Udon Entertainment Partners with Lunar Distribution: A Bold Move After Diamond's Bankruptcy
Get ready for Free Comic Book Day! Dive into epic battles with Lunar's exclusive releases: <cite>Street Fighter vs. Rival Schools #1</cite> and <cite>Mega Man #0</cite>!
Udon Entertainment Partners with Lunar Distribution for Free Comic Book Day
Lunar Distribution will be the exclusive distributor for Udon Entertainment's upcoming titles, Street Fighter vs. Rival Schools #1 and Mega Man #0, set to release on Free Comic Book Day.
Key Details
- Announcement Date: February 13, 2025
- Distribution Start: May 2025
- Titles:
- Street Fighter vs. Rival Schools #1
- Mega Man #0
©Udon Entertainment
Distribution Changes
Udon Entertainment has informed retailers that:
- Orders for the two titles through Diamond Comic Distributors will be canceled.
- Retailers are encouraged to reorder from Lunar Distribution.
Udon's Statement
Erik Ko, Udon's Chief of Operations, commented on the decision:
"It's a rocky time for the entire comic industry right now. Diamond has been a very supportive partner of Udon since we started publishing over 20 years ago, and we respect that support a great deal. We are very hopeful that Diamond can come back strong from Chapter 11 restructuring, but with the uncertainty ahead it makes the most sense for us and for the retailers who carry our books to open up our distribution options and make our materials available through additional partners like Lunar Distribution."
Ongoing Orders
Udon assured that, aside from the two Free Comic Book Day titles, most orders placed with Diamond will still be fulfilled. Upcoming titles shipping exclusively through Diamond before May 2025 include:
- Street Fighter Prime #0
- Final Fight #4
- Street Fighter Masters: Guile #1
Free Comic Book Day 2025
This year's Free Comic Book Day is scheduled for May 3, 2025. Udon's titles will pave the way for new mini-series and products in the upcoming year.
Diamond's Bankruptcy Filing
On January 14, 2025, Diamond Comic Distributors announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This move allows the company to maintain its business assets while attempting to reorganize. The decision was influenced by:
- Decreased consumer activity
- Rising operating costs
- Declining sales in the comic book industry post-COVID-19
Despite the bankruptcy, Diamond will continue to operate and process orders as usual, including preparations for Free Comic Book Day.
Financial Obligations
Diamond's two largest unsecured creditors are:
- Penguin Random House: $9,202,181
- Bandai: $4,348,743
Other notable debts include amounts owed to Viz Media, Square Enix, and The Pokémon Company International, among others. Udon Entertainment is also listed as a creditor, owed $202,694.
Source: Press release