribution to Penguin Random House, it is important to note that our products will still be available through Diamond as well.”
Jeff Abraham, President of Penguin Random House Publisher Services, said, “We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with Dark Horse, and are excited to reach new heights with this expansion. We’ve grown together in an ever-evolving retail landscape for graphic storytelling, and we see this next step as further commitment to supporting Dark Horse, and our retail partners, well into the future.”
Direct Market retailers can choose to order Dark Horse products direct from PRH, or alternatively, through Diamond, as a wholesaler, under terms established by Diamond in the US and the UK. These retailers now have 24/7 access to online ordering at https://selfservice.penguinrandomhouse.biz/ and can also visit www.prhcomics.com, a website for comics, graphic novels, manga, and more, designed specifically for US Direct Market comic shop retailers and consumers.
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