Although its publisher and founder, Mike Turner, died a few weeks ago, Aspen Comics was still present at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con. The team has several projects in the works and will not let Turner’s company run adrift. The Comic Book Bin caught up with Aspen Comics’ current publisher, Frank Mastromauro.
Frank Mastromauro
According to Mastromauro, although there was a need to adjust to the death of Turner, most of their plans for the upcoming year were already set. “Aspen Comics is still Mike’s company. His death was unexpected as he was starting to get better in May. Then in June, he had more pains. His decline was gradual over a few weeks.”
Some of the upcoming plans Aspen Comics has in the works include the third volume of the comic book series
Fathom, and a new project coming up called
Executive Iris. Although a free preview of the latter series is available, the team at Aspen Comics is still working on a publishing schedule to release it. Before his death, Turner was working on the ending of
Soulfire Volume 1. Artist Marcus is working on
Volume 2 right now.
Mike Turner
Mastromauro says that Aspen Comics will continue to work on fantasy orientated series, but new genres are coming up too. According to Mastromauro, the new genres covered will not be superhero comic books. When asked if Aspen Comics will continue to publish on its own, Mastromauro says that they will stay the course and not plunge into any project unless it is done right. “This is how Mike always used to work. Mike won’t be here to see everything we had planned for Aspen Comics, but his company plans on staying live for a long time.”
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