Diamond has been sold to Universal and Ad Populum. Image Comics announces next Criminal OGN. Fantagraphics to release Lost Marvels.
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Episode Transcript:
Diamond sale approved, again.
Image announces next Criminal OGN.
Fantagraphics to release Lost Marvels.
This is Comic Book Club News for May 2, 2025.
Diamond Sold To Universal And Ad Populum:
Diamond Comics Distributors has been approved for sale to Universal Distribution and Ad Populum, per a court filing and press release sent out by the companies on April 30.
Per the release, Universal will take on Alliance Game Distributors, while Ad Populum has acquired Diamond Comic Distributors, Diamond Book Distributors, Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles, Collectible Grading Authority, and “other related assets.” Diamond UK is not part of this deal, and will be subject to a separate process. In addition, and a word of caution: this deal has yet to close.
So while it seems like Ad Populum will be our new comics distribution overlords, there’s still a pending legal case brought by Alliance Entertainment, the previous presumed buyer. And we’ve already seen plenty of wild twists and turns in this bankruptcy case, including previous press releases declaring companies the owners of Diamond. Stay tuned as to whether this is the end of the saga, or the beginning of a new one.
Image Comics Announces Next Criminal OGN:
Is there a more reliable team in comics than Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips? The duo have released hit after hit with books like Fatale, Reckless, Houses of the Unholy, and more. But their magnum opus? Criminal. And the series will finally return this August after five years away with The Knives, a brand new OGN from Image Comics.
In the new book, Brubaker and Phillips will revisit three characters from the series: Jacob Kurtz, Angie, and Tracy Lawless. Jacob is headed to Hollywood to work on an adaptation of his comic strip, only to get caught in a real estate scheme. Angie is headed for vengeance against the city’s kingpin. And Tracy is back home from the Special Forces, but in very bad shape. And of course, these three stories collide.
This not-so-coincidentally comes around the same time Amazon is prepping a live-action series based on Criminal, starring Charlie Hunnam, Luke Evans, and Emilia Clarke. Brubaker is serving as showrunner, and the first season will cover Criminal, Volume One: Coward and Criminal, Volume Two: Lawless.
The Knives hits comic book shops on August 27, and bookstores on September 9.
Fantagraphics To Release Lost Marvels:
Fantagraphics has announced it will release Lost Marvels, a new collection of never-before-collected Silver Age Marvel Comics.
Spread over three hardcover volumes, Lost Marvels will include stories by Neal Adams, John Buscema, Howard Chaykin, Stan Lee, Jim Steranko, Barry Windsor-Smith, and more.
The first book, Lost Marvels No. 1: Tower of Shadows, collects nine issues of the EC-style supernatural anthology and is in stores now. Lost Marvels No. 2: Howard Chaykin Vol. 1 will include multiple stories from Chaykin, including his collaboration with Garth Ennis on War is Hell, and will hit stores on July 8. And Lost Marvels No. 3: Savage Tales is in stores on November 18, and will collect all 11 issues of the anthology, including the first appearance of Man-Thing.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And I hope everyone has a lovely Free Comic Book Day this weekend. Don’t forget to purchase something at the shop while you’re grabbing your free comics!
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
For more comic book news, reviews, and interviews, check out comicbookclublive.com.
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