Selling Funko!: Nerd Block Owes Diamond And Funko A Quarter Of A Million Each, And NYCC $150K

Friday, August 18, 2017

Nerd Block Owes Diamond And Funko A Quarter Of A Million Each, And NYCC $150K

As expected by many, Nerd Block, the Canadian geek subscription service and its parent company Fan Blocks has filed for bankruptcy. As part of its filing, it has had to declare who it owes money to. And the results are surprising.

As well as call centres, banks, lawyers, real estate, telecommunications, shipping and the like, here are some familiar names – and what they are owed by Nerd Block. Here are some of the biggest amounts. Prices in Canadian dollars, so knock everything down by a fifth for the US dollar amount. Or two fifths for the UK sterling amount.

Diamond Comic Distributors, monopoly comics distributor to the direct market, around $260,000
Funko LLC , makers of the popular Funko POP vinyl toys, around $230,000
Insight Editions, Californian licensed book publisher, around $230,000.
Technosport, Canadian clothing manufacturer, around $230,000
The Forecast Agency, Los Angeles based design and sales agency for life style apparel and accessory brands, around $200,000.
Surreal Entertainment, collectible manufacturer, around $190,000
Pennyroyal Studio, custom jewelry manufacturer, around $190,000
Reed POP, organisers of NYCC and C2E2 conventions, around $146,000.
Titan Comics, UK comics publisher and merchandise manufacturer, around $104,000
Seedlings, Los Angeles DIY arts & craft kits, retro games & toys for kids, around $93,000.
Simon & Schuster, book publisher, around $84,000.
Cryptozoic Entertainment, gaming publisher, around $80,000
National Geographic, around $73,000.
Dark Horse Comics, comics publisher, owed around $70,000
NECA, licensed collectible manufacturer, around $60,000
Super7, toy manufacturer, around $41,000.
Showtime, media broadcaster and licensor, around $38,000
Entertainment Earth, licensed statue manufacturer, around $30,000
Marvel Entertainment, around $32,000
Raven Banner, game developer, around $32,000.
Udon Studios, comic publisher, $28,000
Ty Canada, toy manufacturer, around $24,000
Space Goat, comics publisher, around $20,000
Titan 1 Studios, comics publisher, around $11,000.
Rebellion Publishing, British publisher of 2000AD, around $6500.
Ramon Perez, comic book artist, around $2000
And McFarlane Toys – a mere $236.

But there are plenty of less familiar names as well

Asteroid Base / Toronto-based game developer, and creator of the game Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime are owed around $15K.
Chad Archibald, creator and co-owner of Canadian production company Black Fawn Films behind The Heretics is owed around $35K.
Bleacher Creatures, creators of cuddly plush versions of stars in sports and entertainment, owed $55K.
Barret Biggers, vector line artist and designer, owed around $800.
Buckle Down, a New York belt shop, owed around $80,000.
A Crowded Coop, Canadian PR Agency, around $350,000
ByGeorge!, a Californian creative agency, around $385,000
Eric Barnett, creator of Alien Toilet Monsters owed around $4000
Fan Sets, manufacturer of licensed pins for Star Trek, DC Comics, Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Firefly, Valiant Comics and more owed around $22,000
Concept One, bag manufacturers, around $35,000
Copycats Media, CD and DVD manufacturer around $13,000
Cole Corrugated Containers, who made the actual nerd blocks themselves, around $89,000
Decalcomania, decal manufacturers, around $13,000
Dune Craft, usual garden supplies, around $19,000
Elephant-Gun, DC Comics licensed keychain manufacturer, around $22,000
Fanwraps, licensed Star Wars vehicle decals around $5000.
Fascinations, metal 3d model kits, around $30,000
High Point Design, around $52,000
HER Accessories, New York fashion store, around $25,000
I Cup, geek-licensed kitchenware, around $91,000
Import Dragon, toy importer, around $53,000
Iron Gut, British creator of art prints, around $16,000
Horror writer Joe Chianakas, around $4000
JRC Toys, around $10,000
Just Funky, collectible manufacturer, around $30,000.
Level Up Wear, licensed clothing, around $38,000.
Little Buddy, Nintendo plush distributor, around $15,000.
MARRS Media, marketing and advertising, around $42,000.
Max Wittert, comic book art designer, around $2600.
Monster Factory, manufacturers of plush monster toys, around $35,000.
MVD Entertainment, around $46,000.
Novel Comics, around $1000
NJ Croce, licensed bendable toys, around $19,000
Pixelnest Studio, around $12.000.
Planet Superheroes, around $88,000.
PPW Toys around $17,000
Rakuten Marketing, around $58,000
RP Toys, around $11,000.
Shout Factory, media publisher, around $21,000.
Trends International, around $55,000.
Tom Kennedy, artist, around $1300.
Two Ghouls Press, around $6000
Underground Toys, around $31,000.
Unemployed Philosophers guild, collectible manufacturer, around $36,000.