As a seasoned gamer with an eye for comic book adaptations and a soft spot for the gritty and fantastical, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement about this latest venture by Eric Gitter and his team. With their combined experience spanning decades, they are diving headfirst into the comic book world, focusing on genres that have long been a staple in my gaming collection – horror, science fiction, crime, and fantasy.
Eric Gitter, a longtime producer, has dedicated numerous years to translating comic books and graphic novels onto the big screen, having worked on films like “Extraction”, “Atomic Blonde” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”. He’s now delving further into this domain by co-founding a fresh comic book and graphic novel publishing company. Alongside him in this venture are several seasoned independent publishing professionals.
In their latest project, Filip Sablik (previously of Boom! Studios), takes on the role as publisher; Jamie S. Rich (formerly from IDW) becomes editor-in-chief; and comics creator Jeremy Haun assumes the position of creative director.
As a longtime comic book enthusiast and someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the worlds of horror, science fiction, crime, and fantasy, I am thrilled to learn that this new, unnamed publishing company will be focusing on these genres. Growing up, I often found myself yearning for more diverse stories beyond the traditional superhero fare, and it seems that this company shares my passion.
Leveraging Gitter’s experience in Hollywood’s film industry, the company plans to keep a watchful eye on potential movie adaptations. In the past, Gitter led Oni Press’s screen division and was credited as a producer for projects like Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the action films starring Chris Hemsworth, including Extraction, which were adapted from Oni Press’s graphic novel Cuidad. More recently, Gitter has been managing his own production company, and this independent studio will be integrated into the new company.
The release takes place during a period of upheaval within the comic book market industry. Sales experienced a substantial decline last year, but one positive aspect was licensed content such as Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In the spring, independent publisher Boom! Studios was bought by Random House Publishing, while indie company AfterShock filed for bankruptcy in December 2022, and IDW underwent layoffs this year.
Nonetheless, they are convinced that when their books hit the shelves, both readers and vendors would be open to an innovation.
“Over the past few years, the entire media landscape, including comics, has undergone significant changes. We’re thrilled to establish a comic book publishing company tailored to cater to today’s audiences, creators, and market demands, rather than those from previous decades,” stated Sablik. “As we move towards 2025, we anticipate that audiences and retailers will be eager for innovative stories that will spawn the next wave of original franchises, and we can hardly wait to join them in this endeavor!”
Sablik is a publishing industry executive with nearly 25 years experience in distribution, editorial, marketing, sales, business development, and operations. With prior stints at Diamond Comic Distributors and Top Cow, Sablik was most recently Boom!’s president of publishing and marketing, a position he held for 12 years. Sablik was a key member of the leadership team that grew the indie into a prominent publisher leading up to its acquisition by Random House. Boom! tripled its market share during his tenure. The exec is credited with using Kickstarter to launch comics, notably Brzrkr, the Keanu Reeves-created title about an immortal warrior. The book became one of the biggest indie hits of the decade.
Rich, with three decades of expertise, has a distinguished career as an editor, author, and executive in the comic publishing industry. He’s been the group editor for Batman and Justice League comics at DC, and led their Vertigo/DC’s Young Animal imprint. His resume also includes positions at Dark Horse Comics, Oni Press, and Tapas Media, where he held editor-in-chief roles at the latter two companies. Most recently, Rich served as editor-in-chief at IDW Publishing, guiding the editorial team during a significant restructuring phase. He left his position after revitalizing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles book series and played a key role in launching Patrick Horvath’s original comic “Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees,” which was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.
Haun is a well-respected comic book writer and artist who’s been active in the industry for over two decades. He’s particularly admired by fans, and his works have been published by several companies. His most recognized creations include “The Beauty” and “The Realm,” which were published by Image Comics, as well as “Red Mother” and “The Approach,” both from Boom! Studios. Throughout his career, he’s worked on a variety of comic books featuring characters like Batman, Captain America, and Spawn.
The new company will be repped by WME and attorneys Fred Goodman and Rich Marin of Marin Goodman.
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2024-08-20 21:56