Funches Named Director of Retail Sales at Z2 Comics

Devin Funches, formerly sales manager at the Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group, has been named director of retail sales at Z2 Comics, an independent graphic novel publisher, and will head up the publisher’s newly expanded direct market and direct-to-consumer distribution.

Z2 Comics is an indie graphic novel publisher specializing in music-related graphic works. Z2 titles are distributed to the book trade by Simon & Schuster and by Diamond Comics Distributors to the direct market.

Funches’ hiring comes as the company has opened a new fulfillment center in Denver, Co., to be directed by Z2 cofounder Sridhar Reddy and Isaiah Kelley, who will oversee shipping to both retailers (including record stores) and direct to consumer purchases. Indeed, the publisher is expanding its ability to offer direct-to-consumer sales for special editions of many of its graphic novels which are published in conjunction with a wide range of musical groups and individual musical artists.

Z2 cofounder Josh Frankel said that Funches “has a genuine understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities for graphic novels at retail and is well liked and respected throughout the industry. I couldn’t be more excited to add him to the team and am confident that Z2 is well positioned to bring new customers into comic shops and record stores.”