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ComicMix steps in to wind up ongoing It’s Alive! comic projects after publisher’s death

By John Freeman on October 23, 2022

ComicMix, a US publishing company combing coverage of US comics with editorial services for independent creators have announced they are assisting the wrap up of many comic projects from IT’S ALIVE!, the vibrant New York-based indie run by Drew Ford, who, sadly, passed away in September after a bout with COVID-related complications.

IT’S ALIVE!, run by multiple Eisner Award-nominee Drew Ford, was publishing a wonderful range of out of print comics, English translations of foreign material, original projects, and other unique collectibles.

Drew’s wife, Kiki, launched a GoFundMe appeal to help her pay numerous outstanding bills, exacerbated by healthcare costs levied to cover the popular publisher’s medical fees in his final days. (Drew did not have existing insurance, an element of much American health care services, which doesn’t have a similar set up to Britain’s NHS).

In a statement released via many of the It’s Alive crowdfunding projects, author Glenn Hauman, publisher at ComicMix, announced his team “are doing what we can to support Drew’s widow Kiki at this time, and to deal with the fallout of suddenly having this fall in her lap.

“ComicMix is helping Kiki go through all ‘It’s Alive!’ business,” Glenn continued, “and Dimitrios Fragiskatos of Anyone Comics in Brooklyn is helping to deal with the logistics of warehousing and shipping whatever existing inventory is available.

“We’re coming in cold,” he emphasised. “As you might imagine, Drew kept most of the information for running his business in his head, and we are only now piecing together what has been previously backordered or otherwise unfulfilled, a process complicated by slowly getting access to storage units, bank accounts, existing contracts and the like. For example, we only recently got access to add ourselves as collaborators to the Kickstarter campaigns, and we still don’t have access to backer reports and order information.

“In addition, medical and funeral expenses have done a job on Drew and Kiki’s finances, so that will be tied up for a while. (This is also where we thank Hero Initiative for helping out so quickly, along with all the people who have contributed to Kiki’s GoFundMe to help).”

Just some of the titles published by multiple Eisner Award-nominee Drew Ford through IT'S ALIVE!, which was publishing out of print comics, English translations of foreign material, original projects, and other unique collectibles — Just some of the titles published by Drew Ford through IT’S ALIVE! is the brainchild of multiple Eisner Award-nominee Drew Ford, publishing out of print comics, English translations of foreign material, original projects, and other unique collectibles

Active It’s Alive Kickstarter projects included collections by the late Sam Glanzman, and numerous collections, such as Aztec Age created by Doug Moench, and Tanith Lee’s Silver Metal Lover by Trina Robbins.

ComicMix plan to keep backers of completed and recently launched It’s Alive crowdfunding projects updated as best as they can about the progress of any outstanding items, as they find out what’s going on with projects, where add-ons might be found so they can be delivered, and so on.

If you are a retailer looking to stock “It’s Alive!” books, contact ComicMix and we’ll send you a list of our remaining inventory as soon as we have one.

If you are a creator and have a project with “It’s Alive! Press” at any stage of development or publication, you should contact ComicMix, who have also used crowdfunding to publish various projects, and let them know where in the pipeline things stand, so they can determine how best to move forward.

And if you are able, please contribute to this GoFundMe to help Kiki with the sudden death expenses

• IT’S ALIVE! creators should contact glennATcomicmix.com. Please ensure you add “IA Press” to the subject line

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.