UDON Entertainment has signed with Simon & Schuster for book channel distribution worldwide (where licenses permit), the companies announced.  The new relationship began April 1 for both backlist and new releases.  UDON was previously represented to the book market by Diamond Book Distributors.

"With this new partnership we are aiming to enhance the availability and accessibility of our many titles, to ensure readers can easily find their favorite UDON books on bookstore shelves," UDON Chief of Operations Erik Ko said in a statement accompanying the announcement.  "We would also like to thank Diamond Book Distributors and their hardworking crew for all of the support they have offered us for the past 20 years, helping us secure a solid footing in the book market."

UDON is available to the comic store channel through Lunar Distribution, Diamond Comic Distributors, and Universal Distribution.

Bad Idea has reached an agreement with Universal Distribution for distribution in Canada, the companies announced.  The new agreement will begin with the launch of Planet Death #0 (see "Publishers Announced Print Runs").  Bad Idea is distributed in the U.S. by Lunar Distribution and in the UK by Diamond UK.