ICv2.com follows up on the announcement that Viz Media will be conducting portfolio reviews at Comic-Con with a look at the publisher’s plans to cultivate original content.
The website also talks with Marc Weidenbaum, vice president of original publishing, and Eric Searleman, senior editor, about the portfolio reviews and the push for new material.
In light of the current problems with competitor Tokyopop’s “OEL” titles, and even recent issues at Platinum Studios, some may find this exchange funny:
Are you looking for original IP, or for talent to work on U.S. versions of Shueisha or Shogakukan IP?
The former. And around here we call them original comics. We’re looking to tell new stories.
Weidenbaum and Searleman — it’s unclear who’s answering the questions — also underscore that Viz isn’t looking for “manga-style properties,” at least in the rather generic sense of the term. No, the publisher is looking for, “a broad range of comics that emphasize serial storytelling, cliffhangers, reader feedback, a supportive editorial process, and a rich creator voice.”
