Waid, Cebulski Promoted
Yesterday, BOOM! Studios joined the growing number of companies to add the rank of Chief Creative Officer to their mastheads. Mark Waid, the publisher’s Editor-in-Chief was named CCO with Matt Gagnon promoted to Editor-in-Chief. Marvel also formalized C.B. Cebulski’s talent scout role by naming him Senior Vice President, Creator & Content Development of Marvel
Entertainment.
In both cases, the emphasis has been placed on creative and talent issues, which acknowledges the shifting playing field for the top publishers. To fuel the growing number of titles released in America, talent from all corners of the world and the creative community has to be scouted, groomed, and put to work.
Recently, DC Entertainment named Geoff Johns its first CCO followed by Marvel upping Joe Quesada to the same title. IDW most recently named Chris Ryall their own CCO.
At San Diego’s Comic-Con International, opening tomorrow, the expectation is that more talent exclusives will be signed, another acknowledgment of the increased competition.
ComicMix congratulates all three men on their new assignments.
Here are the formal press releases:
July 19th, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA – BOOM! Studios, 2009’s “Best
Publisher” and the recipient of 7 Eisner and 5 Harvey Award nominations
announced today that Mark Waid has been promoted to Chief Creative
Officer.
Matt Gagnon has received a promotion to Editor-in-Chief.
For the past three years, Mark Waid has been serving as Editor-in-Chief
of BOOM! Studios and has been one of the leading factors in the amazing
growth that’s seen the company increase its market share tenfold.
Managing Editor Matt Gagnon has, likewise since his hiring in 2008, been
a critical player in the company’s explosive expansion.
“Mark Waid is one of the most well-loved and dynamic personalities in
comics,” said Ross Richie, Chief Executive Officer of BOOM!. “When he
assumed the editorial reigns at BOOM! in 2007, he had his work cut out
for him – I had not run the trains on time, and much of the editorial
schedule was wrecked. Mark used his 25 years of experience in the
business to methodically put our core titles like ZOMBIE TALES and
CTHULHU TALES back on track, added fresh comics creators with fresh
voices to our line, and righted our business and helped define our
brand. Without that intervention, there’s no way we could have achieved
the meteoric growth we’ve enjoyed. He’s been a world-class talent, and
it’s a pleasure to commemorate that with this promotion.”
Waid added, “Ross is too kind and perhaps drinks a little much. Let’s
save the accolades for Matt Gagnon. He’s got an uncanny eye for talent
and a gift for finding diamonds in the dark, secret mineshafts in which
freelancers dwell. He’s unearthed breathtaking talents, among them
HEXED’s Emma Rios, THE UNKNOWN ’s Minck Oosterveer, and IRREDEEMABLE’s
Peter Krause. Moreover, Matt has worked hands-on to make sure that
BOOM!’s books are there for readers every month, on time, and that
they’re great reads. I am extremely proud of his accomplishments, and
we’re overdue in acknowledging them as I shift my responsibilities
within the company to focus on our expanding opportunities both inside
and outside publishing. Between the upcoming line of comics and graphic
novels we’re doing with Stan Lee and POW! Entertainment, our increasing
digital-media strategies, and our continued growth in Hollywood, my
energies are more dedicated to BOOM! than ever before.”
Waid has been, for over twenty years, one of America’s best-selling
comic book authors, having contributed to every major publisher and
having written a wider range of well-known comic characters than any
comics writer in history, including Spider-Man, The X-Men, Batman,
Superman, Archie, and Captain America. The series Waid launched at BOOM!
last year, IRREDEEMABLE, was nominated for “Best New Series,” “Best
Writer,” and “Best Cover Artist” in the 2010 Eisner Awards and “Best
Writer” and “Best New Series” by the 2010 Harvey Awards. This success
has been followed up with the critically acclaimed sister title,
INCORRUPTIBLE.
Gagnon came to BOOM! from Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles, one of the
most influential comic book retail stores in the country. Meltdown is
renowned for a cutting-edge approach to retailing and a sophisticated
and varied line of products, a philosophy that Gagnon had a hand in
shaping at the super-store. He brings that same approach to BOOM!,
breaking new ground with a strong editorial voice.
New York, NY – JULY 19, 2010 – Marvel Worldwide, Inc announced today
that it has promoted C.B. Cebulski to Senior Vice President, Creator
& Content Development of Marvel Entertainment. In this new role,
Mr. Cebulski will report to Jim Sokolowski, Chief Operating Officer –
Publishing, Marvel Worldwide, Inc., C.B. will discover, develop and
nurture new talent, brainstorm new initiatives and advise on creative
directions for Marvel’s key titles. In addition to these
responsibilities, Mr. Cebulski will work on creative aspects of
development of larger corporate initiatives. The announcement was made
today by Dan Buckley, Publisher & President of the Print, Animation
& Digital Divisions, Marvel Worldwide, Inc.
Mr. Buckley stated, “It’s with tremendous pride that I announce C.B
Cebulski’s promotion to Senior Vice President, Creator & Content
Development. C.B. has been an instrumental part of Marvel’s success,
recruiting the top talent in the industry and developing key global
relationships. As he moves into this new role, I’m excited to see just
what kind of new talent and creative directions C.B. brings to
Marvel.”Having started his career as an editor at Marvel, Mr. Cebulski
was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Marvel’s Talent
Management department, where he then worked as a talent scout,
recruiting international artists for Marvel’s ever-growing stable of
premiere pencilers and painters. Mr. Cebulski has also written fan
favorite stories featuring all of Marvel’s key heroes, including the
X-Men, Avengers, Spider-Man, Runaways, and the Loners. He also served as
head writer for Activision’s Marvel: Ultimate Alliance video game,
which drew praise from all corners for its nuanced storytelling and
faiful adaptation of Marvel’s most popular characters.
“I was first welcomed into the Marvel family almost a decade ago, and
the company and I have grown together through all the amazing changes
that Marvel has experienced,” said C.B. Cebulski. “I’m thrilled by the
prospects and challenges this new position offers and to be working with
Joe Quesada, Tom Brevoort and Axel Alonso to expand Marvel’s already
amazing line of comics and characters. This marks not only the next step
in my personal path at Marvel, but also the next phase in our
relationship with our creative partners and talent.”