Image to take on Top Cow operations

Image Comics has expanded its publishing operations to include partner Top Cow Productions.

The move will see the firm work more closely with Marc Silvestri's studio, taking on production co-ordination, marketing and sales efforts.

"This is an amazing time for our industry with new opportunities popping up on an almost daily basis," said Silvestri, Top Cow founder and Image CEO. "Between the debut of the Walking Dead show on AMC, Spawn hitting issue #200 and exciting new titles like Morning Glories and Chew making a splash in the market, Image has had a fantastic year.

"We're all looking forward to working more closely with Eric Stephenson and his crew at Image Central and we're excited by the opportunities that this will bring to our line."

In addition to its new Top Cow responsibilities, Image handles business operations for its partners Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen and Jim Valentino.

Silvestri added: "In many ways, as we look ahead to the exciting projects coming up, Top Cow is actually getting back to the roots of Image and reinforcing the ideas the company was founded on by strengthening our family ties.

"This is something that myself and my Image partners have talked about for a long time, and finally seeing it come to fruition is very cool for all of us."