Issue #14 - Alliance on a White Horse
Comic Book UK, New History of the DC Universe, Captain planet and more
Life’s a wild river, ain’t it? Always flowing, always shifting. Too much of a grand statement to admit I’ve gone and tweaked this newsletter’s format again? Maybe, but I’ve got a soft spot for a little flair. Let’s roll it back and try this one more time.
Hey, you fantastic folks,
I’ve shaken things up a bit with the format. Bullet points were starting to feel like yesterday’s news, so I wanted to whip up something smoother—still giving you the weekly highlights, but in a way that’s chill to skim here or on the website if you swing by there. Drop me a line with your thoughts—just hit reply to this newsletter!
Appreciate you
Weekly Highlights
Alliance Entertainment Acquires Diamond Comic Distributors
On March 26, 2025, Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation, a global distributor of entertainment products, acquired most of Diamond Comic Distributors' assets through a bankruptcy auction following Diamond's Chapter 11 filing earlier in the year. The deal, pending Bankruptcy Court approval, includes Diamond Comic Distributors (U.S.), Alliance Game Distributors, Diamond Select Toys, and Collectible Grading Authority, aiming to bolster Alliance’s position in gaming and collectibles with projected FY2026 revenues exceeding $200 million and $10 million in EBITDA. Financed via a $160 million credit expansion, the acquisition surprised the comics industry, as Alliance, traditionally focused on music, movies, and games rather than comics, outbid expectations, potentially reshaping distribution with its 5,000+ retail connections and cross-selling potential, though details on Diamond UK and events like Free Comic Book Day remain unspecified.
UK Comic Publishers Form Trade Association to fight to protect the industry from AI-driven challenges
UK comic book publishers, including DC Thomson (Beano), Rebellion Entertainment (2000AD), The Phoenix Comic, Avery Hill Publishing, and Fable, have united to form Comic Book UK, a trade association aimed at protecting the industry from AI-driven copyright challenges. The group seeks government and investor recognition of UK comics as a vital export industry and intellectual property developer, especially as the UK government considers relaxing copyright laws to allow AI companies to train models on content like comics unless explicitly opted out—a proposal sparking protests from creative sectors. Comic Book UK highlights the industry’s extensive output and valuable visual-narrative content, warning that the proposed exemptions threaten growth by undermining rights holders’ control and compensation for AI use, with chief executive Mark Fuller emphasizing comics’ untapped potential within the UK’s £11 billion publishing sector, a view echoed by Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant who praised their global influence.
DC's New Series Announcement - “New History of the DC Universe”
On March 19, 2025, DC Comics announced plans for "New History of the DC Universe," a four-issue limited series set to launch on June 25, 2025. Written by Mark Waid, known for works like Batman/Superman: World’s Finest and Justice League Unlimited, this series aims to realign DC's sprawling continuity into a cohesive timeline. Waid expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This is my dream project,” highlighting its significance in providing new insights for longtime fans with Easter eggs and a fresh narrative through the perspective of Barry Allen, a.k.a. the Flash. The series will feature art by a rotating roster of premier artists, starting with Jerry Ordway and Todd Nauck, ensuring a visually rich exploration of the DC Universe's past and present. This announcement was detailed on DC's official blog, emphasizing its role as a comprehensive historical overview.
Captain Planet Returns After 33 Years
On March 26, 2025, GamesRadar+ reported that Captain Planet, the iconic '90s environmental superhero, is returning after 33 years in a new Dynamite Entertainment comic series launching April 23, 2025, penned by David Pepose and illustrated by Eman Casallos, featuring a modernized, "sexy" redesign that swaps his green mullet for a more stylish look. Pepose, who considers Captain Planet his "personal white whale" after a decade-long pursuit, aims to update the character and his Planeteers—Kwame, Wheeler, Linka, Gi, and Ma-Ti—for the 21st century, emphasizing their individual emotional arcs and cultural identities while tackling escalating environmental threats mirrored by today’s unsubtle real-world issues. The series retains its core message of collective action against ecological crises, introducing villains like billionaire Lucian Plunder and mercenary Argos Bleak, with Pepose noting that reality’s heightened stakes make the Eco-Villains feel timely, positioning Captain Planet #1 as a nostalgic yet relevant call to action for both original fans and new readers.
Weekly Spotlight
Author: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Nick Robles
Publisher: DC
Summary: JEFF LEMIRE AND NICK ROBLES SPEED INTO THE ABSOLUTE UNIVERSE! Without the mentor... without the family... without the Speed Force, what's left is the Absolute Scarlet Speedster!
Author: Jason Aaron
Artist: Mahmud Asrar
Publisher: Image Comics
Summary: Slade Slaymaker is lost in his own backyard, prisoner of tiny bug-riding warriors known as Mytes. And in Swarm City, the most dangerous hive in all the Yard, Slade will have to learn to unleash his newfound powers... or else watch his family die.
Letter from the Creator
I missed out on years of reading comics, not just because of the five years I lost after moving to Australia or becoming a dad and shifting my priorities. Most of the years I lost were due to a lack of access to the comic world. If you search for comic shops in Greece today, you’ll probably find only two or three, one in each major city and perhaps one in a smaller town somewhere in between. I grew up in one of those "in-between" places.
The few comics I did manage to get my hands on didn’t last long. They met an unfortunate end when I brought them to school once or twice.
Switching gears a bit: I don’t enjoy most comic-based movies and TV series. However, these adaptations have served an important purpose for people like me, who didn’t grow up with dozens of comic shops nearby. They’ve helped popularize the comic industry in countries where interest was still developing.
In a few days, Athens will host its 19th Comic Con. Let that sink in. 19th! If you do the math, Greece’s Comic Con started roughly around the time of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase One. Meanwhile, countries like the U.S. have had Comic Cons since as early as the 1960s.
So, where am I going with this? Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about Daredevil, or the Rotten Tomatoes scores for movies like Venom and Kraven. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about critics’ opinions, whether it’s about chewing gum or whether I’ll watch a movie or series. I used to get upset when I watched a film I didn’t like, but now I just realise it wasn’t made for me in the first place.
These movies and TV shows all have their target audience, and I’m just not it. They don’t need to stay perfectly true to the superhero source material. Even if they could, they don’t have to cater to what you or I might enjoy. They’re crafted for the viewers they’re trying to reach, and that’s fine.
Still, I’ll always appreciate them. Every movie, every series, each one brings more people into the world of comics. I’ve never seen as much interest in comics as there is today, and that’s something worth celebrating.
Interesting Finds
I recently discovered Robot Sex by Die Bold Comics. Stunning art and story.
I have a soft spot for D&D and comics that make me remember my roleplaying years. I found Scrag’s Coffees & Cream from Briar White an awesome read. Great artist. Check their work.
Appreciate your time!
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