This NFT thing is stupid and needs to die. But because it is among the stupidest things I've seen in years, it will likely survive. Because people are idiots.

 

And will probably be the thing that kills us all.

 

Comic distributor warns of more delays as ransomware attack persists

So Diamond has been hit by randsomware attack delaying shipments

 

I hate to say it, but at this point you should just expect a ransomware attack. If it happens, some delay is inevitable. But it sounds like they're a week in and still partially locked out and that is not ok.

 

An updated article on the Image Union, including reasons behind some of the clauses for scrubbing books, citing Howard Chaykin's "Divided States of Hysteria" issue #4 original cover and the Warren Ellis controversies. It's a longer read than you might expect. (Also, anyone else think this topic should be on another thread aside the CoronaVirus one by now?)
The Image Union Is the Future of Comics

 

Report: Dark Horse Comics is looking to be acquired
Dark Horse Comics Reportedly Looking for a Buyer

 

Ugh.

 

I mean at this point every kind of book publisher is going to be owned by someone else and the only independent ones will be online.

 

That’s an ill omen. For a long long time Dark Horse was the number 3 company. They’ve lost a lot of licensing deals since, and Image has stolen their lunch money on the creator owned side. It’s likely this was inevitable but it’s still sad to see one of the long running publishers looking to be acquired.

 

Update on Dark Horse:

Embracer Group enters into an agreement to acquire Dark Horse and forms the tenth operative group - Embracer

 

Notably, Embracer does not own print publishing assets, unless you're including physical games. Comic book companies are hot properties, but no one is buying them because they want to publish comic books, they just want the IP.

In Dark Horse's case, it's nearly impossible as an outsider to know what IP they actually own. Their "properties" page includes comics that they license, and creator-owned titles where they probably only have limited rights. I hope the new parent company knows what they're getting and what they want to do with it.

 

Image Comics Workers Win Union Election in Historic First for Comics Industry

 

Super curious to see how this plays out. Is this for Image staff only (how much actual staff do they have?) or is it for freelancers, which I have to imagine is the vast majority of the people doing work for them? How does it work? If the workers' main concern is the consistency of work received, will unionizing help or hurt? How can you guarantee amount of work in such a small and unstable market anyway, when books can be cancelled suddenly to be replaced by nothing? What kind of benefits will union members receive? How much do they have to pay in? How will it affect freelancers working from abroad, of which there are many? Will freelancers have to give up freelancer status and become employees?

 

It definitely does not impact any freelancers.

 

Then what's the point? Who exactly is in the union? Editors? Marketing department? Meanwhile, all the writers, pencillers, inkers, colorists, and letterers are screwed? Wow, what a triumph for the working people.

 

In terms of whose in it, you answered your own question. Past articles confirm it's mainly the editors and other permanent employees of Image outside the freelance creative positions.

 

There's a lot of info in this very thread on all of that already. In short, it's not the fault of the people who formed the union that freelancers can't be in a union. It's legal issues. But the employees still have a right to organize and advocate for themselves.

 

Yes they do, however some of their stated reasons to do so are very suspect. We will see how it goes, this could be good, or if they do try to take control of content like one of their demands implies, it could go very poorly for them.

 

"How will the Coronoavirus affect the comic industry?". I guess maybe we'll have more of an answer to the opening question as the news seems more dire this week. Though Diamond no longer being the only game in town for distribution might help.

 

I don't know, this all feels promising: https://twitter.com/comichron/status/1479222882618200068