Image Comics partner and Skybound founder Robert Kirkman will deliver the keynote address at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting in Glendale, California in February 2026 (see “ComicsPRO Returns to Glendale“). Kirkman last addressed the group in 2010 and noted the return. “I previously spoke at ComicsPRO way back in 2010 and while my unwavering devotion to the direct market retail community has remained unchanged in that time, I hope I’ve gotten a little better at public speaking,” he joked in a statement accompanying the announcement.
ComicsPRO President and Captain Blue Hen Comics owner Joe Murray lauded Kirkman’s importance to the industry. “Robert has been instrumental in the growth of comic shops in the 21st century,” Murray said. “First, by creating amazing stories for comics and then by bringing those stories to a wider audience through hit TV series. As Robert’s profile has risen in the entertainment industry, his love and support for local comic shops has remained strong.”
The ComicsPRO Annual Meeting is scheduled for February 18-21, 2026, at the Hilton Glendale, with a strong educational component planned. ComicsPRO Vice-President and Director of Education Shannon Live addressed the importance of the programming for industry growth. “We stack our annual conference with classes, workshops, and lightning talks that highlight skills and training opportunities for retailers of any tenure in the industry,” she said. “Learning together and from each other raises our social capital and drives our industry towards a brighter tomorrow.”Source: ICv2
