The article alludes to it: induced competition. Retailers seek out other distributors for their wares--ones who are happy to provide the service Diamond won't.
If they're smart, Marvel and DC will break exclusivity with Diamond (and since both are now corporate--Disney and WB--their lawyers ought to be bigger and better than Diamond's) and start selling to these smaller distributors. It won't be like the old days, with Diamond and Capital keeping each other in check, and smaller regional distributors there to step up when one or both blew it.
I don't think we're going to see the death of the pulp any time soon. It's nice, alarmist, and makes for good drama on the discussion boards, but nostalgia alone will keep that medium going for a while now...
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If they're smart, Marvel and DC will break exclusivity with Diamond (and since both are now corporate--Disney and WB--their lawyers ought to be bigger and better than Diamond's) and start selling to these smaller distributors. It won't be like the old days, with Diamond and Capital keeping each other in check, and smaller regional distributors there to step up when one or both blew it.
I don't think we're going to see the death of the pulp any time soon. It's nice, alarmist, and makes for good drama on the discussion boards, but nostalgia alone will keep that medium going for a while now...