Bill Schanes
William D. Schanes (born 1958) is an American publishing executive, active for many years in the comic book industry. One of the founders of Pacific Comics, Schanes later worked for many years for Diamond Comic Distributors.
Career
Bill and his brother Steve Schanes co-founded Pacific Comics in 1971. Pacific Comics was an early pioneer in the direct market method of selling comic books, as well as a publisher in its own right (beginning in 1981) which actively promoted creator-owned properties. At Pacific, Bill Schanes "took on the nuts-and-bolts aspects of business and accounting."[1] Pacific collapsed in 1984.[2]
Schanes joined Steve Geppi's Diamond Comic Distributors company in 1985, rising to the position of Vice President for Purchasing. After 28 years with Diamond, Schanes departed the company in April 2013.
CEO Steve Geppi remarked at the time of Schanes' departure:
As a co-founder of Pacific Comics in 1971, Bill already had over a dozen years of experience in comic retailing, distribution and publishing when he came to work for me in 1985. Since then, Bill’s vision, creativity and dedication have contributed greatly not just to Diamond’s success, but to the success of our industry as a whole. I’m extremely grateful to Bill for all of his contributions ....[3]
Controversy
In 1987, Puma Blues publisher Dave Sim fell into dispute with Diamond over Sim's decision not to use Diamond to distribute the Cerebus graphic novel High Society. As a result, Schanes, in his role as National Account Representative, informed Sim: "If it is your intention to pick and choose which products you want distributors to carry, it should be our privilege to choose what we wish to distribute. Therefore, it is our feeling we should no longer carry and promote Puma Blues."[4] At that time, Diamond distributed an estimated 33% of the series' print run. Puma Blues creators Stephen Murphy and Michael Zulli responded with an open letter titled "Not Fade Away," stating their intent to continue with or without Diamond's support.[4][5]
Later in 1988, Diamond backed down and agreed to distribute The Puma Blues,[6][7][8] but the incident was one of the primary factors leading to Sim's participation in developing the Creator's Bill of Rights.[9]
Awards
- Schanes was the recipient of an Inkpot Award, presented at the San Diego Comic-Con, in 1987.
References
- ^ Sanford, Jay Allen. "Two Men and their Comic Books," San Diego Reader blog (August 19, 2004).
- ^ "Newswatch: Pacific Suspends Operations," The Comics Journal #93 (September 1984), pp. 8-10.
- ^ "Diamond Announces Changes to Executive Management Team". www.diamondcomics.com. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ a b Letters pages, The Puma Blues #15 (February 1988).
- ^ "Diamond Distributors Clashes With Aardvark-Vanaheim," The Comics Journal #122 (March 1988), p. 7.
- ^ "Diamond Backs Down," The Comics Journal #121 (April 1988), 7.
- ^ "A-V, Diamond Clash Again," The Comics Journal #122 (June 1988), pp. 20-21.
- ^ "Diamond Loosens Up," The Comics Journal #122 (June 1988), pp. 20.
- ^ Text of the Creators' Bill of Rights at ScottMcCloud.com
- v
- t
- e
- Terry Austin
- Murray Bishoff
- Pat Boyette
- John Byrne
- National Film Board of Canada
- Ernie Chan
- Chris Claremont
- Shary Flenniken
- Mike Friedrich
- Rick Geary
- Don Glut
- S. Gross
- Al Hartley
- B. Kliban
- Jerry Muller
- Joe Orlando
- Fred Patten
- Don Phelps
- Richard Pini
- Wendy Pini
- David Raskin
- Scott Shaw!
- Jim Shooter
- John Stanley
- B. K. Taylor
- Osamu Tezuka
- Adam West
- Wally Wood
- Jerry Bails
- L. B. Cole
- Jim Fitzpatrick
- Dick Giordano
- Dave Graue
- Paul Gulacy
- Mary Henderson
- Karl Hubenthal
- Bil Keane
- Frank Miller
- Doug Moench
- Monkey Punch
- Dennis O'Neil
- Gary Owens
- Richard Rockwell
- Allen Saunders
- Julius Schwartz
- Mike Sekowsky
- Bill Sienkiewicz
- Dave Sim
- Alex Toth
- Morrie Turner
- Bill Woggon
- Bob Bindig
- Brian Bolland
- Russ Cochran
- David Cockrum
- Max Allan Collins
- Chase Craig
- Archie Goodwin
- Mike Grell
- Bruce Hamilton
- Jack Katz
- Howard Kazanjian
- Hank Ketcham
- Walter Koenig
- Richard Kyle
- Lee Marrs
- Frank Marshall
- John Pound
- Tony Raiola
- Steven Spielberg
- Leonard Starr
- Robert Williams
- Murphy Anderson
- Román Arámbula
- Greg Bear
- Fae Gates Desmond
- Stan Drake
- John Field
- Rick Hoberg
- Greg Jein
- Ollie Johnston
- Brant Parker
- Robert Shayne
- Curt Swan
- Frank Thomas
- Jim Valentino
- Al Williamson
- Brent Anderson
- Ben Bova
- David Brin
- Jack Cummings
- Jack Davis
- Alan Moore
- Dan O'Bannon
- Tom Orzechowski
- John Rogers
- Alex Schomburg
- Walt Simonson
- Steve Ditko
- Harlan Ellison
- Larry Geeck
- Ward Kimball
- Deni Loubert
- Bill Messner-Loebs
- Mike Peters
- Bill Schanes
- Steve Schanes
- Robert Silverberg
- Art Spiegelman
- Bernie Wrightson
- Ray Zone
- Frank Alison
- Robert Asprin
- Mike Baron
- Lynda Barry
- John Bolton
- Jules Feiffer
- Raymond E. Feist
- Matt Groening
- Gary Groth
- George R. R. Martin
- Mike Pasqua
- Steve Rude
- Marie Severin
- Matt Wagner
- Complete list
- 1970s
- 1980s
- 1990s
- 2000s
- 2010s