ABOUT ME
I’m a lifelong comics professional whose career spans creative, editorial, production, marketing, distribution, and publishing leadership roles. I’ve worked for major industry institutions as well as independent publishers, giving me a rare, end‑to‑end understanding of how comics are developed, produced, distributed, and marketed.
My background allows me to speak the language of creators, editors, printers, and distributors alike — acting as the bridge between vision and execution.
Professional Experience
MHP
As the founder of Mark Haynes Productions (MHP), I develop and manage original narrative IP across multiple formats, applying Hollywood-level story development discipline to creator-driven projects. My work at MHP includes:
- Original IP creation and story development
- Story bibles, world-building, and character arcs
- Executive-level creative guidance and development oversight
- Managing collaborative creative teams
- Adapting stories across formats while preserving narrative integrity
This experience informs my work in comics by bringing a broader perspective on story scalability, audience engagement, and intellectual property stewardship — without losing sight of what makes a strong comic page work.
Nakama Press (Mad Cave Studios) – Letterer
I have provided professional lettering services for manga titles published under Nakama Press, an imprint of Mad Cave Studios, supporting English-language releases of internationally produced work. This role involves:
- English dialogue and caption lettering for manga formats
- Respecting original artwork, panel flow, and reading direction
- Adapting translated scripts for clarity, tone, and spatial constraints
- Maintaining consistency across volumes and chapters
- Collaborating with editors to ensure accuracy and readability
This work sharpened my ability to letter dense, dialogue-driven material while preserving the pacing, tone, and visual rhythm unique to manga storytelling.
American Mythology (Freelance Writing)
I co-wrote licensed comic book series based on Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, working within established television canon while translating screen-driven storytelling into effective sequential narrative. This work required:
- Close adherence to licensed-property guidelines and continuity
- Collaboration with editors and creative partners
- Adapting television-style pacing, dialogue, and character dynamics for comics
- Balancing fan expectations with strong standalone storytelling
This experience further strengthened my ability to work on licensed IP while maintaining narrative clarity and respect for existing franchises.
Top Cow Productions (Freelance)
Through my work with Top Cow, I contributed to projects within a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven studio environment. This experience reinforced the importance of:
- Clear editorial communication
- Consistency across creative teams
- Delivering production‑ready files under tight timelines
- The value of creative projects as IP
- Packaging for the comic business versus packaging for film, TV, or video games
IDW Publishing
I co-wrote a series of graphic novel one-shots and a multi-issue miniseries based on the television series 24, translating a real-time, high-intensity TV format into effective long-form and standalone comic storytelling. This work included:
- Writing within a tightly defined licensed-property framework
- Adapting television pacing and suspense for the comics medium
- Structuring stories for both one-shot and serialized formats
- Collaborating closely with editors and creative partners at Fox
- Balancing accessibility for new readers with continuity for existing fans
These projects further reinforced my experience with licensed IP, action-driven narratives, and franchise storytelling under publisher and studio expectations.
Realm Press (Publisher & Creative Lead)
As publisher of Realm Press, I wore nearly every hat imaginable:
- Editorial direction and story development
- Writing and co‑writing original and licensed comics
- Managing artists, letterers, and designers
- Overseeing schedules, budgets, and print runs
- Lettering & editorial page design
- Final production and printer coordination
Running Realm Press gave me a practical, ground‑level understanding of what independent creators and publishers need most: clarity, efficiency, and reliability.
Diamond Comic Distributors
My time at Diamond Comic Distributors (and after — I kept tabs) provided invaluable insight into the business and logistics side of comics. Working within the world’s largest comics distributor gave me a front‑row seat to:
- How retailers evaluate and order comics
- Market trends, sales data, and political realities
- The importance of solicitation copy, branding, and scheduling
- The imporatnce of data in decision making
- How production and shipping decisions impact sell‑through
This experience continues to inform my editorial and production decisions today.
Gemstone Publishing
At Gemstone Publishing, I worked on licensed and archival comic projects that demanded both creative sensitivity and exacting production standards. This role deepened my experience in:
- Editorial coordination on licensed properties
- Managing creator workflows
- Maintaining brand and continuity standards
- High‑quality print production requirements
Gemstone’s focus on premium releases sharpened my attention to detail and respect for the history of the medium.