First Comics is telling everyone they are bypassing Diamond entirely and selling directly to the comic shops.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.  We did it, and we were just a bunch of seat-of-their-pants comic creators.  These guys should be just fine.  Or better.  I don't usually use this expression because I recognize the inherent chauvanism to it, but that's some set of balls they have.

THIS is what the indie comic boom was about.  Good luck, guys.