Comic Conventions can be a lot of fun, but they take a lot of energy, time and money to do “right”. Here’s a glimpse at just a few more of the publishers who leveraged their onsite efforts to the fullest at San Diego Comic-Con last month.
DSTLRY
This cool start-up is more than just ComiXology 2.0. In fact, it might be the opposite. It’s been reported on everywhere from NY Times to The SDDC blog. Over on Reed’s Popverse, Chris Arrant summarized the start-up in this fashion:
Almost a year after leaving Amazon’s digital comics platform ComiXology, two of the company’s former leaders have announced what’s next — both for them and, if their ambitions are successful, comics as a whole. Get ready for DSTLRY, a new kind of publishing company.
ComiXology co-founder/former CEO David Steinberger and his former head of content Chip Mosher are aiming to rethink how business is done, and how to give creators what they deserve, with the company, partnering with major comics creators, major publishers, tech strategists, and even a movie producer to launch a company for creator-owned comics that aims to be a new kind of comics publisher.
Their SDCC booth was big and bold – and surprisingly uncluttered. It was located opposite where I usually find Mark Wheatley (he took a year off), right in the center of things.
They offered convention exclusives of their Devil’s Cut One-Shot. This reminds me of the old days when the TV networks would preview the seasons new shows with short clips of each one.
Devil’s Cut featured eight stories from high profile creators:
- “Spectregraph” by James Tynion IV, Christian Ward, and Aditya Bidikar
- “Shepherd” by Marc Bernardin, Ariela Kristantina, Lee Loughridge, and Bernardo Brice
- “8 Rules to Make It Out in One Piece” by Elsa Charretier, PK Colinet, Nick Filardi, and Clayton Cowles
- “What’s Mine is Hearse” by Stephanie Phillips, Joëlle Jones, and Lucas Gattoni
- “A Blessed Day” by Mirka Andolfo, Fabio Amelia, Arancia Studio, and Steve Orlando
- “The Stowaway” by Jock
- “Deleted Scene, #2” by Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, and Jared K. Fletcher
- “White Boat” by Scott Snyder, Francesco Francavilla, Andworld Design, and Tyler Jennes
- “What Happens Next…” by Jamie McKelvie and Aditya Bidikar
- “Waiting to Die” by Ram V, Lee Garbett, Lee Loughridge, and Aditya Bidikar
- “What Blighted Flame Burns in Thee?” by Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay, and Richard Starkings
And it seems like it’s been a success. The Beat just reported that DSTLERY’s THE DEVIL’S CUT sold over 50,000 copies – at $9.99 each
Editor’s Note: DSTLRY editor Will Dennis will be on Pop Culture SquadCast Live on Tuesday 8/15 to chat about what is up at the new publisher.
AWA
The new(ish) Sales and Trade Marketing Director for AWA, Adam Phillips, pulled back the curtain for all of AWA’s activities at the annual Diamond’s Publisher Presentation. At this SDCC event, over 350 retailers get together to hear from the top publishers like BOOM!, AfterShock, Marvel and ONI.
I was really impressed by Phillip’s presentation (and why not, he used to manage DC’s convention presentations for years) and the AWA magazine just published. It was kind of like F.O.O.M. meets Entertainment Weekly, all with a polished level of professionalism. I read the magazine on the plane home and was intrigued by two new series, Ribbon Queen and the Sins of Salton Sea . In fact, I picked up issues #1 and #2 of Salton Sea from local comic shop ComicMix this week -it’s great.
Asylum Press
Frank Forte and Asylum Press are always working hard to promote the line with publishers and retailers. Asylum Press supported the annual ComicsPRO breakfast (a gathering of top comic shop retailers) and gave out comics, promotional items and stickers.
Seems like a smart thing to do and I admire his sense of hustle!
