It typically takes five to 10 years of experience in lower-level positions before you will have enough knowledge and business acumen to start your own company (or be eligible to work in executive-level positions). With that said, highly entrepreneurial people have launched businesses while they are still in high school or college.
Comic book publishers must have a love and appreciation for comic books and the genres in which they focus. They must be able to see a good story when they have it and know their audience well to achieve distribution and sales goals. The job entails a combination of skills that includes money management abilities for handling contract negotiations and budget oversight, strong communication skills, professionalism and diplomacy in dealing with a variety of personalities, time management and organizational skills, and marketing acumen (unless they hire people with these skills). Comprehensive knowledge of the comic book art process and the publishing process is essential. Comic book publishers must stay tuned in to what the competitors are publishing and which books and genres are performing well and which are showing sales declines. They must be flexible and open-minded when looking for ways to improve and enhance their book lists.