If you like comics, you might like Com.X. The publisher has a knack for landing strong talent and an interesting eye for diverse, quality work. Cla$$War was the Indy Ultimates. Forty-Five was just ambitious as hell and world-building at its best. And next in the queue for the post-modern superhero company is...
...an introspective autobiography about a family's fight with cancer?
Hrm. Do go on, Com.X marketing summary.
I actually got to discuss the project a little further over e-mail with Com.X co-publisher, Ben Shahrabani, and I found it incredibly endearing how tentative he was about how to approach a story so outside his usual super-powered comfort zone and how exactly to go about promoting the book. I don't think Ben, Com.X, or Ross Mackintosh need to worry about that. The recent success of David Small's Stitches should serve as a fine model for them, and proof that there is definitely an audience for this sort of tale. In fact, the potential audience is probably bigger and more diverse than the one looking for yet another superhero punch-em-up.
I was already on his promotion list from my PopCultureShock days, so Ben didn't even realize that I had shifted gears to Comics Cure. When he mentioned his hope to donate a portion of the proceeds to cancer research, charities, etc, he was thrilled that I could connect him with one of the groups I have been working with over the past few months. (I hope to look back on this and see that I helped foster something that pays off for both parties.)
I have no doubt that Mackintosh approached the terribly personal subject matter with all of his heart and soul. That is his job and this is, of course, his story. But just as an added bonus, it is quite promising for the company putting the book out to be taking such earnest steps to see it through. In such a cynically profit-driven industry, this sort of possitivity and care has to count for something. I look forward to reading the book, which solicits in February Previews and is scheduled to go on sale in April 2011.
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