Posted in: Comics, Lying In The Gutters | Tagged: Comics, HRL

The Bleeding Cool Top 100 Power List of 2017 in Full

Published Tue, 02 Jan 2018 14:30:15 -0600

Every year, Bleeding Cool 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.

1. Dan DiDio – co-publisher of DC Comics, this was his year, as DC Comics titles soared to the tops of the chart, and gained critical acclaim as well. DC Rebirth was more than just a rebirth for the DC characters but for Dan DiDio as well, as Geoff Johns concentrated more on the films, leaving Dan DiDio to spearhead his own New Universe with the New Age Of DC Heroes, featuring the biggest creators Dan DiDio can muster. And Dan DiDio.
2. Isaac Perlmutter – Chair of Marvel Comics, still involved in the nitty gritty of the comic book line more than anyone would expect. He also has the ear of the President of the United States, which will come in very useful when looking at extending those copyright dates for Marvel and Disney. No danger of Captain America going into public domain any time soon.
3. John Cunningham – SVP of Sales, Trade and Marketing, what's good for the Dan is good for the John — and vice versa. Cunningham has proved himself the marketer of the year in comic books, getting DC Comics titles everywhere, even in an international market where Marvel is more famous.
4. Eric Stephenson – Publisher of Image Comics and the central gatekeeper of the comics that make it. A tastemaker for much of the comics industry, and thankfully he liked Walking Dead, Saga, Bitch Planet, Montress and Mythos...
5. David Gabriel – Marvel VP Sales, master of all he surveys, and a few loose words in an interview are enough to turn all of culture against Marvel Comics. He's been holding the fort together as best as he can, from overprints to tiered lenticulars to digital discounts. He's been running the Red Queen's race on the treadmill. What happens in 2018 may be in the hands of others…
6. Dan Buckley – Marvel Publisher. The connecting glue of Marvel Comics, where TV meets games meets comics meets merchandise. It all goes through him, as long as he gets his Rocket Raccoon toys.
7. Joe Quesada – Marvel Chief Creative Officer. Stepping back into Marvel Comics day-to-day in a more prominent role from October, it was only through him that C.B. Cebulski was made the new Editor-in-Chief. And expect all sorts of other reader-friendly approaches in 2018 in attempt to turn the tanker around.
8. Robert Kirkman – Owner of The Walking Dead, Chairman of Skybound, and partner at Image Comics with new series to debut in 2018, Robert Kirkman continues to dominate the comics scene and enjoy the dizzying heights of Walking Dead popularity.
9. Mike Richardson – Owner and President of Dark Horse Comics, the largest comic book publisher owned by one man. They survived the fall of Star Wars, but the Disney buyout of one of their largest licensor, Fox, is worrisome. But Hellboy is on the rise, and they continue to benefit from their pioneering of gaming art tie-in titles, as well as discovering the future of comic book creators.
10. C.B. Cebulski – The new Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, stepping into the role in controversy over his past, he has the expectations of the industry upon him, beset by falling sales, departing creators, and a resurgent DC Comics. No pressure…
11. Kevin Feige – Head of Marvel Studios, and while the comics side of the publisher may not be talking to him, they are agog at trying to match his cinematic decisions with the comic book line. Expect Black Panther and Avengers Infinity galore
12. Scott Snyder – Taking on some of the Geoff Johns role at DC Comics, Scott Snyder has stepped up in 2017 to become a mentor, and a guide for the shape of the DC Universe in 2018, while still writing books that sell extraodinarily well, with his gumption on the nature of Metal, and standing up against the suits until they came round to his way of thinking having been justified by sales and critical acclaim, whole keeping his line of creator owned books going and headlining a New Age of Heroes titles, the New Challengers.
13. James Killen – Buyer at Barnes & Noble for 38 years, he specialises in the sci-fi and comics lines which still present a strong face to the public for comic books. His picks and decisions have a remarkable impact on the way comic books appear to the masses
14. Netflix Comics Suit – Here comes 2018. The murmurs I am hearing suggest a major player with a very large audience, bank balance and a kinship with Mark Millar. Now all I need is a name.
15. Pat McCallum – Executive Editor of DC Comics, heading up the DC Superhero line that has done so well for the publisher this year. DC Rebirth is in his direction.
16. Jim Lee – C0-publisher of DC, heading up the DC Masterclass, the Immortal Men for 2018 with other projects such as the Milestone line coming through, and bringing the sales big time whenever he gets time and space to draw.
17. Tom King – The golden boy of DC Comics, critical acclaim and sales for Batman — but also for Mister Miracle as well, which was never meant to happen. The closest thing to 1980s Alan Moore that DC is every likely to get. Also he knows how to kill you seven ways from where you are standing.
18. Brian Michael Bendis – The move from Marvel to DC has increased the palpable excitement about this creator. In a position of power at Marvel, what he has been handed at DC Comics is still unknown, but it must have been comparable. Superman — and more — beckons.
19. Diane Nelson – President of DC, her role is removed from the day to day of the superhero books, but she brought Bendis over from Marvel, she pushed for the DC Super Hero Girls line and she held Eddie Berganza's fate in her hands…
20. Brian Cunningham – the new Superman group editor at DC Comics at a time when that position is more important than ever. After two decades of poor performance, the Superman books are on the rise.
21. Tom Brevoort – Executive Editor and Senior Vice President of Publishing at Marvel Comics, overseeing Marvel's line, and as a strong public face of Marvel Comics in a way that his ex-editor-in-chief was never comfortable with being. One of the longest standing employees at the publisher, to all intents and purposes, he is Marvel comics.
22. Mark Millar – the man who sold his company to Netflix, their first purchase of content, for about the same amount of money that Disney settled with Jack Kirby's family for his life's work. And Millar may be creating one of the greatest comic book reach outs of all time in the process. Because Netflix Comics is coming and he will be the gatekeeper.
23. Raina Telgemeier – The best-selling comic book creator in America, with her graphic novels constantly topping the bookseller lists as she owns Scholastic Book Fairs. Marvel and DC Comics don't come close to this comic book phenomenon. She may have had no new comic out in 2017, but one will be announced for next year. Booksellers and comic stores can't wait…
24. Geoff Johns – DC President – He may have left much of the comics behind, but Doomsday Clock is a monster and is laying out a future for DC Comics universe, while his work with the films, even after a poorer performance than expected for Justice League, continued to affect the comics that DC publishes.
25. Bob Harras – Editor-In-Chief of DC Comics, he has the reputation of getting the trains to run on time, especially when many of the comics are being published on a twice-monthly basis. Bob is the man most responsible for keeping that schedule going with minimal delays.
26. Brian K Vaughan – Co-creator of Saga, Paper Girls and Runaways, with his own digital comic book distributor, he's the creator apart from Robert Kirkman who gets his comics in the top ten lists… and has a fanbase on hold when Saga goes on break.
27. Ross Richie – the boss of Boom! Studios, with new Fox investment, which now means Disney investment. Constantly pushing at the possibilities of hitting the new mainstream, with a series of books that have a better chance of hitting the bigtime than anything else on the marketplace.
29. Steve Geppi – President and sole owner of Diamond Comic Distributors – he's got the whole direct market in his pocket with almost all important comics publishers having signed exclusives with him for serving the comic book store. Just don't say the word "monopoly" too loudly.
27. Chris Ryall – CCO of IDW Publishing, he has the greatest grip on the creative engines at IDW, as they continue to expand their comics and content – even letting Chris write a few books in the process. Owning their own production company also allows the creative impetus to run both ways,
30. Jamie Rich – The Batman editor who Tom King is willing to work with, and pushing for him to get away with the kind of things that have turned Batman into both a stunning, and ridiculous comic book at the same time, topping the charts with the kind of stories that in previous years wouldn't have been tolerated…
31. David Steinberger – co-founder and CEO of comiXology. Despite the comings and goings of competitors, he is still in charge of the biggest comics distributor of English language comics, and his marketplace can only increase.
32. David Glanzer – the bulldog battler of comic convention trademark, his recent court win against Salt Lake Comic Con over the trademark to the word "Comic Con" has given this Director of Marketing and Public Relations of Comic-Con International a massive leg up against his rivals, letting them dance to his tune.
33. Chris Powell – Vice President of Retailer Services at Diamond Comic Distributors, he's the man who is pushing the expansion of the direct market, as it contracts in other places, pushing for stores to open multiple locations to help prop up the direct market. If a comic book store opens near you, much of it can be down to this man.
34. Greg Capullo – artist on Metal, he's DC Comics' biggest draw right now working on Batman-related titles with Mark Millar's Reborn under his belt too. Whatever he does at DC brings more attention as an artist than anyone else.
35. Marie Javins – Her work on the DC Super Hero Girls line and on the Hanna Barbera line has seen her rewarded with sales and critical acclaim, rare bedfellows indeed, and her reward is to ask her to do the same for the superheroes, with the Justice League line. An overnight success after thirty years editing comic books…
36. Tyler Kingkade, Jay Edidin and Jessica Testa – Authors of the Buzzfeed article that forced DC Comics to fire Superman Group Editor Eddie Berganza after uncovering allegations of sexual harassment from a number of ex-DC employees.
37. Fae Desmond – Executive Director at Comic-Con International, organisers of San Diego Comic-Con, and with the event since 1985, she makes the whole show work. The limited size of the show forced on it by the venue means she picks and chooses – and by doing so becomes a gatekeeper for much that will happen in the industry in the year ahead, from this focussed chance at exposure.
38. Mike Armstrong– the man who runs NYCC for ReedPOP, with special attention to the comic book side. As well as owning C2E2 and many other shows, Reed also bought MCM Comic Cons this year – at least the UK side of it, increasing their global footprint.
39. Sean Murphy – always a popular comic book creator, it was his work on Batman: White Knight that saw his name rise so much, as it often beat out the established titles to the top of the charts. A strong fanbase and a comic industry education programme he runs only add to his prominence.
40. Simon Kinberg– Fox's mutant man, knee deep into the movies and the TV shows and the one who has the best chance of holding it all together. With three X-Men films in 2018, and Disney buying Fox, his decisions will impact more on the Marvel X-Men comics line than ever before.
41. Ta-Nehisi Coates – Writer of Black Panther, as well as a literary activist, he has brought attention to this comic like no other with, and with a film on its way and a run, we believe, on Captain America to follow, his voice is being amplified – and he has something to say.
42. John Romita Jr – One of the DC Masterclass artists, Romita is also working at DC Comics with up-and-coming artists, helping form the talent of the future as well as bringing his own creator-participant comic to New Age Of Heroes, while remaining the man who drew Kick-Ass.
43. Nick Landau – The owner of the Forbidden Planet chain of comic book stores as well as Titan Comics and Titan Books, no one else has quite a strong vertical line of ownership under one person. A walking marketshare perecentages point that all publishers must genuflect towards.
44. Dave Marshall – Editor In Chief of Dark Horse's line, one of the most established comic book publishers, still with a bevy of licenses, plenty of creator owned content a strong archive line, using game artwork books with a Hellboy year on its way.
45. Tom Akel – Head Of Content of LINE Webtoons, the Korean-based digital comic book distributor, that provides comic books, free, from major comic book talent, supporting original creator-owned comic books and even throwing in a Star Wars manga license for good luck.
46. Gerard Way – The rockstar who deigned to be with us. Creative showrunner of the Young Animal line, helping out with Black Crown as well, and bringing intense heat and attention to the comic he writes, co-writes, and looks over with a wry smile. Able to bring conventions to a halt with one signature.
47. Kieron Gillen – The wannabe rockstar who deigns to be with us. Co-creator and writer of digital best-seller The Wicked + The Divine with a devoted following, as well as Doctor Aphra creator and writer of Marvel's Star Wars comic. With publishers really, really wanting him to do more for them.
48. Greg Goldstein – President and COO of IDW, in the year where he took over more responsibilities for the publisher and broadcaster, and determining how and in which direction the publisher will move, dealing with increased demands from licensors and taking advantage of new opening markets.
49. Ed Brubaker – Co-creator and writer of Kill Or Be Killed, Criminal, and one of Image's biggest pulls and in demand from much media. His deals for TV and film are moving forward, if he isn't tempted away — as he has done before.
50. Corey Murphy – Director of Sales at Image Comics, and on the ball over retailer promotions, print runs, availability, and using The Walking Dead to introduce more and more potential readers to the newest of delights.
51. Scott Dunbier – Editor in charge of Special Projects at IDW and an engine in creating innovative comic book projects that all the other publishers try and copy. The Artists Editions continue to bring big bucks into the industry as well as celebrate and preserve the form and its history, but his relationship with artists established over decades can bring the most interesting names to projects.
52. Dan Slott – Writer of Marvel's most consistently successful ongoing series of late, Amazing Spider-Man and a strong comics community voice. Never knowingly underspoken.
53. Comicstorian– The identity if one of the most popular comic book YouTube channels going, funning readers this way and that. Most videos outperform the comic books that they are covering.
54. Donny Cates – The hottest comics creator of late, snatched from AfterShock and Image Comics success, with Marvel and DC fighting over him. Marvel won and gave him the keys to certain of their kingdoms.
55. Jordan D. White – Editor of Marvel's Star Wars line, still one of the strongest performing lines in comics industry, as well as other powerhouses such as Deadpool, with a powerful podcast to boot.
56. Mark Doyle – Heading up Vertigo and Young Animal, with a foot in all sorts of camps at DC Comics, he remains a conduit for new talent into DC Comics as well keeping the publisher as hip as possible.
57. Tim Lenaghan. Vice President of Purchasing at Diamond Comic Distributors. You want a book in Previews? And into the direct market. The buck stops with him.
58. Dinesh Shamdasani – CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Valiant Entertainment, who keeps the machine running on sheer enthusiasm – and plenty of renminbi. Constantly batting above their weight.
59. Mark Paniccia – From Malibu to Marvel, the group editor of the X-Men titles. Which, now that Disney has bought Fox, may be able to let loose a little. Expect a Phoenix-like re-ResurrXion this year…
60. Frank Miller – Just an associated name somewhere near a Batman comic can rocket that series to the top of the charts. Wants to write the next Dark Knight rather than just be in the room, and has a Superman comic in the works too. Both are guaranteed to top the charts and remain backlist sellers. And there's still always Xerxes…
61. Jason Aaron – Co-creator of Southern Bastards and Goddamned from Image, the re-creator of Thor as Jane Foster that changed the face of Marvel, and looking like he'll be heading up a big Avengers relaunch in 2018, alongside the new movie.
62. Jeff Lemire – The writer/artist who excels in all fields, with work from all major publishers, his own universe at Dark Horse and with multi-media adaptations of his creator-owned comics in the way. He gets published a lot.
63. Sana Amanat – Marvel Content Development Director and co-creator and editor of the current Ms Marvel, she is a very strong voice internally and Marvel and a face for the publisher to the rest of the world. She did much to counter criticism of Marvel's new EIC recently as well.
64. Jeph Loeb – where the TV series go, Marvel comics series will follow. How else would we now have a new Runaways comic book? Heading up Marvel's TV division and even working with Fox on one or two projects. The Disney/Fox buyout will likely make his influence in the comics felt even more.
65. Ariell R Johnson – owner and operator of Amalgam Comics & Coffee in Philadelphia, the only black woman comic store owner on the East Coast, she has made herself as much a brand as the store she operates, as a voice, an opinion that the comics industry listens to. And an inspiration to other stores that have taken her advice and followed her example.
66. John Wurzer – VP Operations at Diamond Comic Distributors, after almost 25 years at the distributor, and the man where the buck stops for distributor/comics retailer relations. It's good for comic stores to keep him on their sweet side.
67. Nick Lowe – Vice President for Content and Executive Editor of Marvel's Spider-Men books among many others.
68. Shawn Kirkham – Skybound Director of Business, keeps the Dead Walking. A strong presence at shows, and a very influential voice in the future of that publisher, through Image Comics.
69. Kelly Sue DeConnick – Writer of Bitch Planet and Pretty Deadly, and a strong progressive voice in the comics industry, and a font for advice, support and comradeship through her production company with Matt Fraction, Milkfed.
70. Joe Nozemack – co-founder and President of Oni Press. A constantly innovating comics publisher, that attracts big names, original ideas and licenses, with Rick & Morty standing out.
71. Eddie Ibrahim – Director of Programming of San Diego Comic-Con. The kind of show that people pay to be at rather than have to be paid to be at. These decisions set publishing decisions more than many comic book editors.
72. William Christensen – Publisher and owner of Avatar Press – and of Bleeding Cool. There aren't many publishers still owned by one man, let along prominent comic book reporting websites, but Christensen has both – and the goodwill of Alan Moore. If anyone will get more comic book projects published from the magus, it's this guy.
73. Mags Visaggio – An incredible burst of creative energy has seen her work recognised by the great and the good. As well as her creator owned work, she has a voice that is recognised and travels far across the industry. Her initial work for the Big Two will likely see her place higher next year.
74. Margot Atwell – Kickstarter head of publishing, and a strong influence on what gets well placed, what gets promoted and what gets pushed on the crowdfunding medium that has proved so important in funding so many comics projects, from both smaller and bigger publishers and comic creators.
75. Mark Chiarello – Senior Art Director at DC Comics. A strongly entrenched position, he has used it to push forward innovative approaches to design within the publisher, and is primarily responsible for a sharper, more iconic look for the publisher on the comic book shelves.
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.
81. Jonathan Hickman. The belle everyone wants to the ball. Currently entertaining offers from Marvel and DC while continuing with his creator-owned work East of West, Dying and the Dead, and The Manhattan Projects. Which will he choose this coming year?
82. Matt Smith. Editor-In-Chief of 2000AD weekly and Judge Dredd Megazine monthly, a smorgasbord of hirings and discoveries — an engine for the future of the comics industry in one man's grasp.
83. Rick Remender. Writer of Black Science, Low, Deadly Class, Tokyo Ghost and more from Image Comics, he has shown a strong ability to get the best talents, strong sales and backed by media deals that will push his prominence even further.
84. Richard C Meyer. Owner, writer, and performer of the Diversity&Comics YouTube channel that caused plenty of hurt this year. Seen by many as the centre of alt-right comics hate speech, he has had the ability to get comic creators who really should know better, to engage with him, even if they are screaming for blood
85. Shelly Bond. Running the Black Crown imprint at IDW, with a virtual rolodex to rival Karen Berger, but with a bigger promotional budget and a mission to bring back big names but team them with new talent. Has a lot of goodwill to spend on both. Along with Karen and Scott Dunbier, repeated proof of what DC Comics lost and others gained
86. Matt Gagnon. Editor-In-Chief of Boom! Studios, he's a major curator of a major line of titles in comics — as well as writer of The Day Men, one of the publisher's bigger hits.
87. Jordie Bellaire. The industry colourist of choice. Her name is on the biggest of comic books, she is fought over more than any colourist, and is a sounding board for much of the industry as well.
88. Mike Mignola. Creator of Hellboy and the Mignolaverse, the largest line of books under one creative showrunner in comics right now. The new Hellboy film has focused attention on him, as he returns to the comic book medium.
89. Karen Berger. Running the Berger Books line at Dark Horse Comics, she has one of the greatest virtual rolodexes in comic books on the back of her time as Vertigo Senior Editor – and creator – and her name is enough to make all sorts of things happen with some of the biggest names in comics.
90. Courtney Simmons. ‎SVP of Publicity & Communications for DC Entertainment, and DC publisher Diane Nelson's right-hand woman, she is n exceptional press and PR relations operative, with the willingness to do whatever she thinks is needed to get a result.
91. Matt Pizzolo. Co-founder of Black Mask Comics and writer of a number of its books. As well as being a film producer, screenwriter, and all that jazz, he's a strong point of confluence for all sorts of creative and productive efforts.
92. Shannon Watters. Heads up the BOOM! Box where she works as an editor at Boom! — and where she is also the co-creator/writer of Lumberjanes — a shibboleth of modern comic book storytelling and publishing.
93. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. CCO of Archie Comics and showrunner of Riverdale TV show. Changing the face of an entire brand into something utterly unrecognisable from several years ago, while still maintaining the original vibe.
94. Andrea Tower. Arriving from Entertainment Weekly, she heads up Marvel's PR department, under David Gabriel. Gatekeeper for many media brands to Marvel Comics plans, even if they are just lenticular covers, she is rapidly becoming the company's go-to face for the world.
95. Tee Franklin. Comic book activist and creator of the heavily crowd-funded Bingo Love graphic novel, picked up by Image. One of the most responded to and recognised new creators in comic book social media.
96. Peter Dolan. Owner and manager of New York store Main Street Comics, he is also President of ComicsPRO, the largest collective of comic book retailers and activist group that acts as a gatekeeper to much content to the direct market, runs Local Comic Shop Day and annual summits.
97. Zach Weinersmith. Creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal webstrip and the most-funded comic creator on Patreon, to the tune of over $7500 a month from over 3000 patrons, even after the events of Patreongate.
98. Stanley Lau. Also known as "Artgerm", his covers for DC Comics have created a mini-collectible bubble so much that DC was forced to reprint his Supergirl cover after there was minor printing damage. They wouldn't have done that for anyone else.
99. Zainab Akhtar. Comic book blogger and journalist who managed to attract the critique of an industry over the way The Lakes Comics Festival behaved towards her, and is rapidly becoming a major go-to voice for media for comics.
100. David Hyde. Ex-DC PR guy, he heads up Super Fan Promotions, representing a number of comic book companies and creators trying to get media attention.