With digital comic sales in the US alone up threefold in 2012, to around $70 million, or around 9% of the total market, from $25 million in 2011, how can the business of comics and graphic novels keep moving ahead, continuing and expanding on the growth of the last two years?
To find the answers, the thought leaders of the industry will gather at Comics Ahead! – an ICv2-organised Conference – on the eve of New York Comic Con, Wednesday afternoon, October 9th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
While travelling to the Big Apple may seem a long way to travel for a comics event, we’re aware a number of British comic creators do make the trip to New York Comic Con, the US East Coast’s biggest and most exciting popular culture convention.
The ICv2 Conference brings together the best minds in the business to talk about the industry each year, and the organisers who run the long-established comic trade web site say this year’s event, Comics Ahead!, will continue that tradition. Programming will include the ICv2 White Paper, which dissects the current market; discussions of the latest trends in digital and what we’re learning about how it fits into the larger market; plus the other most important topics of the day.
ICV2, who see the event as useful for comics and graphic novel publishers, digital executives, writers and artists, licensees, licensors, and marketers and more say: “Our presenters and panelists, and the people you’ll meet, are the best in the business! If you’ve got ideas about what should be discussed, please contact the organizer.”
The New York Comic Con plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Its panels and autograph sessions give fans a chance to interact with their favourite creators. Screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either big or small screens. New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America with over 105,000 attendees in 2011, and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world.
• Comics Ahead!—The ICv2 Conference will take place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, 9th October 2013. More info here on the ICV2 web site
Registration costs vary between $99 to $199, depending on your interest category. Creator, Retailer, Librarian, or Educators pay only $99. Publisher, Producer, Agent, Manager, Marketer, Licensing, Distributor, all others pay $199. Click here to register.
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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.
Categories: Digital Comics, Digital Media, Events