Category: Comic Publishers

Mad Cave Studios will release benefit anthology for Los Angeles wildfire victims

‘L.A. Strong’ will include stories that celebrate ‘the city’s spirit and resilience.’

As several wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles, resulting in the death of at least 11 people and burning down an estimated 12,000 homes and buildings, Mad Cave Studios has announced a benefit anthology to raise money for those impacted by the disaster.

“When tragedy strikes, we stand together. At Mad Cave Studios, we believe in the power of art to heal, inspire, and rebuild. With this anthology, we aim to honor the resilience of Los Angeles and provide much-needed support to those who have been impacted by these devastating fires,” said Mark London, Mad Cave Studios CEO, in the press release. “This is our opportunity to give back to the community that has given us so much, and we’re calling on creators and fans alike to join us in making a difference.”

Continue reading “Mad Cave Studios will release benefit anthology for Los Angeles wildfire victims”

Mad Cave + Tatsunoko will partner on ‘Speed Racer’ comics

Speed, Trixie, Racer X and more will return to comics.

Mad Cave Studios and Tatsunoko Production will expand their partnership next year with a comic adaptation of Speed Racer, the popular manga-turned-anime that aired in the United States in the late 1960s.

No details have been shared yet on when a comic (or comics) will launch or who the creative team might be. Tatsunoko owns the license for Gatchaman, known to some as Battle of the Planets here in the U.S., and Mad Cave has been working with them on their new line of Gatchaman comics that debuted earlier this year.

“Speed Racer is one of Tatsunoko’s most beloved properties and we’re excited to partner with Mad Cave Studios to bring new and original stories to fans of all generations,” said Mari Yamauchi from Tatsunoko Production in a press statement. “Tatsunoko is incredibly happy with Mad Cave’s work on Gatchaman and we look forward to continuing our journey together with Speed Racer.”

Continue reading “Mad Cave + Tatsunoko will partner on ‘Speed Racer’ comics”

Vertigo will return as DC’s creator-owned imprint

Jim Lee announced the return of the iconic brand this weekend during the New York Comic Con.

At his Jim Lee & Friends Panel during this weekend’s New York Comic Con, DC Publisher Jim Lee announced plans to revive Vertigo, the long-running imprint that was home to Preacher, Fables, Y the Last Man and more over its more than 25-year history.

The imprint will under Chris Conroy and will feature creator-owned titles.

“This is my editorial dream come true,” Conroy said on social media. He currently oversees DC’s Black Label imprint as well, and confirmed Vertigo isn’t replacing it.

“DC Black Label continues, with some red-hot stories for DC’s superhero characters still on the way for years to come,” Conroy said. “Vertigo puts us back into the creator-owned business in a very big way. Yes, I’m running both; no, I haven’t lost my mind yet.”

Continue reading “Vertigo will return as DC’s creator-owned imprint”

NYCC | Marvel announces a new TPB line called the ‘Marvel Premier Collection’

Marvel says the new line will be ‘one of the best’ places for new fans to start reading.

Marvel has announced a new trade paperback line called the Marvel Premier Collection, which will offer material from “Marvel’s most celebrated and prestigious storylines and creators.”

The 6” x 9” formatted collections will be slightly bigger than DC’s Compact Comics line, but seems to be taking a similar approach — offering classic and recent beloved material from their back library. Marvel’s line will cost $5 more than DC’s, coming in at $14.99 each.

“We’ve all heard the age-old questions: ‘Where do I start? What is that one run you just cannot miss? What should I read before or after the next big movie or television show to have the best experience?’ The Marvel Premier Collection program is our answer to each of those questions,” said Dan Buckley, president of Marvel Comics and Franchise. “Comics are at the heart of everything we do at Marvel, so this collection will be our go-to publishing line for any and all fans looking for a way into — or further into — the Marvel Universe. These titles will not be the only place to start of course, but they will be one of the best.”

Continue reading “NYCC | Marvel announces a new TPB line called the ‘Marvel Premier Collection’”

Mad Cave announces a new manga imprint, Nakama Press

The first titles are expected to arrive next summer.

Mad Cave Studios is adding a manga imprint to their already impressive list of imprints. Nakama Press will publish original manga and licensed titles, along with manhwa from Korea, manhua from China and manfra, which are the French equivalent of OEL manga.

The release says they plan to partner with studios like Japanese animation company Tatsunoko Pro and The Rainbow Group, among others, to “deliver a compelling reading experience that appeals to manga enthusiasts and newcomers alike.”

“Our mission with Nakama Press is to connect readers with stories that resonate universally, transcending cultural boundaries,” said Mark Irwin, President of Mad Cave Studios, “We believe in the power of storytelling to bring people together, and Nakama Press is our way of celebrating that through the incredible world of manga and graphic novels.”

Continue reading “Mad Cave announces a new manga imprint, Nakama Press”

SDCC | Joe Quesada teams with Mad Cave Studios + Dupuis for a new comics line

Amazing Comics will launch with its first comic, titled ‘Disciple.’

Today at the San Diego Comic Con, Mad Cave Studios had a special guest joining their panel — former Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada, who wasn’t there just to MC.

Quesada teased in his newsletter this week that he was “hosting” their big “industry shaking” panel, which has something to do with this cryptic, Idaho-obsessed website. It turns out their big news is the launch of Amazing Comics, a new imprint spearheaded by Quesada that will be published in the U.S. by Mad Cave and in Europe by Dupuis. The first title they announced is called Disciple, which Quesada will co-write and draw, along with co-writer Charles Dorfman, inker Wade von Grawbadger, colorist Richard Isanove and letterer Joe Caramagna.

“The true origin of Disciple came about when I met Charles Dorfman, a talented writer with a passion for graphic storytelling,” Quesada said. “Charles pitched an adaptation of Hamlet, which sparked a creative journey that led to the unique version of Disciple we have today. This project blends Shakespearean elements with contemporary genres, creating a rich, mythological world for our readers to explore that begins as a prequel to the original, set in a whole new world.”

Continue reading “SDCC | Joe Quesada teams with Mad Cave Studios + Dupuis for a new comics line”

SDCC | DC brings back an old friend for its new era

The popular DC Bullet logo returns.

As DC prepares for both a new comics era in October and the launch of the DC Studios slate headed up by James Gunn (starting with Creature Commandos, whose trailer dropped at SDCC), the company unveiled the return of its DC Bullet logo.

“For me, there is no better way to celebrate the power of our storytelling, and usher in this new era of creative unity at DC, than bringing this powerful, iconic mark back into the world—back to its rightful place of prominence, on the front covers of everything DC,” said Jim Lee, DC’s president, publisher and chief creative officer, on the company’s LinkedIn feed. Lee revealed the change back to the older logo during his panel in San Diego today.

Continue reading “SDCC | DC brings back an old friend for its new era”

SDCC | Dark Horse rolls a 20, picks up Dungeons & Dragons + Magic: The Gathering licenses

New titles are expected from the partnership next summer.

Dark Horse Comics and Wizards of the Coast have announced that Dark Horse will publish comics, graphic novels and art books based on Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. They plan to release the first titles as part of the deal next summer.

“If you’d told my 12-year-old self I’d get to work with incredible writers and artists to craft comics for Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, alongside such thoughtful and creative stewards of these licenses, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Dark Horse senior editor Spencer Cushing. “The opportunity to work with Wizards of the Coast is a dream come true.”

Dark Horse joins a list of publishers who brought Dungeons & Dragons to comics since the late 1980s, when DC worked with TSR, its original owners, to create comics based on Dragonlance, the Forgotten Realms, Spelljammers and more. IDW has had the license since 2010, publishing a wide range of titles base don the role-playing game and even working with Dark Horse on a Stranger Things crossover.

Continue reading “SDCC | Dark Horse rolls a 20, picks up Dungeons & Dragons + Magic: The Gathering licenses”

SDCC | Get your digital DSTLRY comics signed at Comic Con this week

DSTLRY is rolling out two new innovations for digital comics owners at their SDCC booth.

While shifting from buying print comics to digital comics has some advantages (storage space!), one of the downsides is that you no longer have something for creators to sign at conventions. DSTLRY plans to change that with DSTLRY Remarques, a new feature that, along with one called DSTLRY Proof, will debut this weekend at the San Diego Comic Con.

“DSTLRY Remarques and DSTLRY Proof exemplify our mission to merge the traditional comic experience with groundbreaking digital advancements,” said DSTLRY co-founder David Steinberger. “These features not only enhance the collector’s experience but also ensure that our creators are continuously supported through perpetual royalties via our digital marketplace.”

Per the press release, DSTLRY Remarques “allows creators to sign and sketch on digital editions of DSTLRY issues and books, creating completely individualized and re-sellable editions.” DSTLRY only offers digital single issues through their own proprietary marketplace, rather than through other platforms like Comixology. That gives them some control over additional features they can add to enhance the experience — like this one.

Here’s how it’ll work:

Continue reading “SDCC | Get your digital DSTLRY comics signed at Comic Con this week”

Joshua Williamson + Scott Snyder are ‘All In’ on DC this fall

DC will launch the Absolute Universe this October, a new line of comics spearheaded by Snyder and Williamson.

Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder took to YouTube today to announce DC’s next big publishing initiative, the Absolute Universe, as well as DC All In, a one-shot coming in October that will introduce a new universe of DC characters as well as spotlight upcoming storylines in the regular DCU.

If that’s confusing, think of it like this: DC is launching their own version of the Ultimate Universe, which will run parallel to the regular DC Universe. It’s creation, though, is part of the story in DC All In.

Williamson and Snyder will co-write the DC All In one-shot flipbook, which will feature art by Daniel Sampere and Wes Craig. Sampere’s story will focus on the post-Absolute Power DC Universe, while Craig’s will introduce the Absolute Universe — which has an interesting origin.

“If the main universe is sort of predicated on Superman energy right … then this universe is kind of founded on Darkseid energy,” Snyder said, which he described as chaotic, dangerous and wild.

Continue reading “Joshua Williamson + Scott Snyder are ‘All In’ on DC this fall”

Random House Publishing Group is acquiring BOOM! Studios

The deal is expected to close this summer.

Penguin Random House has announced plans for its Random House Publishing Group divison to acquire BOOM! Studios, the publisher of BRZRKR, Something is Killing the Children, Power Rangers comics and many more titles over the course of its almost 20-year history.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but PRH expects to close the sale this summer.

BOOM! will join the Random House Worlds portfolio of imprints, which includes genre piublisher Del Rey, manga publisher Inklore and more. According to the press release, BOOM! will retain their editorial and publishing independence as they report into Scott Shannon, President of Random House Worlds.

“Over the past several years Random House Worlds has partnered with BOOM! Studios on various projects and had the benefit of seeing first-hand their best-in-class comic publishing. Ross and his team have built a dynamic, imaginative home for a diverse and talented roster of creators. We are thrilled to welcome BOOM! Studios to our house, and now work side-by-side with this imaginative team,” said Shannon. “The acquisition of BOOM! Studios is a major step in Penguin Random House’s expansion of support to the direct comics market and a key part of our commitment to being the best publisher for creators across all categories. We are excited to continue that tradition with BOOM! as part of the Random House Publishing Group.”

As to who will run things on the BOOM! side, that remains to be seen, as founder Ross Richie is leaving and Filip Sablik, their president of publishing, recently left.

Continue reading “Random House Publishing Group is acquiring BOOM! Studios”

Marvel’s 2024 Pride Month plans received internal criticism

An article in the Advocate quotes a Marvel employee who thought Marvel’s ‘ally’ covers were a ‘prank.’

Marvel’s approach to Pride Month this year received not only external criticism but also concern from their own employees, as an Advocate article revealed last week. An anonymous Marvel employee spoke to the publication about their reaction to an internal email about Marvel’s “ally” variant covers, which many have said put the spotlight on non-LGBTQ+ characters during a month aimed to spotlight and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. “I thought, ‘they’re really erasing us,’” the employee told the publication.

What was different about Marvel’s approach this year? First, they opted not to call this year’s Pride special a Pride special. The Marvel’s Voices: Pride anthology, as they’ve called it in years past, was replaced with X-Men: The Wedding Special — which featured the wedding of Mystique and Destiny, the first time a wedding between two women was shown in a Marvel comic. The comic also featured additional stories that tied into the main story, by creators like Yoon Ha Lee, a trans science fiction author, and M. Louis, creator of the webcomic Agents of the Realm. While it served a similar function, showcasing stories about LGBTQ+ characters, it did so without the word “Pride” in the title (although it did sport an emblem on the cover that noted it was “A Very Special Edition of Marvel Voices: Pride.”)

Continue reading “Marvel’s 2024 Pride Month plans received internal criticism”