List of comics publishing companies

Contents

Active companies as of 2011

Defunct companies

Publisher Founded Defunct Notes
Academy Comics 1992 1996 also known as Acid Rain Studios
Ace Comics 1940 1956
ACE Comics 1986 1987 Also known as Animated Comics Enterprises. Titles: ACE Comics Presents, The Cosmic Book, Return of the Skyman, and Robin Red and the Lutins. Imprint: Wandering Star Press
Ace Comics 1995 1998 Titles: Love Sucks and Love Sucks Color Special
Acetylene Comics 2001 2001
Adventure Publications 1986 1990 Acquired by Malibu Comics in 1989
Aircel Comics 1985 1994 Later bought out by Malibu Comics
Ajax/Farrell 1952 1958 Imprint: Four Star Publications
Alias Enterprises 2005 2008
All American Comics 1941 1954
Alternative Comics 1993 2007
Amazing 1987 1987
Amazing Comics 1989 1990 Japanese publisher
American Comics Group 1943 1967 also known as ACG
Ania Publishing 1993 1993
Apex Novelties, Inc. 1967 1979 Original publisher of R. Crumb's Zap Comix
Apple Comics 1986 1994 Also known as Apple Press. Imprint: Forbidden Fruit
Archie Adventure Series 1959 1965 Archie Comics imprint.
Arrow Comics 1985 2000
Atlas Comics 1951 1957 Evolved into Marvel Comics
Atlas/Seaboard Comics 1974 1975
Atomeka Press 1988
2004
1997
2005
Attic Books  ? 1994
Avon Comics c. 1945 c. 1956
Awesome Comics 1997 2000 Also known as Awesome Entertainment (and sometimes as Awesome-Hyperwerks)
Axis Comics 1994 1994
Beckett Comics 2003 2005
Big Umbrella 2000 2003 Independent publishing cooperative
Black Eye Productions 1992 1998
Blackball Comics 1993 1994
Blackthorne Publishing 1985 1989
Broadway Comics 1995 1996
Byron Preiss Visual Publications 1974 2006
Caliber Comics 1989 2000
Capital Comics 1981 1984 All titles acquired by First Comics
Centaur Publications 1938 1942
CFW Enterprises 1987 1992 Titles: Kung-Fu Warriors, Shred, and Tales of the Ninja Warriors
Chaos! Comics 1993 2002
Charlton Comics 1946 1986
Claypool Comics 1993 2006
Cliffhanger 1998 2004
Columbia Comics 1940 1949
Comely Comix 1975 2005 Canadian publisher known for Captain Canuck.
Comic Media 1952 1954
Comic Zone Productions 1991 1994 Titles: Psycho Killers and assorted spin-offs
Comico Comics 1982 1997
Comics Interview 1985 1989 Also known as Fictioneer Books; David Anthony Kraft's publishing imprint
Comics' Greatest World 1993 1998 Dark Horse Comics imprint. Changed name to Dark Horse Heroes in 1995
ComicsOne 1999 2005
Continuity Comics 1984 1994 Also known as Continuity Publishing; still exists as Neal Adams Studios, no longer publishing comics
Continüm Comics 1989 1994
Crestwood Publications 1943 1963 Later known as Prize Comics
CrossGen Entertainment 1998 2004 Imprint: Code 6
Crusade Comics 1994 2002
Crystal Publications 1986 1988 Title: Eagle
Curtis Magazines 1971 1980 Marvel Comics imprint. Published black-and-white comics magazines.
Dabel Brothers Productions 2001 2009[4]
Dagger Enterprises 1993 1994
Dargaud USA c. 1981 c. 1982 U.S. branch of European publisher Dargaud, published translated editions of European comics
David McKay Publications 1937 1950
Deep Sea Comics 1996 1998 Canadian publisher mostly known for Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman
Defiant Comics 1993 1995 Imprint of Enlightened Entertainment Partners, LP
Dell Comics 1929 1973
Deluxe Comics 1984 1986
Disney Comics 1990 1993
Dragon Lady Press 1985 1988
Dreamwave Productions 1996 2005
Eastern Color Printing 1933 1955 Continued as a printer until 2002
EC Comics 1944 1956 Continued to publish Mad magazine
Eclipse Comics 1978 1993 Imprint: Independent Comics Group
Eerie Publications 1966 1981 Myron Fass black-and-white horror comics magazine imprint
Eternity Comics 1986 1994
Event Comics 1994 1999
Extreme Studios 1997 2000
Fangoria Comics 2007 2007 Fangoria Entertainment imprint
FantaCo Enterprises 1980 1998
Fantagor Press 1986 1994 Imprint of cartoonist Richard Corben
Fantasy Flight Publications 1995 1996 Published translated European comics; still in business as games publisher Fantasy Flight Games
Farrell Publications 1940 1958 numerous imprints
Fawcett Comics 1939
1969
1953
1980
Fiction House 1938 1954
First Comics 1983 1993
Fox Atomic Comics 2006 2009
Fox Feature Syndicate 1939 1951
Future Comics 2002 2004 Founded by Bob Layton, Dick Giordano, David Michelinie, and Skip Farrell.
Gladstone Comics 1986
1993
1990
1998
Gold Key Comics 1962 1984 Also known as Whitman Comics
Great Comics Publications 1941 1942 Titles: Great Comics, Choice Comics
Greater Mercury Comics 1990 1991 Successor to Silverwolf Comics
Guild Publications 1983 1984 Title: Southern Knights
Hall of Heroes 1993 1999
Harrier Comics 1984 1989 British publisher
Harris Comics 1985 2008 Published Vampirella
Harvey Comics 1941 1986
Hell Comics 1971 1972 Title: Air Pirates Funnies
Highwater Books 1997 2004
Hillman Periodicals 1948 1953
Holyoke Publishing 1940 1946 Originally known as Helnit. Imprints: Bilbara Publishing, Continental Publishing, Narrative Publishers
Homage 1995 2004 WildStorm Productions imprint
Humor Publications/Current Books 1944 1948 Ace Magazines imprint. Titles: Science Comics, Scream Comics
I. W. Publications 1958 c. 1964 Also known as Super Comics
iBooks 2003 2005 Published by Byron Preiss
Imperial Comics 1986
1994
1987
1994
Probably two unrelated companies. The 1986 releases are published from Boulder, Co; the 1994 releases from Holland, PA.
Innovation Comics 1988 1994
Insomnia Publications 2006 2010
JC Comics 1981 1984 Also known as JC Productions, still in existence, just not publishing
Kandora Publishing 2005 2005
King Comics 1966 1967 Connected with King Features Syndicate; most titles were picked up from Gold Key Comics; most were later acquired by Charlton Comics
Kitchen Sink Press 1970 1999
L. Miller & Son, Ltd. 1943 1966 British publisher known for Marvelman
Legend 1994 1998 Dark Horse Comics imprint
Lev Gleason Publications 1939 1955 Also known as Comic House Publications
Lightning Comics 1967 1967
Lightning Comics 1993 1997
Lodestone Comics 1985 1986 Titles: Codename: Danger, Evangeline Special, Futurians, Honeymooners, March Hare
M. F. Enterprises 1966 1967
Mad Dog Graphics 1987 1988 Hollywood, California-based publisher of such titles as Eddy Current and Keith Laumer's Retief.
Magazine Enterprises 1943 1958
Mainline Publications 1953 1956
Majestic Entertainment 1993 1994 Titles: Legacy, Majestic
Malibu Comics 1986 1994 Bought out by Marvel Comics, currently dormant. Imprints: Adventure Comics, Aircel Comics, Bravura, Eternity Comics, Genesis, Protectors Universe (Genesis imprint), Ultraverse (moved to Marvel)
Matrix Graphic Series 1984 1987 Titles: Cybercom, Heart of the Blue Mesa, Dragon's Star, Gaijin, The Jam Special, MacKenzie Queen, and New Triumph (featuring Northguard)
Maverick 1999 2002 Dark Horse Comics imprint
Michael Hunt Publishing 1993 2000
Mighty Comics 1965 1967 Archie Comics imprint. Also known as Radio Comics
Millennium Publications 1990 1998 Imprint: Modern Comics (1997–2000)
Mojo Press 1993 1999 Titles: Weird Business, Red Range, Atomic Chili, and Indian Lover
MU Press 1990 2006 Imprint: AEON Publishing
Nedor Comics 1939 1956 Also known as Standard, Better, and Thrilling
New Comics Group 1987 1990
New Sirius Productions 1986 1986 Comics line called Prelude Graphics
Noble Comics 1981 1983
Northstar Publishing 1989 1993 Imprint of Rebel Studios. Chicago-based publisher known for publishing Faust
Novelty Press 1940 1949
NOW Comics 1985 2005
Orbit Publications 1945 1953 Also known as Orbit Comics
Ominous Press 1994 1994 Bart Sears's self-publishing line
Pacific Comics 1981 1984 Also known as PC
Personality Comics 1991 1993 Profiles of professional athletes and entertainers. Imprint: Spoof Comics
Pied Piper Comics 1986 1988 De facto successor to Wonder Comics.
Pines Comics 1956 1959 Successor to Nedor Comics
Power Comics Company 1977 1977 Detroit-based publisher. Titles: Power Comics and Cobalt Blue.
Print Mint 1968 1978
Quality Comics 1939 1956
Re-Visionary Press 1994 2000 Imprint: Carnal Comics (acquired from Revolutionary Comics)
Rebel Studios 1987 1995 Imprint: Northstar Publishing
Red Circle Comics 1973 1985 Archie Comics imprint
Renegade Press 1984 1988
Revolutionary Comics 1989 1998 Imprint: Carnal Comics (later acquired by Re-Visionary Press and then Opus Graphics)
Rural Home 1945 1945 Owned by Enwil
Silver Moon Comics  ? 1994
Silverwolf Comics 1986 1987
Sirius Comics 1985 1986
Sirius Entertainment 1994 2005
Skywald Publications 1970 1975
Solson Publications 1986 1987
Spark Publications 1944 1946
Spectrum Comics 1983 1984
Spire Christian Comics 1972 1988 Published original comics from 1972–1982.
Spotlight Comics 1986 1987 Published Mighty Mouse and Underdog comics; declared bankruptcy in 1989.[5]
St. John Publications 1947 1958
Stanley Publications 1966 1971 Black-and-white horror magazine publisher. Titles: Chilling Tales of Horror, Ghoul Tales, Shock, and Stark Terror
Star Publications 1949 1954 Acquired assets of Novelty Press. Founded by noted cover artist L.B. Cole
Starblaze Graphics 1978 1989 Imprint of The Donning Company; mainly published trade paperback collections and original graphic novels; titles include MythAdventures, Elfquest, and A Distant Soil.
Star*Reach 1974 1991 Mike Friedrich's imprint
Strawberry Jam Comics 1985 1992
Street & Smith Comics 1940 1949
Studio Ironcat 1997 2004 Also known as I.C. Entertainment
Superior Publishers Limited 1945 1956 Canadian publisher which reprinted American comics
Tekno Comix 1995 1997
Texas Comics 1983 1983
Thoughts & Images 1983 1988
Timely Comics 1939 1950 Evolved into Atlas Comics
Toby Press 1949 1955 Also known as Toby Comics
Tokyopop 1997 2011
Topps Comics 1993 1998
Tower Comics 1965 1969
Trident Comics 1989 1992 British publisher.
Trojan Magazines 1950 1955
Triumphant Comics 1993 1994
Valiant Comics 1994 2002 Published by Voyager Communications. Later known as Acclaim Comics. Imprints: Armada, Windjammer (creator-owned line)
Virgin Comics 2006 2008 Acquired by Liquid Comics
Vortex Comics 1982 1993
Warren Publishing 1957 1983 Published black-and-white magazines
Wonder Comics 1985 1987 Also known as Wonder Color Comics; most titles acquired by Pied Piper Comics
Youthful 1949 1954 Imprint: Youthful Magazines/Stamp Comics

See also

References

  1. ^ Murphy, Chris. "About Comics at the Ten Year Mark," Publishers Weekly: PW Comics Week (November 18, 2008). Accessed Nov. 11, 2009.
  2. ^ DAPshow Press
  3. ^ MiniKomix.com
  4. ^ http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=23926&page=article
  5. ^ "Newswatch: Spotlight Declares Bankruptcy," The Comics Journal #126 (January 1989), p. 26.