Image-Comics-Logo.pngImage Comics today announced a big reorganization of their Sales Department, including a promotion for Jeff Boison, new titles for Chloe Ramos-Peterson and Emilio Bautista, and two new hires: Dirk Wood and Alex Cox. 

That is pretty huge news for comics industry wonks, as industry veterans Wood and Cox previously headed up the Portland office of IDW…yet more departures from that beleaguered publisher.

Boison’s new title is Director of Sales & Publishing Planning, reporting directly to publisher Eric Stephenson and overseeing the entire Sales Department — he formerly worked just with the book channel, “shepherding the company’s business with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Chapters Indigo, and independent bookstores, like Powell’s City of Books, for the past five years and strengthening Image’s standing as the leading graphic novel publisher in the U.S.”

Boison worked at DC for seven years as  VP, Publishing Planning & Collected Editions at DC, but didn’t make the move west. Prior to that he worked at Random House.

Wood will start at Image in September with the role of the Director of International Sales & Licensing. Cox will take over as Director of Direct Market & Speciality Sales. Bautista has been promoted to Digital Sales Coordinator. Ramos-Peterson has been promoted to Book Market & Library Sales Manager.

Taken together, it’s a strong move for Image’s sales force. Image has had many great folks in their sales department over the years, but Wood is one of the most beloved figures in the industry among retailers, following his prior stints heading up sales for Dark Horse and IDW. Cox is similarly a well known figure with vast knowledge of the comics specialty market who will bring huge expertise to his role.

Some more bios and quotes in the PR, below, but seeing Image putting strong resources into their Sales Dept. is a good way to start off the week.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the team we’ve put together to ensure the highest levels of success across all formats and territories for the creators we work with at Image,” said Boison. “While other publishers may promote themselves as good partners or questionably tout themselves as creator-owned—as I’ve learned first-hand over the last five years—there is truly no publisher in the industry who champions the best interests of the retailers, creators, and the entire comic book industry alike as Image Comics does.” 

Cox brings over 20 years of experience in the industry to the table. He is a former Direct Market retailer himself, first at the legendary St. Mark’s Comics in New York City, and then at his own NYC shop, Rocketship Comics, and most recently, he worked at IDW as Event Programming & Special Projects Director. At Image, Cox will act as liaison on sales matters with both Direct Market retailers and Diamond, as well as coordinate variant covers, and manage convention sales.

“Comics retail has been in my blood since I was a teenager,” said Cox. “There’s nothing better than connecting an eager reader with a great book. Helping shops make that happen with Image’s amazing slate of comics is a great privilege, and I’m wildly excited to have this opportunity.”

Wood has 27 years of experience in the industry, previously at IDW and Dark Horse. At Image, Wood will be responsible for growing Image’s international sales and will be negotiating foreign licensing agreements and representing titles at shows like Frankfurt, Angoulême, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the London Book Fair, and more. 

“I’ve been an Image fan since the early ’90s and a fan of the way they do things since I got into this business,” said Wood. “Joining a company with this kind of history, that constantly has an eye to the future, that’s clearly run by true comics fans… I just can’t wait to join the team and get started.”

Stephenson added: “Over the years I’ve been at Image, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of talented people, but it’s always nice to welcome someone with the kind of experience and enthusiasm Alex and Dirk are bringing to the job. We have a lot of exciting things in store for 2021 and beyond, so adding this level of expertise to the team Jeff has built with Chloe and Emilio is going to help put those plans in overdrive.”

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