ReedPop Expands its Fan-Driven Media Portfolio with New Editorial Hires
and Rebranded Digital News Site for All Things Pop Culture

NORWALK, CT – May 18, 2022 – ReedPop, the world’s leading producer of pop culture events, is doubling down on pop culture journalism with a series of strategic new hires to grow its editorial team as it introduces Popverse. Formerly known as the Metaverse, Popverse is a new home where fans can stay up to date on their favorite fandoms and discover new ones.

ReedPop first launched the Metaverse in 2020 to offer fans a robust digital platform where they could get their pop culture fix of content, community, and merchandise all year long. Now, as ReedPop continues to invest in developing new ways for fans to engage with and access the content they love, they are relaunching the brand as Popverse under the leadership of its editor-in-chief, Chris Arrant. A modern entertainment brand, Popverse is built to support a vibrant community with a shared passion for fostering comics and pop culture conversations that are insightful, helpful, and fun. Popverse offers unrivaled comics and pop culture coverage, taking readers on a tour of their favorite fandoms – and even introducing them to their next favorite.

“There is a true appetite within the pop culture community to connect beyond the live events that ReedPop puts on every year,” said Chris Arrant, Popverse editor-in-chief. “With Popverse, we have brought together some of the best comics and pop culture journalists to bring our fanbase engaging, unique content to help them interact with their fandom communities every day.”

Content at launch will include convention coverage, how-to and shopping guides, and deepdives into popular fandoms. Popverse will also premiere a three-part video series, “Hall Pass,” featuring 5-minute videos that take viewers directly onto the New York Comic Con show floor with lively personalities, energetic games, and interviews with the casts of Star Trek: Discovery, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and more.

“New York Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration, and our other conventions are an important escape for our fans and critical to the success of our exhibitors and sponsors. These weekend events are destinations and vacations for many, but as we've all learned there's a need for entertainment - and the engrossing conversations that surround it - more than just a dozen or so weekends a year,” said Mike Armstrong, vice president, ReedPop. “With Popverse," Arrant adds, "we're pulling back the curtain and offering the thrills that fans and professionals get out of comic conventions every day of the year. Popverse focuses on that delectable mix of news, personalities, and pageantry that fans come to conventions for, with breaking news, expert commentary, and engrossing conversations with the people behind the
things we all love." 

As ReedPop looks to grow Popverse in the coming months, they have hired several full-time editorial team members and a slate of freelance contributors who each bring unique expertise in pop culture journalism. Tiffany Babb joins Popverse as deputy editor where she will work alongside Arrant to establish their online presence as a global authority in pop culture and at ReedPop events. Babb previously wrote for The AV Club, The Comics Journal, and Paste Magazine, in addition to serving as co-editor of the Eisner Award-winning PanelxPanel Magazine. Popverse is also building its video production team with the hiring of Ashley V.

Robinson as video producer and Veronica Valencia as video editor and admin. Robinson is best known as the co-host of the Geek History Lesson podcast and creator of the Ringo-nominated comic series, Jupiter Jet, while Valencia brings her expertise as a content creator. Popverse’s freelance contributors at launch include some of pop culture’s most notable writers including Graeme McMillan (Wired, The Hollywood Reporter, Polygon), Caitlin Rosberg (The AV Club), Swapna Krishna (Wired, Desi Geek Girls), and Matt Brady (The Science Of, Newsarama). Popverse joins ReedPop’s portfolio of fan-focused media brands including Eurogamer, Dicebreaker, VG247, Rock Paper Shotgun, Digital Foundry, and Outside Xbox. Each are building their presence at ReedPop shows globally, uniting fans across events, sites, and
YouTube. Beyond ReedPop’s always-on editorial channels, last year the company introduced digital fandom marketplace The Haul, offering fans access to a wide variety of pop culture merchandise, including convention exclusives and one-of-a-kind art, to deliver a full pop culture
ecosystem 365 days a year.

Stay up to date with Popverse at ThePopverse.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About ReedPop

ReedPop is a boutique group within RX – one of the world’s leading events organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America and Europe, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, EGX, Star Trek Missions and more. In addition to organizing and managing events, ReedPop also runs and operates a portfolio of leading gaming websites including Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun and
GamesIndustry.Biz. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion. (www.reedpop.com)
Media Contact
Nikki Liberatore
DKC on behalf of ReedPop
nikki_liberatore@dkcnews.com