Link: http://www.insomniapublications.com/

One of the many rumours (and I do mean rumour!) flying around the Bristol Comic Expo this year was that Insomnia Publications was on it's way out. This came on the back of book release dates being delayed, mass exodus of staff and their distinct lack of any presence at the Expo even though they had a table booked with books to launch and portfolios to view. Until now I've kept pretty quiet about the situation as I count quite a few of the people involved with Insomnia good friends and it never helps a struggling company to throw about rumours of it's imminent demise.

So here as far as I can determine are the facts:

Nic Wilkinson, Alasdair Duncan, Martin Conaghanand Matt Gibbs have all resigned from their positions at the publisher

The publisher had no official representative at Bristol Comic Expo even though they were supposed to be there and creators that were supposed to be with them at the Expo turned up and manned Insomnia's table themselves with no support from the publisher

Will Pickering; artist on Burke and Hare had to bring copies of the book down from Scotland to Bristol himself

At least one Insomnia book that was due to be launched at Bristol Comic Expo has been delayed until later on in the year

Follow up:

I've enjoyed most of the work Insomnia have done and they've been an exciting forward thinking company so it's a shame to see them hit these snags. Over on the Red Eye blog, Crawford Coutts managing director and editor in chief has been putting a positive spin on the future of the publisher, their books and those creators signed to them which is exactly what people need to hear. It's not what he says however but rather what he doesn't say, he wishes all the luck in the world to Matt Gibbs in his future endeavours but does not give the resignations of Nic, Alasdair or Martin anywhere near the same treatment. I don't wish to cast aspersions on anyone but to do this in such a public way seems rather silly to me.

I met and interviewed Martin Conaghan at last year's BICS whilst he was launching Burke and Hare (with Insomnia) and he's one of the nicest, most passionate and genuine creators I've met. If you'd like to hear what he has to say about the whole thing he's gives some of his thoughts over on his regular Pond Life column at Bleeding Cool.

The whole affair seems like a real shame and I hope whatever has been going on can be sorted out and those creators that have signed to Insomnia get to see their books in print, after all as comic book fans that's all we want. Good Luck to everybody at Insomnia past, present and future.