(Hunt Valley, MD) — (June 3, 2020) — Diamond Comic Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of English-language comic books, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise, is pleased to announce that it has signed a distribution agreement with Penn State University Press to be the exclusive distributor of their Graphic Mundi imprint to comic book specialty markets in North America. Diamond was also awarded the rights to exclusively distribute Graphic Mundi titles to the North American book market under the banner of Diamond Book Distributors.

Graphic Mundi publishes nonfiction and fiction graphic narratives for adults and young adults on topics such as health and human rights, politics, the environments, and science and technology, created by people from diverse backgrounds. An imprint of Penn State University Press, Graphic Mundi expands on the list of critically acclaimed graphic novels published in the Press’s Graphic Medicine series, which launched in 2015 with the Eisner Award–nominated Graphic Medicine Manifesto.

“This is an absolutely terrific step forward for the Graphic Mundi imprint,” says Brendan Coyne, sales and marketing director at PSU Press. “Diamond is synonymous with comics, and the team there has been warm, welcoming, and collaborative—not to mention utterly expert and professional. We’re looking forward to a long, fruitful partnership that will secure firm footing and excellent exposure for the people who create our graphic novels.”

“I’m very happy to welcome Graphic Mundi to the Diamond Book Distributors roster,” said Josh Hayes, Executive Vice President of Diamond Book Distributors. “It’s exciting to partner with a publisher so passionate and dedicated to bringing comic stories to people and to the page – from all voices and all points of view.  I can’t wait to get started working with these books.”

Graphic Mundi launched in Spring 2021 with COVID Chronicles: A Comics Anthology, edited by Kendra Boileau, publisher of the imprint, and Rich Johnson, founder of Brick Road Media, LLC. The collection contains more than sixty short comics from a diverse set of creators, including indie powerhouses, mainstream artists, and Ignatz and Eisner Award winners. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC) to support the employees of bookstores and comic shops and brick-and-mortar stores affected by the pandemic. Forthcoming titles from the imprint include an English translation of Hakim’s Odyssey, Book 1: From Syria to Turkey, the first volume of Fabien Toulme’s award-winning nonfiction trilogy about a successful young Syrian forced to upend his life and become a refugee, and A Chance by Cristina Durán and Miguel Giner Bou, which chronicles the creators’ struggles and triumphs as they build a family in the face of tremendous odds. 

“We are excited to begin a partnership with Graphic Mundi and see great market potential in their diverse line of books,” said Geppi Family Enterprises’ Chief Purchasing Officer, Tim Lenaghan. “Their effort to provide top-quality products that are both topical and relatable is an asset we value. We’re greatly looking forward to working with them to promote and sell their line of books.”