As announced today at ComicsPRO, Oni Press’s publisher Hunter Gorinson announced a new program to help retailers: the ONI 8 Retailer Appreciation Program, which will offer several initiatives to help retailers in ’25 and beyond. It follows Oni announcing that 2024 was their most successful year ever, and the EC comics relaunch were their best selling single issue comics ever. (Disclosure: Oni Press is sponsoring The Beat’s ComicsPRo 2025 coverage.)
The Oni 8 program includes such classics as returnability and promo materials but also some more unique programs – including an $8000 grant to be awarded to a retailer with the best Oni Display, and a bi-annual 57.5% maximal discount.
“No independent comics publisher exists in a vacuum. What we do is only made possible by standing together both with the creators who entrust us with their work, and the retailers who work tirelessly to support books we send out onto their shelves every Wednesday. But, just a few weeks into the New Year, we all recognize that delicate balance is currently being tested by market forces beyond our control on multiple fronts,” said Gorinson. “For that reason, we think now is the time to doubly re-assert our support of Direct Market retailers and the often-unforgiving work they do to make the business of publishing comics possible.”
“We are so excited to support brick and mortar comic shops with the Oni 8 Retailer Program and we believe these initiatives will materially impact stores at just the right time,” said VP, Marketing & Sales, Spencer Simpson, “Comic shops have always been the backbone of our publishing strategy because they are the backbone of the comic publishing industry. They rewarded us last year with a phenomenal level of support for our titles and our creators, responding in kind with a program that rewards that support is the right thing to do and I’m proud of what we at Oni Press have put together in response.”
The 8 point program in full:
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GUARANTEED RETURNABILITY ON PREMIER PRODUCT [MONTHLY]
Each month, Oni will ensure returnability on at least one flagship #1 debut single issue series and/or trade paperback collection for participating ONI 8 retailers.
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ONGOING BACK CATALOG ROLLING SALE [MONTHLY]
Oni will soon begin offering an ongoing back catalog sale from their extensive backlist of graphic novels and periodical comics – available only to ONI 8 retailers – with a curated selection of products that will rotate bi-monthly.
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FREE IN-STORE PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS [MONTHLY]
Participating ONI 8 retailers will automatically receive monthly allotments of free Oni Press in-store promotional materials that could include posters, pre-order cards, ashcans, “Secret Edition” one-per-store variants, catalogs, promotional displays, and more.
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EARLY ACCESS FOR EXCLUSIVE VARIANT OFFERINGS [MONTHLY]
Participating ONI 8 retailers will also be offered advance notice and first priority for upcoming retailer variant offerings for flagship series, including ADVENTURE TIME, EC Comics’ BLOOD TYPE, BIKER MICE FROM MARS, RICK AND MORTY, and more.
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FREE OVERSHIP PROGRAM FOR DEBUT PRODUCT [QUARTERLY]
Participating ONI 8 retailers will be automatically opted-in for quarterly ownerships of select Oni Press #1 issue releases, designed to drive readership and future pre-orders for the signature Oni series.
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LIVE RETAILER CONFERENCES & LISTENING SESSIONS [BI-ANNUAL]
Participating ONI 8 retailers will be admitted to live, retailer-exclusive listening sessions where Oni can share advance notice of major upcoming releases in order to solicit early feedback on promotion and saleability, as well as discuss ongoing industry matters in a one-on-one setting.
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MAXIMIZED 57.5% DISCOUNT ON SELECT #1 RELEASES [BI-ANNUAL]
Twice a year, participating ONI 8 retailers will also be automatically opted-in for a maximized 57.5% discount on a major Oni Press #1 single-issue release. Oni’s first maximized 57.5% discount will go into effect immediately for OUT OF ALCATRAZ #1 – the double-sized, 48-page first issue of the new series from Eisner Award nominees Christopher Cantwell & Tyler Crook that goes to Final Order Cut-Off on Monday, February 24th.
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THE ONI 8 RETAILER IMPROVEMENT GRANT [ANNUAL]
Oni is also offering one (1) participating ONI 8 store the chance to qualify for the first-ever ONI 8 RETAILER IMPROVEMENT GRANT – an $8,000 award that can be put towards retail improvements and upgrades, including signage, shelving, furniture, structural improvements, and any other intra-store infrastructure. This recipient of this grant will be judged directly by the Oni marketing and sales team, based on the loose criteria of which store creates, implements, and documents the best display of Oni product* before October 1, 2025. More details on the specific terms and conditions associated with the grant will be shared with ONI 8 retailers in the weeks ahead…but it’s not too early to start thinking about ideas!
Participation in the ONI 8 Retailer Appreciation Program is free and open to any Direct Market retailer with a Lunar or Diamond account, as well as a physical storefront. Retailers attending this week’s ComicsRO Comic Book Industry Meeting in Glendale, CA will be able to sign up with Oni Press representatives on site, or qualifying retailers can sign up virtually via this link:
SIGN UP FOR THE ONI 8
The Beat’s ComicsPRO coverage is sponsored this year by Oni Press.
