IDW has shot us a press release announcing several changes to their Editorial Team. The most noticeable change being John Barber who acted as the Editor for Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye and the upcoming Revolution, leaving for a new secret project at IDW.
“As much as we’re all sad to see John Barber leave his key editorial spot at IDW, the change does also provide the opportunity to advance Sarah and Denton in well-earned ways,” said IDW’s Chief Creative Officer Chris Ryall. “And it also means we’ll be seeing additional writing projects from John as well, which is another bit of good news for IDW. John is a key part of Revolution and the events that spin out of it, and he’ll continue to help steer this new direction on a couple titles we’re excited to be announcing at SDCC a little later this month.”
Check out the full Press Release, after the jump.
IDW Publishing Announces Editorial Shifts and Promotions
Editors Sarah Gaydos and Denton Tipton Promoted To Group Editor and Senior Editor
San Diego, CA (July 12, 2016) – IDW Publishing has promoted two of its key editorial staff members, Sarah Gaydos and Denton Tipton. Both will continue to report to Editor-in-Chief/Chief Creative Officer Chris Ryall.
Sarah has been promoted from Editor to the position of Group Editor. Sarah began her position at IDW in 2013 after six years of editing at DC/WildStorm. She has overseen the Star Trek and Disney lines to great success among other high profile titles including Cartoon Network’s Powerpuff Girls plus critically acclaimed creator-driven titles such as Satellite Falling. In her new role, she will take on various Hasbro licenses including Jem and the Holograms. She loves cats and burritos.
Denton has been promoted from Editor to the position of Senior Editor. A former journalist at the San Diego Union-Tribune as well as comics retailer, Denton joined IDW in 2008 and edits such series as X-Files, Dirk Gently, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Judge Dredd, Orphan Black, the upcoming Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me, and more exciting projects yet to be announced. He loves dogs and Night Court reruns.
As part of these editorial shifts, IDW Publishing bids a fond farewell to Group Editor John Barber who previously edited Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, Micronauts, and Jem and the Holograms. In addition, John has contributed as a writer to such titles as Transformers, Back to the Future, and the upcoming event series, Revolution. John will remain creatively involved with IDW, writing a secret project yet-to-be-unveiled that spins out Revolution.
“As much as we’re all sad to see John Barber leave his key editorial spot at IDW, the change does also provide the opportunity to advance Sarah and Denton in well-earned ways,” said IDW’s Chief Creative Officer Chris Ryall. “And it also means we’ll be seeing additional writing projects from John as well, which is another bit of good news for IDW. John is a key part of Revolution and the events that spin out of it, and he’ll continue to help steer this new direction on a couple titles we’re excited to be announcing at SDCC a little later this month.”
ZeroiaSD
Yea, this makes me nervous for that reason.
It's not entirely clear to me if Sarah Gaydos's licensed-work duties include TF, but I hope so.
GWolfv2
You mean the stuff that isn't…actually reflective of his general writing style, focus or quality? Like the stuff where no one was able to bring their a games? (I don't think either James or Mairghread showed their best).
Go back and read the first lets say…5 issues of RID.That gives you more of a picture of whether his style suits you.
I also maintain the second half of dark cybertron is really good once it focuses in. Once we hit Megatron and Shockwave as the focal….ooooh my some good ass stuff
Infosaur
I'm not a fan of Barber as a "writer" either. His dialogue can be clunky and he seems to cut-paste characters into whatever position is convinent.
But as a "plotter"? Playing the long game with the franchise? Prowl becoming a Machiavellian control freak/spymaster, King Starscream, the council? It's only when you read an arc of "not-RiD" then go back to the first issue to realize how far it's come.
I'd still rather have him wrangle the other writers and get the best long game out of them.
Boy Blunder
So you specifically only read the ones that got hamstringed by the whole crossover/marketing bullshiz, and sucked.
O-kay then, chief.
Lady Slipstream
I that 1% of the people that think that Barber is a really bad writter… I've read some of the comics he was involved (Dark Cybertron, Combiner Wars…) and they just plain… sucked…
Sweep
Does this mean their is absolutely no hope now for Marvel UK Classics to continue?
Sockie
He won't be looking through the other books' scripts on any sort of regular basis anymore, though, so there's certainly a good chance more things will slip through the cracks and continuity won't be as tight.
EightiesKid
Barber has done a lot of great work on Transformers and GI Joe, IDW has really been top notch and has far surpassed any expectation I had for their work. They've done a great job on a number of 80's properties, their work on Ghostbusters is also terrific.
MatrixOfWumbo
I think it's worth noting that Barber is basically moving down the proverbial hall, so any continuity problems won't suddenly go unnoticed.
Murasame
Hm. Hope that's not bad.
Windsweeper II
I'm glad he'll still write RID. I wasn't the greatest fan and still don't like everything he's done, but since the build up to Dark Cybertron and exempting the CW issues, i have thourougly enjoyed RID.
People underrate that book and follow it up by overreacting against it.
Its not a masterpiece of literature (allthough so very few masterpieces actually deserve that accolade) but its an entertaining title.
dj_convoy II
Oh, good; the man who said fans were too fascinated with canon has been promoted.
GWolfv2
Wow
Like
Wow
I didn't see reactions like this when Schimdty left…and he's just…terrible.
And even if you don't like RID, it's objectively at LEAST an average book (I think objectively far better then average but it's getting too into opinion there.
GWolfv2
I won't lie when I heard this I thought he was off writing and nearly had a heart attack. Thankfully, sanity prevails and continuity can still be weilded like some kinda avenging hammer.
I probably shouldn't have annoyingly tweeted him as much about it but fook it
Friendross
Barber took all the hits from Hasbro and let MTME soar like a eagle as much as possible away from mandates placed on the story… Barber's book took the brunt of all the "IP owners" requests.
lets see how the new guy does dealing with imperial entaglements
Windsweeper II
According to some, for no good reason whatsoever.
soundwaverulls
Hey, that's great! Maybe he'll do a better job writing notRID if he has fewer other things to…
…Never mind.
Boy Blunder
….wow, man. Easy there.
Lady Slipstream
FUUUUUUUUUUU-
Sockie
I think both of you need to do some re-reading. Barber's still writing, he's just no longer editing.