in which they could compete. When self-distribution failed to meet Marvel's objectives, they also signed an exclusive distribution deal with Diamond, which had by then become the primary supplier for the Direct Market. 2000s and 2010s In the early 2000s, Diamond continued to dominate direct-market distribution. However, the bookstore market began to challenge the Direct Market as a channel for sales of increasingly popular graphic novels. The growth of interest in comics among mainstream booksellers and book publishers led to several publishers arranging for bookstore distribution outside of Diamond (for example, Tokyopop through HarperCollins, or Fantagraphics through W. W. Norton), while Diamond created Diamond Book Distributors. 2020s In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in public health authorities in affected regions ordering non-essential retail sectors and businesses closed for the interim. Diamond Comic Distributors announced on March 24, 2020, a full suspension of distributing published material and related merchandise as of April 1, 2020, until further notice. As Diamond has a near-monopoly on printed comic book distribution in North America, this was described as an "extinction-level event" that threatened to drive the entire specialized comic book retail sector out of business. As a result, publishers like IDW Publishing and Dark Horse Comics suspended publication of their periodicals while DC Comics explored distribution alternatives, including an increased focus on online retail of digital material. On April 17, 2020, DC announced that two new distributors would be shipping their comic books — Lunar Distribution and UCS Comic Distributors, which are owned by Discount Comic Book Service and Midtown Comics, respectively. On April 28, 2020, Diamond announced that shipping to retailers would resume on May 20, after a seven-week shutdown. Direct market distributors The list below includes sub-distributors, who bought their mainstream comics from one of the companies below but many of whom were on direct terms with one or more of the smaller or underground publishers. United States Canada Andromeda Distributing Limited (Toronto, Ontario) — established in 1989 Big Picture Distribution (Toronto, Ontario) — managed by Robert Myre Comex Distributors (Calgary, Alberta) — acquired by Portland, Oregon-based Second Genesis Distribution in 1988 Galileo Distributors (Edmonton, Alberta) Multi-Book and Periodical (Toronto, Ontario) Robin Hood Distribution (Oakville, Ontario) Styx International (Winnipeg, Manitoba) United Kingdom Neptune Distribution — operated from 1986 to 1991, when it was acquired by Diamond Slab-O-Concrete — small press-focused distributor run by Peter Pavement; operated from 1994 to 2001 Titan Distributors —