GameStop, which is beginning a test of periodical comics in 40 of its GameStop and ThinkGeek stores (see "GameStop Testing Periodical Comics"), has big plans for its comics program, according to an excellent interview by Evan Narcisse for io9.  In the interview, GameStop Director of Consumer Products Clint Walker indicated that if the test goes well, the company hopes to carry comics in its stores across the country.  "[W]e know that there’s a huge opportunity to have a nationwide partner with Diamond that doesn’t exist today," he said.  The comics business, which is part of a multi-quarter agreement, will expand on the "tremendous business" GameStop is already doing with Diamond on collectibles, Walker said.

In the initial test, comics will be sold in a spinner rack with weekly shipments and no replenishment, according to the report.  GameStop has hired former Hastings buyer James Parker, one of "a few subject matter experts" that have joined the company recently.

GameStop plans to leverage its existing resources and systems to build its comics business, Walker told Narcisse.  Those include the company’s massive customer database for its Rewards program, which has been used to develop programs around specific fandoms; pre-orders and trades, which GameStop uses for video games; and exclusive bundles.

GameStop operates over 4000 stores in the U.S., including 103 ThinkGeek collectible stores.