Rich Johnson (publishing executive)
Rich Johnson is a publishing executive notable for his contributions in the field of graphic novels.
Johnson is a former Vice President of Book Trade Sales at DC Comics who has been credited with popularizing the graphic novel genre in mainstream bookstores and libraries.[1] Under his watch DC Comics had their first New York Times Bestseller with Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman: Endless Nights. He also co-founded and was Co-Publishing Director for Yen Press and co-founded the magazine Yen Plus.[1]
From July 2016 to May 2019, he was Vice-President of Sales, Marketing and Business Development at Lion Forge Comics.[2][3] He has previously been a publishing consultant and packager as well as the writer of "Graphic Details" – a column that appears on the industry site comicsbeat.com.
In 2011, he was a judge for the comic industry's highest award - The Eisner Awards.[4] He is also the author of the graphic memoir My Father's Eyes.
References
- "Interview with Rich Johnson of Yen Press". ICv2: Inside Pop Culture. 7 November 2006.
- "In Advance of San Diego, Lion Forge Hires Rich Johnson, Mark Smylie, Joe Illidge". Publishers Weekly. 18 July 2016.
- "RICH JOHNSON and SYNDEE BARWICK Exit LION FORGE Following ONI PRESS Merger". Newsarama. 13 May 2019.
- "Past Judges: 2011 Eisner Awards (for works published in 2010)". Comic-Con International: San Diego.