Chris Powell, longtime general manager of the Texas comics shop chain, Lone Star Comics, and Mycomicsshop.com, has been named executive director of business development for the comic book specialty market at Diamond Comics Distributors. Powell will begin his position in March and will relocate to Diamond Comic Distributors’ offices in Timonium, Md.
Powell will report to Diamond executive v-p and COO Chuck Parker and v-p sales and marketing Roger Fletcher. Powell is taking over a newly created position designed to help physical comics shops and support their growth and expansion. “We created this position because we believe in print comics and the future of the direct market,” Parker said. “We believe that Diamond, working in conjunction with our suppliers, can do more to help existing retailers grow, and to help new retailers get started.” Fletcher emphasized Powell’s “successful hands-on experience in every aspect of comic retailing” and said, “his strong relationships throughout the industry, make him uniquely well-suited for the position.”
Powell said, “the Direct Market has been very good to me in the 21 years I’ve been at Lone Star and this is a unique opportunity to give back. It’s going to be a big job, but I’m looking forward to diving right in!”
