Continuing with our wide-ranging survey of creators from every end of the business on what happened and what’s coming. You can check out the other parts of the survey here.


schenkel.jpg

Katie Schenkelwriter

2019 Projects: 100 Light Years of Solitude, some unannounced projects

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The phoenix-like transformation of Nancy as a voice for our time

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? DC Ink/Zoom totally making bank


 

91C3FLhaTTL._UX250_.jpgAndrew Farago, Cartoon Art Museum Curator, writer

2019 Projects: Voltron: The Ultimate Visual History from Insight Editions; Batman and Popeye projects; a full slate of exhibitions at the Cartoon Art Museum

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? More women, LGBTQ, and creators of color published major works and won major comic industry awards this year than we’d seen in some entire decades prior to the 2010s. The comics landscape is changing before our eyes, and that’s a great thing.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Gina Gagliano’s lineup at Random House Graphic will bring even more young readers into comics. That and Raina Telgemeier’s how-to book Share Your Smile are going to lay the foundation for the biggest story in comics in 2024.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? It’s not an election year, so if I can go a week without any major political news or upheavals, that would be great.

Who inspired you in 2018? Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Spider-Man’s co-creators couldn’t have taken more divergent paths if they’d tried, but each seemed to be more than content with his lot in life. There are lessons to be learned from both.


sFYusWN0.jpeg

Alison Wilgus, Cartoonist

2019 Projects: I just turned in the second and final volume of my graphic novel series, Chronin, which I’ve been working on since 2007. BOTH volumes will debut from Tor in 2019, which is absolutely wild — Volume 1 in February and Volume 2 in September. I’ll also be continuing to put out the Graphic Novel TK podcast with my friend and co-producer, Gina Gagliano!

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Gina Gagliano starting her new graphic novel imprint at PRH. And I’m not just saying this because Gina’s a friend — Random House Graphic was announced in the Spring, and it’s already transforming the landscape of kids’ graphic novel publishing from where I sit. If you’re a cartoonist who wants the resources and reach of a major print publisher, you can count your options on one hand. We hardly ever get major new players like this, and I can’t wait to see how everything shakes out over the next couple of years.

914gWoJZO8L.jpg

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? God who knows.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? I feel no guilt for my pleasures anymore, we all gotta cling to what joy we can on this bitch of an earth.
Who inspired you in 2018? My editor, Diana Pho. As I’ve taken on more editorial work of my own this past year, as well as interviewing a ton of industry professionals for GNTK, I have a much better understanding of JUST HOW INSANELY GOOD AT HER JOB SHE IS, as well as being an exceptionally generous and kind member of the larger community.


rob_clough.png

Rob Clough, Critic

2019 Projects: Continuing to write for The Comics Journal, Comics MNT, Publisher’s Weekly, Your Chicken Enemy, WowCool.com, and whoever else will have me. My own High-Low blog just hit its tenth anniversary, and I plan to keep at that as well as write for my patrons at my Patreon. This is the year I also hope to work on my first couple of books. I will also continue my position as co- programmer of SPX.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The continuing, massive culture shift in terms of who is making comics and for whom. There are more women, more people of color, and more queer folk than ever in comics, and that number is growing exponentially. Trans creators in particular made a huge impact in 2018. The blowback from the usual quarters was as predictable as it was irrelevant.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? The continued struggle to solve the distribution problem for small-press cartoonists is the big one. There is an explosion of new cartoonists thanks to greater access to comics education, but creating a sustainable market for them all is going to be a real challenge. The festival circuit should be seen as a supplement and marketing tool, not a solution.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Going to an NXT show in Durham.

Who inspired you in 2018? All of the other members of #defendthe11, but especially Whit Taylor.


DtlTMwjWsAAUO7i.jpg

Vita Ayala, writer

2019 Projects: Age Of X-Man: Prisoner X and more Livewire! Also some unannounced things, so stay tuned…

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Too many amazing stories I am looking forward to reading to choose!

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Danny Lore, Matt Rosenberg, Che Grayson, Regine Sawyer.


1r1cHZOO.jpeg

Madeleine Holly-Rosing,  Writer

2019 Projects: The new Boston Metaphysical Society one-shot, The Spirit of Rebellion (below) and more novels!

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Marvel original line of digital comics

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? The growth of independent titles.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Reading more.


HriwRXXC_400x400.jpg

Ted RallCartoonist and writer

2019 Projects: THE STRINGER, a graphic novel where “Wag the Dog” meets “Breaking Bad”, drawn by Pablo Callejo and written by Ted Rall. WHAT’S LEFT: THE FIGHT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY by Ted Rall, about the clash between progressives and corporate liberals. A paperback reissue of THE YEAR OF LOVING DANGEROUSLY, drawn by Pablo Callejo and written by Ted Rall. And an as yet untitled novel.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Watching American democracy continue to implode.
Who inspired you in 2018? Social media, negatively. The stupidity level finally rose to the level where it became impossible to care what trolls might think. This forced me to think for myself and rely on my own instincts.


raina.jpeg

Raina TelgemeierCartoonist

2019 Projects: Share Your Smile, a how-to comics guide for young creators, comes out April 30th. And my next full-length graphic novel, Guts, will be out on September 17th! It’s a prequel to Smile and Sisters. I’m pretty excited about it.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? When Stan Lee passed away, the rest of the world, all the regular people I know, were talking about it. His influence went so far beyond the industry.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? I can tell you something I’m looking forward to! Jen Wang’s new graphic novel, STARGAZING. I got to read an advance copy, and I’m so glad it’ll be out in the world next year.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? I have four events lined up in Texas next year, so I’m looking forward to tacos. All of the tacos.

Who inspired you in 2018? Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s Hey, Kiddo is one of the bravest graphic memoirs ever written. It allows kids who suffer from family addiction in silence to feel seen. I’m so proud of and inspired by Jarrett!



spansihInq.pngDavid Macho
, Jack of all trades

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The batwedding

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Publishers drop Diamond, change distribution, avoid impending death! :P

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? War of the Realms


allen.jpg

Todd Allen, Talking Head

2019 Projects:

A little more supernatural detective work:

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Taken as a whole, the various launch and relaunch attempts… and there were plenty.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? How the 2018 launches/relaunches play out and the next wave. It sure feels like it’s taking more and more effort to tread water and this will have a trickle down effect one way or the other. I just hope a Barnes & Noble contraction doesn’t factor into that.


gorf.jpeg

Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Producer, Writer, Cartoonist

2019 Projects: www.jewishcartoon.com/passover

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Pretty much every Mark Waid and Chris Samnee collaboration. Their batting average is off the charts.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Please God, not Bruce Wayne’s penis.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Catching up on all the Marvel movies while house-sitting for a friend with a huge TV.


emily_brent_2017-1941.jpg

Atom! Freeman, Sales and Marketing Maven

2019 Projects: Building Prana: Direct Market Solutions. Creating more resources for retailers and publishers. Building ComicHub into a resource for all in comics.

What was the biggest story in comics in 2018 There were SO MANY! Seriously, do you remember a weirder year in the comics industry or was it just me? Valiant, Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, IDW… everyone has been affected by this weirdo year.

What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? TKO, maybe? ComicHub? Prana? I’m optimistic that 2019 becomes the year of decentralizing power that grows the industry for everyone.

What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Watching TKO and the publishers who follow suit break the distribution model and build the entire industry in the process.

Who inspired you in 2018? Dinesh Shamdasani. Forced out of the company he’s devoted his life to and even though he has more money than I will ever see, he is seeing the movies he set out to make through to the end and gathering speed to go after the next thing.