For decades, Black-owned comic shops have been the unsung heroes, the community hubs, and the lifelines for readers who do not always see themselves prioritized by the larger comics industry. Ink Alliance, a new collective of Black-owned comic shops, is setting out on a mission to build something bigger than any one store can achieve on its own.
The alliance is built around a simple but powerful idea: Black-owned independent comic shops can create more opportunities when they move together. Through shared resources, creator partnerships, exclusive publishing initiatives, and community programming, Ink Alliance is looking to expand ownership, representation, and access across the comics industry while strengthening the shops already doing that work on the ground.
With this launch, Ink Alliance has revealed a retailer-exclusive variant cover for New Titans #38, which will be shared across the network of shops. The issue marks Virgil Hawkins’ return to the DC Universe proper following brief moments in DC K.O.: The Kids Are All Fight and The New History of the DC Universe: The Dakota Incident. It will also show how Static joins the new Titans lineup that began in issue #33, written by Tate Brombal with art by Sami Basri. Limited to 1,000 copies across the network of stores, the Ink Alliance exclusive variant is illustrated by Eisner-winning artist Sanford Greene and features both Static and Cyborg.
The variant will be available exclusively in-store through participating member stores beginning August 19. Remaining copies, if available, may be offered through participating retailers’ online stores beginning 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on the Sunday following the book’s official release date. Once the 1,000-copy print run has sold out, no additional copies will be produced.
“Static means a great deal to readers who grew up seeing themselves reflected in his stories,” said Phillip Rollins, co-founder of Ink Alliance and owner of OffBeat in Jackson, Mississippi. “This project is about more than an exclusive comic. It’s about celebrating an iconic character while demonstrating what independent comic shops can accomplish when we work together. We hope this is the first of many collaborations that strengthen our stores and the comic book community.”
“Ink Alliance was founded on a simple belief: together, we can create opportunities that none of us could create alone. This exclusive cover is more than a comic—it’s proof of what becomes possible when Black retailers choose collaboration over competition and invest in building something bigger than any one shop. We hope it’s the first of many examples of what Black cooperation can achieve, not just in comic retail, but across the entire comics ecosystem. So get ready!” said Mike Davis, co-founder of Ink Alliance and co-owner of Blerds Underground Comics & Collectibles.
The collaboration brings together Black-owned comic retailers from across the country with a shared mission of growing comic culture, increasing representation, supporting creators, and creating unique opportunities for collectors and fans. By combining resources, experience, and audiences, Ink Alliance is building a stronger future for independent comic retail while creating opportunities that benefit readers, creators, publishers, and local communities alike.
Participating Ink Alliance Retailers:
- Blerds Underground Comics & Collectibles – La Grange, Illinois
- OffBeat – Jackson, Mississippi
- Challenges Games & Comics – Atlanta, Georgia
- The Comic Den – Los Angeles, California
- Third Coast Comics – Chicago, Illinois
- Gulf Coast Cosmos Comics – Houston, Texas
- ACME Comics – Greensboro, North Carolina
- Cuts And Comics – Newnan, Georgia
- Windu’s Comics & Collectibles – Clermont, Florida
- Eastgate Comics – High Point, North Carolina
Ink Alliance hopes this release will not only excite collectors but also shine a spotlight on the thriving network of Black-owned comic shops serving communities across the country. Through collaborative events, creator signings, educational programming, and exclusive publishing initiatives, the alliance is committed to expanding access to comics while strengthening independent retail.
