Wrapping all of it with a double sized subject. Just having eyeballed the responses right here, I do have a tough suggestion of the biggest tales of ’22 and ’23:
Biggest story of 2022: return to conventions. Loads of folks talked about this. Although some of us cannot return to public occasions as a result of well being issues, and others are devoted keep at houses, it’s definitelhy true that comics is a neighborhood and cons aren’t only a market however an important kind of social interplay for lots of folks in an typically solitary trade.
Biggest story of 2023: AI AI AI YIIIIIIIII. Loads of folks mentioend AI artwork as one thing looming and I feel we’ll see nervousness over its enlargement…and possibly its actualy enlargement, take middle stage for fairly some time. Several very thoughrful feedback about AI on this installment.
And that wraps up the creator survey for 2023: A be aware on methodology: I ship surveys to my mailing checklist, which I replace a bit yearly, however I can’t probably sustain with all the brand new expertise in comics. In latest years, I’ve unfold the survey through writer mailing lists, retailing boards, provate FB teams and different strategies. I’d wish to increase it much more – for those who’d wish to be included within the ’24 version, simply drop me a line at comicsbeat @gmail.com.
Thanks to all who participated and as soon as once more…all the most effective in 2023!
Previous components: Part One, Part Two, Part Three
Yuko Ota, cartoonist
2023 Projects: As far as comics, I’m engaged on the subsequent chapter of BARBAROUS with Ananth Hirsh! If you’re concerned about a slow-burn romance a few wizard school dropout and a monster man, all of BARBAROUS is free to learn at johnnywander.com in addition to practically each different comedian we’ve ever collaborated on!
Biggest story of 2022: To me the biggest trade story was the DOJ blocking the tried S&S/Penguin merger. As we’re seeing in so much of media and social areas, monumental firms consuming one another solely places the livelihoods of employees and inventive professionals in jeopardy.
Biggest story of 2023: I wish to finish the 12 months with one thing constructive to look ahead to, even when it’s outlandish. What a few main publishing home making a theoretical imprint devoted to creating comics geared in the direction of adults. Considering how booming non-kids manga gross sales have been up to now a number of years, the viewers is clearly current and hungry. I don’t assume it’s too fantastical to assume a ebook pub may see the cash on the desk and wish to provide some critical, or horny, or gory, or sophisticated comics to mature readers and provides creators some good advances to make them.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: Absolutely the upcoming Elden Ring DLC. I had an incredible time each taking part in Elden Ring and speaking to different creators about taking part in Elden Ring. I’m excited to have second probability to try this collectively!
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? So far no microblogging website has piqued my curiosity. I’m at present most lively on Tumblr (again with my outdated ex), although I actually hope Pillowfort.social takes off in a giant approach within the New Year.
Pete Kilmer, Retailer
Biggest story of 2022: Marvel distribution transferring to PRH
Biggest story of 2023: Supply chain points proceed to be a problem w/2021 gadgets now getting shipped on the finish of 2022. 2023 appears to be like like it is going to be coping with the identical subject.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: I would like Paramount + to have extra Star Trek!
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? Tough to say proper now. Hive is promising if the house owners can scale up and deal with the inflow of folks wanting to make use of it.
Shado Wiley, Retailer
2023 Projects: Narrowing the Scope of Comic Purchases. There’s too many new comics each month from each the HUGE publishers, and the Tiny writer. It’s unimaginable to maintain ‘everything’ on the shelf, and meaning paying nearer consideration to solicits and understanding my very own clients and taking fewer dangers on initiatives that ‘sound cool’ however haven’t acquired any buyer pleasure.
Biggest story of 2022: Man, so many to select from: Image going Union, Dark Horse asserting they’re leaving Diamond, Diamond nonetheless being a viable choice within the Comics World, SO. MANY. DELAYS.
Biggest story of 2023: Comic Publisher deal with Quality Content and fewer on Variant Covers
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: If I’m fortunate, Shirtless Bearfighter 3!
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? Something Else. I don’t assume any of the social media above are good decisions.
Lou Pulliam, Comic Relief at Comic Relief
2023 Projects: Community outreach with teams of “disadvantaged” children. BB & BS sort organizations
Biggest story of 2022: Spawn all day each week. Might get a film…..
Biggest story of 2023: Disney purchased all of it. ALL of It…
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: Alone time
Alex Hoffman, Store supervisor, Beguiling
Biggest story of 2022: Distribution shakeups
Biggest story of 2023: More publishers go away Diamond and/or extra retailers drop publishers as a result of low gross sales on periodicals
Drew Zucker, Artist
2023 Projects: The return of CANTO
Biggest story of 2022: Whatnot and whatnot publishing launch
Biggest story of 2023: Publishers who survive within the submit pandemic trade
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? All of them, the trade is fracturing into having to play on many fields as an alternative of only one, social media of every kind will probably be needed.
BJ Mendelson, Author, Podcaster, and Comic Writer
2023 Projects: With the loss of Twitter, I’m going to spend most of 2023 constructing on the success of our podcast, What Are You Working On? aka WAYWO.TV
Biggest story of 2022: The Warner / Discover merger. It has, and can proceed to have, devastating results for creators in time period of residual funds, to not point out many DC-related exhibits getting the axe. Any time we lose a TV present or film, we lose individuals who could possibly be transformed to comics readers.
Biggest story of 2023: I guess DC Comics goes up on the market. I hope I’m incorrect, however I don’t assume we must always underestimate Discover’s purpose of burning Warner Bros down in an effort to get extra tax write offs and different advantages for his or her shareholders.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: Watching Donald Trump and his seditious mates face felony fees. Ditto Elon Musk. That man goes to get SUED and it’s going to be hilarious to observe.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? Hive isn’t safe, so I’d be deeply involved about creators establishing a presence on there. Especially those that are at a better threat of being stalked and harassed.
Ananth Hirsh, Writer
2023 Projects: My ongoing comedian BARBAROUS (with Yuko Ota). We’re within the center of a story arc with so much of kissing, magic and complex emotions. (See cowl above)
Also coming is GREATER SECRETS with Tess Stone, from Random House Graphic. It’s a coming-of-age roadtrip into the unknown. Here’s an early illustration:
Biggest story of 2022: The blocked merger of Penguin RH and Simon & Schuster. This one is difficult to quantify as a result of we’ll by no means know what would have occurred if it went by, however the HBO/Discovery merger is parallel sufficient to really feel some aid.
Biggest story of 2023: Optimistically (and with little foundation), the explosion of New Adult as a GN class that follows YA.
Pessimistically, I feel we’re going to listen to so much a few squeeze on the trade, with narrowed alternatives, smaller budgets and advances, and risk-averse acquisitions at greater publishing homes. I’d like to be incorrect.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: Traveling! I’m sick of my pc display screen, all of the unhealthy stuff lives right here.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? Wish I knew! The solely factor I can say with certainty is that we’re undoubtedly going to seek out out lmao
Flo de Goede, Comic artist & Children’s ebook illustrator
2023 Projects: I’m engaged on a follow-up to my graphic novel ‘Dancing on the volcano’. Based on my youth constructing as much as my popping out. And a brand new kids’s ebook with Edward van de Vendel about worry, ‘My ghost and I’ (Mijn Spook en ik). And hundreds of new comedian about my life.
Biggest story of 2022: For me personally, the interpretation of my ten 12 months outdated graphic novel Dancing on the volcano, now printed by Oni press. An sudden second life.
Biggest story of 2023: Telling smaller private tales are going to get much more consideration. And the brief animated movie based mostly on fellow Dutchie Maaike Hartjes’ graphic novel Burnout Diary.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: Climate justice and stabilization! Oh, and extra The White Lotus and James Gunn’s DCCU please!!!
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? For me it’s nonetheless instagram, however i’m up for a brand new platform the place the main target is on non-video storytelling.
Mike Zagari, Former Head of AMC Networks Publishing
2023 Projects: Had a improbable time main AMC Networks Publishing with the releases of the Art of The Walking Dead Universe and Creepshow: From Script to Scream books. Open to new partnerships and alternatives in 2023!
Biggest story of 2022: San Diego Comic Con was again in motion! It was an incredible combine of taking needed precautions throughout a pandemic, whereas additionally being full of power and pleasure I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Biggest story of 2023: Comic trade distribution, each bodily and digital. 2022 had main modifications at DC, Marvel, IDW, Dark Horse, ComiXology and extra of their distribution fashions. Seeing what works, what doesn’t and different writer modifications may be in retailer will utterly form the enterprise aspect of the trade subsequent 12 months.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: The Mandalorian Season 3. Perfect combine of Return of the Jedi meets Lone Wolf and Cub. Can’t wait to see the place Mando and Baby Yoda head subsequent.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? Hive grew to become a beautiful social area for the comics neighborhood virtually in a single day. Hope it continues to develop.
Dan McDaid, Writer-artist
2023 Projects: I’m engaged on a collection at Dark Horse with Matt Kindt that can shake the comics world to its core!
Biggest story of 2022: At the start of 2022, NFT artwork. At the tip, AI artwork.
Biggest story of 2023: The launch of my graphic novel Dega in January. I do know that’s corny, however I actually consider nothing else will high this. Genuine reply: AI artwork. That’s not going away, sadly.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: The return of RTD’s Doctor Who to our display screen. Dreadful reply, however there it’s.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? They’ll stick with Twitter, except Musk blows it to smithereens, then I feel in all probability Hive.
Andrew Pepoy, artist/author
2023 Projects: From my very own imprint, Spicy Tomato Studios, I’ll be doing two Kickstarters, one to gather all of the 90’s black & white Simone & Ajax tales and one other to jot down/draw a graphic novel of my very own “Monica Moon.” Additionally, I’m drawing points 4-6 of Meredith Finch’s adaptation of George MacDonald’s “Phantastes” for Cave Pictures Publishing, drawing a story of “The Skater” and hopefully writing/drawing a particular for Heroic Publishing, and performing some inking for “The Masters” from Power Comics.
Biggest story of 2022: The persevering with development of children and YA graphic novels.
Biggest story of 2023: Probably the identical factor as 2022
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: A brand new Sunstone ebook.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? I’m pondering Hive, if they will get their act collectively.
Lee Heidel, Comic retailer
2023 Projects: An anthology of comics from the primary 24 months of our sequential artist-in-residence program.
Biggest story of 2022: Marvel’s deepening connections with Penguin Random House, past the specialty market.
Biggest story of 2023: Continued modifications in distribution and (sadly) a discount within the quantity of publishers.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: Sitting down with (hopefully) all 12 points of Tom King’s Danger Street and reveling in his celebration and send-up of DC Comics’ forgotten superstars. King continues to impress and as a follow-up to Mister Miracle, Strange Adventures and Human Target, Danger Street is off to an incredible begin.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? I feel there will probably be extra diversification and smaller cliques that kind all through tons of techniques and apps. Ultimately, it is a good factor, as creators, publishers, followers and retailers management extra of their surroundings and set guidelines and phrases that profit their particular communities. But for the information hounds that need the firehose, it’s going to be exhausting to maintain monitor.
Brian Joines, Writer
2023 Projects: Too quickly to speak about it with a lot element, however I’ve just a few initiatives in growth/consideration I’m excited for, in addition to potential crossovers into different media.
Biggest story of 2022: I feel it was the decline/collapse/breakdown of numerous second- and third-tier publishers. Stories of creators not being paid, guarantees of creator rights extending solely so far as the printed web page, mistaking funding capital for trade know-how, and passing up media offers within the hopes of bigger ones to cowl losses appeared to bounce throughout the creator neighborhood.
Biggest story of 2023: I feel the fallout of the AI “art” we’re simply beginning to see this 12 months. As it grows extra refined, you understand some individuals are going to only attempt to make comics with out a flesh-and-blood artwork group as half of the equation, which is simply the dickiest of dick strikes.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: The Schadenfreude of Snyderverse followers reacting to Gunn and Safran’s DC plans.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? I can see Mastodon being a predominant hub even because the trashfires of Twitter are put out a bit.
Jarrett Melendez, Writer
2023 Projects: I’m engaged on three cookbooks, a center grade fantasy journey, and some different initiatives I’m very enthusiastic about!
Biggest story of 2022: Aftershock declaring chapter, together with all of the discuss of non-payment (or late funds).
Oni utterly falling aside. This one was significantly devastating to me since I had such an incredible relationship with so many of the workers there. I’m undecided why Polarity remains to be attempting to maintain issues going—it’s clear that Oni won’t ever be the identical once more, and I feel they’ve misplaced the belief of so much of creators.
Biggest story of 2023: Hopefully “Dave Steward leaves comics forever”
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: Traveling extra and dealing much less!
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? It looks like Hive is the place it’s at!
Jeff Trexler, Lawyer
2023 Projects: Expanding assets for the comics neighborhood and implementing new methods for coping with challenges to free expression by the comedian arts.
Biggest story of 2022: With regard to defending entry to comics, the biggest story of 2022 was authorized motion introduced in opposition to Gender Queer in Virginia Beach. The courtroom ruling was a much-needed victory without cost expression by the comedian arts, however the obscene-as-to-minors cost additionally offered a template for subsequent challenges across the nation.
Biggest story of 2023: Two latest developments in 2022 have already set the stage for the subsequent 12 months. The Aftershock chapter surfaces the pandemic’s Upside Down, a systemic monetary disaster that was for a time obscured by the return of conventions and the celebrated surge in comics studying. In addition, we’re within the midst of an inflection level in copyright. in just a few months – and even weeks – the Supreme Court will subject its ruling in Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith, a good use case that would have a seismic impression on the use of picture references in comedian artwork. At the identical time, AI mills raised equally vital questions on authorship and the unauthorized use of artistic works.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: The sixtieth anniversary of Doctor Who and the arrival of Ncuti Gatwa. I first began watching this present fifty years in the past (!), and it stays a private touchstone.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? As a lot as Twitter has fulfilled its promise of turning into the Earth-3 of civil society, by sheer inertia it’s the place most of us are prone to stay.
Judy Hansen, agent
2023 Projects: Film/streaming/TV offers for numerous authors.
Biggest story of 2022: The massive return of comics conventions and in-person promotional occasions
Biggest story of 2023: The price will increase for 4 coloration printing, and the corresponding unit worth will increase, particularly for youngsters’s graphic novels. Will this impression gross sales in a big approach?
What Discovery does with Warner/DC.
Alex Lu, Author, Contributing Editor at First Second
2023 Projects: I’m writing a brand new graphic novel script, and a bunch of books I edited are popping out subsequent 12 months! Among these are Zach Weinersmith and Boulet’s BEA WOLF, in addition to Thien Pham’s FAMILY STYLE: MEMORIES OF AN AMERICAN FROM VIETNAM.
Biggest story of 2022: The huge layoffs at Oni and different equally sized losses and acquisitions at comics publishing corporations past the massive three.
Biggest story of 2023: How AI artwork continues to evolve, and the inevitable fallout when one firm or one other makes use of it in a printed comedian.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: I simply completed God of War, so I’m trying ahead to diving into the sequel…after I end Marvel’s Midnight Suns. So many video video games, so little time.
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? We’re all gonna be on little Discord islands quickly.
Jimmy Aquino, Producer/Host – COMIC NEWS INSIDER Podcast
2023 Projects: Continue doing the weekly podcast, attending conventions, conducting interviews, hyping comics and extra.
Biggest story of 2022: Joe Quesada stepping down at Marvel.
Biggest story of 2023: Not certain if it’s a giant story however hopefully the DEMISE of AI artwork. It will def be within the information for a while although.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: More Ok-Pop!
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? I feel we’ll stick on Twitter for awhile. Definitely nonetheless Instagram. Hive appeared to be the place folks headed to and it undoubtedly is extra user-friendly.
Bon Alimagno, Sr UX Program Manager in tech / Formerly Marvel & Amazon and many others and many others
2023 Projects: Much way more freelance consulting, operations administration and modifying (Book a time at my website for a seek the advice of!)
Biggest story of 2022: The Rise of AI in Comics and the War in opposition to the Machines. There’s an existential dread that’s fallen over the comics trade. Who owns my work? Do folks even assume this work is mine? Who wants human artists anymore? Is artwork artwork? Juggling these sort of questions that was once the stuff of philosophy courses and mental property seminars. Instead creators now a day-to-day-struggle and carrying down the collective psychological well being of the trade.
Biggest story of 2023: The Victory(?) of AI. Underpinning the existential dread is sort of everybody I do know in comics is both flailing or attempting to not flail, in search of a subsequent step in opposition to seemingly overwhelming forces. Increasingly the so-called “creator economy” is leaving precise creators behind. More than ever creators really feel like they’re left to beg: for jobs, for wages they’re owed, for likes on social media, for any sort of consideration and respect. It doesn’t need to be this fashion – tech and comics don’t should be competing industries, one exploiting the opposite. There are means to work collectively, for comics creators to work with engineers to construct extra equitable “comics tech” merchandise that safe IP rights, makes it simpler for creators to construct a neighborhood and make income, and collectively reap the identical rewards these startups are. Otherwise these AI artwork merchandise will proceed down the trail they’re on: crawling and scraping the web for a similar poses, the identical landscapes, mislabeled recordsdata, and never the most effective examples of anybody’s work. What if artists as an alternative positioned themselves as an precise useful resource, open for bidding, to coach and personal their very own AI cases. What if creators constructed artwork software program instruments that labored the way in which they work, not how enterprise corporations need them to work? What if there have been market instruments for creators to securely handle and exploit their very own IP as simply if not simpler than any massive studio, company or writer. The seemingly victory of AI in comics publishing doesn’t essentially need to be one which wipes out creators, however one which presents alternatives for a lot of of them to be empowered and lead, and make those that would exploit them beg for his or her time and expertise as an alternative.
Guilty Pleasure for ’23: Hopefully flying to Japan once more for the G1 professional wrestling event – the most effective on the earth
Mastodon, Hive, Twitter or one thing else? Someone will rise up a Mastodon server and construct a cell shopper that can primarily replicate the enjoyable and mayhem of Comics Twitter. Otherwise: Hive
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