While there was a lot of chatter on the underground wire, and lots of gossip moving around, no one quite knew what to expect with a new project to be announced named Ghost Machine back in October 2023.
The New York Comic Con was still months ahead when the group scheduled its panel and presentation, so the inclusion was definitely floating around. That said, it was at that convention that the project really became public and official. A number of PR pieces were already floating around, and the theme was very clear: comic book projects are going to be creator-owned and creator-run.
The Name Line-Up Raises Eyebrows
There are lots of projects that come up in the digital world and comic books every day. There are lots of hopefuls looking to show off their skill and products, hoping that the display will attract interest and possibly produce a bigger opportunity through networking and being in the right place at the right time. However, with Ghost Machine, the presentation was very, very different; the roster was entirely made of industry veterans with stellar A-list projects under their belt.
The names included well-known characters like Bryan Hitch, Geoff Johns and Lamont Magee among others. The October announcement turned out to be a well-timed entry of a new collective-owned project that wasn’t going to be another fancy front for one of the big-name comic book companies.
Partnership With an Industry Contradictor
Image Comics has committed to helping Ghost Machine see fruition, which practically guarantees the Ghost Machine #1 release will see the light of day with a sizable number of publications.
It’s also a sign of commitment to the project, a practice Image has been famous for betting on new artists and projects of the mainstream. It’s been a primary factor that has contributed to the company’s success despite the domination of the big two: DC and Marvel.
A Heavy Schedule for the New Year
2024 definitely is going to be the year that Ghost Machine proves itself. A number of the project’s titles are being released in the early part of the year, all of which see integration in Ghost Machine #1 as well.
The release schedule is going to be a steady flow of the collective’s work product and will sink or swim on whether Ghost Machine continues, but so far there’s a lot of expectation of not only success but big things to come. And the most interested are the fans of the artists who have seen their prior work and definitely look forward to seeing more.
