Ignition Press celebrated its 1-year anniversary on Friday at the place where it all began: San Diego Comic-Con.
At the publisher’s “Doing Comics Differently: Ignition Press Year One and Beyond” panel, publisher Filip Sablik stated that its mission is to “empower vibrant creativity through creator-driven stories told with integrity and commitment that meet you where you are!”
Sablik and editor-in-chief Jamie S. Rich began the panel with a celebration of Ignition’s seven launch titles: Murder Podcast by Jeremy Haun and Mike Tisserand; The Beauty by Haun and Jason Hurley; No Place by Tim Seeley and Stefano Simeone; Roots of Madness by Stephanie Williams and Letizia Cadonici; Voyeur by Leah Williams and David Baldeón; Deluge by Cullen Bunn and Marika Cresta; and Arcadia by the Miranda Brothers. Sablik was excited to announce that since Ignition’s launch last year, its catalogue has grown to a total of 18 titles, with The Beauty getting a TV adaptation.
The panel began also featured Ignition creators Jeremy Haun; Cullen Bunn; Olivia Dufault; Rob Guillory; Tini Howard; and John J. Pearson, who kicked things off with a discussion of their current works.
Haun’s newest work, Folk of Dooney Hollow, is a new horror series set in the Ozarks with art by Alex Lins. Bunn’s newest horror series, Cult-de-Sac, features art by Fico Ossio and tells the story of a literally evil HOA. Dufault and Rebekah Isaacs will soon launch Prima Apparata, a cosmic sci-fi about mechaballerinas. Guillory and Sam Lofti just released Innards, an environmental sci-fi story. Tini Howard is joined by Amilcar Pinna for Sicko, about a woman who can weaponize her autoimmune disease. The final panelist, John J. Pearson, introduced his newest work with Christian Ward, The Patron.
During the panel, Sablik and Rich asked the creators questions about how they are able to “do comics differently” while working for Ignition Press. Sablik started the conversation by asking, “What made Ignition the right home for these projects?”
Howard responded that she came up with the idea for Sicko while working for Marvel: “The more I thought about it, it was like, Marvel won’t let me own her, and then they won’t let me tell the story the way I want to tell it, which is gross and surreal, and upsetting.” She said the idea may have shrunk with another publisher, but Ignition encouraged her to “be gross, be weird.”
Bunn said the reason he wants to do these books with Ignition is because of the trust that has built between creators and leadership.
Howard then commented on how many of these early Ignition Press titles have been horror, romance, or both; this led Rich to ask the next question on why horror is currently resonating strongly with readers.
Bunn responded, saying, “Look, horror gets very popular when people are going through dark times… As a creator, I tend to go it because I’m dealing with a lot of things in my own head, and writing these stories helps me work that stuff out in a healthier way.”
Dufault answered, “We’re living in extremely disturbing times and that provides fertile ground for exploration.” They continued by emphasizing that the horror in Prima Apparata comes from the oppressive, absolute control that is held over the characters’ lives, something that they oftentimes feel as well. “I oftentimes feel that way in this world, at the whims of cruel and unknowable beings beyond my control.”
Rich asked both Guillory and Dufault what it is like working in Hollywood and in comics, and both creators emphasized the differences between working alone and working with other writers.
“To tell this really intimate story with Rebekah [Isaacs] and our editor, Maggie Howell— it’s so much more personal. It’s so much more intimate,” said Dufault. Guillory said that the freedom found in writing comics is what brings them back to the medium.
Rich asked Howard about her success in the last year with the launch of Marian Heretic and Sirens: Love Hurts, “Do you think stuff like Marian Heretic is actually helping them to do something a little more you?”
Howard responded, “Like I’ve said before… the more I lean into me, the better I do… What really sells is genuineness.”
Halfway through the panel, the creators switched out to highlight some surprise guests including Ildy Modrovich, Aaron Campbell, Ande Parks, and Glen Mazzara. Modrovich introduced their new title East Side Saints with AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia, described as “Latin LA culture meets Buffy.” This title is set to launch at SDCC 2027.
Campbell also introduced his newest work, Everyone Loves a Jewel Thief, with Tim Seeley. He then revealed a brand new series (which The Beat announced at the start of the panel) with the addition of Ben Templesmith: 12-Foot Skeleton, which launches in October.
The panel concluded with Parks and Mazzara discussing their respective Extraction series. Parks originally co-wrote the graphic novel Ciudad with the Russo brothers, which became the inspiration for the Extraction movie. Parks returned to the world with Tyler Rake: An Extraction Story,while Mazzara will write the first spinoff, Mercenary: An Extraction Story.
Sablik and Rich ended the hour by emphasizing the importance of Ignition Press’s comics-to-Hollywood pipeline.
Ignition Press can be found all weekend at the Ignition Press Pavilion located within the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, across from the convention center. The publisher is hosting a coffee bar, live painting with John J. Pearson, and many signings.
Stay tuned to The Beat for more news from SDCC ’26.
