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The Bleeding Cool Top 100 Power List 2015 – 46 To 44

Welcome to the Fourth Bleeding Cool Top 100 Power List for the next Bleeding Cool Magazine, being serialized right now on the Bleeding Cool website.

It's an attempt to list the most powerful people working in the English speaking comic book marketplace. It's judged by all manner of attributes, the ability to influence what comics exist and sell, but also the willingness to use that power and the ability to retain said power if one aspect is taken away – a job, a gig or a prominent role. Which is why you will see a number of people on a higher spot than their bosses.

The Power List rewards those who combine roles, those who are double and triple threats and also where power is concentrated in one person or perceived identity. But it also notes certain teams who work together, who've built up a joint identity, a gestalt more powerful than the sum of their parts. Some powerful organisations or groups, where power is diffused amongst many, drop down or drop out altogether.

It does not measure talent or likeability and also does not intend to represent diversity. All it does is note power, used for the betterment – or the detriment – of comics.

The list has been created in consultation with a number of senior figures in the comics industry. However, I'm aware the one thing that can be guaranteed is that everyone will think it's wrong and prefer their own take. Including all of those who were consulted.

There will be a new post every day on Bleeding Cool. We'll run the previous ones below as well, so, in reverse order…

46. Eddie Berganza (DOWN)

Group editor of the Superman titles at DC Comics, Eddie Berganza's relationship with DC Editor-In-Chief Bob Harras is tighter than most. Seeing the Superman titles gain prominence and headlines this year ahead of the upcoming Batman Vs Superman movie might have pushed him higher, but fear over past indiscretions coming back to light have seen him reduce his public prominence in the industry.

Position next year depends upon: Exactly what people are and are not willing to say.

45. Jonathan Hickman (DOWN)

Able to do what no other Marvel creator has done, run a major company crossover project that redefines the universe, while simultaneously publishing a creator owned line work. His decision to second guess himself, rewriting Marvel's Secret Wars on the fly to incorporate aspects suggested by other writers affected the Marvel publishing line significantly – though Marvel would hen choose to publish around him. But now he is concentrating solely on the likes of Manhattan Projects, Dying And The Dead and East Of West…

Position next year depends upon: Finding his inner Saga.

44. Ross Richie (DOWN)

Publisher of Boom! Studios, he continues to grow the company as they publish a mixture of originated work, licensed work and celebrity name titles, all with an eye to future media exploitation. They have used the Adventure Time titles to own comic conventions, and continue to expand with similar titles to appeal to that crowd. The swallowing of Archaia can't have hurt either, and neither can grabbing George Perez and Grant Morrison to the cause. He was also instrumental in the publisher's recent dealings with Fox, and the expansion across media. It was he who had the wherewithal to make sure something as successful as Lumberjanes was not creator-owned….

Position next year depends upon: Keeping on the zeitgeist for the kind of books the marketplace ant to read…

#100-#98 – Dennis Barger, Janelle Asselin, Matthew Rosenberg

#97-#95 – Rich Johnston, Marc Silvestri, James Killen

#94-#92 – Jim Demonakos, Tim Buckley, Gahl Buslov

#91-#89 – Rob Liefeld, Peter Dolan, Catlin DiMotta

#88-#86 – Ken Levin, David Alpert, Kate Leth

#85-#83 – Jason Aaron, Stephen Christy, Jon Goldwater

#82-#80 – Stan Lee, Lorelei Bunjes, Marc Toberoff

#79-#77 – Jason Kingsley, Fiona Staples, Neal Adams

#76-#74 – Jim Sokolowski, Robbie Robbins, Corey Murphy

#73-#71 – Greg Capullo, Neil Gaiman, Art Baltazar & Franco

#70-#68 – Nemesis 43, Chris Powell, Mike Armstrong

#67-#65 – Hank Kanalz, Chuck Parker, John Rogers

#64-#62 – Alan Moore, Fred Pierce, John Wurzer

#61-#59 – Kate Beaton, CB Cebulski, Charles Soule

#58-#56 – Jeff Lemire, Matt Gagnon, Gail Simone

#55-#53 – Grant Morrison, Dinesh Shamdasani, Nicola Barrucci

#52-#50 – Skottie Young, William Christensen, Brian Azzarello

#49-#47 – Warren Ellis, Tim Lenaghan, Nicola Landau

And catch up on previous years, here:

2014:

#100-#81
#80-#61
#60-#41
#40-#21
#20-#11
#10-#1

2013:

#100-#81
#80-#61
#60-#41
#40-#21
#20-#11
#10-#1

2012:

#100-#81
#80-#61
#60-#41
#40-#21
#20-#11
#10-#1

Bleeding Cool Magazine #19 is out now in all good comic book stores. Bleeding Cool Magazine #20 with the full Top 100 Power List will be out in January.

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