Image Comics has added over 40 years of experience to its sales department with two hires from IDW Publishing’s Portland, Oregon office, the company announced today.  The two hires, Dirk Wood and Alex Cox, will take new roles in a reorganized Image sales department. 

At the top of the department will be Jeff Boisin, whose new title is Director of Sales & Publishing Planning.  Boisin joined Image in 2015 as Director of Publishing Planning and Trade Book Sales after nearly seven years in publishing planning and related roles at DC, ending there as Vice President, Publishing Planning & Collected Editions.  Boisin declined the company’s move to California and took the role with Image (see “Dark Horse VP Leaves Company”).

Since he joined Image, Boisin has been in charge of sales to the book channel, with his portfolio now expanding to include Direct Market and digital. 

Alex Cox has joined Image as Director of Direct Market & Specialty Sales, reporting to Boisin.  In addition to managing relationships with Direct Market retailers and Diamond Comic Distributors, Cox will coordinate variant covers and manage convention sales.

Most recently, Cox was at IDW as Event Programming & Special Projects Director; he also spent 10 years at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund as Deputy Director.  But for his new role, his most important experience was in the 00s:  he was the owner of Rocketship Comics in New York City, and began in retail at the famed St. Mark’s Comics as an employee.  

“Comics retail has been in my blood since I was a teenager,” Cox said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “There's nothing better than connecting an eager reader with a great book. Helping shops make that happen with Image's amazing slate of comics is a great privilege.”

Image Direct Market sales were previously handled by former retailer Jeff Stang, who is no longer with the company.

Dirk Wood will join Image in September as Director of International Sales and Licensing.  In that role, he’ll represent the company at international shows, including Frankfurt Book Fair, Angouleme International Comics Festival, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and London Book Fair, working to expand international sales and rights revenues. 

Wood has held a variety of positions at IDW Publishing, after joining the company in 2010 as Director, Retail Marketing (see “Dirk Wood Named IDW Retail Marketing Director”).  More recently, he opened the company’s Portland, Oregon office and developed Full Bleed, a 200-page hardcover comics-and culture magazine (see “Business 3x3: Dirk Wood at IDW Publishing”).  Prior to his time at IDW, Wood spent 16 years at Dark Horse Comics, after beginning at Dark Horse sister company, retail chain Things from Another World.  Wood’s 27 years in the comics business span nearly every aspect of the publishing and retail business. 

Also reporting to Boisin in the reorganized department will be Digital Sales Coordinator Emilio Bautista and Book Market & Library Sales Manager Chloe Ramos-Peterson, both recent promotions.