Robert Kirkman Urges Comic Industry to Prioritize Original Concepts Over Legacy Franchises

2026-02-22 general

Los Angeles, Sunday, 22 February 2026.
Skybound’s Chairman identified the refusal to move past legacy characters like Batman as the industry’s “original sin,” urging stakeholders to prioritize new intellectual property for sustainable market growth.

The Economics of Nostalgia vs. Innovation

Addressing the ComicsPRO annual retailer conference on February 20, 2026, Robert Kirkman delivered a candid critique of the comic book direct market’s dependence on decades-old intellectual property [1][2]. Kirkman, a partner at Image Comics and head of Skybound Entertainment, explicitly stated, “I honestly don’t really care for Batman,” using the character to illustrate a broader structural issue [1]. He identified the industry’s “original sin” as a refusal to move forward, arguing that this hesitation holds the market back from necessary evolution [1]. This sentiment resonated with attendees, with independent publishers noting the speech served as a powerful reminder that “real success begins” with the freedom to pursue independent storytelling regardless of industry norms [6].

Strategic Expansion: Terminal and the Energon Universe

Moving from theory to practice, Kirkman unveiled aggressive expansion plans intended to inject new capital and concepts into the market. On February 19, 2026, Skybound announced Terminal, a new superhero series co-created by Kirkman and Joe Casey, slated for release on July 22, 2026 [3]. The project leverages high-profile talent, including artists Andy Kubert, David Finch, and Arthur Adams, with Kirkman describing the scope as so massive that approximately 18 issues will be completed before the first issue ships [1][3]. The series, priced at $4.99, will feature a blind bag program to drive retailer engagement [3].

Mitigating Retailer Risk

The push for new IP comes at a time when publishers are actively seeking ways to reduce the financial risk for comic shops stocking unproven titles. Coinciding with Kirkman’s call for innovation, Boom Studios announced on February 20, 2026, that it would make all standard covers (Cover A) fully returnable [7]. This policy change is designed to encourage retailers to order more aggressively without the fear of unsold inventory [7]. As the industry navigates the balance between legacy franchises and original content, these combined efforts from major independent publishers signal a concerted push to revitalize the market infrastructure for the remainder of 2026 [1][5].

Sources

Intellectual Property Publishing Strategy