PORTLAND, Ore. 04/03/2024 — Image Comics welcomes a new head of Business Development, Jim Viscardi.
Jim Viscardi is now VP of Business Development at Image Comics, effective immediately. He will oversee Image’s audience growth and build new business relationships for the company in the long term. He will work closely with the Sales and Marketing teams and report directly to Eric Stephenson, Publisher & Chief Creative Officer.
"Image Comics stands as the vanguard of creator-owned publishing, embodying the spirit of artistic freedom and empowerment. In joining this team, I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to Image's legacy of fostering creative independence while driving strategic business growth that helps our partners in the Direct Market & beyond,” said Viscardi, in an exclusive scoop on the news at The Hollywood Reporter. “Together, we will continue to push boundaries, inspire innovation, and amplify the voices of creators worldwide."
Viscardi comes to Image Comics with 15+ years of experience working in various forms of comics and entertainment business development. In 2015, Viscardi co-founded ComicBook.com, which quickly became a top-ranked destination for pop culture and entertainment news. It now boasts one of the largest social media followings on the Internet. The Website was acquired by CBS Interactive (now Paramount Global) in 2018. In his role at ComicBook, Viscardi oversaw editorial strategy, content generation, video production, and social media growth as the site's popularity exploded, growing to rival the reach of establishment media titans. He began his career at Marvel Entertainment working on the company's marketing, communications, and retailer relations through several milestone moments, including Avengers vs X-Men, Marvel NOW!, and the introduction of characters like Miles Morales and Captain Marvel.
Stephenson added: “I first met Jim around 10 years ago when he was on the verge of making a major career change. Jim’s tireless work ethic and all-encompassing passion for comics made him an ideal candidate for a job opening we had at the time. His interests ultimately led him elsewhere—to great success—but it’s exciting that all these years later, we finally have an opportunity to work together. He has a wealth of experience at his disposal, but more than that, a unique perspective that should serve him well in this new role.”