There’s going to be pain in the comic book industry going forward either way. Publishers can’t simply just pick up and move their printing process into the US right away. One of the reasons why publishers are printing their books in Canada is because they get tax breaks for conducting business there. When you factor the favorable exchange rate, labor costs are so much cheaper in Canada than the US. Not to mention the decades in experience printing comics for the publishers. If it was more cost effective for the publishers to print in the US, they would’ve done it a long time ago.
If the US moves the printing to the US, expect prices for comics to go up. What a disaster for the comic book industry who’s hanging by a thread to begin with.
The expected wave of inflation the tarrifs create is going to cause people to reduce discretionary spending as well, at the same time as prices go up, creating a double-whammy…
I’d also note that people who know more than me about these things previously said that the quality of the printing available in Canada / China was much better than in the US for comics - so if the product quality (in the short term) takes a hit, then that’s another problem.
Hmm so there’s other factors that we haven’t thought about. Publishers will have to deal with the tariffs on paper as well. What an absolute shit show.
So PSA is currently suspending grading submissions from Canada, Mexico and China. I’d imagine CGC will be doing the same very shortly as sending goods across the border and figuring out FMV will be a nightmare and will be costly back and forth.
Saw some good advice from Neo Cards and Comics saying that those living in the USA should be stocking up on supplies. Get your comic book supplies now before prices go up/shortages. Canada, Mexico and China has already responded with retaliatory tariffs as of today.
As for Canadian comic book stores, it is likely that they will shift their business from US distributors like PRH and Diamond Lunar to their local Universal Distribution, likely now to receive comics directly from the printers rather than going via the USA, to avoid the new import taxes. American comics buyers near the US-Canada border might also start hopping back and forth to buy their comic books – and other goods. And US comic book stores may do deals with Canadian stores to circumvent the new taxes or set up a delivery spot they can access, as many businesses will also try to circumvent the new taxes. Expect the US/Canadian border to be a hotbed of comic book smuggling in weeks to come
I found this interesting…smuggling comics across the border!
I was curious enough to do a Google search. Much of the manufacturing of toilet paper is done in the US with Canada exporting the rest. However the pulp used to make toilet paper comes from Canada. Makes sense since we have an endless amount of trees. Covid toilet paper hoarding/shortages Part 2
“Boreal forest: Much of the pulp used to make toilet paper in the U.S. and Canada comes from the Canadian boreal forest”
From Image mostly GI Joe (Duke, Cobra, Scarlett, Destro 1:25 and 1:50 ratios), Transformers, Creepshow, Redcoat, Universal Monsters. From the IDW sale it was mostly Sonic, Godzilla, TMNT ratios with a couple Star Trek high ratios that sell well. So far I got all the Image books, the IDW books are sitting in status of Picking. Despite the clickbait title of the Bleedingcool article having done these sales in the past the most desirable ratios or high ratio >1:100 are usually not listed in the sale (probably sold out) or at status backorder by the time they release the sale to dealers. And trust me I don’t wait to get the email, I refresh the special deals page every morning and usually catch the sale before the email goes out.
Also the prices varied from net cost (cover) or standard discount which is 40% to 50% off cover.
