DC just announced a promotion and a new three pronged editorial team, led by Pat McCallum, Mark Doyle and Bobbie Chase, and the announcements hints at some of the “market expansion” Dan DiDio hinted at during the Diamond retailer presentation with the announcement of an upcoming Young Readers imprint that will launch in 2018.
Executive Editor Pat McCallum will oversee the DC Universe of superhero comic book titles. Mark Doyle, newly promoted to Executive Editor, will oversee Vertigo, DC Young Animal and select new projects. Vice President & Executive Editor Bobbie Chase will continue to oversee DC Talent Development while launching the new Young Readers’ imprint and overseeing Wildstorm, Milestone, Hanna-Barbera, kids, Digital First titles and custom comics.
All three will continue to report to Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras.
“DC experienced tremendous growth over the past year and by putting this new leadership team in place we are poised to continue the momentum that began with DC Universe Rebirth and DC Young Animal,” stated DC Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee in a statement. “We’re excited to work with this new editorial leadership team to explore new genres, reach new readers and ultimately grow our publishing slate to bring DC’s unmatched characters and stories to an even broader audience.”
McCallum and Chase are industry veterans – McCallum’s past at Wizard and his one time penchant for dressing up as Galactus weren’t mentioned in the press release, but I can never forget. Chase had a long career at Marvel before leaving to work on book projects and brings all that experience to overseeing her domain. Doyle’s star turn began with launching the hit American Vampires with future industry mainstay Scott Snyder and has overseen some of DC’s most critically lauded titles since then.
Altogether, it’s a strong team that seems to have guided DC to a stable place post move to Burbank.
The arrival of an actual line for kids at DC is pretty awesome news, although after DC Super Hero Girls has been such a hit one had to ask “Can’t they make comics for boys?” I guess they will now.
Also, the mention of the long-delayed Milestone line in Chase’s portfolio is a hopeful note for this eagerly awaited return.
Okay…. I’m hopeful.
But… DC’s corporate history is tainted by a trail of tears of failed imprints… Impact, Johnny DC/Cartoon Network, Paradox, Piranha, CMX, Minx, Matrix/Helix, Zuda…
The kids line currently hosts:
Scooby-Doo Team-Up
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
Teen Titans Go!
Looney Tunes (bi-monthly)
Suggestions:
1) A beginning reader comic, with an online resource for educators (beginning readers, ESL reluctant readers). (See: Spidey Super Stories)
2) A centralized website, listing ALL licensed titles, both from DC and other publishers. (Geez… Why isn’t Super Pets a bigger thing?)
3) Hire someone who is responsible for maintaining an educators website (see: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/home/). Add lexile scores, grade levels, and reading levels to all titles listed on the site. This includes back issues of comics.
Also retain an education consultant. (See: Josette Frank)
4) Test the waters with graphic novels similar to the AMP line of titles… 6×9, 224 pages. $9.99 black and white. or color. Try some old kid-friendly titles, like Stanley & His Monster, or Shazam! (Psst…. “book fairs”)
5) Supercharge the kids and family websites DC already maintains. Add free daily webcomics to the sites (using what DC learned from Zuda).
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