Boom! Studios will be distributing its new Disney comics through newsstands and mass market bookstores in the United States. Back in March, Boom announced a deal with Kable Distribution Services for newsstand distribution of their monthly Disney/Pixar comics The Incredibles and Cars. It is this same distribution channel that will be used for the new titles that start in September, including Walt Disney's Comics & Stories (WDC&S) and Mickey Mouse and Friends.

Kable has a lot of experience in getting comics to kids with the distribution of their Archie Comics, which is virtually the only comic book available at grocery stores like Wal-Mart. To purchase any other comic book, Americans need to find a specialty comic book store or go online. This is quite different from the situation in many European countries, where Disney comics are sold nearly everywhere and reach huge distribution.

A friend in the comic book industry has informed me that Kable will be handling Boom's Disney comics, including WDC&S and Mickey Mouse, putting the single $2.99 issues in regular stores across the country. Trade paperbacks will be available in book stores like Barnes & Nobles. Wow, this is great news! If Disney comics are to be displayed at stores like Walmart and Target it will greatly improve the exposure of these comics to the younger readers that Boom! is targeting.

Remember that back in 2002, Steve Geppi, owner of Gemstone Publishing, also announced his plan to bring his Disney comics to stores like Wal-Mart and Target, via Diamond Book Distributors. At that time he seemed pretty confident about being able to do this, but we all know how that ended. I hope that this will not happen again.

So what do we know about the new Boom Disney comics so far? Here is a rundown of the facts:

• Boom! has obtained the license to publish Disney comics with characters from Pixar's animated feature films as well as classic characters like Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse
• The Pixar titles, including The Incredibles and Cars, were launched in March 2009 and from the latest Previews magazine we've learned that WDC&S and Mickey Mouse will start in September
• Each monthly issue will have 24 pages (with 22 pages of comics) and sell for $2.99. This is a lower price-per-issue, but a comparable price-per-page to Gemstone's publications
• All of Boom's new Disney comics will be sold at newsstands, book stores and specialty comic book stores
• WDC&S and Mickey Mouse will start off with two multi-part Italian series called Ultraheroes and Wizards of Mickey, which are intended to appeal more to the younger audience that Boom is targeting. Both stories run for more than 240 pages so it is likely that this will occupy both titles for nearly a year
• At a later stage Boom will also be handling the 'classic' material that Gemstone published, as Boom's co-founder Ross Richie commented: "We're not going to abandon the fans that are buying that material, so we will have programs and products for them."

Sounds promising, doesn't it? I'm excited!