Neptune Distribution
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| Company type | Comic book distribution, Comics publishing |
|---|---|
| Industry | Comics |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Fate | Acquired by Diamond Comic Distributors, 1991 |
| Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
Key people | Geoff Fry |
| Products | Comics, Magazines |
| Divisions | Trident Comics (1989–1991) Apocalypse Ltd (1990–1991) |
Neptune Distribution was a comic distribution company in Leicester, which existed from 1986 to 1991. Neptune was set up to challenge Titan Distribution's monopoly on the UK comic distribution business. (Neptune acted as a sub-distributor in regards to American comics, acquiring them via Diamond Comic Distributors.)[1]
Neptune's arrival was successful at first, and the company expanded into publishing in 1989 with Trident Comics, and in late 1990 helping to found Apocalypse Ltd, which published Toxic!, a weekly title meant to compete with Fleetway Publications's 2000 AD.[2]
The company expanded too quickly, however; financial problems led the distribution side to stop importing American comics in July 1991;[3] they also were unable to pay outstanding bills owed to Diamond.[1] Neptune was acquired by Diamond Comic Distributors[4] in 1991; this British distribution base enabled Diamond to form Diamond UK.[1] (Diamond next acquired Titan Distributors in 1993.)[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Newswatch: Diamond Acquires Titan Distributors," The Comics Journal #162 (Oct. 1993), pp. 35-36.
- ^ Bishop, David (2007) Thrill-Power Overload: The Official History of 2000 AD (Rebellion Developments, June 2007, ISBN 1-905437-22-6), pp. 142-143.
- ^ MCH. "Newswatch: A Reverse British Invasion," The Comics Journal #145 (Oct. 1991), p. 19.
- ^ "Newswatch: Geppi Buys Baltimore," The Comics Journal #174 (Feb. 1995), p. 29.
External links
- "The Rise and Fall of Neptune Comic Distributors" by a former employee: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight
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- Neptune Distribution
- 1986 establishments in the United Kingdom
- 1991 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
- Book distributors
- British companies established in 1986
- Companies based in Leicester
- Comic book publishing companies of the United Kingdom
- Comics industry
- Defunct companies of the United Kingdom
- Privately held companies of the United Kingdom
- Publishing companies established in 1986
- British comics stubs