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Comics are one of “the last bastions of bespoke media in the world,” says former Marvel Comics boss
Former Marvel Comics publisher, John Nee, hasn’t felt this “optimistic” about the state of comics in years
NewsbyJules Chin Greene, Staff Writer
Published on Wed Sep 02 2026
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In case you’ve been living under a rock, the kids are getting into comics again. Comics from Marvel and DC today are especially prized by Gen Z because of their “bespoke” nature, according to former Marvel Comics publisher John Nee. And unlike, say, a bespoke, hand-tailored suit from Italy, comics are much more affordable.
In an interview with ICv2’s Milton Griepp, Nee addressed the current state of American comics, stating, “I haven’t been optimistic like this in years. It just feels like we’re at an inflection point and we are healthy.”
“The hobby of comics, which invariably involves collecting, is healthy. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being an obsessive collector, I think that’s a normal healthy mammal behavior or human behavior except when it starts treading into absurd speculation, which I have been part of in the past. We’ve been able to bring back the hobby of the Wednesday Warrior. That has been an ordeal for a long time. It feels easier, and they weren’t gone, they were just lapsed,” Nee said. As someone who was born in the Year of the Rat, whose collecting instincts were forged by Pokémon cards, vinyl records, comics, and Magic: The Gathering cards, I agree.
Nee continued, “Gen Z is more interested in bespoke than mass-produced, and comics are one of the last bastions of bespoke media in the world. When you look at people drawing stories, the fact that it’s handmade matters.” In today’s world of ugly generative AI slop, it makes the work of artists like Nick Dragotta, Peach Momoko, Erin Connally, and other contemporary legends all the more special.
Plus, you can always head to your local comic con’s artist alley and ask if an artist if they’re welcoming to do a sketch for you of your favorite comic book character. What’s more bespoke than that?
Interested? Here’s where to find your closest local comic store, courtesy of Sweet, and here’s a guide to how (and where) to read comics online. If you’re looking for the best comics in recent memory, check out the Eisner Awards winners and the Harvey Awards nominees. And if you like free comics, here’s everything we know about Free Comic Book Day 2027.
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Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.
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