Comix Wellspring, the comic book printer that has become a popular choice among independent creators and publishers for the past decade, has announced that it is temporarily suspending all operations, halting production, and refunding all unfulfilled customer orders due to what it describes as “unforeseen operational challenges.” In the announcement posted on their website, they also directed customers who are in need of comic book print services to Greko Printing, the original founders of Comix Wellspring, now that there is no longer non-compete restrictions in place.
This announcement comes as a surprise to many, as The Beat had previously reported that Comix Wellspring was partnering with Global Comix to bring creator-owned digital comics to the platform for print, benefiting creators and customers alike
This has led to uncertainty for some and mobilization for others, as it has already had ramifications for the independent comics community.
Danny J. Quick, founder and CEO of 4th Wall Productions, and creator of the comic AceBlade,whose 10th issue is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, said the suspension comes at one of the worst possible times for independent creators preparing for convention season:
“It sucks because I know indie creators face enough hurdles getting their books printed. To be in the peak of Con season and to not be able to get books can set us back for months. Some creators might not recover from it if they don’t get their refunds quickly. We depend on physical sales at conventions and no books equals no Sales”
When it comes to the future of print-on-demand for others, Comix.One seems to have moved quickly to reassure users of its platform. In an update email sent out to users, the company has said it has already secured a new print-on-demand (POD) partner and promised an official announcement coming soon. According to the update, the new partnership will have added benefits like geographical availability and added print formats, including graphic novels
While this is a path forward for Comix.One, many independent creators are still waiting to learn when-or if-their Comix Wellspring orders will be refunded and what the company’s long-term future will look like. For now, creators preparing for convention season and those with currently ongoing crowdfunding campaigns are left weighing their options when it comes to increasingly tight deadlines and the future of their work
For many, a printer is more than just a vendor. It’s a final step between years of work and getting a comic into the hands of the readers who believe in their dreams. So whether through Greko Printing, Comix.One’s new partnership, or another service altogether, many creators are now left scrambling to keep those dreams on schedule
