I read on Monday that Top Cow did some downsizing. Note that i got the impression it was staffers more-so than freelancers or contractors. Keep in mind DC announced Wildstorm was closing down earlier in the year -- altho Kraig says he has buds that got moved to LA area. So it looks to NOT mean every single dude got he ax.
On Tuesday or Wednesday, I read that Dark Horse cut 6 Editors, including 1 of their manga dudes. Luckily it was not pal & former Viz co-worker, Carl Horn. There might be some other cuts up there, but only the editors got named.
As of Friday 4/15 Tokypop announced they have closed publishing in the USA. WTF, right... these guys had a license to print $$$ since they blew up with Sailor Moon. They reinvented how manga is read in the US by doing the right-to-left format.
Viz cut 40% staff in Feb 2010 (or maybe Feb. 2011?). So combined with Wldstorm, Top Cow, Dark Horse, Viz & now Tokypop ...that is a lot of paying jobs gone away. A sign that sales are down, but I wonder if its also a sign that the digital editions are not big money makers?
-Josh
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I just found out that the magazine, "Wizard, The Guide To Comics" got shut down too.
ReplyDeleteCombined with all the other cuts, mentioned above, the down-turned economy is not treating comics good.
Dark Horse Publisher speaks on their layoffs: http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/19918.html
-Joshie :0)
Marvel talks to NY Times about adapting to the 21st Century. Includes Khari's lil-buddy, uncle Joe: http://tinyurl.com/3pqbvvb
ReplyDeletecomics are dead in their current format in less than 5 years is my prediction. I would have said 10 but this stuff is changing so fast.
ReplyDeleteDigital comics for kindle and ipad type devices is the only chance for our beloved comicbook.
Unless something major happens to change that.
How's about custom made comics packaged with video games, that like the Street Fighter II comics, only focus on stories/characters in that video game franchise.
ReplyDeleteSo if the buyer likes it, they can subscribe to get new issues over their PS network. I think a "Grand Theft Auto" comic could be cool.
Funny to think that our kids will look at paper magazines & books & DVD's like we do vinyl records.
-Josh :0)
-Josh