Diamond Appointed Master Distributor for Bandai America Products

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Diamond Appointed Master Distributor for Bandai America Products

Leading toy manufacturer signs with Diamond to distribute and market its products in the U.S.

(BALTIMORE, MD) — (August 11, 2015) — Diamond Comic Distributors has finalized negotiations with Bandai America Incorporated to become a Master Distributor for the leading toy manufacturer. The deal makes Diamond the preferred distributor on behalf of Bandai America to select retailers throughout the United States.

Bandai America is home to some of the most powerful entertainment toy brands, including Power Rangers, Big Hero 6™, GODZILLA™, and SprüKits®,  as well as extremely successful Japanese hobby and collector lines.

“We have a long standing strategic partnership with Diamond,” said Michael Ciminera, Bandai America’s Vice President of Sales. “We fully believe in their ability to distribute and market Bandai products far and wide into the U.S. market.”

“We’re gratified by the trust Bandai America has placed in us to be their Master Distributor,” said Diamond’s Director of Vendor Development, Eric Burkhardt. “We look forward to partnering with them to grow Bandai America’s diverse and successful product lines to U.S. toy , hobby and specialty retailers.”

Diamond will support Bandai America launches through its monthly PREVIEWS catalog, innovative programs to its retailer partners, and other unique marketing and distribution services.

UK Publisher TPub Titles Coming to Book Markets Worldwide

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UK Publisher TPub Titles Coming to Book Markets Worldwide

(BALTIMORE, Maryland) — (April 8, 2015) —Diamond is pleased to announce a new distribution agreement with British comic book and graphic novel publisher TPub, expanding Diamond’s abilities to distribute TPub’s titles worldwide into comic book specialty markets, gaming and hobby markets, as well as book markets through Diamond Book Distributors. TPub’s publications will be solicited in Diamond’s monthly PREVIEWS catalog where comic book and thriller fans can pre-order TPub graphic novels.

TPub caters to the thrill seeking crowd. Their stories are filled with suspense, terror, mystery and a hint of humor to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Since their beginnings in 2011, TPub’s collections of graphic novels were only available to purchase in the UK or online. The agreement with Diamond will allow comic book shops and book stores to have the opportunity to carry TPub’s titles, expanding reach and audience engagement.

“We are pleased to build on our original agreement with TPub and have the opportunity to offer their titles into new outlets through Diamond Book Distributors,” said Diamond’s Vice President of Purchasing, John Wurzer. “Through our combined efforts, Diamond hopes to bring TPub new success within the industry, increasing audience awareness and continued demand for their printed works.”

“We’re very excited to be expanding our agreement with Diamond to include the bookstore market,” said Head of TPub Operations Ryan O’Sullivan. “As creators of graphic novels exclusively, selling our books to bookstores, libraries, and schools was an obvious next step for us as a publishing house. Our goal at TPub has always been to get even more people reading comics, and with the increased reach we now have through Diamond, we’re ready to do just that.”

The top titles TPub produces includes the Twisted Dark series and the graphic novels Tortured Life and Tabatha. In 2016, TPub will be breaking into new genres to include titles containing super heroes, dramatic titles and autobiography works for younger readers. 

Customers looking to pre-order TPub Publisher titles should contact their local retailer, or find a comic shop near them at www.comicshoplocator.com. New retailers interested in purchasing TPub’s titles are encouraged to contact Diamond’s New Accounts Department at newaccounts@diamondcomics.com or via phone at 443-318-8001.

Lo Pan Mesmerizes with Radiant Glow as Exclusive POP!

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Lo Pan Mesmerizes with Radiant Glow as Exclusive POP! 

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(BALTIMORE, MD) – (March 11, 2015)- The flesh-craving wizard David Lo Pan from the film Big Trouble in Little China shows off his magical powers as a PREVIEWS Exclusive Glow-in-The-Dark POP!. The glowing Lo Pan is available to pre-order from the March PREVIEWS catalog and will be available to purchase from comic book specialty shops in late May. 

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Funko has captured the ghostly appearance of dark wizard David Lo Pan in his otherworldly form as this exclusive glow-in-the-dark POP! figure. Cast in translucent blue vinyl with glow highlights added, Lo Pan gives off a magical blue glimmer from his eyes, face, and hands contrasted by his dark Chinese garment as replicated from the movie. This one is a must-have for fans of John Carpenter’s hilarious fantasy actioner, Big Trouble in Little China!

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To pre-order this unique Lo Pan POP! priced at $10.99, use item code MAR152501 at your local comic book shop. Find a local comic shop at www.comicshoplocator.com.

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ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS (DCD)—Diamond is at the nexus of comics and pop culture. Based in Baltimore, MD, DCD is the world’s largest distributor of English-language comic books, graphic novels, and related pop-culture merchandise, serving thousands of retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.

© 2015 Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. All rights reserved. Diamond, the Diamond logo, and PREVIEWS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Diamond Comic Distributors in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective copyright owners.

Diamond Select Toys Partners with Nickelodeon to Create New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Products

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are more popular today than ever before. The newest animated series on Nickelodeon is beloved by new and longtime fans alike, creating a diverse audience hungry for new stories, media and merchandise. With that audience in mind, Nickelodeon has partnered with Diamond Select Toys (DST) to create a similarly diverse array of toys and collectibles for fans of the hit franchise, with the first products scheduled to debut at the 2014 Comic-Con International in San Diego.

“The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are one of those brands that any company would love to work on,” says Diamond Select Toys president Chuck Terceira. “Not just because it’s so popular today, but because it’s such a long-lived property, with distinctly different incarnations of the Turtles and their colorful supporting characters stretching back to the late 1980s. Plus, it’s just a heck of a lot of fun. They’re turtles who fight ninjas, robots, and talking brains. What’s not to love?”

“The depth of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise allows us to continue to create new products that will resonate with both new and loyal fans,” said Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Global Toys and Publishing, Nickelodeon Consumer Products.  “Partnering with Diamond Select Toys to create a variety of products is a perfect example of the momentum of the Heroes in a Half Shell.”

Comic-Con International in San Diego, which runs from July 24-28, will see the first physical Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles products from Diamond Select, two translucent Minimates mini-figures of Leonardo and Michelangelo.  These products will be handed out for free (while supplies last) daily during the convention at the Diamond Select Toys booth (#2607) and Nickelodeon booth (#4113), respectively.

Products from several different categories will begin to hit stores in September, including:

•    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Minimates Series 1: The cast of the animated series has been transformed into a series of 2 -inch block figures as part of the wide-ranging Minimates brand. Each figure in the line features interchangeable parts as well as their trademark weapons. Characters include the four Turtles, April O’Neil, Shredder, Foot Soldiers, Foot-Bot, Kraang and Exo-Armor Kraang and are available in blind bags and two-packs. Sold at comic shops, specialty stores, Kmart, Sears and Toys “R” Us.

•    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vinyl Bust Banks: The four turtles will be re-created from the waist-up as full-color vinyl money banks. Striking action poses with their trademark weapons, each 7 inch bust is based on 3D data from the animated series, and will feature collectible-quality sculpting and paint, as well as a coin slot and access door. Sold at comic shops, specialty stores and Toys “R”Us.

•    Michelangelo Metal Bottle Opener: A classic image of Michelangelo enjoying a slice of pizza, taken from promotional artwork for the 1987 cartoon series, has been turned into a 3D metal bottle opener, with magnets on the back so it can be hung on any metal surface. Sold at comic shops and specialty stores.

•    Michelangelo Pizza Cutter: Michelangelo’s mind is always on pizza, and now his head will help slice it! This pizza cutter shaped like Michelangelo’s head is a must-have for any pizza party, Turtle-themed or otherwise. Sold at comic shops and specialty stores.

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ABOUT DIAMOND SELECT TOYS AND COLLECTIBLES, LLC

Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC was founded in 1999 by sister company Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. Envisioned to create unique and exciting collectibles for children and adults alike, the company has licensed a vast array of pop culture properties to be turned into merchandise. In 2007, Diamond Select Toys acquired select assets of the New York design studio Art Asylum, creators of the global Minimates brand. Minimates have been recognized as the #1 selling block figure in the world and were the first toys ever to be inducted into the ToyFare Hall of Fame in 2007. With partners including Marvel Enterprises, Universal Studios, EA Games, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon and Sony Pictures, Diamond Select manufactures a wide variety of collectible products, and is headquartered in Hunt Valley, MD. For more information, visit www.diamondselecttoys.com.

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 35th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com.  Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).