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2012 in Review: Creators Share What They Are Looking for from Comics in 2013

By | December 7th, 2012
Posted in Columns | 3 Comments

This month, we’re going to have an elaborate run of looks at the best of 2012 and what we’re excited about for 2013. To kick that all off, we’ll have a week of some of our favorite creators sharing their thoughts on the year to date as well as what they’re looking forward to in 2013.

Today, we asked “What are you most hoping to see from comics in 2013?” Here are the creators’ thoughts, and look for more tomorrow.

Ed Brisson (Comeback)

I really like the increased focus on independent and creator owned books that we’ve seen in the past year. Reminds me a lot of the excitement of 1992, when Image initially formed — although this new wave is much more focused on quality over quantity. I’m hoping that wave continues for the next few years (or forever, is that too much to ask?). For the past 20 some odd years, those are the comics I’ve primarily read, so it’s nice to see them getting a broader readership. With more big name creative teams launching books with Image in the new year, I think we’re only going to see this interest grow.

Ales Kot (Change, Wild Children)

More editors and companies willing to try new things. More self-assured, brave creators that won’t be interested in making creative compromises that would negatively affect their work. More creator-owned commercial successes like The Walking Dead and Saga. More interesting, in-depth comics journalism. A community that will be less based on exploiting fan behavior that borders on addiction and more focused on enthusiasm for creativity, fearlessly expanding readership outside the current comics market.

Brandon Graham (Prophet, Multiple Warheads)

I’d like more pleasant surprises. Books that seem to come out of nowhere and show new ways to mess with the medium.

And I’d like to see publishers set up more inroads for new creators.

Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT)

More monthly comics that are designed and written to be read as monthlies! I’m hooked on a few now and I’m loving it. Going into the shop again every week has been a real treat.

Box Brown (The Survivalist)

More cross-breeding, less delineation between mainstream and alternative works.

Jamie S. Rich (A Boy & a Girl)

I’d like to see this creative excitement from 2012 continue, this move to more personal and non-corporate work, the “creator-owned” revolution, the Tr!ckster team. It reminds me of the 1980s, when I was first reading comics. Back then, these alternative paths to success was really taking root, you had smaller companies taking advantage of the direct market and foregoing the newsstand, you had creators seeing they didn’t need to go work for “the Man,” be it Stan or whomever. It seems to me that as we further embrace digital and webcomics, the avenue to do these things just keeps getting wider. You have Becky Cloonan and Ray Fawkes still using a minicomics model, you have Jeff Smith and Terry Moore still running their own publishing, and you have all these great cartoonists moving from web to print through either traditional publishing or Kickstarter. I want any separation between the print generation and the web generation to just evaporate. It’s all comics! I am excited to be doing my first of hopefully many web ventures through OniPress.com, I’m ready to join those crazy kids!

Natalie Nourigat (A Boy & a Girl)

As always, I hope for exciting material, increased diversity both in the material and in the pool of working creators, and that my friends will be able to make a living wage at their craft.

Specifically for 2013, though, I am really excited by the surge of lucrative DIY/creator-owned/self-published/niche projects I’ve seen thanks to Kickstarter and similar platforms. I hope that it continues to benefit creators and that it results in a diverse array of work for readers to choose from. Also, I was thrilled this year to be a part of a comics project that communicated scientific topics to adults (Meet Your Mind). Using comics as a medium for explaining complex nonfiction, being treated well and paid well for the work, working with a not-strictly-comics company, marketing comics to a radio/podcast audience rather than just existing comics readers…it all felt like a good sign and made me hopeful about what comics can do. I am also really, really excited about the Thrilling Adventure Hour graphic novel. I think that that kind of crossover between compatible but not-necessarily-related fandoms is very healthy for both. Lastly, it was exciting to see TCAF reaching out to table inJapan at this year’s Kaigai Manga Fest. I would love to see more international exchange between artists/artists and artists/audiences. It got me thinking about whether or not Comiket would ever be a possibility for me and my friends. I have several friends going to Angoulême in 2013, and I’m very excited to hear their reports from France.

Continued below

Tim Daniel (Enormous)

How cool would it be to put away the term ‘Big 2′ and be able to describe the market in terms of a ‘Fab 5′ where we have 5 or more publishers enjoying a fairly robust market-share that has grown overall. It would be breaking new ground as an industry, to see publishers try less to position themselves against each other for the same readers, but instead do what they do well and really service and grow the market through delivering great stories. I’d also hope that the audience continued to grow more reader-centric and less fan/collector – and that the notion of gender in comics is finally, thoroughly and completely made a thing of the past. Other than that, I’m personally ready to enjoy Millar & Quitely’s ‘Jupiter’s Children’, Jordan & Moore’s ‘Legend of Luther Strode’ and more from Vaughan & Staple’s ‘Saga’, Spencer & Rossmo’s ‘Bedlam’, Bendis & Immonen’s ‘All New X-men’, Snyder & Capullo’s ‘Batman’ and…and you know, I just realized it hasn’t even started yet, but there ain’t going to be enough year in 2013 for all the books I’d like to read.

Kieron Gillen (Iron Man, Young Avengers)

Some of my creator owned stuff finally coming out, frankly.

Self-interest aside, all the rest of the books people are talking about. The books people are talking about just sound astounding.

Rob Williams (Ghost Rider)

I’d love to see sales rise for comics that aren’t relaunched number ones or crossovers. That’s an old lament, I know. The rise in creator-owned comics is encouraging – it shows there’s a market for comics that aren’t necessarily about superheroes. I love a good superhero book, but more genres is a very healthy thing. I’d love it if a 20th Century Boys were possible in US comics.

Joe Eisma (Morning Glories)

More creator-owned work from Sam Humphries, and an announcement from Viz Manga to bring over more works from Naoki Urasawa.

Shane Houghton (Reed Gunther)

In 2013, I’m hoping to see more original series from talented creators. Image Comics has been killing it with amazing titles this year, and I am fully confident that they will continue to put out the best comics have to offer next year as well. Eric Stephenson is a smart dude and he’s getting the best of the best to do their own thing over at Image. And we all win for getting to read it!

Chris Houghton (Reed Gunther)

I want to continue to see the medium grow. The industry and market for comics is so small right now when it should be huge. Comics are fantastic and I want more people to discover, read, and enjoy them.

Brandon Seifert (Witch Doctor, Hellraiser)

Honestly, I’d just like to see creator-owned comics do as well as they did in 2012. That’s all. They don’t have to “one-up” 2012 – they just need to match it. 2012 has really been a banner year as far as quality of titles and magnitude of announcements in the creator-owned sector – with Image leading the pack. I want to see that keep up!

Marc Lombardi (Shadowline/Grayhaven Comics)

I’d love to see the success that Image Comics has had in 2012 continue well on to 2013 and beyond. The astounding volume of creative talent has definitely translated into some stellar comics. Books like Revival, Harvest, Hoax Hunters, The Activity, Hack/Slash, Skullkickers and Mind The Gap may not have the same visibility as Saga, The Walking Dead, Morning Glories and Spawn, but they are much more indicative of the sheer level of creativity that has bolstered the ranks of those publishing under the Image logo in the past year. Additionally, I’m really hoping to see a decline in Marvel & DC’s use of “event storylines” that cross over into multiple comics. Those are the things that drive readers like me away from books I otherwise like. And please…PLEASE…stop this ridiculous return to gobs of alternate covers. I think DC’s Justice League of America book is hitting an all-time low with 52 alternate covers for the first issue. We all can see through the attempt at inflated sales numbers and stuff like that is terrible for the industry.

Paul Allor (Orc Girl, TMNT: Fugitoid)

I actually think we’re already seeing some really great trends, and it’d be nice to see them continue. More creator-owned work from established writers, more diversity in genres and styles, a greater recognition of comics as a medium rather than a genre. It’s also awesome to see so many people experimenting with different forms and delivery systems for digital comics.


//TAGS | 2012 in Review

David Harper

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