Wisconsin Independent News Distributors
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Distribution, Comics, Political literature |
| Founded | 1971 in Madison, Wisconsin, United States |
| Founder | Jack Dunn, Roger Metcalf, Bill Morris, Roney Sorenson |
| Headquarters | Madison , United States |
Area served | Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Eastern Minnesota |
| Products | Progressive and leftist materials, comic books |
Wisconsin Independent News Distributors (WIND) was established in 1971 in Madison, Wisconsin by Jack Dunn, Roger Metcalf, Bill Morris, and Roney Sorenson, all of whom were active participants in the radical student movement at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Throughout the 1970s, the collective expanded to include over 20 members and extended its distribution network across northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and eastern Minnesota.
Services
WIND specialized in distributing progressive and leftist materials—including music, drug-related publications, and niche periodicals—using truck routes to supply various retail venues such as head shops, food cooperatives, music retailers, and periodical outlets. Notable titles distributed included TakeOver, an underground newspaper based in Madison, and Prairie Fire, the manifesto associated with the Weather Underground. The organization was reportedly subject to regular surveillance by law enforcement agencies.
Transition to comic book distributor
With a decline in left-wing political activism, WIND transitioned from distributing political literature to focusing on mainstream comic book distribution. The company was eventually integrated into Detroit-based Big Rapids Distribution, which declared bankruptcy in 1980. The remaining assets of WIND contributed to the creation of Capital City Distribution, a prominent comic book distributor managed by former WIND members Milton Griepp and John Davis.