In his now-annual San Diego Comic-Con International recap for BOOKGASM, comic-book writer Joshua Jabcuga got IDW Publishing editor in chief and publisher Chris Ryall to reflect on his company’s announcements at the 40th convention.
BOOKGASM: Let’s start with your, ahem, pet project. There was a surprising amount of floor buzz for the announcement of your partnership with WEEKLY WORLD NEWS to bring Bat Boy and other denizens of the paper, like Ed Anger and Manigator to the world of comics. I know you’ve been a fan of these characters for a long time, but at what point did you sit down and say to yourself, “I can do something with these characters. Let’s go after the license and have some fun”?
RYALL: It really is something I’ve wanted to do for years, so the fact that it not only came together, but seemed to be met with initial enthusiasm when we announced it, is great. I think it took people by surprise, simply because the idea doesn’t come from movies, TV, books, or video games — all the usual places that lead to licensed comics.
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At what point did the Comic-Con International in San Diego jump the shark? I’m not complaining, just asking. It’s a glorious affair, one where the geek elite and the Hollywood prima donnas make nice with one another. Here, the fanboy is god, and fandom is the religion. As attendance balloons each and every year, San Diego bursts at the seams with the sheer thought of that almighty tourist dollar. And literally, the city streets swell to capacity with studio execs, publicists, starving artists, autograph hounds, cosplay freaks, collectors and kids. 
