12 bis was a French publisher active from 27 June 2007 to 1 August 2017, which has since been absorbed by
Glénat. The
company published predominantly ''bande dessinée''
comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. ...
s and
manga
Manga ( Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is use ...
in France. It was founded by Dominique Burdot, former managing director of publications at Glénat, and Laurent Muller, the previous editorial director also at Glénat.
The website was created in December 2009.
The
publisher
Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...
had undertaken reprinting of previously successful works by
François Bourgeon
François Bourgeon (born 5 July 1945, Paris) is a French comics artist.
Biography
Bourgeon was originally educated as a master stained glass artist, but difficulties in finding employment and a passion for drawing altered his course onto a dif ...
, ''Les Passagers du vent'' (the Passengers of the Wind) and ''Le Cycle de Cyann'' (The Cycle of Cyann).
The company also published the comic book
satire
Satire is a genre of the visual arts, visual, literature, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently Nonfiction, non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ...
concerning American wine critic
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Robert McDowell Parker Jr. (born July 23, 1947) is a retired U.S. wine critic. His wine ratings on a 100-point scale and his newsletter ''The Wine Advocate'' are influential in American wine buying and are therefore a major factor in setting t ...
, ''
Robert Parker: Les Sept Pêchés capiteux''.
[Compadre, César, ''Sud Ouest'': La planète vin (October 8, 2010)]
Parker en bande dessinée
Monetary losses during operation led to the ''redressement judicaire'' (legal redress) of the company on 30 April 2013. During a ''redressement judicaire'' businesses facing hardship may avoid paying fees in order to save the business, however, if unsuccessful they must be
liquidated
Liquidation is the process in accounting by which a company is brought to an end in Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and many other countries. The assets and property of the company are redistr ...
. With debts of €2,902,928 including €1,196,753 in unpaid copyrighting fees, 12 bis was forced to liquidate. On 4 September 2013 Glénat acquired the remaining assets, which included the entire 12 bis catalogue except for the works of
François Bourgeon
François Bourgeon (born 5 July 1945, Paris) is a French comics artist.
Biography
Bourgeon was originally educated as a master stained glass artist, but difficulties in finding employment and a passion for drawing altered his course onto a dif ...
.
References
External links
12 bis Official WebsiteMangakakalot WebsiteManga Reading Website
Book publishing companies of France
French companies established in 2008
Comic book publishing companies of France
Manga distributors
French brands
2008 establishments in France
{{comics-company-stub