Fairly large shockwaves this week, as it’s confirmed that Increase! Studios President of Publishing and Advertising Filip Sablik is leaving the corporate.

Stories of this beautiful transfer had been circulating since late final week, however had been solely confirmed at the moment by a Increase spokesperson. 

As we’ve famous right here many occasions, Sablik has change into the general public face of Increase in each method doable – and has even stepped up as a frontrunner (and cheerleader) for the comics trade as a complete. Throughout his time at Increase, Sablik oversaw such acclaimed books as Lumberjanes and One thing is Killing the Youngsters, Increase’s transfer into youngsters comics, their revolutionary retailer packages, and most lately some of essentially the most profitable comics kickstarters ever.

Famed for his inspirational Powerpoint decks at trade conferences, and talking frankly in regards to the points going through the medium, it’s laborious to see how his distinctive skillset might be replicated. 

Additionally laborious to see….what he’s as much as subsequent. Hypothesis instantly went to Sablik becoming a member of former IDW editor in chief Jamie S. Wealthy who left IDW for an unnamed new mission a number of days in the past. Any enterprise that has each Sablik and Wealthy on board would have already got an enviable workers however who on earth might persuade two excessive stage (and effectively paid) execs to go away their jobs for what is sort of actually a brand new firm? Whoever it’s would have deep pockets in order that guidelines out anybody within the US comics trade. 

However as a reminder….Sablik’s team-up with Wealthy is pure hypothesis at this level. 

Whereas the hypothesis within the comics trade gossip circuit has been heating as much as ranges mostly discovered in the midst of the solar, no phrase has leaked to us of the ultimate vacation spot for both.

The affirmation of Sablik’s departure did cap per week of the strangest rumors about Increase that we’ve ever heard. It’s broadly identified within the trade that Increase! Studios has been on the block for a number of years, courting to earlier than the pandemic even. Final week, rumors reached us {that a} purchaser had been discovered within the conventional publishing world, however these rumors have but to be confirmed by anybody so throw these within the complete hypothesis pile as effectively. 

Additionally famous by observers, Increase! founder Ross Richie, who left his place as CEO to take over as Chairman of the Board in 2021, had all of the sudden change into far more seen on social media in current days speaking about Increase initiatives, so make of that what you’ll. 

Increase will proceed on with Stephen Christy (President, Improvement) and Matt Gagnon (Editor-in-Chief) – however who will fill the Writer sneakers? Let the resumes circulation!