Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, or simply Oni Press, have announced that Hunter Gorinson has been appointed President and Publisher of the company, effective immediately. Gorinson stated, “Oni is, without a doubt, one of the most groundbreaking and influential comic book publishers of our generation. It’s a true honor to lead the company at this pivotal moment in its history, and I look forward to working alongside our incredibly talented team and distinguished roster of creators to write a new chapter that will honor Oni’s legacy of advancing daring creative voices, stories, and ideas, while opening new opportunities to maximize the scope and impact of the Oni-Lion Forge library for readers of all ages in comic shops, bookstores, and beyond.”
Gorinson’s appointment caps off a troubled 25th anniversary for Oni: this year saw the removal of previous publisher James Lucas Jones, and executive VP of creative & business development Charlie Chu, which set off a significant number of staff lay offs and departures, including Alex Segura, Henry Barajas, Amanda Meadows, and Jasmine Amiri. The company canceled both their floor space and panels at San Diego Comic-Con, and allegations emerged that the company was not paying royalties to their freelance creators.
David Steward II, chairman of Oni-Lion Forge, and CEO of its parent company Polarity, said, “From our earliest conversations, it was clear that Hunter was the ideal leader to shape the future of the Oni-Lion Forge brand. With a deep understanding of both the art and business of comics, Hunter knows how to build collaborative environments that foster creativity between creators and colleagues alike, and shape content that will resonate with fans around the world. He has a robust vision for solidifying Oni–Lion Forge’s reach with creators, readers, and retailers in the direct and book markets, while simultaneously extending the wide breadth of our library even further with strategic partnerships that will showcase the best of Oni-Lion Forge, present and future.”
Gorinson is best known for co-founding the revived Valiant in 2011, where he served as Vice President of Marketing & Communications. He subsequently co-founded the specialist publisher Bad Idea, and worked at TV production company Hivemind. He had spent the past year at BOOM! Studios as its first Vice President of Business Development.
