It’s a busy time in the comics industry with plenty of comings and goings.

BOOM! Studios has brought in Andy Schmidt as Editor in Chief, reporting to Deputy Publisher Bryce Carlson. Schmidt started out in comics as an editor at Marvel, working on The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, then went to IDW Publishing, where he was a senior editor responsible for licensed series such as Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Star Trek.  He then moved to Hasbro as Director of IP Development and Brand Design.  He also founded and headed the comics school Comics Experience and its partner company CEX Publishing (see “Lunar Distribution Adds CEX Publishing”).

Editor Lily Kessinger, another new BOOM! hire, comes from the book side of the graphic novel biz, with experience at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, where she was one of the team developing their graphic novel imprint Etch (see “Another New Graphic Novel Imprint for Young Readers”), and the HarperCollins imprint Clarion Books, where she worked on both fiction and graphic novels; she was also a member of the Graphic Novel Committee of the Children’s Book Council. She will report to Schmidt.

BOOM! also announced the hiring of Olivia Dontsov, formerly of Astra Publishing House, as Managing Editor, and the promotion of Josh Hayes to VP, Consumer & Sales Marketing; Ash Troub to Senior Associate, Special Projects; and Austin Yi to Associate, Sales, focusing on foreign rights.

GalaxyCon, which has big plans for 2025 (see “GalaxyCon Plans 18 Shows in 2025”) is expanding its staff with the addition of comics and games industry veteran Jann Jones as Senior Director of Creator Talent and Publishing.  Jones has worked in comics publishing, with stints at DC Entertainment, Disney Publishing, VIZ Media, and Legendary Entertainment, as well as video game publishers Krafton and Bungie.

Also new to GalaxyCon are Programming Manager Ansley Newland, who has worked with the City of Toronto, Fan Expo, and the Toronto International Festival of Authors; Live Event Manager Danielle Garbett, whose resume includes work in operations and promotions for WasabiCon and Fan Expo; Business Development & Sponsorship Manager Chris Carruthers, formerly Programming Coordinator at Fan Expo; Marketing Manager Danielle Vandeluyster, another Fan Expo veteran who most recently worked as Marketing and Programming Coordinator at Green Mustard Entertainment; and Merchandise Manager Zane Riley, who comes from the world of professional wrestling and is the AEW Merchandise and Live Event Manager.

New publisher Gungnir Entertainment, founded by former Heavy Metal Magazine CEO Matthew Medney, has announced its editorial staff and slate of current and upcoming graphic novels.  Medney is Founder & Publisher; Eisner Award-Winning writer Jim Kreuger is Editor-in-Chief, and Executive Editor is writer Steve Orlando.  They published Mutant Cats, by Medney and Morgan Rosenblum, in 2024 (see “Former Heavy Metal CEO, Managing Editor, Pen New Graphic Novel”) and their HiROQUEST: The Graphic Novel, by Kreuger and EDM artist Steve Aoki, is also currently available.  Upcoming projects include The Lies We Tell Ourselves, a horror anthology, and The Black Lullaby, a sci-fi thriller by Medney, Orlando, and Rosenblum.