Atlanta’s Creative Loafing chats briefly with Top Shelf Productions Publisher Chris Staros about his company’s 10th anniversary, and how the comics industry has changed in the past decade:
“After all of us spent time legitimizing comics, around 2003-2004 we realized that we’d forgotten about the kids, and that all of our readers were well over 20 years old. Top Shelf put out books like Owly [by Lilburn's Andy Runton] and Korgi and Spiral Bound and more, and that market has started to explode recently. Libraries have latched onto them as a way to get kids to read. Comics are perfect for young readers today because they’re fast-paced and convey concepts so easily.”
June 21st, 2007 at 4:07 pm
First off Chris is a really nice guy and always willing to help out comic shops in any way to help move more Top Shelf product, which may sound odd but how many publishers actually provide any real help, advice or assistance beyond some promo posters.
Top Shelf has gotten a huge boost from having From Hell and Lost Girls in its stable of offerings. Without these and esp. the juggernaut of From Hell one wonders if Top Shelf would stay afloat.