(Strictly speaking, the titles were still probably technically available when those articles were written, but they became out of date within hours.)
Over on Reddit last week, KodyCQ offered something of an explanation...
Due to recent changes with their distribution partners, their catalogues will be removed from GlobalComix on October 1st. While this is outside of our direct control, we’re actively working with both companies to restore access as soon as possible.That sounds to me like there was something in Oni's and Boom!'s respective distributor contracts that either outright prohibits or puts some substantive restrictions on how their comics can be distributed digitally. Perhaps not exactly an exclusivity clause, but something restrictive enough that it conflicted with their agreements with GlobalComix. Possibly there's nothing even conflicting at all, but the legal wording might be vague enough that they're seeking legal counsel before continuing to be on the safe side.
We can’t yet guarantee if or when their catalogues will return, but please know we’re on it and will keep you updated...
Thank you for your patience and support while we explore bringing BOOM! Studios and Oni Press back under their new distributors.
But I'm reminded of the announcement that Image made just over a week ago. They said they were going to release comics through the regular distribution channels as normal, but that bookstore and digital outlets would only come about a month later, allowing comic shops to have some degree of exclusivity. The point I made was that this was largely PR spin, and the likely explanation was that that month-long window was a supply chain constriant on bookstores that ultimately didn't impact comic shop sales anyway; the delay on digital was just a way to sell the 'comic shop exclusive' line as digital sales don't impact print sales much anyway.
I'm wondering if we're looking at the same situation with Oni and Boom! I bet that contract stipulation that KodyCQ alluded to had to do with release dates, and that their distributor contracts required a month-long exclusivity window for comic shops. So rather than go through all their catalog in GlobalComix one by one, they just axed everything with the intent of bringing it all back in 30 days, once everything that had been put online had also been in print for that long. At that point they can then start up with a regular posting-new-issues schedule that simply tails their print releases by a month. That wouldn't be the most nuanced approach from a marketing perspective, but it would certainly be the easiest from a technical and logistics one.
My bet is that Oni and Boom!'s catalogues will be restored in early November. They'll make a big deal about it, maybe even doing some "thanks for staying with us" and/or holiday sales to mark everything down through the end of the year. But I'm certain they'll be back before long; I think this is more of an instance of not telling the audience the full story moreso than any actual legal challenges. I don't know the specifics of their timing, of course, but I'm sure it won't be much longer than a month, if that.
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