In addition to the big news from Monday, that Diamond Comic Distributors is suspending shipments of new product until further notice (see "Diamond Halting Distribution of New Product"), two comic publishers announced steps to support comic stores, which we round up here.

BOOM! Studios will take affidavit returns for any unsold items shipped between March 18 and June 24, the company announced.  Retailers will have to be enrolled in the BOOM! Guarantee program to qualify.  BOOM! also promised a number of variants for retailers in the coming months: a rare variant cover gift set of previously released rare and popular variant covers distributed free to retailers in April; monthly one-per-store variants free to qualifying Diamond accounts through December; the Diamond Summit Variant, which will be distributed in April, and convention and other event variants that will be distributed to retailers rather than at events that are no canceled.  Prior to the Diamond announcement of a shutdown of new product, BOOM! also announced that it would sponsor targeted advertising and promotion for stores offering safe services such as curbside pick-up.

Like BOOM! Studios (and previously announced commitments to take returns from Image Comics and Dynamite Entertainment, see "Image, Dynamite Take Returns"), IDW Publishing has committed to 60-day no-fee returnability on items with on-sales dates from March 18 to June 24.  IDW is also suspending May releases, for on-sale dates May 6 to May 27, and will cut back its releases planned for release through July in favor of special editions around the company’s biggest projects.  Both companies also committed to take additional steps as opportunities emerge.