An ICv2 Release. ICv2 has added the Amazon.com graphic novel merchandiser, an expert on graphic novels in libraries, the owner of comic/book chain Comix Revolution, and representatives of key manga licensor Kodansha and Del Rey Manga to its list of panelists for the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, February 23rd at the Javits Center on the eve of the New York Comic-Con.
Pat Kearney, Graphic Novel Site Merchandiser at Amazon.com, and Jim Mortenson, the owner of the Comix Revolution chain in the Chicagoland area, have been added to the 'Graphic Novel Buyers--Graphic Novels, the Next Three Years' panel (Amy Sternberg of Musicland will not be participating).
Katherine Kan, a librarian for 20 years, consultant for Brodart, and columnist in Voice of Youth Advocates and on Diamond's Bookshelf Website has been added to the 'Graphic Novels: The New Literature' panel.
And Tomoko Suga, Kodansha Senior Manager, Foreign Rights Department, and Dallas Middaugh, Del Rey Director of Manga, have been added to the 'Anime and Manga: Looking Forward' panel.
ICv2 President Milton Griepp described the impact of the additions. 'The response to this first ever ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference has been great,' he said. 'We'll have the most important players in the most exciting fields in pop culture--graphic novels, manga, and anime -- all in one room to talk about how to keep this incredible growth going. And that means a great experience for everyone attending'
The final schedule has also been announced, and it's a jam-packed afternoon:
1 p.m: ICv2 White Paper -- Graphic Novel Growth and Diversification
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will present the results of its annual graphic novel industry survey, along with special conference-only info that will not be published in its magazines or on the Web.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
1:45 p.m.: Graphic Novels--the New Literature?
Some have called the growing popularity of graphic novels a shift from novels to a new form of literature as the dominant form. How will graphic novels build on their new acceptance by the literati to break into mass acceptance? Editors, a top agent, and a top expert on graphic novels in libraries discuss.
- Karen Berger -- Vice President/Executive Editor of Vertigo -- DC Comics
- Daniel Frank -- Editorial Director -- Pantheon Books
- Kat Kan -- Librarian, Writer, Columnist, Workshop Leader, Consultant to Brodart
- Denis Kitchen -- Agent, Editor, Publisher -- Kitchen & Hansen, Denis Kitchen Pub.
- Terry Nantier -- Publisher, NBM Publishing, Inc.
- Moderator: Calvin Reid, Publishers Weekly
2:45 p.m.: Anime and Manga -- Looking forward
Manga is the fastest-growing category in graphic novels, but that's been only one facet of the increasing popularity of Japanese and Japanese-inspired pop culture in America -- anime is dominating the 18-34 demographic on television as well. Learn from the top players in anime and manga where they think the market here is headed.
- Mike Bailiff -- Senior Vice President, ADV Films
- Liza Coppola -- Vice President, Viz Media
- Al Kahn -- CEO, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.
- Mike Kiley -- Publisher, Tokyopop
- Dallas Middaugh -- Director of Manga, Del Rey Books
- John O'Donnell -- CEO, Central Park Media
- Tomoko Suga--Senior Manager, Foreign Rights Department. Kodansha
- Moderator: Milton Griepp, ICv2
4:00 p.m.: 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.
- Pat Kearney -- Graphic Novel Editor/Manager -- Amazon.com
- James Killen -- Graphic Novel Buyer, Barnes & Noble
- Jim Mortenson -- Owner, Comix Revolution
- Bill Schanes -- Vice President Purchasing, Diamond Comic Distributors
- David Webster -- Graphic Novel Buyer, Midtown Comics
- Jeannine Wiese -- Graphic Novel Specialist -- Ingram Book Company
- Moderator: Milton Griepp, ICv2
5:00 p.m.: Transcontinental Printing Cocktail Event!
A chance to meet, mingle, and have a refreshing beverage, courtesy of event sponsor and major graphic novel printer Transcontinental Printing.
The ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference is a half-day event planned for 1 to 6 p.m., on the afternoon of Thursday, February 23rd, at the Javits Center in New York City. The event is being held in conjunction with the New York Comic-Con, which starts on Friday, February 24th at the Javits.
Tickets for the new event are now on sale on the New York Comic-Con Website at:
Click here to be taken directly to the registration page.
For a full list and more information on the panelists at the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference, go to:
ICv2 is the leading expert in the graphic novel field and publishes news and information on pop culture products in the anime, comics, games, toys, and movie and TV merchandise categories daily on its Website, ICv2.com, and in its magazines, the ICv2 Retailers Guide to Anime/Manga, the ICv2 Retailers Guide to Graphic Novels, and the ICv2 Retailers Guide to Games. ICv2 also provides marketing, distribution, and general business consulting services to companies involved in the pop culture products industries.
New York Comic-Con is a new three-day trade and consumer event planned for the Javits Center in New York City on Friday, February 24th through Sunday, February 26th. New York Comic-Con is managed by Reed Exhibitions (RX), the world's largest organizer of business-to-business events, a division of Reed Elsevier plc. Each year Reed events assemble over 90,000 suppliers and over 5 million buyers from around the world. BEA is one of many Reed Elsevier properties within the Reed Global Book Publishing Network, whose trade events include the Asia International Book Fair, London International Book Fair, Salon du Livre: Paris Book Fair, Tokyo International Book Fair and BookExpo Canada, and whose Reed Business Information (RBI) properties include Publishers Weekly, Variety Magazine, Playthings, Video Business, Library Journal, and School Library Journal.
ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference Contact:
Milton Griepp
608-284-9400