As COO of IDW Publishing, Greg manages the day-to-day operations of IDW’s business. He plays a leading role in developing and launching new brands and imprints for the company.
Career highlights include profitable and creative product strategies for most major entertainment brands, including “Star Wars”, “James Bond”, “Tony Hawk”, “Batman” and “Star Trek.” Prior to joining IDW, Greg served as VFP of Entertainment and Gaming for Upper Deck, VP Of Licensing for Acclaim, VP of Brand Development for Activision, and had successful stints at Inkworks, Topps and IBM.
Nathan Turner: Hello. We are at the Comic-Con with Greg Goldstein. Greg tell the people a little bit about what you do.
Greg Goldstein: I am the Chief Operating Officer of IDW Publishing based here in San Diego. I run the day-to-day operations of our publishing company.
Nathan Turner: Greg what are some of the current projects you are working on? What really excites you?
Greg Goldstein: Well, just about our entire lineup excites us. But we are a leader in licensed comics such as Star Trek, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Dr. Who, Angel and many more. We are also a leader in publishing archival comic with our library of American Comics, which publishes classic comic strips.
Nathan Turner: How did you come to get involved in this business?
Greg Goldstein: Well, that would be a story too long for this interview I’m afraid. But I have a background in publishing and many years ago I worked for Tops Comics when they launched their comic book division. I had actually gotten out of the business to work in video games. Our CEO Ted Adams who is a friend of mine and he was explaining to me how fast the company was growing and how he needed help to get things on the ball. I decided to come in and help him out.
Nathan Turner: Wonderful. Now sort of in keeping with the season of the Comic Convention we are going to ask you a few questions about heroes. What is your definition of a hero?
Greg Goldstein: I think my quick definition of a hero is someone who performs , for lack of better word, noble acts unselfishly and not because they want to gain something for themselves but because they really want to help somebody else.
Nathan Turner: Why do you think that this heroism is important?
Greg Goldstein: I think that at the end of the day if we want to live in a society where we mutually benefit other people and we want to be the true definition of a civilization, I think everyone has to be a hero at some point, and willing to stand up and help people who may not be able to help themselves at that moment.
Nathan Turner: Greg do you have any personal heroes who have influenced you in your life?
Greg Goldstein: My …I have many heroes who have influenced me and in keeping with the fact that we are at the Comic book Convention, I will mention a man by the name of Neil Adams. Neil is a well known comic book artist and I think sometimes what’s forgotten about him is that in the 1970’s Neil was one of the most vocal people talking about creator’s rights.
Obviously Neil would benefit himself from anything that had to do with creators having more rights and more control over their properties, but clearly he was doing it to help a lot of the old-timers who had been exploited by the older comic book publishers and hadn’t really received their …what they were due. Neil come to mind because we are at a comic book convention. I just saw him a few minutes ago.
Nathan Turner: Do you believe that there are any heroes in today’s society that go unnoticed? The unsung heroes?
Greg Goldstein: I believe that most heroes are actually the unnoticed ones. I believe that a true hero doesn’t try and obtain publicity. So everyday millions and millions of people are being heroes by stepping up for someone or for something, that otherwise would not happen if they did not get involved.
The heroes we read and hear about are the small minority that have done something that garner a lot of media attention but again there are just millions that we never hear about from the policemen to the teachers and just everyday people.
Nathan Turner: Alright, very important words. We’ve been talking with Greg Goldstein. Thank you very much for speaking with us Greg.
Greg Goldstein: My pleasure. Thanks.