Less than a week after launching its boycott initiative, the Black Comic Alliance says its future efforts will focus on raising awareness, supporting creators, and advocating for Black representation in comics.
The Black Comic Alliance has announced it is ending the #DCBlackout boycott campaign just days after launching the initiative, while reaffirming its commitment to the broader #DCSoWhite movement, which advocates for greater investment in Black characters and creators.
The organization shared the news in an official statement released early this morning, thanking supporters and reflecting on the campaign’s response.
The #DCBlackout boycott was announced on May 27 as the second phase of the #DCSoWhite campaign. At the time, organizers called on readers, retailers, and content creators to withhold support for DC Comics publishing initiatives until the publisher announced a new Black-led ongoing series in its main continuity.
According to the group’s latest statement, the decision to end the boycott followed discussions within the comics community and concerns that the boycott itself was beginning to overshadow the campaign’s broader goals.
“The fact remains that it has been more than 1200 days since a Black character has headlined a solo title in DC Comics’ mainline continuity,” the statement reads. “We continue to believe this is an issue worth discussing and addressing.”
The organization also acknowledged criticism from some fans and creators who felt the boycott risked minimizing books and creators providing representation for other marginalized communities.
“We also recognize that many fans and creators we care about felt the boycott unintentionally minimized books, characters, and creators whose work provides meaningful representation for women, LGBTQIA+ readers, people of color, and other marginalized communities,” the statement said. “That was never our intention, and we apologize for that impact.”
Going forward, the group says #DCSoWhite will continue as an advocacy and awareness campaign rather than a boycott effort.
Among its stated priorities are promoting Black creators, highlighting Black-owned and independent comics, tracking industry trends, and encouraging support for books featuring underrepresented voices.
The statement also emphasized the importance of comic shop preorders, particularly before a book’s Final Order Cutoff date, describing preorders as one of the clearest indicators publishers and retailers use when evaluating reader demand.
“One of the most effective ways readers can support creators and influence publisher decision-making is through preorders before a book’s Final Order Cutoff (FOC) date,” the organization said.
The group noted that its petition remains active and indicated it plans to continue advocating for additional Black-led ongoing titles in mainstream comics. Organizers also stated that if DC Comics announces a new Black-led ongoing series in its main continuity, the campaign intends to move forward with what it describes as a future third phase.
The original #DCBlackout announcement cited concerns about the number of Black-led ongoing series published by DC, the longevity of those titles, marketing support, and opportunities for Black creators. At the time of that announcement, the campaign called for fans to cancel pull-list subscriptions and pause support for DC publishing initiatives until new Black-led ongoing titles were announced.
With the boycott now concluded, the Black Comic Alliance says its focus will return to raising awareness and encouraging support for Black characters and creators across the comics industry.
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