IDW Switches Book Distribution to Penguin Random House

Independent comics house IDW Publishing announced it has signed a multi-year book sales and distribution agreement with Penguin Random House Publisher Services to be its exclusive distribution partner to the book trade market. The agreement will take effect in April 2017.

IDW publishing is a major independent comics house that publishers such comics series as My Little Pony, the Transformers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In addition Top Shelf Productions, an IDW imprint, is the publisher of the much acclaimed bestselling March trilogy, the Civil Rights Movement graphic memoir of Rep. John Lewis created along with cowriter Andrew Aydin ad artist Nate Powell.

Penguin Random House Publisher Services president Jeff Abraham, said that “IDW has a fantastic reputation in the comics business, and we look forward to working with them to grow the sales of their impressive graphic-novel publishing program.”

Ted Adams, CEO and Publisher, IDW Publishing said, “with Penguin Random House working alongside us, we think IDW is primed to increase sales and take our market share to the next level.”

IDW becomes the latest comics house to sign on with Penguin Random House, following Dark Horse, which switched from DBD to PRHPS in 2013. PRHPS also distributes the graphic novels of such comics publishers as DC Comics, Titan Books, Kodansha Comics, Archie Comics and Vertical Inc.

"PRHPS is extremely enthusiastic about the graphic novel category and they approached us,” said Greg Goldstein, IDW president and COO. Goldstein emphasized that Diamond Comics Distributors will continue to distribute IDW graphic novels, books and comics to the comics shop market. DBD will also continue to distribute IDW titles and pop culture merchandise to the UK book market.

Goldstein said that IDW publishes about 300 book format titles a year (about 20-30 each month) and about 45-50 comics periodicals a month.

“Our relationship with Diamond is extremely important, and one that we plan to continue to grow,” Goldstein said. “Between our solid connection with Diamond and now with the addition of PRHPS onboard, we’re excited by the prospect of attracting brand new readers and engaging the next generation of comic fans, wherever they’re seeking entertainment.”