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The Bleeding Cool Top 100 Power List 2017 Countdown: #76-80

Published Mon, 25 Dec 2017 12:00:43 -0600

Every year, Bleeding Cool Magazine runs its Top 100 Power List of members of the comics industry. And every year we get told how wrong we are. Somehow, it's always for completely different reasons and from completely different directions. Why was X in when Y was not? Why is Z is high when W is so low? And neither U or T should be on this list after that incident involving V…

But that's part of the fun. This attempt to list the most powerful people working in the English-speaking comic book marketplace is, of course, flawed. It is judged by all manner of attributes, the ability to influence what comics exist and sell, but also the willingness to use that power in the industry to affect things, and the ability to retain said power if a job is taken away. 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, creator, publisher, distributor, retailers, those who are double and triple threats, and also where power is concentrated in one person rather than being spread out among many. Some powerful organisations or groups, where power is diffused amongst many individuals, drop down or drop out altogether.

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

The list was created in consultation with a number of senior figures in the comics industry, and I thank them for their help. Although because they all disagree, they'll all think the final list is wrong, too.

Watch for a new batch twice a day. Maybe more as we get going.

76. Roger Fletcher. VP Sales & Marketing at Diamond Comic Distributors, the engine of the direct market. The man behind Free Comic Book Day, Hallowe'en Comic Fest and keeping Batman Day, Crossed Day, Aliens Day and Doctor Who Day going.

77. Robbie Robbins. The letterer that did good, and rose to be Executive VP, Senior Graphic Artist, Founder at IDW Publishing. He still letters.

78. Nicola Barrucci. Owner and publisher of Dynamite Entertainment and Dynamic Forces. A strong mix of licenses and original work, with one person in control.

79. Charlie "Spike" Trotman. Cartoonist and publisher known for creating the web comic Templar, Arizona, and for publishing the Smut Peddler anthologies of what she describe as "ladycentric porn". She is the owner of Iron Circus Comics, the largest comics publisher in Chicago and sponsoring the "Creators For Creators" grant.

80. Caitlin DiMotta. Partner at Katz Golden Rosenman LLP , specialising as an attorney in entertainment law, and more specifically with comic book creators, including Ed Brubaker, Jeff Lemire, Rick Remender, Kelly Sue DeConnick, and Chip Zdarsky, A well regarded negotiator with publishers, with merchandising, and with media rights.

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