Continuing with our wide-ranging survey of creators from every end of the business on what happened and what’s coming. Some of these precitions for 2019 sound pretty gloomy. What do you think? Are we headed to a new comicsgeddon? You can check out the other parts of the survey here.
Tom Peyer, comicsahoy.com, Editor-In-Chief, AHOY Comics
2019 Projects: I wrote two series that will have season finales in early 2019, The Wrong Earth and High Heaven. So will AHOY titles Captain Ginger and Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror. We’ll announce their Wave Two replacements soon (if we haven’t already by the time this goes out).
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The death of Stan Lee.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? I gave up making predictions on November 9, 2016.
James Romberger, Cartoonist, gallery artist, critic, teacher
2019 Projects: The graphic novel version of Post York, major publisher to be announced soon
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Probably the death of the most polarizing individual with the most problematic legacy in comics: Stan Lee
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Doubtless, the further infiltration of comics characters into movies, at the same time that sales of mainstream comics decline, as meanwhile alt/lit comics become more inclusive, while academia continues to incorporate comics in the curriculum
Stuart Moore, Writer/Cat Herder
2019 Projects: X-MEN: THE DARK PHOENIX SAGA (prose novel) – May 2019 BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER gn (adaptation) – DC Ink – summer 2019 And several new creator-owned comics that I can’t talk about yet!
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The explosion of new imprints and small companies. Creatively, it’s a very exciting time.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? The continuing convergence of comics with other entertainment media. There will be winners, losers, and lots of shades in between.
Taimur Dar, Journalist/Marketing Associate
2019 Projects: Still contributing to the Beat in addition to my continued involvement overseeing the offi cial social media and promotion of the late/great Dwayne McDuffie. Some potentially BIG things related to McDuffie coming in the near future I’m not at liberty to discuss so fans should definitely keep an eye out.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The rise of and fall of C*micsGate.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Before the recent glut of new comic publishers I would have said the launch of the new comic publication from Bill Jemas. Yet the involvement of former Marvel EiC Axel Alonso has me curious to see what form the company takes and the status of these new publication by the end of next year.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019?
Probably Season 2 of TITANS on DC Universe which has me hooked despite my qualms about the dark direction and portrayals of certain characters. On the flip side, I’m excited for Zachary Levi as the titular hero in SHAZAM! which may finally bring much needed levity to the gritty DCEU. Hopefully it doesn’t turn into another GREEN LANTERN, but however the film turns out, it looks like fun!
Who inspired you in 2018? Brian Michael Bendis for his ongoing positivity in the face of his near death experience with his MRSA infection last year. Also the way he promotes the works of others on his various social media and just his general kindness towards fans.
David Harper, Host of Off Panel podcast
2019 Projects: More of Off Panel, more freelance projects, possibly…other things
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? In terms of volume and attention, probably C*micsgate and the endless awfulness that crew brought to the table. In terms of long-term impact, probably a combination of the continued rise of all-ages comics (especially with Gina Gagliano leading the new RHCB graphic novel imprint) and the change in leadership over at DC, which seemingly has resulted in some changes in strategy, most notably the at best neutering and at worst early death of the Black Label imprint.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Raina Telgemeier has two books coming out, so I’d be shocked if it wasn’t Raina’s return to the top of the kids comics ranks.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? I feel zero guilt for it, but I could not be more excited for Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Who inspired you in 2018? Zach Lowe. This NBA writer and podcaster for ESPN is my favorite writer and podcaster around. If the comic industry had someone with that approach talking about comics, we’d be all the better for it.
Karen Green, Curator for Comics and Cartoons, Columbia University
2019 Projects: Sadly, I can never talk about what’s coming up until the deeds of gift are signed…
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Industry pushback to the bullies of C*micsgate
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? With any luck, the complete collapse of C*micsgate and its ilk
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? No pleasure ever makes me feel guilty
Jimmie Robinson, Writer/Artist
2019 Projects: ARTillery: Weapons of art
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Black Panther movie
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? San Diego Comic Con 50th anniversary
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Being an Eisner Awards judge
Hart Seely, Publisher AHOY Comics
2019 Projects: I do all the crapola work on AHOY Comics. The editors do the fun stuff. But – plug coming: This spring AHOY will launch a new wave of comics, and we are insanely proud of them.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Probably the appearance of Batman’s junk, a reflection of the lengths to which a frightened industry will go to get attention.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019?
Somebody else’s junk, I suppose.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? The Yankees, if they can just find pitching, pitching, PITCHING!
Who inspired you in 2018?
My kids, all grown-up, who fight every day to get by in a world that my generation – the Baby Boomers – has totally botched. History will not treat us fondly. But young people – from the Stoneman Douglas students to those who march in social causes everywhere – give me hope. They may prove to be the only thing we did right.
Jim Ottaviani, Writer
2019 Projects: HAWKING will come out in July, with art by Leland Myrick. It’s the biography of a guy who made a number of cameos on The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory and did some science too.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? I’m sure plenty of stuff happened, but between work and the state of the world, I clearly missed most of it.
Shaenon K. Garrity, writer, editor, cartoonist
2019 Projects: Skin Horse, the online strip I create with my co-writer Jeffrey C. Wells and colorist Pancha Diaz, had its tenth anniversary in 2018. We plan to get Volumes 7 and 8 out in print this year. In non- comics news, I recently finished a sci-fi novel, so this year I’ll be looking for a publisher.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? It continues to be exciting to see the industry branch into new publishing models, both online and in print. Anyone who isn’t following Iron Circus Comics is a dang fool.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? I hope it’ll involve more spectacular work from up-and-coming creators. In 2018 I was blown away by Tillie Walden, Carolyn Nowak, and Aminder Dhaliwal, among many others. More of that, please!
Brandon Easton, Writer
2019 Projects: VAMPIRE HUNTER D: MESSAGE FROM MARS OGN
CATALYST PRIME: INCIDENTALS
Netflix TV Series (that I cannot mention yet)
PBS Children’s TV Series (cannot mention yet)
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? C*micsgate and the subsequent fallout.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? How Marvel and Fox will merge the ancillary superhero properties and how this will affect the printed versions of the characters.
Ed Catto, Marketing Consultant and Professor of Entrepreneurship
2019 Projects: At Ithaca College – I’ll be teaching the groundbreaking ITHACON course. Ithaca College will be offering a new course for the spring 2019 semester: Creating and Promoting ITHACON. Students enrolled in the course will help organize and promote ITHACON, the second-longest running comic convention in the nation.
Designed for students interested in learning about event planning, celebrity management and pop culture marketing, the course will provide a unique hands-on learning opportunity. Students will take a lead role in planning for Ithacon 44 (the nation’s second longest running comic convention), from assessing material and staffi ng needs, logistical preparation, and managing the weekend-long event, in addition to marketing the convention by preparing press releases, crafting social media campaigns and developing partnerships with local and national businesses, publishers and entertainment properties.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? C*micsGate
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? The continued dominance of Geek Culture (stretching far beyond traditional superhero movies and TV shows)
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? More AHOY! Comics
Who inspired you in 2018? Chris Ryall – taking the high road, staying positive and ending the year on a high note.
Rob Salkowitz, Author/journalist
2019 Projects: Secret new book on comics and media
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Streaming wars create windfall for comic creators with ready-for-primetime IP
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? All the “stupid money” in publishing dries up at once, leading to big market implosion and lots of pissed-off creators
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? San Diego Comic Fest
Claire Napier, Editor & cartoonist
2019 Projects: BUN&TEA, a serial comics magazine for adults who like stories; Dash Dearborne & the Unexpected Earthman #2; secret collab projects
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Batman’s penis or the Man Booker prize or, probably, Telgemeier again
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Collapse
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Disliking Ghostbusters comics for petty reasons
I’m buying less tpbs of Dark Horse, Image and IDW produced comics because they’re each now more costly to buy through my online bookstore, whereas Marvel is more often much cheaper. Trying to minimise risk, perhaps? Or is it that demand is greater, driving up price? Don’t know.
Result is that I’m relying more on library, and maybe now I’m thinking more of buying one or two more titles at my LCS, rather than this now less attractive tpb option. That’s a noticeable shift back toward my LCS. Worth commenting on.
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