[Originally, I’d planned to do a parody number about this week’s news based on this song, but some health issues kept it from happening.  Please feel free to watch the opening below and imagine what might’ve been…]

15:39-25:36: And one baby step closer to reality (our terrible, terrible reality!): people are asking Marvel to say something about The Punisher and the appropriation of his skull icon by the police.  Marvel are not saying anything about it, but Gerry Conway will try to get some work about it, and Jeff & Graeme have a continuity argument about the Punisher’s origins (and man Jeff didn’t even get to the first issue of the Mike Baron/Mike Zeck miniseries that comes up with an in-continuity excuse for that dude’s jay walker killing tendencies); and more.

Dear DC Direct Market Retailer, First and foremost, we hope this finds you safe and well especially during what has been an incredibly challenging year. We are writing today to share with you that DC’s long-standing relationship with Diamond Comic Distributors is coming to a close effective following Diamond’s distribution of product offered on DC’s FOC list of June 1st.

We want to thank Steve Geppi and the great people at Diamond for all the years of service. We recognize that, to many of you, this may seem like a momentous decision. However, we can assure you that this change in DC’s distribution plans has not been made lightly and follows a long period of thought and consideration. The change of direction is in line with DC’s overall strategic vision intended to improve the health of, and strengthen, the Direct Market as well as grow the number of fans who read comics worldwide. In the near term, Diamond will only be fulfilling orders placed through June 1 Final Order Cut-Off and will not solicit the sale of new DC titles further.

To ensure a smooth transition for retailers, DC will suspend Final Order Cut-Off for June 8, making those books available to order on Final Order Cut-Off on June 15. Moving forward, we will continue our distribution relationship with Lunar Distribution and UCS Comic Distributors for distribution of periodicals and graphic novels, and Penguin Random House for distribution of graphic novels, worldwide. We believe this new distribution system will bring you world class service using top of the line and modern systems that will provide you the most efficient operational supply chain. DC will continue to look for ways, together with our new partners, to better serve you and the fans to the best of our ability. We remain committed to the Direct Market and look forward to partnering with you to grow your business and to get the best comic books and graphic novels to the fans in the most efficient and seamless manner.

All the best, DC

1:28:33-1:38:55:  “Have you been reading comics in the midst of all this,”asks Jeff and of course, Graeme, being Graeme, has.  Discussed: Green Lantern: Mosaic; The Shadow by Andy Helfer, Bill Sienkiewicz, Kyle Baker, and Richmond Lewis (big thanks to the mighty Matt Terl!); Hellblazer old and new, and how they’re not the same as John Constantine stories; and more.

1:38:55-1:47:40: As for Jeff, he’s been revisiting World’s End Harem by LINK and Kotaro Shono, the porny manga version of Y: The Last Man on Earth; Outer Darkness/Chew #2; Avengers #33; the first few issues of Scooby-Doo Team Up and the truly impressive issue(s) #83 and #84 featuring just about every gorilla and chimp character in the DC pantheon; The Joker: 80 Years of the Clown Prince of Crime The Deluxe Edition; and more.