Publisher Profile: Skybound Entertainment
The CBC asks Sean Mackiewicz, SVP, Publisher, questions about the publisher.
What is your publishing house most known for?
Skybound is home to the bestselling comic book series The Walking Dead and Invincible, as well as a library of over 60 original comic books and graphic novels. Recently, we’ve expanded into licensed publishing and have had incredible success creating the Energon Universe with Hasbro, combining Transformers, G.I. Joe, and all-new characters into the hottest universe in comics.
What conventions and conferences does your publishing house usually attend?
Our core events are San Diego Comic-Con, New York Comic Con, ALA Annual, and Frankfurt Book Fair, but we always attend a handful of book market-focused events, depending on our marketing needs.
How many books does your house aim to publish per season/year?
This year we’re publishing over 130 comic book periodicals and 40 books (bind-ups and original graphic novels), and that’s up over 10% from 2024.
Which genres does your house prefer to publish?
Our primary focus is genre stories with a fresh slant, driven by grounded characters, constant surprises, and jaw-dropping cliffhangers. Whether that’s horror, superheroes, action/adventure, sci-fi, fantasy or romance, we’re always looking to push the boundaries of what readers can expect comics can be.
What are some of your house’s publishing priorities over the next few years?
Developing exciting, new, original comics will always be the core of our publishing plan. We’re also continuing to expand our licensed comic partnerships with Hasbro, Universal Studios, LEGO Books, and Creepshow. We approach licensed comics the same way we do originals: pairing top talent to deliver exciting stories that will grow our audiences together.
Which upcoming titles is your house buzzing about?
Family Force V by Matt Braly (creator of Disney’s Amphibia) and Ainsworth Lin, is an incredibly fun and emotional YA original graphic novel launching in June. It centers on what it’s like to grow up in a family where fighting kaiju is pretty normal for a weekday night. But if your family legacy is keeping the world safe, how much room does that leave to just be a teenager?
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a school or public library?
Our bestselling Energon Universe titles—Void Rivals, Transformers, Codename: G.I. Joe—are being collected in hardcover this year, and perfect for longtime fans of these franchises or readers who’ve never even heard of Optimus Prime! All you need to know to get wrapped up in the high-stakes storytelling and world-spanning adventure is in every volume.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a classroom? Which grade?
Transformers: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint by Brian “Smitty” Smith (author/illustrator of Pea, Bee & Jay) and Marz Jr. is a hilarious MG OGN focusing Ballpoint—a small bot with BIG ambitions. It launches in July and is perfect for Grades 2-5.
Name a few of your favorite backlist titles that people should check out.
The Walking Dead and Invincible Compendiums are evergreen titles and the perfect place for readers to sample our signature storytelling. Manifesting Destiny by Chris Dingess & Matthew Roberts is a fantastic alternate history title now collected in two hardcovers, that’s a thrilling adventure tale and a deeper investigation into the origins of the United States—and both are filled with monsters.
Thank you, Skybound Entertainment!
