Marvel Executive Editor Mike Marts and longtime indy editor Joe Pruett are joining AfterShock, a start-up publisher with a packed executive suite, according to Deadline. Both Marts and Pruett have extensive portfolios with considerable success. Marts went to his role at Marvel in January 2014 from DC, where he was group editor of the Batman titles (see “Marvel Gets Executive Editor from DC”). He also had an earlier ten year run at Marvel, including time as a senior editor.
Pruett edited Negative Burn for Caliber and started Desperado Publishing, which was distributed by Image Comics, in 2004. The publisher won two Eisners in 2007. Desperado also spent time distributing its own books, and signed a deal with IDW in 2011 (see “Desperado Joins IDW”).
AfterShock will have co-CEOs: Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Michael Richter, who’s also spent time at eBay; and Jon Kramer, who’s worked in production on reality TV and features for years. Lee Kramer, head story analyst at Endeavor who also worked with Cathy Schulman at Mandalay Pictures, will be President. Jawad Qureshi, with a Silicon Valley background as an investor, will be Senior Vice President—Investor Relations.