Yet again we poll folks from EVERY region of the comics industry to see what’s on their minds for the past year and what they have in the works for 2010. We’ve been doing this for a few years and never has there been such consensus on the top stories of both the past and future years. As you read on you’ll see what we mean, but you’ll also find exclusive art previews, publishing news, and some pretty sharp opinions.

David Lloyd PhotoDavid Lloyd, cartoonist

2010 projects: Cartoon Classroom .  Not a job of work but an act of charity I’m happy to perform – helping out a website designed specifically for folks in the UK and Ireland, where access to useful information on the study of cartooning and sequential art is not as readily available as in the US.  CC aims to centralise it all, so that anyone looking for info on classes, tutors to teach classes, books to study, museums to go to, has one source containing all, or pointing to all, rather than a disparate bunch to go to.  Our biggest problem – communicating it’s existence to everyone who should know about it.  But we’re getting there.
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Just don’t know.  After The Deluge should have been, I’m inclined to think.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010?
 
Doing another of my own graphic novels.  Hopefully one that people will get to know about in contrast to my last one… No – cancel that ‘ hopefully ‘.  I’ll make absolutely sure that people know about it or die trying.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of:
Comics In The 00'S

45 Cover Final
Benjamin Shahrabani/Com.x

2010 projects “45” by Andi Ewington, and forty-five different artists.
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? The merger of Disney and Marvel.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? The rise or fall of digital distribution.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: The convergence of comics and film (and other media)!
 
201001041240
Mike Perkins, artist

2010 projects Illustrating Marvel’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand. Inking George Perez on the long-awaited Titans:Games Graphic Novel
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Marvel/Disney
 
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? Colour comics available on the i-tablet

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010?
I’m still eagerly waiting to hear if A-ha will be playing any of their final concerts in The States – if so, attending this will be my biggest guilty pleasure.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of:
CrossGen – both the good and the bad….but mostly the good.
The strong emergence of the hardback collection.
Y-The Last Man
Working for Marvel.

MarksmithMark Smith, writer

2010 projects I am working on Sullivan’s Sluggers, a baseball horror graphic novel with James Stokoe, which will be released in May of 2010.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? The restructuring of DC Comics, and Disney buying Marvel. 

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? The biggest story of 2010 will be the proliferation of eBook readers, especially the new Mac tablet computer dubbed “the Kindle Killer”. It will be interesting to see how much of an effect it has on the distribution of comics and how they are read. 

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: The 00s were some of the most powerful years for indy comics ever as far as the range of material that came out and publishers willing to try new things.

Comics trying to use the techniques of film and incorporate those into storytelling also comes to mind. And the inverse, comics influencing film. The ’00s were about a generation discovering who and what we were as a medium. We knew that we were capable of great things and it was just a matter of building the library of those great books. We’ve done a lot of “foundation building” in the ’00s. There’s still more work to be done but we are well on our way.

Now in the ’10s we’re a “respectable” medium and have the attention of the the publishing giants and the movie industry, even though sales are down. The next logical step is to figure out how we become a infiltrate the “mainstream” once again and find a larger audience. How do we get inside every home in America and into the heart of its culture once more?  We’ve grown up and this new decade is an all new challenge with an entirely new set of goals for us to reach.

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04 Bio PaintingLeela Corman, cartoonist

2010 projects Unterzakhn, a tale of love, lust, broken noses, hairy ethnic chests, and garment-rending drama on the Lower East Side, out from Schocken/Pantheon in 2010, inshallah.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? No idea, I was too busy trying to finish my own book before giving birth to my daughter, while also traveling to Egypt and Hawai’i, bellydancing in restaurants and nightclubs, and then being too pregnant to move.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010?
Tom Hart will take the comics world by storm with a new project that will grab you by the throat and shake you down until you give him all your money and your love, and also a cookie.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? Ramping up the intensity on my post-pregnancy Crossfit workouts, returning to performing, new costumes, watching my daughter grow, kissing my daughter, loving my daughter, and, oh yeah, finishing my book! She arrived before it did.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: Explosive creativity, and a corresponding growth in the number of aggravatingly solipsistic autobiographical comics mostly by people too young to have anything interesting to say about themselves (my good friends excluded, of course). Also, a greater respect for the medium outside of the industry, which is something to be very happy about. I rolled my eyes a little less in the 00’s when explaining what I do.

201001041245Ted Rall, cartoonist

2010 projects I’m writing “The Year of Chris,” the second installment in my Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll trilogy, for NBM. The first book was “The Year of Loving Dangerously,” which I’m working to promote since it just came out, and is doing really well. Editorial cartoonist Matt Bors is drawing “The Year of Chris.” I’m also wrapping up “The Post-American Manifesto” for Seven Stories Press, which argues that progressives should seize this revolutionary moment rather than let the Right take over. It’s all prose, but will feature scratchboard illustrations. I’ll also be doing more animated editorial cartoons with David Essman.
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? The end of the editorial cartooning meltdown, marked by the staggering hiring of Scott Stantis as a staff editorial cartoonist at The Chicago Tribune, which hadn’t filled the position since Jeff MacNelly died in 2000 and the ability of the AAEC to put on its first non-newspaper-sponsored convention ever. Political cartoons finally turned the corner, and old media as well as new media saw them as having even more potential than comic strips online.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? There are so many possible contenders I dare not attempt to predict.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? Another trip to Afghanistan!

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home.” It’s the best graphic novel ever written in the English language, the first to fully realize the experience of reading a full-fledged piece of literature, and it was accessible, smart and poignant without being sentimental or sappy. It also drove the first nail into the aesthetically bereft form of art comix-based drivel that looks real purty but has nothing to say. The future belongs to books like “Fun Home,” which appeal to a mainstream, non-comics geek audience.

Bible Cover

201001041245-1 Shannon Wheeler, cartoonist

2010 projects New Yorker cartoons every week. They’ve been buying my work pretty regularly and I want to keep up with it.

Grandpa Won’t Wake Up – a children’s book that not for children. Written by Simon Max Hill and illustrated by me.

The Bible Project – a condensation of the 66 books of the bible. I’m doing gag cartoons to head up each book. Written by Mark Russell with original cartoons by me.

I’m joining the ACT-I-VATE web comic collective with a weekly comic.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Boring distribution stuff…. 

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? More boring distribution stuff…

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? The Scott Pilgrim movie. 

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: Aught little. 

Marv 2007
Marv Wolfman, writer

2010 projects God of War, Brave & Bold, Titans and various video games.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Paul Levitz retiring as publisher of DC.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? What Disney will do once they own Marvel.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? More comics that I can simply enjoy after reading them for XXX years.

SergioTodd Allen, web consultant

2010 projects www.DivisionAndRush.com (webcomics, they’re not just for breakfast, anymore.), 3rd Edition of the Economics of Web Comics
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Corporate comics get corporate w/ Marvel’s acquisition and Warner pulling in DC (or at least announcing they’re going to — that hasn’t quite played out yet).

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? Three things to look for:
1) Massive changes at DC
2) Possible changes in the direct market as DC looks to be getting more aggressive with original graphic novels, along with the current movement towards digital download which has demonstrated a tendency towards promoting tpb sales.
3) Keep an eye on the health of Borders.  If they implode, that’s a lot of manga and tpbs that will need to find a new outlet (and let’s not get into publisher losses in such a scenario).

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010?

The return of Trollords.
 
When I think of comics in the 00s I think of:
 Getting interviewed by a Marvel lawyer about comments a Sony SVP really shouldn’t have made in front or me.  Going (more) corporate was the endcap to the decade.

JayfaceJay Lynch, cartoonist

2010 projects  Wacky Packages Old School. Available only from http://wackypackages.com/   I did 3,800 drawings. Buy a box,and you get an original drawing.
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009?   Either the release of Crumb’s Genesis or the Frazetta back hoe tale.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? All the major publishers ceasing monthly publication of printed pamphlet style comics.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010?  Getting dentures.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: Johnny Ryan.  

Mike Dawson, cartoonist

Trp142 Cafeteria

2010 projects Troop 142 – currently being serialized online http://troop142.mikedawsoncomics.com/index.html/

The Ink Panthers Show! – A weekly semi-comics-related comedy podcast hosted by myself and Alex Robinson
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? The Comics Journal moving almost exclusively online. To me, this just encapsulates the truth that even if you don’t like it, you have to accept the fact that comics-culture is now taking place online. Personally, I was a fan of the olden-days print and paper version of TCJ, and had continued buying almost every issue for the reviews and interviews. But, for news…? Not really. That’s a need that’s more than met by the web.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? Regional, focused, alt-comics shows to become more viable, and more widespread. TCAF is a smaller show, that is universally beloved, and rightfully so. The recent Williamsburg, Brooklyn show, which sounded like it was a success, could easily become equally beloved and relevant. I believe STAPLE and FLUKE are other shows that are getting more and more established as the years go by.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? The remake of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.

PurplemeMariah Huehner, Associate Editor, IDW Publishing

2010 projects Angel ongoing with Bill Willingham, The Last Unicorn, and at least three other projects I can’t announce but will be so amazing, your head might actually explode. Or not. That might get messy.
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Honestly, there are too many to choose from. Twilight and Comicon. Healthcare and freelancing. Marvel Girl comics. Civilization coming to an end. Every day seems chock full of some Important! New! Thing! It’s sort of scary and exciting at the same time.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? It always feels like the same ones, but I think the print vs. digital conversation is going to be an ongoing “big” deal. It’s too important a game changer not to be.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? Watching Farscape over and over until I o.d. Everyone should watch that show. Because there are alien Muppets. And Muppets solve everything.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: Diversity. I started working in comics officially in 2001 so I’ve seen all kinds of shifts in this crazy industry since then. And I’m continually amazed at the sheer inventiveness of this medium.

Japanese Panorama

N539446296 90734 974Alex de Campi, writer/director

2010 projects My new iPhone/Android/Kindle/e-Reader comic series, VALENTINE. Available in English and 12 other languages… and counting! 60-70 screens of nonstop action/adventure, every month.
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Disney buying Marvel. I love this pic: Disneymarvelmashups0
 
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? Comics for wireless, hopefully! Or, more broadly, massive changes in the way comics are distributed, moving away from paper editions.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? Big tentpole movies, like Iron Man 2 and Alice in Wonderland.
 
When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: In superhero comics: tedious crossovers, and tedious grim and grittiness. Overall: the rise (and partial fall) of manga.

Kuo-Yuliang1Kuo-Yu Liang, v-p Diamond Book Distribution

2010 projects Fixing my roof
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Disney buying Marvel.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? Everyone will be talking about digital comics, and I agree that will be a hot topic for the next 10 years..  I think DC’s new publisher will have the biggest impact in 2010.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? Scott Pilgrim movie.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: The rise of manga in bookstores.

3525029379 94E8A69Ac1 MLiz Baillie, cartoonist

2010 projects Freewheel – the story of a young girl who runs away from home to find her brother, and has some hobo adventures. I’m also in the process of booking two more legs of the Punchbuggy Tour for Spring 2010 which will cover most of the U.S., and that’s exciting.
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? I am probably a little out of the loop, but I was very excited to learn that there would be a Scott Pilgrim movie. I got to see them filming it when I was up in Toronto for TCAF and it was very exciting. Fake snow was everywhere! There was also the whole flap about MoCCA Fest’s change of venue and rise in prices, which it seemed no one could stop talking about for awhile.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? I can’t say what’ll be the biggest as I don’t seem to have my finger on the pulse of anything usually, but I’m interested to see how the MoCCA Fest proceeds in their new venue AND new time of year! I think it will be weird. A lot of the usuals seemed like they might not come back in 2010 which was alarming. It’s my hometown show so I really want to see it take on these new challenges successfully, but I also refuse to pay $500 for a table if it comes to that.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? I just watched the trailer for the Runaways movie (the band, not the comic) and it looks like it will probably be terrible but my love for Joan Jett is such that I will probably see the thing five times in the theatre when it comes out in the spring. Even though it stars the girl from Twilight.

When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: the fact that my entire career in comics (such as it is) began in 2000 with my very first xeroxed minicomic that I brought around to sell in shops and such, and now it’s almost 2010 and I’ve got two books published, and I’m working on another one. A lot of the time I feel like such a comics noob, and then I remember I’ve been working at it for almost a decade. It’s weird. But not in a bad way.

3691109329 8A76455F23Joey Manley, Comicspace

2010 projects I’m actually working on my first “real” webcomic — writing, that is (we’ve got an amazing artist on it). It’s about food. That’s all I can say right now!
 
What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? Disney buying Marvel, right? Right? Close second: Levitz’ changing jobs. Close third: the party Jeff Newelt threw after King-Con!
 
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? Longbox has a chance to be, if it delivers on the considerable hype.
 
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? The Justice Society episode of Smallville.
 
When I think of comics in the 00s I think of: Movies!
 

Photo Cameron Stewart, cartoonist

2010 projects Batman & Robin issues 7-9: “Blackest Knight.”  On sale in January and February 2010!  Also returning to my online comic Sin Titulo

What was the biggest story in comics in 2009? A million and a half copies of Watchmen sold, being one of the few cases where a major film ended up being a 250 million dollar advertisement for the book it was based on.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2010? The introduction of the new Apple tablet, the rumoured partnership with Longbox, and what that will mean for digital distribution of comics.
 
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2010? A DVD box set of “Steven Seagal: Lawman”.

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