Tag Archives: david byrne

AMP Comics Launches with partnerships with The Op, Script2Comic, and Kodansha

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AMP Comics

AMP Comics has announced its planned launch in 2025 with distribution through Diamond in the direct market and Simon & Schuster in the bookstore market. AMP brings together several film and comic industry veterans to establish a sustainable, creator-first publishing model. With a focus on quality over quantity and effective marketing, AMP is dedicated to benefiting both creators and readers alike.

AMP has secured a first-look deal with The Op aka USAopoly, giving the board game giant the first opportunity to create games based on AMP’s books. Additionally, AMP is now the official publisher of the Script2Comic Contest, with the 2024 winner’s work set to be financed and published in partnership with Kodansha Japan.

Leading AMP Comics as CEO is Don Handfield, a seasoned comic creator whose first book, The Rift, was adapted for television by Steven Spielberg for the Amazing Stories reboot on Apple+. Handfield is also a successful film producer and TV creator. His extensive entertainment industry experience, combined with his roles as a partner in comic financier Thunder and former board member of Scout Comics, uniquely position him to guide AMP Comics into board games, videogames, film, television, and other mediums.

Joshua Starnes, a founding partner of Red 5 Comics, takes on the role of President. David Byrne, creator of indie hits such as Stake and former co-publisher at Scout Comics, will oversee release and development strategy as Publisher. Joining them are Joel Rodriguez as Design Director, Joshua Malkin as Editor-in-Chief, and Jordan Moore as Director of Development. Additional partners and advisory board members will be announced in the coming weeks.

AMP Comics will operate as a boutique creator-based label, focusing on a select number of high-quality titles that are marketed effectively and provide transparent and timely royalties to creators. Among its exciting lineup of launch titles, MC Foley’s LoveStruck has already been picked up for development as a television series by Ryan Reynolds’ production company Maximum Effort.

Other AMP launch titles include House of Lowther by writer-artist K Lynn Smith, Lost Boy: The Origin of Peter Pan, Kronos, a sci-fi thriller by Alain Soussokho, and Saving Santa, a Christmas story by Arun Narayanan.

Additionally, Honour Bound, an origin story of Robin Hood by Omri Rose, Ambergris, a World War II historical epic by Jacobo Fe Gismera, and the recent Horror2Comic winner Hillbillies vs. Alien Chickens from Nicholas Tana will be featured. Indie hit She Bites will also see all future volumes published by the new label.

SDCC 2024: AMP Comics promises a new era

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AMP SDCC 2024 Panel

Comic enthusiasts and industry insiders are in for an exciting revelation at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con with the official launch of AMP, a new indie comic label. This highly anticipated panel, “AMP Up Your Comic Collection: A New Era Begins,” will take place on Friday, July 26, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Room Grand 10 & 11 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.

AMP is set to make an impact on the comic world through its partnerships with Kodansha board game publisher The Op and production companies including Maximum Effort. Attendees will be among the first to hear about Kodansha’s role in producing the inaugural AMP/Script2Comic collaboration in the USA, with potential for worldwide manga publication.

This panel will provide a unique glimpse into the future of AMP Comics and its innovative partnerships that bridge comics, manga, and gaming. Panelists will discuss the collaborative efforts and creative processes behind these ventures, offering valuable insights for creators and fans alike.

Panelists Include:

  • AMP Executives and Creators
  • Kevin Hill – Maximum Effort
  • Representatives from Kodansha
  • Representatives from The Op

David Byrne and Charlie Stickney are Promoted to Co-Publishers of Scout Comics

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Scout Comics & Entertainment Inc. has announced that David Byrne and Charlie Stickney have been promoted to Co-Publishers as the company continues to expand its publishing program and multi-media presence.

James Pruett has shifted his focus to concentrate on his role as Chief Creative Officer and will work closely with CEO Brendan Deneen to expand the company’s presence in the bookstore market and to further exploit Scout’s foreign language, multimedia, and merchandising opportunities.

David Byrne began his Scout career as a production designer in 2019, bringing his film and business education and experience as an editor, writer, and retailer to the team. He has spent the better part of two decades in sales, and owned and operated independent publisher W.i.N. Pictures, producing the hit comic Stake and such well-received titles as Color Me Yellow, Daisy Gets a Brother, Shady Place, and The Couch.

As Co-Publisher, Charlie Stickney emphasizes a creator-first approach, designed to empower writers and artists to help bring their vision to the marketplace. Stickney is the writer/co-creator of the comic book series White Ash, The Game, Glarien and The Adept. In addition, Charlie has spent the last twenty-plus years writing and producing animation, film and television.  After interning at Marvel Comics, Stickney moved to Los Angeles where he developed and ran the animated series Horrible Histories for Scholastic Entertainment, and Cosmic Quantum Ray for Mike Young Productions. Charlie has also produced content for Sony Pictures, ITV, Universal Pictures, Revolution Studios, and Hulu.

David and Charlie join Deneen and Pruett, as well as the rest of the Scout executive team, including James Haick (President), Tennessee Edwards (Chief Strategy Officer), and Don Handfield (Chief Media Officer), in expanding the publishing and multimedia company.