An ICv2 Release. The ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference will be held in room 1E02 at the
1:00 p.m.
ICv2 White Paper -- Graphic Novel Growth and Change
ICv2 will present the results of its annual graphic novel industry survey, along with special conference-only info that will not be published in its magazines or on the Web.
Presented by Milton Griepp, President, ICv2
Milton Griepp is the founder and President of ICv2, since 2001 the undisputed industry authority on the graphic novel business. He is a 30-year veteran of the pop culture business, and has managed companies that have sold over $1 billion in retail value of pop culture products as CEO of Capital City Distribution and Next Planet Over.
1:45 p.m.
Non-fiction -- The Real World of Graphic Storytelling
The memoir, historical storytelling, and education are among the fastest growing areas of the graphic novel (and we use the term loosely) category in
Moderator --
Calvin Reid is a senior news editor at Publishers Weeky with responsibility for comics and graphic novel coverage. He is also co-editor, along with Heidi MacDonald, of PW Comics Week, the magazine's weekly email comics newsletter.
Marisa Acocella Marchetto -- Graphic Novelist
Marisa Acocella Marchetto lives in
Larry Gonick -- Graphic Novelist
Gonick has been creating comics that explain history, science, and other big subjects for over thirty years--he wrote his first guide in 1971: Blood From a Stone: A Cartoon Guide to Tax Reform. His best-selling Cartoon Guides have sold more than 750,000 copies and been translated into more an a dozen languages. He has been a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT and is currently staff cartoonist for Muse magazine. The Cartoon History of the Universe, Book III, won the Harvey Award for best original graphic album of 2002.
Glenn Kardy -- President and CEO of Japanime Co.
Kardy is president and CEO of Japanime Co. Ltd., a Tokyo-based publishing company and creative agency that has published several educational titles under its
Thomas LeBien-- Publisher of Hill & Wang
Publisher of Hill & Wang, a division of Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Thomas LeBien publishes exclusively nonfiction, most recently Elie Wiesel's new translation of Night and John Hope Franklin's autobiography, Mirror to America. His graphic nonfiction includes Sid Jacobson's and Ernie Colon's The 9/11 Report, A Graphic Adaptation, Andy Helfer's and Randy DuBurke's Malcolm X and Paul Buhle's, Harvey Pekar's, and Gary Dumm's forthcoming SDS.
Ted Rall--Graphic Novelist, To
Manga Ratings, Redactions, and Freedom of Speech
Japanese culture is very different than American when it comes to controlling access to adult content, and publishers have taken a wide range of approaches when deciding how to deal with those cultural differences in their American editions. Retailers, libraries, and publishers all have their concerns.
Moderator--Milton Griepp, President, ICv2
Liza Coppola -- Sr. Vice President, VIZ Media
Liza Coppola joined VIZ in 2002 and now has responsibility for all marketing of book and home video products. Prior to VIZ, Coppola spent six years in managerial roles at the Walt Disney Company, overseeing marketing for Disney animation properties. As VP Marketing at GS Entertainment Group, she managed marketing for various media properties. She is a 20 year veteran of the publishing and entertainment industry, with stints at UC Press, Random House, and HarperCollins.
Michele Gorman -- MLS, Young Adult Librarian, Author, Consultant
Michele Gorman is the Teen Services Manager of ImaginOn with the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (
Kurt Hassler -- Co-Publisher, Yen Press, former buyer Borders Group
As the former buyer for Borders Books & Music, Kurt Hassler helped to revolutionize the way graphic novels are sold in the
Mike Kiley -- Publisher, Tokyopop
Mike Kiley joined Tokyopop in 1998 to help found its Internet business. Success in evolving and growing that business, along with his encyclopedic knowledge of Tokyopop's products ultimately led to his current role as Publisher. Under Kiley's guidance, Tokyopop now creates more than 50 full-length manga graphic novels per year. Prior to joining Tokyopop, Kiley ran an eight-location bookselling enterprise for UC-Irvine; launched the first academic bookstore in cyberspace in 1992; and created an online store selling products related to anime, pop music and videogames for UCI.
Buyers Panel -- Graphic Novels, the Next Three Years
A panel of key graphic novel buyers from multiple channels will discuss what's selling and why, how the market's changing, and what kinds of products will grow the market in the next three years.
Moderator -- Milton Griepp, President, ICv2
Christopher Butcher -- Manager, The Beguiling
A professional colorist, letterer, designer, writer, and retailer of comics, Butcher has put his unique perspective on the industry to work as the Manager and main purchasing agent for The Beguiling in
Regina Kanicki (nee Deppen) has been the graphic novel and manga buyer for Baker and Taylor since August 2005. Previous to working in
James Killen -- Graphic Novel Buyer, Barnes and Noble
James Killen started with Barnes and Noble in 1979 while still a freshman student at The School of Visual Arts, moving on to manage several stores for the company. He became a buyer in 1987 and he's managed the businesses of Graphic Novels and Science Fiction nationally for the last eight years.
Ed Masessa--Category Manager, Scholastic Book Fairs
Masessa is Category Manager for Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Mystery, Adventure, Family/Friendship, Humor and Sports for Scholastic Book Fairs. Prior to entering the world of children's books, he was a purchasing manager for Mack Trucks and Alfa Romeo, but his first job was buying comic books for his dad's barber shop. In his eleven years at Scholastic, he has held positions as Field Rep, Operations Manager, and Category Manager. Masessa is a graduate of
Chris Powell--General Manager Lone Star Comics
Chris Powell is the General Manager/COO for Lone Star Comics, an eight-store chain in
Bill Schanes--Vice President of Purchasing, Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.
Bill Schanes has over 30 years' experience in comics retailing, distribution, and publishing. In 1971, he co-founded the legendary independent Pacific Comics (which published comics by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Dave Stevens, among others), then joined Diamond in 1985. He is a member of Diamond's management team, and is very interested in Diamond's ongoing efforts to expand the marketplace for both our retailers and suppliers.
Stay for the cocktail party, sponsored by Transcontinental Printing.
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Tomoko Suga -- Senior Manager, Foreign Rights Department, Kodansha
Suga currently oversees a team of licensing managers that handle manga publishing rights at Kodansha. She started working on manga licensing toward Europe and the