Lion Forge Comics has put together a team for Comic-Con International to work on acquisitions and convention exclusives. They also shared the new positions at the company. Geoff Gerber, the former Lion Forge lawyer, will become president while David Steward will stay on as founder and publisher.
“We have had some great wins since the company’s launch as a creative studio,” Gerber said. “It was time to bring in heavy hitters to get us to the next level. The talent that we have recruited understands and respects not only the creative side of publishing comics, but the business of pop culture as well.”
“I am a lifelong comic fan and I cannot wait to be able to take on a more ‘big picture’ role,” Steward added.
Lion Forge will be set up at booth 2300 at Comic-Con. You can pick up new material and exclusive prints, as well as two Dreamwork’s Voltron, Legendary Defender con exclusives. They are offering a Voltron, Legendary Defender mask and an exclusive variant cover edition of Voltron #1.
The Lion Forge Comics’ team at comic will include Gerber, Rich Johnson, Syndee Barwick, Mark Smylie, Joseph Phillip Illidge, and Devin Funches.
Gerber became the president of Lion Forge at the beginning of 2016 following service as its General Counsel and Director of Intellectual Property. He co-founded and was the Chief Operating Officer of Kahn Gerber, and has worked as a lawyer with Image Comics, Todd McFarlane Productions, and The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
Johnson, the vice-president of sales, marketing, and business development, previously served as the vice-president of book trade sales for DC Comics establishing graphic novels in bookstore and library markets. He also worked at Hachette Book Group and later launched Brick Road Media, LLC.
Barwick, director of marketing and product development, has more than 25 years of writing, marketing, brand strategy, and management in the entertainment industry under her belt. She worked for DC/Warner Bros. for almost 20 year as director, marketing and director, product management for DC Directspearheading.
Smylie, Lion Forge executive editor, founded Archaia and published Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, The Killer, Tumor, and Spera.
Illidge, the senior editor, began his career with Milestone Media, the first Black-owned mainstream comic book company. He was an editor on the Batman line at DC, and has been an editor, columnist, and public speaker on race, the business of comics, and corporate politics of diversity.
Funches, the sales and marketing manager, has six years of professional comics experience. He worked at BOOM! Studios overseeing and assisting in the direct market, book trade, e-commerce, and convention circuit.
Lion Forge will participate in two panels over the weekend.
On Thursday, the panel Adapting Television to Comics will host writers of TV and comics about translating popular shows to a new medium. It will feature Joelle Sellner (Saved by the Bell), Geoff Thorne (Knight Rider), Lesley Vamos (Punky Brewster), Mairghread Scott (Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs), and Jonathan London (Miami Vice). The panel will be held form 6 PM to 7 PM in the San Diego Convention Center in room 29AB.
On Friday, the panel Comics form the Squared Circle will explore the worlds of comics and professional wrestling. It will be hosted by Heidi MacDonald (Comics Beat) with panelists include Lucha Underground superstar Chavo Guerrero (Chavo Guerrero's Warrior's Creed), WWE hall of famer Andre the Giant's daughter Robin Christensen-Roussimoff, and record breaking wrestling comics writer Mike Kingston (Headlocked). The panel wil be held from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM in the San Diego Convention Center in room 8.