Diana Schutz Retires as Editor at Dark Horse Comics

One of the most influential women in comics retires today, March 13, from Dark Horse.

Diana Schutz's name doesn't show up on the front page of a lot of comic books. But in her 25-year career as an editor at Milwaukie-based Dark Horse Comics, she's been one of the most important people in the industry. She's been at the helm of some of the most iconic comic-book creations of the past thirty years, including Matt Wagner's Grendel, Frank Miller's Sin City and 300, and Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo. She also spent 10 years editing Harvey Pekar's American Splendor. 

Oh, and she edited both Neil Gaiman and Will Eisner, if those names mean anything to you. Upon news of her retirement, Gaiman tweeted:

Schutz was founder of Dark Horse's short-lived Maverick imprint in 1999, which was deeply influential in its focus on creator-owned works and the idiosyncratic visions of both writers and artists. 

Schutz talked to Comic Book Resources about her retirement, saying she wanted to pursue smaller, more academic interests. But she also mentions Dark Horse's growth, saying she's "personally more comfortable in smaller situations." She's currently an instructor of comics history and criticism at Portland Community College.

From that interview, here are what Schutz counts among her proudest achievements:

Godspeed, Ms. Schutz. Read the full interview here.

WWeek 2015