At New York Comic Con 2023, a group of high-profile comic book creators announced the launch of a new comic book company called Ghost Machine. The company is unique in that it is a creator-owned cooperative, meaning that the creators will own all of the characters and universes they develop for Ghost Machine. They will also share in all publishing, media, and merchandise profits.
The founders of Ghost Machine include some of the biggest names in the comic book industry, including Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Jason Fabok, Bryan Hitch, Lamont Magee, Francis Manapul, Brad Meltzer, Peter J. Tomasi, and Maytal Zchut. These creators have worked on some of the most popular and critically acclaimed comic books of all time, including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and The Flash.
In an interview with The New York Times, Johns said that the goal of Ghost Machine is to create a place where creators can “own our own work and have more control over our careers.” He also said that the company is committed to diversity and inclusion.
“We want to create a company where everyone feels welcome and where everyone has a voice,” Johns said. “We want to tell stories that reflect the diversity of our world and that resonate with a wide range of readers.”
The announcement of Ghost Machine was met with a lot of excitement from the comic book community. Many fans are excited to see what kind of comics the company will produce. They are also excited about the fact that the creators will own their own work and have more control over their careers.
One of the things that makes Ghost Machine so unique is its commitment to creator ownership. In the traditional comic book industry, creators typically give up the rights to their characters and stories to the publishers they work for. This means that the publishers have complete control over the characters and stories, and the creators have little say in how they are used.
At Ghost Machine, the creators will own all of the characters and universes they develop. This gives them complete creative freedom and allows them to tell the stories they want to tell. It also means that they will make more money from their work. A fact that has been a key factor facing the entertainment industry with the WGA and SAG strikes this year.
Another thing that makes Ghost Machine unique is its focus on diversity and inclusion. The comic book industry has been criticized for its lack of diversity in terms of the creators and characters it features. Ghost Machine is committed to changing that.
“We want to create a company that is welcoming to everyone,” Johns said. “We want to tell stories that reflect the diversity of our world and that resonate with a wide range of readers.”
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The launch of Ghost Machine is a significant event for the comic book industry. It is the first time that a group of high-profile comic book creators have come together to create a major creator-owned media company. It is also the first time that a creator-owned company has been announced at New York Comic Con, one of the largest and most prestigious comic book conventions in the world.
Ghost Machine has the potential to revolutionize the comic book industry. By giving creators more control over their work and by focusing on diversity and inclusion, Ghost Machine is poised to create new and innovative comics that will appeal to a wide range of readers.
What to Expect from Ghost Machine
Ghost Machine has not released a lot of information about its upcoming comic books, but the company has said that it will publish a variety of genres, including superhero, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The company has also said that it is committed to telling diverse stories and featuring diverse characters.
Some of the comic books that Ghost Machine has announced include:
- Geiger: A unique post-apocalyptic world series from Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, with the follow up prequel Geiger Ground Zero due out in November.
- Redcoat: A new series based around an immortal charachter from Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch
- Rook: Exodus: A new science fiction series from Jason Fabok and Geoff Johns.
Ghost Machine is also planning to publish a number of other comic books and graphic novels in the coming months and years. The company is also developing a number of television and film projects based on its characters and stories.
The launch of Ghost Machine is a major event for the comic book industry. The company has the potential to revolutionize the industry by giving creators more control over their work and by focusing on diversity and inclusion.
I am excited to see what kind of comics Ghost Machine will publish in the coming months and years. I believe that the company has the potential to create new and innovative comics that will appeal to a wide range of readers.
Featured Image by Amy from Pixabay