Ahead of BookExpo America, Humanoids has named Ailen Lujo as Director of Sales & Marketing and announced a new Sales & Marketing structure. Lujo will oversee distribution, sales, and marketing for Humanoids’ publications in English (print & digital), and report to Humanoids’ Chief Operating Officer Alex Donoghue. Lugo is the latest major publishing figure to join Humanoids. Last fall the company announced John Cassaday as Chief Creative Officer and named Mark Waid as Director of Creative. The Los Angeles-based publisher of some of the world’s most iconic and groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy graphic novels is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Humanoids has recently expanded its efforts to reach new readers across different markets with a series of publishing initiatives: the literary graphic novel imprint Life Drawn, which features deeply personal, slice of life stories; the all ages imprint, BiG; and an ambitious shared universe, H1 which officially launches on June 6th with the publication of IGNITED issue 1 by co-writers Mark Waid and Kwanza Osajyefo, artist Phil Briones and colorist Leonardo Paciarotti.

Lujo is a publishing veteran of nearly two decades, having worked most recently at DC Comics as Director of Books Marketing. Lujo began her publishing career at Soho Press, where, as Director of Sales and Marketing, she enabled the independent NYC press to achieve a worldwide reach into brick and mortar bookstores and online retailers. During her tenure at DC Comics as Executive Director of Trade Marketing, she was instrumental in the successful launch of multiple global imprints, including DC Black Label, and DC Ink and Zoom. 

Harley Salbacka has been named to the newly created Sales Representative role, which will interface with direct market retailers, booksellers and librarians. Salbacka, who was previously the Sales & Marketing Assistant, has been with the company since June of 2018, after years of experience as a manager in comic book retail, as an educator, and as a lifelong comic book fan.

Andrea Torres has joined the company as Sales & Marketing Assistant. Torres began her career as a Digital Marketing Intern at a Big 5 publishing house after attending the graduate certificate program at Denver Publishing Institute. Previous to joining Humanoids, she was an Editorial Assistant at a university press.

Both Salbacka and Torres will both report directly to Lujo.

“As Humanoids expands its catalog, with an aggressive slate of major graphic novel and comic book releases, it’s vital that we approach our distribution, promotion and sales strategy with the same care and creativity that we bring to the acquisition and creative process,” said Humanoids’ Chief Operating Officer Alex Donoghue. “We’re thrilled to have Ailen – with the support of Harley and Andrea – join us to lead those efforts.”