WildStorm: The Bleed

Art by Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary, and Laura Martin

Words by Warren Ellis

As appropriate with year end messages, I would like to take a moment before we segue into 2011 and thank all the fine people who I have had the honor of working with at WildStorm in its last year. Through this difficult transition, you all have demonstrated your usual, incredible professionalism, good cheer and can-do attitude which have always been trademarks of WildStorm. Please take a bow–the work you have created has not only won a slew of industry awards and accolades, but it has shaped, changed and often re-energized the very artform itself. In the process, you have captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of fans, ensuring that WildStorm’s legacy and characters will always live on. In fact, Dan DiDio, Geoff Johns and myself have already crafted what their future fate will be, and we are excited to be sharing that with the readers in the coming year. And while many fans will lament the end of the actual imprint, I will miss the camaraderie of the studio and your friendship the most. It truly has been my utmost privilege to have worked with you all over the 18 years of WildStorm’s existence.

- Jim Lee

Wow, amazing how quickly seven years goes by…when Jim Lee, John Nee, and Paul Levitz offered me the seat at WildStorm, I didn’t even take a beat to accept. Without a doubt, I knew I was home.

It has been an honor and a privilege to work among the industry greats – not just the amazing array of creative talent over the last seven years, but the best staff in all of comicdom. We all know how challenging this business is – but really, you have no idea how hard this crew works, each and every waking moment. While we’ve had the WildStorm imprint in the public eye for so long, many of you may not know WildStorm is also a creative studio that does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes — quickly, quietly, and with the highest level of quality in mind. We’ve celebrated many successes anonymously, but they are successes nonetheless.

We continue our tradition of excellence as many of us relocate to Burbank, and many of us move on to greater individual careers. Our WildStorm spirit lives on in each of the talented individuals who have graced these walls over the last eighteen years, physically and figuratively.

More so, our spirit lives on in our dedicated fans. You are why we do this. We love what we do because you love what we do.

Thank you.

- Hank Kanalz

A dream come true.

For over 8 ½ years, I’ve fulfilled a dream by working in the editorial department at WildStorm Productions. It’s been an exhilarating ride, with some milestone highs and rock-bottom lows…but one of the constants that I could draw strength from was a rabid group of fans who supported us through the good times and the bad. They lauded our successes and tolerated our misfires, but were always a devoted, positive force for good in a world with too much bad. So at the conclusion of WildStorm’s second chapter, I’d like to extend a heart-felt THANK YOU to everyone who supported us through the years and I hope to see you at future conventions…while WildStorm might be going to sleep, the spirit will never die!

- Ben Abernathy

Art by Simon Coleby

Art by Wes Craig and Jonny Rench

Art by Dan Hipp

Art by Lee Garbett

Art by Marc Silvestri/Joe Weems

Art by Eric Larsen

Amit Desai Named SVP – Franchise Management, DC Entertainment

(December 3, 2010) Amit Desai has been named Senior Vice President, Franchise Management for DC Entertainment at Warner Bros. The announcement was made today by John Rood, EVP of Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Desai will be based in Burbank and report directly to John Rood.

“Amit is coming to DC Entertainment with a proven track record in building brands both inside and outside Warner Bros.,” said Rood. “That he’s already well-versed in our characters and brands from his experience working on the DC Universe animation business is an added bonus.“

In his new role, Desai will develop and implement the individual franchise plans for Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, Vertigo titles, and other DC properties. This will include driving wider cross-promotional support across all Time Warner divisions.

Amit Desai joined Warner Bros. in 2004. Most recently, he was responsible for Warner Home Video’s non-theatrical family and animation business. During his tenure with Warner Home Video, Desai helped grow non-theatrical family & animation revenue +45% and secured #1 studio market share position for first time in business history. Among his accomplishments, Desai is credited with the launch of new franchises such as DC Universe – a series of animated original movies inspired by DC Comics graphic novels.

Desai came to Warner Bros. from the Walt Disney Company where he was responsible for brand management and marketing/synergy activities on behalf of feature films. Prior to Disney, Desai also served in marketing roles at Nestle and American Express.

Desai is a native Californian and was raised in Santa Barbara. He earned a B.A. in Economics and History from UC Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. Desai resides in Pasadena with his wife and daughter.

Mark Chiarello Named VP Art Direction & Design – DC Comics

(December 2nd, 2010) Mark Chiarello has been named VP Art Direction & Design for DC Comics, it was announced today by DC Comics Co-Publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio. This newly-created position will oversee the operations of DC’s Editorial Art Department and lead in establishing the style, visual look and graphic design across all of DC’s imprints. He will be located in New York and report directly to the Co-Publishers.

“Mark is the kind of artist, editor and collaborator who is invaluable in not only his knowledge of the craft but his ability to inspire and pull out the very best work from the creators with whom he works,” said Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher. “He’s a true artist’s artist.”

“Mark Chiarello is one of the most respected figures in the comic book industry,” said Dan DiDio. “From NEW FRONTIER to SOLO to WEDNESDAY COMICS, he’s spearheaded projects that helped elevate our expectations for what the art form can accomplish.”

Mark Chiarello joined DC Comics in 1993 as the comic industry’s first Color Editor. He soon became the Editorial Art Director at DC, where he originated and oversaw titles such as BATMAN: HUSH with Jim Lee & Jeph Loeb, BATMAN BLACK & WHITE, SOLO, WEDNESDAY COMICS, THE NEW FRONTIER by Darwyn Cooke, and COVER RUN: THE ART OF ADAM HUGHES. He is a recipient of the comic book industry’s Eisner, Harvey and Reuben Awards.

As a freelance illustrator, Mark has done work for LucasFilm, Disney and Universal, among others.

Mark is the co-author of the baseball book “Heroes of the Negro Leagues,” published in 2007 by Abrams.