Valiant Comics has added Andy Liegl, formerly of Boom! and Matthew Klein formerly of Forbidden planet to its marketing team, joining Sales Manager Atom! Freeman, Publishing & Operations Manager Peter Stern, Director of Marketing, Communications & Digital Media Hunter Gorinson, and Publisher Fred Pierce in that end of the company. Tom Brennan recently joined the editorial side.

Andy Liegl comes to Valiant from Boom! Studios, where he oversaw the publisher’s convention presence and convention sales strategy as Event Coordinator until 2014. Prior to that, Liegl spent five years as Manager of Collector’s Paradise – Pasadena, a leading comics retailer in Southern California, where he rediscovered Valiant via the publisher’s 2012 “Summer of Valiant” relaunch and personally bolstered in-store sales of the titles in his store to great success. Liegl is also a former comics journalist, having co-founded ComicAttack.net in 2009 and served as an Assistant Editor of Eisner Award-winning website Comic Book Resources from 2012 to 2013.



“I’m absolutely psyched for the opportunity to work with a publisher who puts such a high priority on product quality and the positive impact that can have with our retail partners,” said Liegl. “Everyone at the Valiant office is insanely dedicated to their work and their energy is powerfully motivating. I’m champing at the bit to be boots on the ground at comic shops, working closely with the people who have dedicated their lives to keeping the direct market thriving for consumers.”



A lifelong comic book fan, Matthew Klein worked as a Retail Associate for Forbidden Planet NYC from 2011 to 2014 – one of the largest sellers of comic books, graphic novels, science fiction, toys, and associated collectibles in the world. During his time with FPNYC, he also worked in the the Artistic Department for the Off-Broadway company, The New Group (Avenue Q, Hurly Burly, The Jacksonian). Klein is also a producer and lead script developer for Six Part Productions and has been a company member since 2013.



“I’m incredibly excited to be a part of the Valiant team,” said Klein. “Nobody in comics is creating an intricate yet accessible universe like Valiant’s and populating it with as diverse a cast of characters. I can’t wait to learn from the insanely experienced team and find ways to contribute to our goal of getting a Valiant comic in the hands of every reader.”

Together, Freeman, Liegl, and Klein will lead the front line of communication between Valiant and the comics retail community worldwide, just as Valiant readies a major wave of titles to be released under the auspices of the VALIANT NEXT initiative with new series including IVAR, TIMEWALKER by New York Times best-selling creators Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry; IMPERIUM by New York Times best-selling writer Joshua Dysart and artist Doug Braithwaite; NINJAK by New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt and artists Clay Mann and Butch Guice; and BLOODSHOT REBORN by New York Times best-selling writer Jeff Lemire and artist Mico Suayan.



“Valiant’s growth over the past three years has been tremendous, and we’re not done yet” said Valiant CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. “As always, however, one of our top priorities remains the strengthening of relationships with fans and retailers. We’ve made a concerted effort since day one to get involved with each and every comic book shop, convention and consumer. Now, as we begin 2015 in full force, we’re looking forward to taking that mission even further with Andy and Matthew on board as valuable new additions to our dedicated and hard-working team.”