EDITORIAL: December 1995

[The following editorial appears in Shards #13, Hidden Years #26, New Blood #33, Kahvi #3, Two-Spear #3, and Jink #10. --MK]

A Matter of oPINIon

Just before the end of 1994, Marvel Comics announces its purchase of Heroes World, the third largest distributor in the comics direct market. As of mid-1995, Marvel Comics will no longer be available to any other distributor, and Heroes World will no longer carry other than Marvel titles.

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still

February 1995 - Wendy moves into new digs in California, representing an even greater commitment to more closely oversee the development of the Elfquest animated movie.

Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching ever nerve

Spring 1995 - Warp Graphics and all comics publishers (indeed, all publishers generally) are given the news that the cost of paper will rise at least 40% over the next few months, and that there is no end in sight to the increases over the coming year to two years.

Had to listen, had no choice
I did not believe the information
I just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said, "Grab your things,
I've come to take you home."

April 1995 - DC Comics, in what appears to many in the industry to be a knee-jerk reaction, and Diamond Comics Distributors, the direct market's largest distributor, announce their agreement by which DC titles will be available exclusively through Diamond. Capital City Distribution, heretofore the second largest distributor, attempts to negotiate exclusivity agreements with remaining midsize comics publishers.
July 1995 - Diamond announces exclusive distribution arrangements with Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics and Acclaim Comics, effectively removing from play all remaining major comics publishers. Capital City, now a distant third in direct market share, moves to initiate similar arrangements with other publishers, including Warp. Ultimately, Warp chooses independence.

To keepin' silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut

Throughout 1995 - for a variety of reasons, led by the upheaval caused by the new distribution alliances and escalating comics prices caused by rising costs of paper, the overall market for comics continues to shrink, smaller distributors and comics retailers go out of business at an unprecedented rate, and sales of comics generally suffer.

So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
'Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut

October 1995 the Justice Department announces an investigation into allegations of price fixing of paper prices. The rate of inflation for all other commodities for the year to date has been 3%; for paper, over 40%. The market for all publishing is unpredictable; conglomerates appear to be on the upswing, while small independent businesses are feeling the pinch.

I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey," he said, "Grab your things
I've come to take you home."
When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette

End of 1995, with two months left to go - the animated film is closer to realization, with storyboards and screenplay done, and financing partially in the bag. Warp Graphics looks into 1996 and sees many changes. Isn't that what it's always been about? Change or die. When all is said and done, I'm looking forward, feeling settled and with optimism.

I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey," I said, "You can keep my things,
they've come to take me home."

Richard A Pini

Go to: Shards #13 || HY #26 || NB #34 || Kahvi #3 || TS #3 || Jink #10 ||
Go back to archive home page

Transcribed and HTML formatted by Marty Kuhn

Just before the end of 1994, Marvel Comics announces its purchase of Heroes World, the third largest distributor in the comics direct market. As of mid-1995, Marvel Comics will no longer be available to any other distributor, and Heroes World will no longer carry other than Marvel titles.
	Climbing up on Solsbury Hill I could see the city light Wind was blowing, time stood still
February 1995 - Wendy moves into new digs in California, representing an even greater commitment to more closely oversee the development of the Elfquest animated movie.
	Eagle flew out of the night He was something to observe Came in close, I heard a voice Standing stretching ever nerve
Spring 1995 - Warp Graphics and all comics publishers (indeed, all publishers generally) are given the news that the cost of paper will rise at least 40% over the next few months, and that there is no end in sight to the increases over the coming year to two years.
	Had to listen, had no choice I did not believe the information I just had to trust imagination My heart going boom boom boom "Son," he said, "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."
April 1995 - DC Comics, in what appears to many in the industry to be a knee-jerk reaction, and Diamond Comics Distributors, the direct market's largest distributor, announce their agreement by which DC titles will be available exclusively through Diamond. Capital City Distribution, heretofore the second largest distributor, attempts to negotiate exclusivity agreements with remaining midsize comics publishers. July 1995 - Diamond announces exclusive distribution arrangements with Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics and Acclaim Comics, effectively removing from play all remaining major comics publishers. Capital City, now a distant third in direct market share, moves to initiate similar arrangements with other publishers, including Warp. Ultimately, Warp chooses independence.
	To keepin' silence I resigned My friends would think I was a nut Turning water into wine Open doors would soon be shut
Throughout 1995 - for a variety of reasons, led by the upheaval caused by the new distribution alliances and escalating comics prices caused by rising costs of paper, the overall market for comics continues to shrink, smaller distributors and comics retailers go out of business at an unprecedented rate, and sales of comics generally suffer.
	So I went from day to day Tho' my life was in a rut 'Till I thought of what I'd say Which connection I should cut
October 1995 the Justice Department announces an investigation into allegations of price fixing of paper prices. The rate of inflation for all other commodities for the year to date has been 3%; for paper, over 40%. The market for all publishing is unpredictable; conglomerates appear to be on the upswing, while small independent businesses are feeling the pinch.
	I was feeling part of the scenery I walked right out of the machinery My heart going boom boom boom "Hey," he said, "Grab your things I've come to take you home." When illusion spin her net I'm never where I want to be And liberty she pirouette When I think that I am free Watched by empty silhouettes Who close their eyes but still can see No one taught them etiquette
End of 1995, with two months left to go - the animated film is closer to realization, with storyboards and screenplay done, and financing partially in the bag. Warp Graphics looks into 1996 and sees many changes. Isn't that what it's always been about? Change or die. When all is said and done, I'm looking forward, feeling settled and with optimism.
	I will show another me Today I don't need a replacement I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant My heart going boom boom boom "Hey," I said, "You can keep my things, they've come to take me home."