Diamond (along with its sister company Diamond Select) held the Diamond Retailers Summit before C2E2 which was was attended by retailers, their workers, and some of the top minds in the comic book industry from every publishing company. I was disturbed by some of the new product which will be hitting the Diamond Previews catalogue in the upcoming months. Here comes the tchotchke.
Happy Man Bottle Opener and Happy Man Bottle Topper in Diamond Previews?
Diamond Kitchenware: Really?
Diamond is expanding their kitchenware line so get ready for more forks, knives, pizza cutters, and salt shakers emblazoned with the face of your favorite superhero or sci-fi character. The sheer number of characters which could be placed on these items puts a retailer (i.e. comic book store owner) at a disadvantage. You might hear one fret about only having room for one pack of ice trays and not knowing if the space should go towards trays with the likeness of the Tardis or a Stormtrooper or maybe Superman…no, no…Batman…or?
Comic Book Stores the Next Party City?
Diamond Previews will begin carrying party favors just like you would find in the big party stores. You can get Spider-Man paper plates and napkins. I am sure Avengers piñatas will be on the market soon along with Aquaman balloons and Green Lantern whistles. Large chains like Party City are able to purchase these types of products for less due to the number of stores involved and the number of sales. Comic book stores cannot compete with that and would be pushed out of this particular market due to the cost and selection differential.
“Great Kid, Don’t Get Penisy”
The most disturbing point about the possible tchotchke-fication of comic book stores by Diamond comes in the form of the “Happy Man Bottle Opener” and the “Happy Man Bottle Topper.” These little guys have an extra member standing erect between the legs and apparently will be displayed in upcoming issues of Diamond Previews.
New in Diamond Previews?
I, in good conscience, cannot suggest we carry these phallic items in our Detroit area comic book store. I, in good conscience, cannot hand a previews to a child to look at if these phallic items are displayed inside. Should retailers now place an “18 and Over” sign next to Previews so readers know when Diamond is displaying items we don’t agree with? All I can think of are the immortal works of Peter Griffin, “Great Kid, Don’t Get Penisy.”
Please stand with us and send a message to Diamond Previews to drop the “Happy Man” line.
UPDATE
The current issue of Diamond Previews (#299) has Happy Man in it. Now, retailers have to make the decision to make the issues available to children or not. We should all be discouraged by the thought that there are some who would wish to turn the all ages comic book stores into Spencer Gifts stores. It is a sad day to think that the publishing companies are trying to be more inviting to children while Diamond is going to try to get stores to sell phallic symbols.
