Mike Marts Leaves AfterShock Comics

The End Of An Era

Mike Marts, AfterShock Editor-in-Chief, has just announced that he is leaving the company…

Here is his statement he put up online:

It’s extremely bittersweet for me to report that today marks my final day as Editor-in-Chief at AfterShock Comics.

For me, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. It seems like just yesterday, but it’s hard to imagine it’s been almost eight years since I answered the call to break away from mainstream comics and start my own company. All throughout my tenures at both Marvel and DC, I dreamed of one day starting my own thing. Then, one day in 2015, the opportunity was there for the taking—and I took it without hesitation.

My move to AfterShock opened new doors, experiences and opportunities—and for that, I am forever grateful. After 20 long years, I left the comfort of super hero stories and dove headfirst into the pool of creator-owned comics. I was introduced to the world of film, TV, studios and streamers. I was able to work remotely from home (before it was popular) and spend more time with my family. I was able to build something from the ground up…starting with just four titles and five employees, which eventually grew to over 130 individual IPs, over 20 staffers, and numerous film and TV options. And let’s not forget all of the hundreds of new creators, dozens of retailers and other various business partners that I never would have known if not for AfterShock.

It was exhilarating, exciting and challenging to build a company, and it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. Creating an infrastructure, establishing a creative vision and initiating a workplace culture were all tasks I thoroughly enjoyed…but now it’s time to pass the reins to new hands, to allow someone else’s creative tastes and instincts steer the tone and pace of this great company.

They say the key to creating a great business is finding the right partners—and in that regard, I hit the jackpot. To work alongside my three partners every day—Jon Kramer, Lee Kramer and Joe Pruett—was true luck. A finer set of guys you’ll never meet. And fellow executive Steve Rotterdam—it was great reuniting with you again. My editorial and production staff were some of the best I’ve ever had the fortune of working with—thank you Christina Harrington, Teddy Leo, Ryan Carroll and Charles Pritchett. I’ll miss being in the trenches with you every day. And the countless other AfterShock staffers and freelancers, both present and past, who made every day working here enjoyable: Aaron Marion, Marc Hammond, Kelly Diodati, Katherine Jamison, Anne Randulic, Atom Freeman, Anthony Militano, Corey Breen, RuthAnn Thompson, Rachel Pinnelas, Sarah Pruett, Gigi Williams, Jawad Qureshi, Stephan Nilson, Mike Zagari, Lisa Wu,  Ashely Wyatt—thank you, all. Special thanks also to all the fine folk at AfterShock Media and Rive Gauche: Marine, Toni, Blake, Lisa, Laurie, David, Dan, Jeff, Carrie, Alexis, Maddy, Wynn and Christina, Julie and Jay.

Special shoutout to my brother-in-arms, my partner-in-crime Joe Pruett…if not for your random Facebook message over New Year’s break in 2015, I might never have started this dream and created this company. I am forever grateful and will never give you a hard time that I was actually your second choice. 

I will forever remain AfterShock’s number one cheerleader. As I start the next phase of my creative journey, I will continue to read and support their titles, only now it will be fun not knowing what’s coming down the road. Thank you for the best eight years of my career, AfterShock. See you in the funny papers!