More on Diamond Policies

Robot 6 rounds up more reactions and predictions about what the new Diamond threshold will do for publishers and direct market retailers.

Comics Reporter gets a few interviews on the subject.

Lying in the Gutters offers a very readable explanation of the difference between the threshold increase now and the one in 2005.

I don't want to weigh in too heavily because I'm entirely an outsider at this point (if only someone who ostensibly contributes to this blog could weigh in with the perspective of a small retailer... if only), but I do want to point out that Diamond isn't acting to crush the dreams of hopeful cartoonists. They're making a business decision. It can be hard and sobering to face the economic realities of art and it's frustrating when you're more interested in the suffering fringe than the relatively robust mainstream, but economy can't support everyone. Perhaps, small press publishers will band together and create a separate distribution service loosing Diamond's virtual monopoly. Perhaps, everyone will flee into the burgeoning graphic novel market or turn their businesses online.

Some will adapt. Some will be causalities. Things will change. That's the reality.