Macmillan is creating a new imprint, 23rd Street Books, which will publish graphic novels for adults that "span styles and genres, from the hilarious to the serious, from the escapist to the realest, from high-octane fiction in every genre to groundbreaking nonfiction--with a trademark commitment to aesthetics and editorial excellence."
23rd Street Books will be headed by Mark Siegel, who founded First Second in 2006, and is now v-p, executive editorial & creative director for both First Second and 23rd Street Books. Editorial director Calista Brill, who joined First Second in 2008, will work closely with Siegel on both imprints. Creative director Kirk Benshoff will oversee both art departments. Tess Banta has joined 23rd Street Books as editor, and additional staff will be hired. First Second will continue to publish and acquire graphic novels for children and teens.
23rd Street Books is launching next year with publications from First Second creators Gene Luen Yang and Ben Hatke; actor/comedian Damon Wayans, Jr., and poet/performer Saul Williams; and new talents, including Jesse Lonergan, Anna Meyer, and Laurel and Mia Boulton. In addition, First Second's graphic novels for adults, including the Adventure Zone series, will join the 23rd Street list.
Siegel said, "First Second is growing... It's now :01 + 23! This new line will wow you, thrill you, entertain, provoke, inform, and excite you. Whether you're a reader, a creator, a librarian, or a bookseller, I hope that you will join us in the next chapter of this exploding comics renaissance!"
Allison Verost, senior v-p and publisher of Roaring Brook Press, Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers, First Second, and now 23rd Street Books, commented: "Far more than a publishing catalog, this new imprint is a creative lab, an incubator for the future of the medium. Beyond capitalizing on an existing market, 23rd Street aims to lead it, shape it, and champion its most visionary minds. I'm incredibly excited to launch 23rd Street as a place for creators to take risks and to build upon Macmillan and First Second's history of publishing groundbreaking and bestselling graphic novels."