Literally feeling physically ill even typing this out: bam, smack, pow, comics aren’t for kids anymore. Or rather, they are still for kids, but now Macmillan Publishers is spinning its popular First Second imprint out into a new imprint for adults: 23rd Street Books.
“First Second is growing . . . It’s now :01 + 23! This new line will wow you, thrill you, entertain, provoke, inform, and excite you,” said Mark Siegel, Vice President, Executive Editorial & Creative Director for both First Second and 23rd St, via a press release provided to Comic Book Club. “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!”
Along with Siegel, Editorial Director Calista Brill will work on the editorial direction of both imprints. It’s right there in the job title!
Like First Second, 23rd Street Books will run the gamut of genres and styles. And they’ve already got an incredibly impressive lineup of creators for the 2025 launch of the imprint: Gene Luen Yang and Ben Hatke, Damon Wayans, Jr., Saul Williams, Jesse Lonergan, Anna Meyer, and Laurel and Mia Boulton.
In addition to the new books, previous graphic novels for adults like the Adventure Zone series will be shifted to 23rd Street Books. And First Second will continue, of course, with Creative Director Kirk Benshoff overseeing the art department for both imprints. Tess Banta is the first new hire for the imprint (she’ll join as Editor), with more to come.
Per a teaser provided to Comic Book Club, First Second is being sold as “Your fresh start in great graphic novels. For young readers of all ages.” Meanwhile, 23rd Street Books’s pitch line is, “Your one stop in great comics. For grown ups.”
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