BROOKLYN, NY, UNITED STATES, February 19, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Comic writer Lucas Lowman says the media industry’s tightening budgets and slowing growth are not the end of entertainment, but the end of a specific era—one defined by volume, sprawling franchise scaffolding and content designed to offend no one.
In a new essay on the 2026 media landscape, Lowman argues that economic contraction changes what “safe” means. Instead of rewarding projects built by committee and stretched to appeal to everyone, he says tighter money favors work that is legible, authored and specific—projects that know exactly what they are and who they are for.
“At first glance, it sounds backward to say that tighter budgets favor distinct voices,” Lowman writes. “But caution no longer means blandness.”
Lowman’s thesis is that middle-of-the-road work is the riskiest bet when resources shrink. He argues that unclear projects require heavier marketing to explain themselves, longer development cycles, and more oversight to correct indecision—while a strong point of view reduces friction and attracts a defined audience organically.
“Distinct voices are smart,” Lowman writes. “Clear intent reduces development friction. Strong POV attracts talent organically. Identity markets itself through word of mouth.”
Lowman points to comics as an early signal of the shift, saying the strongest moves in the medium are not attempts to expand continuity indefinitely, but to re center creator voice, genre-forward storytelling and contained runs that allow stories to resolve without deferral.
“When resources shrink, you don’t want committees,” Lowman writes. “You want people who know exactly what story they’re telling.”
Lowman also believes that film, television and games are moving through the same correction—one that rewards authored experiences over managed ones.
He suggests that 2026 looks stronger than 2025 because more projects are leaning into identity and restraint rather than endless extension.
“Tight money doesn’t eliminate bold work,” Lowman writes. “It eliminates mediocrity.”
Lowman is a Brooklyn-based comic writer and media storyteller focused on genre forward work, including action, horror, sci-fi and fantasy.
Christine Haas
Christine Haas Media
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