IMAGE COMICS’ Direct Message to Readers During This Hiatus

As readers sit in this liminal state with no new comic books on shelves and none confirmed on the near horizon, Newsarama reached out to the major publishers for statements directly addressing their readers on their current position in regards to digital publishing. 

Shortly after that, Image Comics’ co-founder/President Todd McFarlane (who is a writer/artist in his own right, of course with Spawn) offered the idea of a “unified front” for the major publishers, along with a bold proposal that those unified publishers offer 10 new, popular top titles with the most demand for free as digital downloads.

For his own Savage Dragon title, Fellow Image Comics’ co-founder Erik Larsen (who operates as the company’s Chief Financial Officer) said he would be holding all issues of his long-running title until comic book stores can receive them and sell them to their customers.

Now Image Comics itself has responded, in a company statement shared with Newsarama and written for their readers. While it doesn’t address its President’s personal ideas, it does reaffirm their view of comic book shops as a vital channel for the industry and “the biggest champions for the medium…”

Here is their statement to Newsarama:

As we navigate the very difficult, multi-layered ramifications that COVID-19 has had on the economy, and in an effort to preserve the overall health of the comics medium, we must support the channel that is most eminently endangered by the warehouse and non-essential business closures – the local, independently owned businesses that include comic shops and independent bookstores.

These stores are more than just retailers to our comics community, they’re often the biggest champions for the medium, they drive engagement and they act – alongside press like Newsarama – as tastemakers and curators for readers in search of their next comic or graphic novel. Our fans understand that comics is a community and an ecosystem and have been hugely supportive of keeping brick-and-mortar stores healthy, which in turn keeps comics healthy – in every form.

We love our digital readers too and we have a number of sales going on in digital, Humble Bundles on the schedule (with proceeds going to benefit the BINC Foundation), and we even have a whole bevy of freebie #1 issues on our website for fans to peruse.

Right now, digital and print readers are coming together and sharing their recommendations of #NTYCBD – a hashtag that spotlights backlist titles that readers may not know about. It’s been fun to see some old favorites and new discoveries surface because of it and it’s a great way for our fans – no matter how they read their comics – come together online during this uncertain time.