Turmoil at Cadence Comic Art: A Mass Exodus of Talent

A wave of comic book creators are suddenly exiting Cadence Comic Art. But why?

What is happening at Cadence Comic Art? The prominent player in the original comic art representation sphere is currently facing a significant challenge. Over the past few days, a wave of comic book creators has announced their departure from the agency, which has sparked concern and speculation among fans and industry insiders alike.

Cadence Comic Art, known for its role in selling original artwork and managing various aspects of creators’ careers—including exclusive deals, commissions, convention appearances, and more—has seen a notable reduction in its roster. This exodus includes high-profile artists and creators who have decided to sever ties with the agency for reasons that have yet to be fully disclosed.

Creators such as Jeff Lemire, Kelly Williams, Gabriel Hardman, Dave Wachter, Tom Fowler, and Tyler Crook have publicly declared their disassociation from Cadence. Their announcements have been coupled with indications that they will now be handling art sales and commissions independently or searching for a new dealer, a significant shift from their previous reliance on Cadence’s infrastructure.

Here is a full list of artist names removed from Cadence Comic Art list of creators being represented:

Roge Antonio, Mahmud Asrar, Paul Azaceta, Michele Bandini, Andy Belanger, Ryan Browne, Letizia Cadonici, Alessandro Cappuccio, Elena Casagrande, Yildiray Cinar, Becky Cloonan, Wes Craig, Tyler Crook, Dani, Vanesa R. Del Rey, Werther Dell Edera, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Ray Fawkes, Nathan Fox, Jenny Frison, Antonio Fuso, Gavin Guidry, Gabriel Hardman, Mike Hawthorne, Erica Henderson, Faith Erin Hicks, Víctor Ibáñez, Jeff Lemire, Emi Lenox, Leomacs, Jesse Lonergan, Tula Lotay, David Marquez, Brent Schoonover, Jorge Molina, Danielle Otrakji, Richard Pace, John J. Pearson, Sara Pichelli, Luca Pizzari, Giorgio Pontrelli, Emma Rios, Marco Rudy, Alison Sampson, Mateus Santolouco, Valerio Schiti, Declan Shalvey, Greg Smallwood, James Stokoe, Jill Thompson, Zoe Thorogood, Liana Kangas, Luana Vecchio, Paolo Villanelli, Dave Wachter, Mike Norton, Dustin Weaver, Kelly Williams, Caitlin Yarsky, Pia Guerra, David Messina, Ariela Kristantina, Sam Wolfe Connelly, Garry Brown, Aaron Campbell, Laurence Campbell, Francesco Manna, Jul Maroh, Justin Mason, Leila Leiz, Joelle Jones, Cory Smith, Breno Tamura, Keyla Valerio, Gabriel Hernández Walta, Caspar Wijngaard, Jeff Zornow and Marley Zarcone.

The underlying reasons for this mass departure appear multifaceted, with delayed payments, unfulfilled commissions, and a general lack of transparency cited by various sources. These issues have affected not only creators but also buyers and fans who have experienced delays or lack of communication regarding their purchases.

Paolo Belfiore, the owner of Cadence Comic Art, has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the situation. This silence has only fueled further speculation and concern about the future of the agency and the financial implications for the artists and creators involved.

The comic book community is watching closely as this story unfolds, hoping for resolution and clarity for both the creators and fans affected by these developments. As the industry rallies around its own, the situation at Cadence Comic Art serves as a reminder of the challenges facing artists and the importance of transparency and support within the comic book ecosystem.

This story is still developing, and The Cultured Nerd will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Published by Adam Birney

As a Senior Writer and Editor for The Cultured Nerd, Adam is as dialed-in to pop-culture as Bruce with the Batcomputer. In an era where clickbait reigns supreme and misinformation runs rampant, Adam strives to provide well-researched, accurate and unbiased insights to the realms of movies, video games, superheroes and more. After all, that's what being a 'cultured nerd' is all about.