An important first step has been taken in CrossGen's vocal campaign to attain the 'premier' status in Diamond's monthly Previews catalogue currently held by the Big Four comic publishers.

The first place winner in our DBZ Dollars Display Contest used multiple displays throughout the store to emphasize the breadth of merchandise available. The strong visual elements, the use of multiple displays, and connection to an event together made the case that Redrum should win this contest.

We recently reported that comic retailers are being asked to vote on which Marvel movie weekend they would like Free Comic Day 2003-- X-Men 2 or Hulk . FCBD founder Joe Field prefers X-Men 2 while Marvel EIC Joe Quesada prefers the Hulk . Here are their essays on why.

Larry's Comic Book Store, the first comic specialty store in Chicago and one of the first (and oldest) in the country, is preparing to shut its doors. The store opened in April of 1972 at 1219 W. Devon Avenue and has been operated continuously at the same location for the more than thirty years since by its owner, Larry Charet.

Plans for Free Comic Book Day 2003 are underway, and the first order of business is selecting a date. To do so, the committee charged with organizing the event is taking a comic retailer poll via the Diamond Website between two major comic-based movie releases.

Marvel Enterprises, Inc. has announced that Peter Cuneo, President and CEO of the company since July 1999, will retire at the end of this year and be replaced as CEO by Allen Lipson, who has been Marvel's EVP Business and Legal Affairs since November 1999.

Retailer Ilan Strasser of Fat Moose Comics & Games in Whippany, New Jersey sent us this comment on his feelings about the year since the 9-11 attacks.

Two other game companies have also reduced staff recently. Interactive Imagination has gone through a 'restructuring,' and, living up to its name, Cheapass Games has laid off its sales and marketing staff,...

Image Comics, including Top Cow and Todd McFarlane Productions, has signed with Diamond Book Distributors for distribution to the book, warehouse club, and mass merchant channels.

Brian Hibbs was prompted by Marvel's recent decision to accept returns on over 100 issues from the past to issue this statement on the topic. '..[T]his is a major step in the right direction.... Nonetheless, the action by Marvel hardly 'solves' the issues between retailers and Marvel.'