For the first time since 1996 when Diamond Comic Distributors became the sole major distributor in the direct market a new publisher has been elevated to Premier status.  Starting with the April edition of Diamond’s monthly Previews catalog, IDW, which was founded in 1999, will have an exclusive section in the front of the catalog.  The new arrangement is part of a multi-year agreement that will keep IDW exclusive in the direct market with Diamond Comic Distributors and in the book market with Diamond Book Distributors.

IDW’s deal is not a brokerage agreement (like Diamond’s deals with DC Comics and Marvel), and IDW’s comics and books will continue to be sold under Diamond’s Terms of Sale with no discount changes announced at this time.  IDW will be added to Diamond’s Final Order Cut-Off Program sometime later this year.

The San Diego-based IDW Publishing was named "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" by Diamond in 2004, 2005, and 2006.  In addition to a substantial list of licensed comics that includes, among others, Transformers, Star Trek, and G.I. Joe, IDW has developed a number of successful horror comics franchises including 30 Days of Night and Locke & Key, and also publishes the Library of American Comics series of strip reprints edited by Dean Mullaney.