For decades, the comic book industry has maintained a standard where major publishers, like DC and Marvel, own the characters and stories while the artists have minimal control. In addition to the publisher’s control, the creative talent receives minimal profit. Ghost Machine, founded in 2023 by Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, Bryan Hitch, Gary Frank, Lamont Magee, Peter J. Tomasi, Francis Manapul and Maytal Zchut, seeks to shake up the industry with a new mission.
Artists Should Always Come First
Without artists, comics couldn’t exist. Unfortunately, the publishers’ profit and benefits tend to come first in the industry. For instance, one of the most popular comic book characters of all time, Superman, was sold for a low price because the creators didn’t know how popular he’d become. Now, DC benefits from Superman’s stories, merchandise and all Superman interpretations.
Ghost Machine Comics’ and Geoff Johns want to put the creators first. Since the creators own Ghost Machine Comics, they share in the profits. Creators aren’t left behind while their stories and characters gain traction.
Collaboration Is the Foundation of Good Storytelling
Comic book writing is a collaborative effort between a variety of artists. Good storytelling comes from writers working together to create complex characters and storylines. Ghost Machine has brought together some of the most successful names within the comic book industry to create a shared universe with stories across space and history. Great stories come from artists working together and having complete control over the stories they want to tell.
Comics Are the Present and Future
The comic book industry reached a sales milestone of $2.075 billion in 2021. Since 2017, comic book sales have been steadily increasing and those sales are only predicted to increase in the future. Graphic novels and comics cater to people of all demographics. They tell stories relevant to culture and society, packaged in a way that is fun, action-packed and easy to read. Ghost Machine Comics plans to encompass various genres to capture the attention of all comic book fans.
Using Established Voices To Change the Industry
Ghost Machine is dedicated to creating comics where the creators still have complete control. When the voices behind the story are respected, they can focus on creating complex, engaging worlds. Geoff Johns and the other founders are not new names to the industry. They understand the changes it needs to make it better as a whole. Sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date on Ghose Machine!