Steve Geppi

Steve Geppi
Geppi in 2000
Born	Stephen Andrew Geppi[1] (1950-01-24) January 24, 1950 (age 74) Little Italy, Baltimore, Maryland
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Distributor, publisher
Notable works	Diamond Distribution Gemstone Publishing

Stephen A. Geppi (born January 24, 1950)^[2] is an American comic book distributor, publisher and former comic store owner. Having established an early chain of comic shops in Baltimore in the mid-late 1970s, he is best known for his distributing business. Geppi founded Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic direct distribution service in 1982, and has served as the company's head to the present. Diamond Distribution became the successor to direct market pioneer Phil Seuling's distribution dream when Geppi took over New Media/Irjax's warehouses in 1982. He further bought out early-distributor Bud Plant in 1988, and main rival Capital City in 1996 to assume a near-monopoly on comics distribution, including exclusivity deals with the major comic book publishers.

Geppi became part owner of the Baltimore Orioles in 1993, and in 1994 purchased Baltimore magazine.^[3] He is president and publisher of Gemstone Publishing Inc., through which he publishes Russ Cochran's EC Comics reprints, Disney comics and Blue Book price guide The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.^[3]

In 1995, he founded Diamond International Galleries, which acquired Hake's Americana & Collectibles auction house (2004), and in 2005, Pennsylvania-based Morphy Auctions.^[4] In 2006, Geppi founded Geppi's Entertainment Museum in Baltimore.