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| Company type | Comic book distribution, Comics publishing |
|---|---|
| Industry | Comics |
| Founded | 1985; 39 years ago (1985) |
| Fate | Acquired by Diamond Comic Distributors, 1991 |
| Headquarters | Leicester, United Kingdom |
| Key people | Geoff Fry |
| Products | Comics, Magazines and Related Merchandise |
| Divisions | Trident Comics (1989–1991) Apocalypse Ltd (1990–1991) |
Neptune Distribution was a UK based comic distribution company founded and headquartered in Leicester, which existed from 1985 to 1991.
History
Neptune Comics (as it was named at the outset), began in 1985 as a small direct-to-consumer mail order company selling American comics to UK collectors at a time when there were few specialist retail outlets. In early 1986 Neptune Comics also began selling at regional Comic Marts in cities such as Leeds and Sheffield, and by mid-1986 began supplying retail outlets. Neptune acted as a sub-distributor in regard to American comics, initially acquiring them from Bud Plant Inc. (which was acquired by Diamond Comic Distributors in 1988).
The company was incorporated in the spring of 1987 as Neptune Comic Distributors Limited. By this point, Neptune's initial aim of challenging Titan Distribution's monopoly on the UK comic distribution business was well established.
Neptune expanded into publishing in 1989 with Trident Comics, and in late 1990 helped to found Apocalypse Ltd, which published Toxic!, a weekly title meant to compete with Fleetway Publications's 2000 AD.
Closure
The company expanded too quickly, however. Financial problems led the distribution side to stop importing American comics in July 1991, as it could not pay outstanding bills owed to Diamond. Soon after, Diamond absorbed Neptune; this British distribution base enabled Diamond to form Diamond UK. (Diamond next acquired Titan Distributors in 1993.)
References
- "Bud Plant Sells Out to Diamond". The Comics Journal. No. 124. August 1988. pp. 9–10.
- "Neptune Comic Distributors Limited". DueDil. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
Incorporation date: 17 Mar 1987
- Bishop, David (June 2007). Thrill-Power Overload: The Official History of 2000 AD. Rebellion Developments. pp. 142–143. ISBN 978-1-905437-22-1.
- "Newswatch: Geppi Buys Baltimore". The Comics Journal. No. 174. February 1995. p. 29.
- ^ "Diamond Timeline Chronicles 30 Years of Service & Success". www.diamondcomics.com. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- "Newswatch: Diamond Acquires Titan Distributors". The Comics Journal. No. 162. October 1993. pp. 35–36.
External links
- "The Rise and Fall of Neptune Comic Distributors" by a former employee: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight
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- Neptune Distribution
- 1991 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
- Book distributors
- British companies established in 1986
- Companies based in Leicester
- Comic book publishing companies of the United Kingdom
- Comics industry
- Defunct companies of the United Kingdom
- Privately held companies of the United Kingdom
- Publishing companies established in 1986
- 1991 mergers and acquisitions
- British comics stubs