Comic supply chain recovering from ransomware attack

Diamond Comic Distributors warehouse (Image credit: Diamond Comic Distributors)

It appears that a key piece of the comics industry supply chain is largely back on track after suffering a ransomware attack in early November.

Diamond Comic Distributors has informed its client comic book shops and bookstores that shipments of the next round of new releases, the November 23/24 on-sale books, is proceeding as planned and no delays are expected. This is after two weeks of shipment delays as a result of the ransomware attack.

Some of Diamond's websites still remain partially inaccessible, however, its IT department "has been working diligently" to get everything back online.

"We are in the process of implementing additional cybersecurity measures that are enhancing our network security," says a statement from a Diamond representative. "Once again, thank you for your ongoing cooperation, understanding, and support while we work to bring this situation to a close. Please stay tuned for updates over the coming days and weeks as our restoration efforts continue to progress quickly."

Diamond first became aware of a ransomware attack on its systems on November 5, and had to deal with interruptions to its public-facing websites as well as its operating systems to distribute comics from publishers to comic shops and bookstores. Comic book shipments for the second and third week of November experienced widespread delays

Ransomware attacks are a computer technique in which third parties gain access to private data and restrict access to it by its owners unless a ransom is paid. Newsarama's colleagues at TechRadar have written about ransomware extensively, especially in 2021 as it's grown to cause severe issues not just for business owners but the general public as well through attacks on schools, hospitals, fuel suppliers, and more.

Diamond is the exclusive distributor both in comic shops and bookstores for Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Valiant Entertainment, and others. It is also the primary distributor of almost all print comics to the comic shop market, with the exception of DC and Marvel - although it does in some cases act as an intermediary distributor for those to some retailers as well.

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Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)