New York Comic Con Preview
attendees who signed up for it and then received advanced copies of book club titles,
which include Quan Barry’s occult novel We Ride upon Sticks, Rachel Harrison’s horror
novel The Return, Simon Jimenez’s sci-fi novel The Vanished Birds, and Emily Skrutskie’s
sci-fi novel Bonds of Brass. They are encouraged to read the books in advance so that
they can participate in moderated discussions at separate sessions held during each
day of the convention.
Penguin Random House will also host several author panels designed to promote
forthcoming books and themes. On Friday, Robin Hobb will look back on her fantasy
novel Assassin’s Apprentice, published 25 years ago, in a conversation with Del Rey
executive editor Anne Groell. On Saturday, Rebecca Roanhorse, author of Resistance
Reborn, and Kevin Shinick, author of Force Collector, will be on a panel about stories
leading to the finale of the new Skywalker saga in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. In
addition, Random House Graphic, the publisher’s recently launched middle grade/
YA graphic novel imprint, will give away new graphic novels.New Publishers
Powerhouse comics publishers Marvel Entertainment and DC, as well as major inde-
pendents such as IDW Publishing, will have significant visibility at the convention,
but the show will also feature some new independents, among them New York City–
based Artists, Writers & Artisans, which will have a booth presence as well as previews
of titles to be released for its 2020 launch. Launched earlier this year, AWA is led by
CEO and publisher (and former Marvel president) Bill Jemas, chief creative officer
(and former Marvel editor-in-chief) Axel Alonso, and chairman Jon Miller, who was
formerly chief digital officer at News Corp.
AWA’s stories will be shaped by its editorial leadership, with input from AWA’s
Creative Council, a group comprising such well-known comics creators as artist Frank
Cho, writers Reginald Hudlin and Garth Ennis, and comics writer and screenwriter
J. Michael Straczynski, among others. Alonso worked with these creators during his
time at Marvel and as senior editor of DC’s Vertigo imprint. AWA plans to preview
its titles, among them the science fiction series The Resistance, created by Straczynski
with artists Mike Deodato Jr. and Rahzzah, which will launch AWA’s “shared universe”
of company-owned characters and series. In addition to the shared universe, AWA willcontinued from p. 32The NYCC 2018 exhibition floor.photoby
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