As keynote speaker of the recent Ringo Awards, the Archie Comics president praised the art form that sustains us…
By MIKE PELLERITO
Just had one of the best times ever going to Baltimore Comic-Con in October. It’s one of my favorite shows—totally comic-book focused and filled with some of the best talent and retailers in the industry.
Long story short, we decided to rent a truck and drive down with a bunch of friends: the great writer, artist, and comic shop owner Franco (read his column here at 13th Dimension every Friday), Mitch Hallock, the creator of Terrificon (another favorite comic convention of mine), Aw Yeah Comics-New York’s co-owner Marc Hammond, and his lovely girlfriend, Sam Dempsey. I’ve never laughed so much in my life.
The ride down and ride back, which was in total about eight hours of driving, consisted of nonstop jokes and constant laughter. If you ever have a chance to take a road trip with this crew, I highly advise it.
Baltimore Comic-Con was wonderful, from seeing friends in the industry — like the Joe Kubert School’s president Anthony Marquez, Mark Waid, Tom King, and Dan Parent — to a breakfast with Howard Chaykin and my travel crew. That breakfast had just as many laughs as the ride down.
There was also Charlie Kochman of Abrams ComicArts, with the team behind the must-read The Avengers: The Veracity Trap by Chip Kidd and Michael Cho. They stole the Ringo Awards show with a bunch of gags that had the room in tears.
Before the awards show, I enjoyed a nice meal with Baltimore Comic-Con’s organizers, Shelly and Marc Nathan, and the legend Stan Sakai, who won a well-deserved Humanitarian Award. Marc is a good friend of mine I’ve known for a long time and he was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to be the Ringos’ keynote speaker. It took me a while, but I eventually worked up the nerve to speak to Stan, and he was just the nicest person. As a huge fan of Usagi Yojimbo, he exceeded any expectations.
As I readied myself for the keynote speech, some negative thoughts crept into my head. As you’ll read in the speech, I’m not a fan of addressing an audience. But comic book folks are good folks; Charlie Kochman came over and gave me nice pep talk and later so did Dean Haspiel, and with a few laughs I was much better.
As Randy Tishler — who earlier gave me some invaluable advice on how he prepares to host the evening — began the event, I was off sitting to the side of the stage waiting for my introduction. Superstar artist Tula Lotay came over as she and Becky Cloonan were the first presenters after the keynote. I’m sure she didn’t realize it, but talking and joking before going on stage did wonders to keep my thoughts positive.
I can be my worst enemy with the desire to be better, or at least passable, but since the reviews about the speech were good, it seemed OK to share with you, as well as some of the behind-the-scenes of the speech, which is — at its core — about overcoming challenges and looking for the good in things.
Here’s the speech:
When Marc Nathan asked if I’d be the keynote speaker for Ringos, I responded: “Hell, no.”
And I didn’t say hell.
But Marc can be persuasive.
I’m not a fan of speaking publicly; panels are fine, podcasts are fine, but those feel conversational and more comfortable. Speeches, not so much. I asked Marc for the night to see if I could come up with something. Going over the year so far for inspiration, that’s when the realization set in that 2025 is one hell of a year.
So, if I crash and burn, it’ll be very 2025.
We’ve seen changes in distribution impacting publishers and retailers. Leaving us jumping to Lunar, Universal, and Penguin Random House as they have come in to stabilize the industry
The costs of printing and shipping, along with the threat of tariffs, have added more stress to the already overworked people in pub ops.
We joke at the office with Jamie, Vin, and Steve O that it’s like someone set the video game to the hardest level and left it there.
Professionally/personally, everyone is having one hell of a year.
Despite all that, 2025 is not without its silver linings.
We’re enjoying a renaissance of some of the very best stories we’ve seen in years, from original graphic novels to manga, crossovers, and new comic book series — all while talent proves time and time again to be the secret sauce.
Many of these projects and people are nominated here tonight at the Ringo Awards.
Awards named after a talent that left an amazing legacy of work, but was gone far too soon.
I met Mike Wieringo, maybe 30 years ago, at another great, comic book-focused convention, HeroesCon, run by the legendary Shelton Drum.
I cannot tell you what Mike Ringo and I spoke about, but I can tell you I was happy to find out he was just as incredible a person as he was an artist.
Years later, at this convention, I bought a page of Ringo’s Spider-Man and Fantastic Four work from his family.
For years, the page has hung in my home office. Some of my favorite characters drawn by one of my favorite artists. Always an inspiration.
I take that inspiration and apply it to my life in comics.
Most of you know me for my day job, where I’ve worked for years at Archie Comics. I’ve had a handful of job titles, from production artist to editor to managing editor, and now president and editor-in-chief.
One of my favorite compliments came from the great Howard Chaykin, who might even be in this room. He said something along the lines that he likes the fact that I’m a boss at America’s most wholesome comic book company — and it looks like I could break your legs if you’re late with your subscription payment.
Just for the record, no one is late on their subscription payment.
Not anymore.
At Archie, I have a boss I actually get along with and like, Jon Goldwater. I know the company is in good hands with his family. We have a team that cares about the work we do.
And as a co-owner of a comic-book shop — Aw Yeah Comics in Harrison, New York — I’m lucky to be in business with a bunch of great comic-book people: co-owner Marc Hammond, who runs the store, along with fellow owners Art and Franco, and a few other comic people. It teaches me new things and they inspire me with their hard work. All of them have become some of my closest friends.
With the many jobs I’ve had over the years, I have a pretty unique perspective on the industry. I don’t know that many people have a similar view.
At Archie, with the classic material, we deal in large part with casual readers, kids, and adult non-comic book readers. Our audience is really anybody and everybody — the ultimate in accessibility — for generations.
I’ve handled distribution, currently working with some of the retailers in this room, big box chains, newsstand distribution, comic shops, direct-to-consumer, libraries, and so on.
I help put comic books in the hands of people who might never read a comic.
People who now love the medium for life.
I’ve helped with the production of various TV shows, and a new live-action Archie movie just announced by Universal Pictures is sure to bring new eyes to comics and comics shops.
Comic books’ own Tom King is writing this amazing movie.
Also, Tom King and Dan Parent are nominated for their comic Archie: The Decision. I’m totally biased and hope they win. (Report: Sadly, no luck.)
Now, it’s an event like Baltimore Comic-Con and, specifically, the Ringo Awards, where we get to sit in a room full of people we know and admire, from all parts of the industry, and celebrate the fantastic work coming from so many.
Especially in a year like this.
So good luck tonight, it’s going to be a hell of an event.
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MORE
— MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE: 14 Years, 3 Comics Shops and Endless Joy. Click here.
— LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY: Celebrating the Place Where Everbody Knows Your Name. Click here.
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MIKE PELLERITO is the president and editor-in-chief of Archie Comics.
