<img src="https://comicvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/COMICS_BEAT_LILITH_BB_728x90-Copy-8.jpg” alt=””>
What would NYCC be without the ICv2 White Paper? Milton Griepp’s annual, much-quoted look at the comics business will take place as part of the ICv2 Insider Talks: The Future of Fandom event on Thursday at NYCC. The event takes place from 3 pm to 6 pm in the River Pavillion. It is open to industry professionals, but they must register and have a NYCC badge to attend. Event sponsors include GlobalComix and Mad Cave Studios.
This year’s speakers are a knowledgeable bunch, including Head of Marvel Comics & Franchise Dan Buckley, Kadokawa Retail Ventures and Yen Press President Kurt Hassler, Manga Spot Director of Retail Operations Jim Killen, GlobalComix CEO Henrik Rydberg, and ICv2 President Milton Griepp. Moderators include Rob Salkowitz and me, Heidi MacDonald, who will moderate a talk with Buckley. It will be an exciting afternoon!
Comic Industry Social Hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.)
Enjoy a beverage and meet, mingle, and network with other leaders of the industry.
The Future of Comics (4:00-4:30 p.m.)
During his time at Marvel, including a 22-year stretch as President and Publisher, current Head of Marvel Comics & Franchise Dan Buckley has been at the center of American comic publishing and the expansion of comics into a major force in the popular culture. As he helps navigate Marvel to a new leadership era and a new base in Burbank, he sits down with Eisner Award-winning journalist Heidi MacDonald (ComicsBeat, Publishers Weekly) to look ahead to the future of comics.
The Future of Manga (4:30-5:00 p.m.)
Manga fandom is in the midst of a worldwide surge of growth, driven by the wide availability of anime and coordinated efforts to expand the world audience by Japanese companies and government. Few people are better qualified to look at what that means for the future of manga in the U.S. than Kurt Hassler, who spent seven years as the graphic novel buyer for Border Group during the manga surge in the 00s, then went on to co-found Yen Press, and James Killen, who spent 21 years, including the formative years of manga fandom in the U.S., as graphic novel buyer at Barnes & Noble. Both are now key leaders of Manga Spot, a new retail chain specializing in manga with plans to open up to 1000 stores in the U.S.
The Data Behind Digital (5:00-5:30 p.m.)
Ask a U.S., a Japanese, and a Korean publisher what the US digital market is worth and you’ll get three different answers. GlobalComix works with all three, and CEO Henrik Rydberg will share what reader behavior reveals about what digital actually drives: awareness that builds fandom, merch sales, and content revenue. He’ll show how digital earnings compound across free, subscription, and à la carte, and what publishers still get wrong about them. Moderator Rob Salkowitz will lead the discussion on the data.
ICv2 White Paper (5:30-6:00 p.m.)
ICv2 CEO Milton Griepp will present the ICv2 White Paper, with the charts and graphs that show the state of the comics and graphic novel market across channels, looking at the trends that will drive fandom into the future.
Milton Griepp is the founder and President of Eisner-nominated ICv2, since 2001 the Co-Sponsor: GlobalComix
GlobalComix is built to grow the digital market for comics and manga. We help publishers reach new audiences and new markets, translating and distributing their catalogs and building fandom around their IP. True to our name, we connect comics cultures across borders, helping stories travel between East and West and reach readers they otherwise might not. With 300,000+ titles, day-and-date releases, and a rapidly growing roster of publishers, we’re building the category at global scale.
Mad Cave Studios, established in 2014, is an independent publisher of comic books, graphic novels, and more. Mad Cave’s catalog includes a mix of licensed, creator-owned, and original works, created by a diverse cast of storytellers. Mad Cave Studios is the parent company to imprints Maverick (young adult), Nakama Press (manga, manhua, manhwa, and other international voices), and Papercutz (middle grade/kids). Visit them online at madcavestudios.com.
