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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 6h

"Eight strangers wake up chained to a boat in the woods."

Vertigo is back, baby.

Reposted by Heidi MacDonald

Simon Parkin @simonparkin.bsky.social · 1d

In 2014 I wrote for @newyorker.com about @kurtjmac.bsky.social, a YouTuber who began walking in Minecraft and never stopped. His quest was to reach the Far Lands, a place at the limits of the algorithmic world, where the landscape breaks apart. On Saturday, after fourteen years, he arrived:

A Journey to the End of the World (of Minecraft)

www.newyorker.com

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 7h

MDS has been drawing comics for 20+ years. He’s great but not exactly young.ll

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

What's next for comics? Keeping them accessible and affordable. Moving on from collectors and targetting young Gen Z readers
Griepp points out that there have been slow years in comics and then a dramatic year like 1986 where books still in print. Publsihers must nurture that creativity
#nycc #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

All of this good news comes as the Diamond bankruptcy has meant disruption and financial losses for publishers. And we're left with much poorer data.

"New distribution structure preferable to the sclerotic Diamond monopoly."

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

A lot of activity in digital space - not only vertical scolling/WEBTOON, but Neon Ichiban, GlobalComix and Crunchyroll all with new pushes.

Digital is 73% of the manga business in Japan.....always a stat that may portend many things.

#nycc #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

The graphic novel/book store channel has not yet seen the revitalization that comics in comics shops have. Manga sales have slupmed but are up in comcis shops. More LCS retailers supporting manga category now.

#nycc #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

Also Gen Z is searching for in person community and it can be found in comic stores, and that is part of what is driving young readers.

The media acceptance of comics materials is also part of growth. Comics characters are ubiquitous and ever present.

#nycc #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

Blind Bags are definitely driving sales, but readers are sticking around. Absolute line has been huge with manga-wsque storytelling and great creative. Definitely bringing new readers. Young readers to comics are being drawn by affordable, accessible content.

#nycc #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

Comics shops numebrs in 2025: ComicHub sales are up 27% in August! Incredible growth rate. Comics and GN sales have gotten closer together a trend that hasn't happened in a long time both growing.

IN 2025...new comic buyers are flocking to store collectors being replaced by readers.

#nycc #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

2024 sales were 73% ahead of 2019, the last pre COVID year. Many people sampling comics and liked them and kept reading them.

Retailers told
#icv2 that units were downbut prices rose hence higher profits. Most channels were flat. Book fairs were down but Kickstarter was up a bit.

#nycc

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

Collector driven sales are big I. Comics. #icv2 #nycc

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 13h

And now the final program of the #icv2 conference, Milton Griepp and his white paper. It's called "The Future of comics." WE've been seeing Gns overtake comics, variant and higher priced items picking up the slack of sales. #nycc

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

The state of the industry, "whether you're a retailer, a distributor or publishers, we all have to be pushing in the same direction to bring in new comic book readers and we have to create a great experience for them." And the comic book shop is where that begins. #icv2 #nycc

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

For FCBD, "We intend to really try to modernize it," says Exarhakos. "We are hitting the ground running. We literally closed the deal yesterday. Our vision for the program in this category is not to bring your regulars but we want to have an outreach to bring new people into your shops."

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

"The days of a preinted Preview cataog are over. It will exist but it will be online, as we currently do in Canada. It's set up to be efficient." #icv2 #nycc

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

"Diamond had a very very antiquated IT system, & updating it was the first priority we had to do. We are currently in the throes of some deep upgrades We are changing the entire OS and website. That will go live at the end of the year. In the meantime we are selling DC Comics." - Exarhakos #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

Universal's Exarhakos "Diamond Comics and Alliance Toys and Games were two separate companies so you had two separate sets of books and it didn't really make sense. It made it harder for retailers. Having it in one place means you can have a more diverse range of products." #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

"Comic book fandom was a pioneer in creating community hubs. Now with everyone watching videos you see how people can really quickly caught up on the hobby," Angelo Exarhakos.
Asked about Sparkle Pop and DIamond, he says "I dont' know what I ca say without being sued. So much has not come out yet."

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

Really inspiring speech by Todd as always. Folks I was sitting with were rapt.

BUT NOW Angelo Exarhakos from Universal Distribution - who announced they have acquired Free Comic Book Day and plan to expand it. #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

"Keep your integrity, it's the only think you take beyond the grave." - Todd MCFarlane

#icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

Todd McFarlane got to take a risk betting on himself and it paid off. "Do you think Marvel and DC wouldn't hire me back today? Of course they would."

"When I was young I thought this was a sprint. Now I know it's a marathon. I have a whole library and can repurpose 100s of issues."

#truth #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

When people asked 4 a raise, artists would be told, "we might possibly someday give you a possibility to maybe draw a Captain America annual." Todd read all the interviews in TCJ and found everyone had a story where they felt taken advantage of. IF they could take advantage of Kirby, who am I? #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

"My early art was mediocre so I had to baffle them," says Todd. He started paying attention to graphic design. Why? "It was the only strength I had. They started paying me to draw 8 hours a day and i got better." #icv2

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Heidi MacDonald @comixace.bsky.social · 14h

Sitting as a desk 12 hours a day was hard labor to me, says Todd. "And I need to find a way to not be digging ditches when I was 60 years old. How do you plan for the future? I was the little pig trying to build the brick house. When everyone my age was having fun I was building my career." #icv2

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