A full week after the passage of Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the New Orleans levees, the fate of Gulf Coast comic book and game retailers remains as murky as the waters that submerged much of the Crescent City.  As of Tuesday afternoon there is still no word on the fate of New Orleans-based retailer Kirby Gee (see 'First Gulf Retailer News').  Elsewhere along the Mississippi and Alabama coast the situation for retailers presents different though no less difficult challenges.  Tom Ray of Ground Zero Comics in Mobile, Alabama (see 'Tom Ray of Ground Zero Asks for Hurricane Help') was one of the 'lucky ones' whose business came through the hurricane relatively unscathed, but local curfews and gas shortages may have as lethal an effect on his business as the waters of Lake Pontchartrain have had on stores in New Orleans. 

 

The situation at Ground Zero points out the grim fact that a major disruption of a store's customer base is every bit as serious as the physical destruction of a store's building or stock.  According to Diamond/Alliance there are at least 54 comic and game retailers in areas heavily affected by Hurricane Katrina.  The economic difficulties faced by those retailers in terms of rebuilding, restocking and regaining some semblance of normal customer flow are enormous and sustaining a business while accomplishing these tasks impossible without an influx of capital as well.

 

Fortunately the comic book and games industries do appear to be mobilizing to come to the aid of flood and hurricane stricken retailers.  In a statement released last Friday Diamond and Alliance have 'pledged to work with affected retailers on a case-by-case basis to help them recover and resume operations with potential support including: holding of shipments, canceling of orders, working with suppliers to provide free goods, and the extension of payment terms.'  DC Comics has already pledged that retailers in the affected areas will 'receive their DC items at no charge,' and DC promise to announce 'a comprehensive set of actions next week after consulting with our customers.'  Other publishers are likely to implement similar programs as soon as they are able to ascertain the needs of Gulf Coast retailers.

 

A number of artists, writers and publishers have already announced auctions and benefit books to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.  Michael Avon Oeming is auctioning off a number of pieces of art from his 'retirement art box' and Ronin Press, which published the HOPE volumes benefiting the Red Cross and earmarked for the victims of the December 2004 Tsunami, is planning a second volume of HOPE comics for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  Marvel's EIC Joe Quesada and his friend George Belliard have announced a series of Ink Well charity auctions starting on eBay on Monday, September 12th and featuring a plethora of topflight comic book artists and writers with all the money collected (minus the eBay fees) going to the American Red Cross.  While these preliminary efforts are geared to help the Red Cross aid hurricane victims in general, efforts to aid retailers in particular are certain to follow as soon as more information about the plights of various retailers in the region becomes available.