Pw Comics World: More To Come

A recap of the return of AnimeNYC and reports of a single case of Omicron in a fan that attended; Heidi's trip to San Diego Comic-Con’s Special Edition; Gina Gagliano’s departure from Random House Graphic; Webtoon Unscrolled, a new graphic novel imprint, and Zestworld, a new comics publishing platform; and news and rumors about Dark Horse Comics.

From AnimeNYC 2021, the panel "Webcomics and the Future of Manga and Graphic Novels". Literary agent Janna Morishima talks with Michael Son (VP of Content, Tapas); George Rohacs (Artist Manager and Kickstarter Expert, Organized Havoc); Manuel Godoy (Founder of Black Sands Publishing) and Heidi MacDonald about the future of webcomics, manga, and graphic novels. Plus, Kate interviews Stephane Metayer of Tephlon Funk, Erika Swanson of Bellossoms & Kitson of MT Star on the convention floor.

Comic Book Workers United’s unprecedented effort to unionize Image Comics; a ransomware attack hits Diamond Comics Distributors; efforts to ban two notable graphic novels; and comics writer Mariko Tamaki’s Surely Books, a new LGBTQ-focused graphic novel imprint at Abrams ComicArts.

An interview with Greg Pak (Planet Hulk, Mech Cadet Yu) about his new Kickstarter for 'Cooking Will Break Your Heart', a combination illustrated cook book/memoir. He also discusses how creators connect with their audience, his work on Star Wars comics and more. .

Growing problems and delays in the comics publishing supply chain; retailer response to the initial problems plaguing the PRH/Marvel Direct Market distribution service; the DC FanDome virtual con and Baltimore Comic Con; PW’s picks for best graphic novels of the year; and a look at the crowdfunding campaign to publish a Dune graphic adaptation.

An interview with Douglas Wolk, author of "All the Marvels" - a comprehensive analysis of and guide to more than 27,000 issues of the Marvel Comics universe published since 1961.

New York Comic Con returns (our first post-pandemic con report); comics retailer complaints about the launch debacle of the PRH/Marvel distribution deal; Penguin Classics embraces Marvel classics; Jon Kent, the new bisexual Superman; and Webtoon fans shut down a plagiarized manhwa.

An interview with Eisner Award-winning comics artist Alitha Martinez, as well as floor interviews from exhibitors with Viz, Yen Press, NASA, Kinokuniya, Zenoscope and KOCCA in Part 2 of our NYCC interview coverage.

An interview with acclaimed comics writer Scott Snyder about leaving DC to launch his own line of original comics at Comixology Originals, Best Jackett Press, in Part 1 of our NYCC interview coverage.

Calvin and PW graphic novels reviews editor Meg Lemke discuss Lee Lai’s ‘Stone Fruit’, a poignant graphic novel on family ties and discordant romance, and Jordan Morris, Sarah Morgan, and Tony Cliff’s ‘Bubble’, a relentlessly wisecracking satirical sci-fi adventure.

The direct market distribution deal between IDW and PRH; clashing retailer responses to a changing direct market; New York Comic Con preview; Archie Comics on Webtoon; and a look back at the impact of the New 52, the historic 2011 revamp/relaunch of the DC Universe.

An interview with Dark Horse founder and publisher Mike Richardson for the 35th anniversary of the publishing house outlining its history, as well as the Karen Berger Books imprint; the addition of African comics publisher YouNeek Studios; the recent Scott Snyder/Comixology Originals copublishing deal; and the state of direct market comics distribution.

DC and Marvel join mobile comics; Comixology is integrated deeper into the Amazon platform; ‘Shangi-Chi’s’ eye-popping opening box office weekend; and NPR’s Planet Money Buys a Superhero, a funny podcast series about efforts to revive a public domain superhero character.

An interview with Michele Wells, chief content officer at Tapas Media, and Jamie Rich, editor-in-chief of Tapas Media, about the Korean mobile comics platform and app, its business model, artists, the digital comics market, co-publishing partnerships, and the addition of print to its publishing program.

A new partnership between DC and Webtoon; The new Batman creative team; continued printing and shipping delays for the comics market; Z2 Comics’ move to Lunar distribution and Lunar's quiet but steady growth; and new safety and health rules for the upcoming New York Comic Con.

An interview with pop culture journalist David Hajdu (The Ten-Cent Plague) and artist John Carey about their new graphic history, 'A Revolution In Three Acts: The Radical Vaudeville of Bert Williams, Eva Tanguay, and Julian Eltinge', which profiles the lives and careers of three visionary vaudeville artists: Black comedian Bert Williams, who challenged racist stereotypes; Julian Eltinge, a white female impersonator; and Eva Tanguay, a white woman whose performances defied Victorian propriety.

Star comics creators including James Tynion IV, Molly Ostertag and Saladin Ahmed ink Substack newsletter deals; news from interviews by DC’s Jim Lee and Dan Cherry; hit Chinese writer MXTX comes to print in English through Seven Seas; the growth of Korean comics/manhwa; Robin - Tim Drake - comes out; and Wizard World conventions end after their acquisition by Fan Expo.

A flashback to convention interview highlights: Heidi interviews Carla Speed McNeil of 'Finder' in 2016 about her life and work at Baltimore Comic Con; Calvin talks with Ethan Rilly aka Hartley Lin of 'Pope Hats' aka 'Young Frances' at TCAF in 2017; and Kate speaks with Marguerite Bennett of 'RWBY' and 'M.O.M.' at NYCC 2017.

A recap of Comic-Con@Home, the virtual San Diego Comic-con; the 2021 Eisner Award winners; Scott Snyder’s new publishing deal with Comixology; Kurt Busiek’s backlist pact; Hollywood “shut up money”; and Thought Bubble’s rebuff of Frank Miller; plus, French kids love manga and the Black Widow sues Disney.

A preview of the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con online; virtual conventions one year later; business news including Adhouse Books closing and IDW's possible IPO; mobile comics news; Hong Kong comics NFTs and the Emmy Awards.