Congratulations, Tony and Tracy Lee
The comics writer and his bride Tracy were wed this weekend/ Tony writes:
Archie drops the Comics Code…Wertham dead forever
After yesterday's news that DC Comics was dropping the Comics Code, leaving Archie the last surviving member of the Comics Code Authority...comes word that...
Dark Horse promotes Hahn and Marshall
Sierra Hahn and Dave Marshall have been promoted to full editors at Dark Horse Hahn has edited many media tie-ins and original series, while...
Russ Cochran Publishing in trouble?
From what we're hearing, it's going to be a rough year in the business end of comics -- the herd will be thinned. And here's one that's lagging behind as the hyenas circle: Russ Cochran is one of the survivors of the pre-direct market days as an independent publisher, specifically known for his extensive reprinting of the EC comics long before classic comics reprints were commonplace. His publishing company was purchased by Diamond in 1993, and formed the foundation of much of the Gemstone line of EC and Disney reprints. While Gemstone's actual publishing has been shut down (after running up hefty printing bills), Cochran continues to put out his own line of EC reprints, licensed through the Gaines Estates. However, according to a recent mailer, even that modest business is in trouble:
I'm going to have to be completely honest with you now. My business, which has been in existence since 1971...that's FORTY YEARS...is in financial trouble, and unless something changes soon, I will be closing my doors before 2011 is over.
ComiXology and ICv2 team for retailers
Here's one of those announcements that looks super vague on paper but given the people involved, you know it will yield some results. ComiXology and Milton Griepp's ICv2 are teaming up to help develop tools for retailers. ICv2 is, of course, best known for its sales estimates and business news. Although the leader in the digital comics space, comiXology has also developed a number of services for retailers, including their "pull list" -- it's not hard to see how that might work with ICv2 to give us some kind of useful metrics. Griepp is on the board of comiXology.
DC ditches Comics Code for video game-like rating system
Over on the various DC blogs, Jim Lee and Dan DiDio have announced that DC is pulling out of the Comics Code in favor of a multi-layer ratings system:
Nick Barrucci: Damned if you do, damned if you don't
This week's PW Comics Week newsletter included our owninterview with Dynamite’s Nick Barrucci, and it was a pretty frank talk, covering all the aspects of the Hobson's choices that comics publishers must make. Barrucci says it's all damned if you do damned if you don't on many matters, and newer channels have their own issues:
Publishing news: Archie's first OGN to take advantage of deal with Random House
Archie is going to publish its first OGN -- and its in the foolproof "Archie Babies" format. Mike Kunkel (Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam) writes and Art Mawhinney does the art. The project was previously announced as a regular comics series but the new format allows them take advantage of Archie's new distribution deal with Random House, says co-CEO Jon Goldwater:
Editorial: Dear, Content Maker… by Dean Haspiel
Sadly, the death rattle of print is shivering its way towards the way we currently package and distribute our wares, and marketing is a publishing luxury of the past. The good news? There is a new dawn on the horizon where the author will become the provider, publisher and publicist. Don't let it daunt you. Continue to network, make strong allies, be aware, show up, and be gracious. The digital age was created by us, for us. If you can procrastinate one hour a day, you can certainly keep track of what's what. Train your eye and keep tabs and make something new.
Authorities seize retailer's gun stash
Last week, retailer Travis Corcoran , owner of the Arlington, Mass. online retailer HeavyInk posted some repulsive comments on his personal blog about the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. We didn't cover them because they were so obviously a sickening play for attention: "1 down, 534 to go." After Bleeding Cool made the connection between Corcoran and the blog (which the retailer has since removed), creators tweeted that they didn't want to be sold at HeavyInk, and Corcoran responded with several rambling, defiant blog posts:
PR: deLaine replaces Gomez at Image
Via PR, official confirmation of Sarah deLaine replacing Betsy Gomez as Image Comics' PR & Marketing Coordinator. deLaine is a long time Image staffer and formerly worked at Comic Relief.
Image and Top Cow reorganize
Some changes at Image Comics, which had a dynamite 2010 with the success of WALKING DEAD and many new series. As announced in a press release, Top Cow, which has functioned pretty much independently of Image for marketing and PR, will be moving some of its operations to the Image Central office, coordinating more production, marketing and sales efforts. Top Cow had a big hit in 2010 with ARTIFACTS, a big event crossover for their long running WITCHBLADE and DARKNESS franchises, but they don't have a huge publishing program and some consolidation seems like a move to strengthen both companies.
