This is perhaps a move we all should have seen coming. Eric Stephenson is very much the coolest guy in comics write now. He gives inspiring keynote speeches. He writes wonderfully open journal entires that take the blogosphere by storm, tackling topics often viewed as difficult to discuss such as selling out, the inherent recycling of Big Two ideas versus the advent of new ideas at Image, the comparison of “remastering” versus “rape”, and just how awesome Paul Weller actually is. He’s the man responsible for getting Brian K Vaughan back into comics, for bringing Grant Morrison to creator-owned and the champion behind the critically acclaimed Extreme Studios relaunch.
Heck, we just recently chatted with Eric Stephenson in the latest of our bi-annual chats about Image (our Publisher of the Year 2011), and it’s one of our favorite chats with Stephenson yet.
It’s with all this in mind that it really should surprise no one that this weekend at Emerald City Comic-Con, Stephenson was named the current “King of Comics.” The title was awarded to Stephenson for his hard work in pushing creator-owned books and his ability to push past standard bullshit, and it comes with a crown, cape and sceptre. While “King of Comics” is often regarded as a role given in name only with no ostensible power attached, we can only imagine that Stephenson’s reign will be a benevolent and prosperous one, with several new Image #1’s right around the corner and many more to come throughout the year.
It is unknown yet who Stephenson will appoint to his cabinet (which includes roles such as “the Sultan of Cool” and “Baron of Awesome”), but congratulations to Stephenson for winning the prestigious award. We can’t wait to see what else comes from Image this year, and we sincerely hope that no one challenges Stephenson’s reign in a Game of Thrones-esque fashion, because we all saw what happened to Eddard Stark and that was fun for no one.
