Some comings and goings, some enterprise news, and simply because we such as you, a bit tea.
• Some time again Morgan Perry, then model supervisor, editorial at Skybound, introduced she was leaving that put up. Just a little more just lately, she introduced via Twitter bio that she was transferring to Square Enix, as Marketing Manager. Perry is unquestionably a rising star within the trade, so Square Enix is fortunate to land her. Square Enix additionally just lately employed Gary Thompsonin editorial so I suppose this qualifies as “ramping up.”
• Publicist Tara Lehmann additionally introduced she was leaving Abrams ComicArts, and we hear that she’s hanging out her freelance shingle at Endpaper Publishing Services. Lehmann is one other rising star within the trade, and I’m certain many will avail themselves of her PR providers.
• On the opposite hand, Ben Abernathy is a longtime star within the comics enterprise, and was till just lately the Executive Editor at DC. Word goes round that he’s left that place – phrase additionally going round that he’s going to finish up at a unique writer however we’ll look forward to the official announcement with headshots and quotes for that. Suffice to say his new job will likely be transformative. It’s value noting that Abernathy is considered one of a number of key DC staffers who now not stay in SoCal. Many moved away throughout the pandemic – memba that? – however WBD is ultimately instituting a “return to office” coverage, even when workplace on this case is an open plan shared workspace. To be clear, I’m solely speculating that this had something to do with Abernathy’s departure, however with more and more corporations ending their do business from home insurance policies in 2024, that is going to turn out to be an even bigger difficulty in all places. At any price, Abernathy was a really key, a lot revered government at DC, and he’ll be missed.
• Co-founder Kenny Meyers has left Omnibus, the digital comics app, he introduced on LinkedIn.
• Skybound’s Hasbro line continues to be an enormous hit. They simply introduced that DUKE #1, from the Energon Universe line, goes to a second printing. “The acclaimed Energon Universe series continue to sell out at the distributor level,” they introduced, “with fan demand prompting subsequent printings across every issue since launch.” Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers #1 offered more than 153,000 copies, and possibly somebody will leak the Duke numbers as effectively.
DUKE is a a restricted sequence from Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride), Tom Reilly (The Thing) and Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33) that follows the adventures of GI Joe’s good pal Conrad S. Hauser, aka Duke.
Variant covers for the second printing embody Jason Howard and Tom Reilly.
• UK-based graphic novel writer Soaring Penguin has signed up with Diamond Books for distribution exterior the UK. The imprint is understood for its line of Ignatz and Eisner award nominated literary comics together with work by Loisel, Ellen Lindner and more. According to the announcement, Soaring Penguin is trying to construct up its line “from alternative voices, translations of foreign works and reprints of out-of-print stories that need to find a new audience.”
“This is a great move for us. To continue, we needed better presence in the US and Canada. After careful consideration, we feel that Diamond Book Distributors will support us brilliantly in our ambitions,” mentioned Publisher John Anderson.
Forthcoming titles from Soaring Penguin Press embody I Do, I Don’t: How to Build a Better Marriage, a non-fiction relationship information as a graphic novel, in addition to the continuation of the anthology title, Meanwhile….
• IDW and the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES have renewed their publishing settlement, simply because the Turtles are hitting 40. Paramount and IDW plan more turtles titles, and will announce more particulars of the fortieth anniversary hoopla in coming days.
”We are delighted to proceed our relationship with IDW Publishing for TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES comics and graphic novels,” mentioned Lourdes Arocho, SVP, Licensing & Publishing, Consumer Products, Paramount. “After 40 years, there are still so many more stories to be told, and we can’t wait for everyone to see what’s next.”
“The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are iconic. They are part of the tapestry of comic book history and I’m honored to be publishing their continuing adventures during this milestone year,” acknowledged IDW Co-Publisher Mark Doyle. “Our Editor-in-Chief Jamie S. Rich and the Editorial team have put together an incredible publishing plan that will thrill long-time fans, excite new readers and show why the Turtles stand shoulder to shoulder with the biggest heroes in comic shops all over the world. It’s a great time to be a fan of TMNT!”
This news was certainly introduced happiness to the halls of IDW as TMNT; THE LAST RONIN is among the greatest promoting comics of the previous couple of years in a number of channels. A sequel, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN II – RE-EVOLUTION, comes out on March 6. Cowabunga!
• While news of gross sales and pacts proves the comics enterprise retains on businessing, don’t be too shocked if just a few smaller publishers drop out of the Great Comics IP Race within the subsequent few months. My DMs preserve lighting up with rumblings about troubles. Yet comics proceed to be a pretty place for start-ups with further money to leap into that very same IP Race. Even although, as one pal put it, “There’s NO gold in these hills!” Developing.
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