Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson to keynote ComicsPRO meeting
The sixth annual ComicsPRO Annual Membership Meeting is set for next week in Dallas, as comic-book specialty retailers from across the country congregate to meet with vendors and suppliers, and plan objectives for the upcoming year.
The 2012 keynote speaker is Mike Richardson, president of Dark Horse Comics, president of Dark Horse Entertainment and owner of the retail store chain Things From Another World.
Richardson has written comics including “The Secret” and “Living With the Dead,” and through Dark Horse Entertainment has developed and produced projects for TV and film.
Richardson was a producer on “The Mask” and “Hellboy,” among others, and is a producer on the upcoming “R.I.P.D.,” starring Ryan Reynolds. Those three properties were based on Dark Horse comic books.
“He’s worked in the comic-book industry from almost every angle, so we’re looking forward to his speech and his thoughts on the future of the industry,” said Amanda Emmert, ComicsPRO’s executive director.
Though show sponsorship is closed, comic-book retailers can register right up to the official start of the meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday. (A Wednesday night meet-and-greet is available for preregistered retailers.) For information on registration, retailers can visit www.comicspro.org.
Joe Field, president of ComicsPRO, said he expected some breaking news to come out of this year’s meeting.
“As is the custom for comic conventions, publishers will make announcements about upcoming projects,” he said. “Unique to retailer-centric events, though, and particular to ComicsPRO, suppliers will talk about things that directly impact the business side of the comics industry. Will there be surprises?”
