Continuing with our wide-ranging survey of creators from every end of the business on what happened and whatâs coming. You can check out the other parts of the survey here.
2019 Projects:Â 100 Light Years of Solitude, some unannounced projects
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The phoenix-like transformation of Nancy as a voice for our time
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? DC Ink/Zoom totally making bank
 Andrew Farago, Cartoon Art Museum Curator, writer
2019 Projects: Voltron: The Ultimate Visual History from Insight Editions; Batman and Popeye projects; a full slate of exhibitions at the Cartoon Art Museum
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? More women, LGBTQ, and creators of color published major works and won major comic industry awards this year than weâd seen in some entire decades prior to the 2010s. The comics landscape is changing before our eyes, and thatâs a great thing.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Gina Gaglianoâs lineup at Random House Graphic will bring even more young readers into comics. That and Raina Telgemeierâs how-to book Share Your Smile are going to lay the foundation for the biggest story in comics in 2024.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Itâs not an election year, so if I can go a week without any major political news or upheavals, that would be great.
Who inspired you in 2018? Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Spider-Manâs co-creators couldnât have taken more divergent paths if theyâd tried, but each seemed to be more than content with his lot in life. There are lessons to be learned from both.
Alison Wilgus, Cartoonist
2019 Projects: I just turned in the second and final volume of my graphic novel series, Chronin, which Iâve been working on since 2007. BOTH volumes will debut from Tor in 2019, which is absolutely wild â Volume 1 in February and Volume 2 in September. Iâll also be continuing to put out the Graphic Novel TK podcast with my friend and co-producer, Gina Gagliano!
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Gina Gagliano starting her new graphic novel imprint at PRH. And Iâm not just saying this because Ginaâs a friend â Random House Graphic was announced in the Spring, and itâs already transforming the landscape of kidsâ graphic novel publishing from where I sit. If youâre a cartoonist who wants the resources and reach of a major print publisher, you can count your options on one hand. We hardly ever get major new players like this, and I canât wait to see how everything shakes out over the next couple of years.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? God who knows.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? I feel no guilt for my pleasures anymore, we all gotta cling to what joy we can on this bitch of an earth.
Who inspired you in 2018? My editor, Diana Pho. As Iâve taken on more editorial work of my own this past year, as well as interviewing a ton of industry professionals for GNTK, I have a much better understanding of JUST HOW INSANELY GOOD AT HER JOB SHE IS, as well as being an exceptionally generous and kind member of the larger community.
2019 Projects:Â Continuing to write for The Comics Journal, Comics MNT, Publisherâs Weekly, Your Chicken Enemy, WowCool.com, and whoever else will have me. My own High-Low blog just hit its tenth anniversary, and I plan to keep at that as well as write for my patrons at my Patreon. This is the year I also hope to work on my first couple of books. I will also continue my position as co- programmer of SPX.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The continuing, massive culture shift in terms of who is making comics and for whom. There are more women, more people of color, and more queer folk than ever in comics, and that number is growing exponentially. Trans creators in particular made a huge impact in 2018. The blowback from the usual quarters was as predictable as it was irrelevant.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? The continued struggle to solve the distribution problem for small-press cartoonists is the big one. There is an explosion of new cartoonists thanks to greater access to comics education, but creating a sustainable market for them all is going to be a real challenge. The festival circuit should be seen as a supplement and marketing tool, not a solution.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Going to an NXT show in Durham.
Who inspired you in 2018? All of the other members of #defendthe11, but especially Whit Taylor.
2019 Projects: Age Of X-Man: Prisoner X and more Livewire! Also some unannounced things, so stay tunedâŚ
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Too many amazing stories I am looking forward to reading to choose!
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Danny Lore, Matt Rosenberg, Che Grayson, Regine Sawyer.
Madeleine Holly-Rosing,  Writer
2019 Projects:Â The new Boston Metaphysical Society one-shot, The Spirit of Rebellion (below) and more novels!
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Marvel original line of digital comics
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? The growth of independent titles.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Reading more.
Ted Rall, Cartoonist and writer
2019 Projects:Â THE STRINGER, a graphic novel where âWag the Dogâ meets âBreaking Badâ, drawn by Pablo Callejo and written by Ted Rall. WHATâS LEFT: THE FIGHT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY by Ted Rall, about the clash between progressives and corporate liberals. A paperback reissue of THE YEAR OF LOVING DANGEROUSLY, drawn by Pablo Callejo and written by Ted Rall. And an as yet untitled novel.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Watching American democracy continue to implode.
Who inspired you in 2018? Social media, negatively. The stupidity level finally rose to the level where it became impossible to care what trolls might think. This forced me to think for myself and rely on my own instincts.
Raina Telgemeier, Cartoonist
2019 Projects:Â Share Your Smile, a how-to comics guide for young creators, comes out April 30th. And my next full-length graphic novel, Guts, will be out on September 17th! Itâs a prequel to Smile and Sisters. Iâm pretty excited about it.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? When Stan Lee passed away, the rest of the world, all the regular people I know, were talking about it. His influence went so far beyond the industry.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? I can tell you something Iâm looking forward to! Jen Wangâs new graphic novel, STARGAZING. I got to read an advance copy, and Iâm so glad itâll be out in the world next year.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? I have four events lined up in Texas next year, so Iâm looking forward to tacos. All of the tacos.
Who inspired you in 2018? Jarrett J. Krosoczkaâs Hey, Kiddo is one of the bravest graphic memoirs ever written. It allows kids who suffer from family addiction in silence to feel seen. Iâm so proud of and inspired by Jarrett!
David Macho, Jack of all trades
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? The batwedding
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Publishers drop Diamond, change distribution, avoid impending death! đ
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? War of the Realms
Todd Allen, Talking Head
A little more supernatural detective work:
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Taken as a whole, the various launch and relaunch attempts⌠and there were plenty.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? How the 2018 launches/relaunches play out and the next wave. It sure feels like itâs taking more and more effort to tread water and this will have a trickle down effect one way or the other. I just hope a Barnes & Noble contraction doesnât factor into that.
Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Producer, Writer, Cartoonist
2019 Projects:Â www.jewishcartoon.com/passover
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018? Pretty much every Mark Waid and Chris Samnee collaboration. Their batting average is off the charts.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? Please God, not Bruce Wayneâs penis.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Catching up on all the Marvel movies while house-sitting for a friend with a huge TV.
Atom! Freeman, Sales and Marketing Maven
2019 Projects:Â Building Prana: Direct Market Solutions. Creating more resources for retailers and publishers. Building ComicHub into a resource for all in comics.
What was the biggest story in comics in 2018 There were SO MANY! Seriously, do you remember a weirder year in the comics industry or was it just me? Valiant, Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, IDW⌠everyone has been affected by this weirdo year.
What will be the biggest story in comics in 2019? TKO, maybe? ComicHub? Prana? Iâm optimistic that 2019 becomes the year of decentralizing power that grows the industry for everyone.
What guilty pleasure (of any kind) are you looking forward to in 2019? Watching TKO and the publishers who follow suit break the distribution model and build the entire industry in the process.
Who inspired you in 2018? Dinesh Shamdasani. Forced out of the company heâs devoted his life to and even though he has more money than I will ever see, he is seeing the movies he set out to make through to the end and gathering speed to go after the next thing.
   The Beat's Annual Creator Survey Part 2: What will 2019 hold for comics? Creators give thei guesses. Continuing with our wide-ranging survey of creators from every end of the business on what happened and what's coming.
