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The Bleeding Cool Top 100 Power List 2015 – 40 To 38

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…

40. Chris Ryall (UP)

The man who would be Rom and who seems to have progressed his career from webcontent writer to editor-in-chief of IDW Entertainment with the express aim to get to license and then write the ex-Marvel character Rom. And this year Chris Ryall truly succeeded in that endeavour. He makes very important day-to-day commissioning decisions, shaping the way IDW looks on a daily basis as the publisher increases in prominence and he keeps a personal eye on the most important licenses while developing his own franchises in the process.

Position next year depends upon: Whether or not he continues to do justice to Dirk Gently.

39. Dan Slott (UP)

The writer of Amazing Spider-Man who isn't going anywhere, Dan Slott. He has repeatedly reinvented the character in new and headline grabbing ways in his time on the comic, currently reimagining Peter Parker as a scientific industrialist after coming off the very successful Spider-Verse, which span off Spider-Gwen, Web Warriors and more.

Arguably Marvel's most important character, Slott has done much to keep him fresh, relevant and popular than anyone in decades. He says he'll never resign from the book, only be fired, and with the current success there is little very sign of that possibility from Marvel.

Position next year depends upon: Getting one of his many planned creator-owned comics off and running.

38. Mark Paniccia (NEW ENTRY)

The decision for Mark Marts to leave Marvel for the start up Aftershock Comics saw Marts dropped off the list, but his replacement as X-Men Group Editor Mark Paniccia to rise up it, significantly. Editing X-Men is a double edged sword, it is a property that, despite having one of the biggest fanbases in comics, is often ignored or downplayed by Marvel PR as it isn't a Marvel Studios controlled property when it comes to the films, and licensing, cartoons and toys have been severely restrained as a result.

But, it sells too well to be cancelled and is free from the kind of notes and suggestions that the likes of Iron Man and The Avengers titles suffer. Which gives Paniccia far more authority over these books than he might otherwise have.

Position next year depends upon: Whether or not Marvel can be reconcile over X-Men in the light of the Marvel Studos coup.

#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

#46-#44 – Eddie Berganza, Jonathan Hickman, Ross Richie

#43-#41 – Jonah Weiland, Peter Philips, Mark Waid

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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