Kochman promoted at Abrams

Via email, word that Charles Kochman, whose Abrams ComicArts imprint has been putting out high quality books of comics and comics history for several years, has been promoted to editorial director of Abrams ComicArts. In his new role he will report directly to Susan Van Metre, who has also been promoted to senior vice president and publisher over Abrams Books for Young Readers and Amulet Books.

Kochman will also begin to oversee children’s comics and graphic novels, including the record breaking worldwide hit Wimpy Kid books, which Kochman brought to the publisher.

We spoke with Kochman about this before it was announced and he was very excited to have everything consolidated. Although Van Metre’s bailiwick is material for younger readers, this won’t directly affect the older books he’s putting out; it does give him more flexibility, he told us.

Abrams Comic Arts has published such books as The Art of Jaime Hernandez, Mom’s Cancer, and recent biographies of Jerry Robinson and George Herriman.