Retailer and distributor Christina Merkler joins the show to talk about the year at Discount Comic Book Service (or DCBS), In-Stock Trades, and Lunar Distribution. Merkler discusses her New York Comic Con experience, wearing multiple hats, the advantages of being a retailer and a distributor, the weird year at DCBS and In-Stock Trades, finding new customers, the timing of Ultimate and Absolute, the publisher mix, nostalgia comics, 2019 comparisons, readers versus collectors, DC’s Compact Comics, manga, views from a distributor standpoint, the biggest things she’s learned as a distributor, DC’s return to Wednesday, relationship management, her outlook on the direct market, and more.

You can find Merkler’s work at DCBS, In-Stock Trades, and Lunar Distribution.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

Big thanks to Deanna Chapman for stepping in to edit this episode. If it sounds better than usual, it’s because of her.

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Thanks to the sponsor of this week’s podcast: Zoop! Zoop is where some of the biggest names in comics are crowdfunding! Live campaigns include “Switchblade Shorties,” the final work from the late Ed Piskor, new publisher Panick Entertainment’s sampler pack, master painter Dave Dorman’s first published art book in over 10 years, as well as campaigns from Joseph Sieracki & Kelly Williams, Danny Hellman, World At War’s Tommy Huls and more! Zoop would like to thank all the creators who have recently submitted projects, and urge more creators to submit your project to Zoop!  Click the “Submit Your Project” link at Zoop.gg, as they are providing services to even more creators than ever before!

Thanks to the show’s other sponsor, Oni Press! You have been reported by Oni Press for possession of Skin Police #1 – the visceral and violent vision of 22nd century hyper-action coming to comic shops this October. In the year 2142, fertility levels will plummet. Illegal clones will become a thriving underground black market for desperate families. But, unbeknownst to everyone, three in four of these genetic duplicates will degenerate into psychologically unstable killing machines at some point in the life cycle. Whoops. Fortunately, the United Nations of Europe has decided to take up the unenviable task of hunting these human time bombs before it’s too late.. To the government, they’re the Duplicate Identification and Capture Division. To everyone else, they’re the “Skin Police.” The worst part of the job? It’s always the one you least suspect. From rising stars Jordan Thomas and Daniel Gete comes the page-turning, science-fiction spectacle of 2024. Skin Police #1 – in comic shops everywhere this October.

Also, big thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – David Byrne, Milton Lawson, David Wilson, Jo, Benjamin Wilkins, Chris Hacker, John NeSmith, Jon Auerbach, Dustin Weaver, Ninja Assassin Love Story Webcomic, Brandon Hayman, Aaden Hamann, Kenny Meyers, Faith Erin Hicks, Aw Yeah Comics, Ben Wroe, Cameron Brown, Jonathan Breen, Charlie Stickney, Tom Drennen, Jeremy Thomas Burke, Jared Schwab, Scott Dunn, Chip Mosher, Seth Pomeroy, James McEwan, Andrew Leamon, Christina Merkler, Scott Place, Travis Gibb, Darcy Van Poelgeest, Tom Evans, Reid Beaman, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Max Wood, Jeremy Lambert, Brian Hole, Nir Levie, Jason Hussa, Kieron Gillen, Jonathan Kent-Uritam, Henry Johnston, Django Bohren, James Tynion IV, Chris Lankford, Jason Wood, Tom Peachey, Ben Damstedt, Ram V, Nick Walker, Patrick Coyle, Isaac Orin, Capes and Tights Podcast, Klaas Van de Ven, Submet Industries, Jack Mulqueen, Karl Kerschl, Robert Masella, Elsa Charretier, Luc Nakashoji, Dr. Luke, Scott Haselwood, CanadianByProxy, Bradley Roeder, Carl Choi, Brandon De Pillis, Patrick Brower, Declan Shalvey, Dan Gearino, Atom Freeman, Ben Wild, Brian Klein-Q, Liana Kangas, Nick Bennett, Daniel Whitfield, Susana Polo, Reed Hinckley-Barnes, Mario Tiambeng, Andrew Kurita, Stefan Hull, Phillip Maira, Chris Bachalo, Torunn Grønbekk, FuzBubbles, Christopher Ta, Transmitterdown, Walt’s Comics & Books, Akil Wilson, Alex Dimitropolous, Terry Dodson, Wesley Gift, Shawn Kirkham, Julio Anta, Brett A. Schmidt, Jason Goodmanson, Paul Reinwand, Vita Ayala, Akylle, Phillip Sevy, Al Ewing, David Kelley, Jason Nassi, Adam Bogert, Matthew Taylor, Nick Pitarra, Jacob Sareli, Ford Gilmore, David Baroldy, Nick Hall, Bjorn Basen, John Hendrick, Ian Maxfield, Cliff Chiang, Colin McMahon, Adam Highfill, Fiona Staples, Mark Abnett, Michael Shirley, Tom Barnett, Jim Demonakos, Norbert, Nick Lowe, James Kaplan, and Mission: Comics and Art in San Francisco. You’re all the best.

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Header photo is from Alex Ross’ cover to Fantastic Four #1. Off Panel’s opening theme music is Vulfpeck’s “Outro,” used with permission from the band (and thanks from me for them doing so!), with the rest of the music being an original track by custom music agency Upright T-Rex Music, written and performed specifically for the podcast. A huge thanks to Ross and Cody from Upright T-Rex Music for putting the track together!