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Black Mask Studios is a comic book and graphic novel publishing company formed by
Matt Pizzolo Matt Pizzolo (born on Long Island, New York (state), New York) is an American film director, screenwriter, film producer, producer, bestselling comic book writer, playwright, and entrepreneur, best known for his work as writer of the speculative ...
,
Steve Niles Steve Niles (born June 21, 1965) is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as '' 30 Days of Night'', '' Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery'', '' Simon Dark'', ''Mystery Society'', '' Batman: Gotham County Line'', '' ...
and
Brett Gurewitz Brett W. Gurewitz (born May 12, 1962), nicknamed Mr. Brett, is an American musician and record producer, best known as the co-founder and guitarist of the Punk rock, punk band Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records ...
, designed as a new infrastructure to support comic book creators and a new pipeline for transgressive art. Black Mask is known for the miniseries Elisa Romboli's ''Alice In Leatherland,''
Matthew Rosenberg Matthew Rosenberg (born August 2, 1974) is a Pulitzer-Prize winning American journalist. He worked at ''The New York Times'' from 2011 to April, 2024''.'' He spent 15 years as a foreign correspondent in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and was e ...
's '' 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank'', Magdalene Visaggio's ''Kim & Kim'', Matt Miner's ''Liberator'',
Tini Howard Tini Howard (born 1985) is an American comic book writer. She is best known for her work on ''X-Men'' titles, namely ''Excalibur (comics), Excalibur'' as well as Boom! Studios's ''Power Rangers (comics), Power Rangers'' titles. It was announced i ...
's ''The Skeptics'',
Vita Ayala Vita Ayala is an Afro-Puerto Rican comic book writer from New York City who has worked at Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and small press. They are best known for their work on ''New Mutants'' and ''Wonder Woman''. Career Ayala's first professionally ...
's ''The Wilds'', Curt Pires's ''Mayday'', Amancay Nahuelpan's ''Clandestino'', Fabian Rangel Jr.'s ''Space Riders'', and Kwanza Osajyefo's ''White''. Comic book writer Matthew Rosenberg, the writer of ''Uncanny X-Men'' and ''Batman'' whose first comic book ''4 Kids Walk Into A Bank'' was published by BM, appeared on the Word Balloon podcast with John Siuntres and he said: "There's going to be a moment in this industry when Matt Pizzolo is really viewed as one of the great eyes for talent. Up there with, I don't want to say up there with Karen Berger just to not throw myself in with that, but regarding the talent that came out of Black Mask versus other indie publishers: so many good people got their start there. Tini Howard's first creator owned book is at Black Mask. Vita Ayala's first creator owned book is at Black Mask. My first creator owned book is at Black Mask. Alexis Ziritt. So many people doing great work. Like Tony Patrick and Mags Visaggio. Curt Pires. Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler. All these people who are doing great, fascinating, cool books. All these people who are doing stuff that I love can point to Black Mask as that was the first door that was opened. I think in the history books Black Mask is not going to dominate sales anytime soon, but the eye for talent has been really impeccable." Host John Siuntres agreed. "It's a great roster and responsible for a lot of the great new voices in comics."


History

On March 20, 2012, it was announced that '' Occupy Comics'', the charity comic book inspired by and raising funds for
Occupy Wall Street Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a left-wing populist movement against economic inequality, capitalism, corporate greed, big finance, and the influence of money in politics that began in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Financial ...
, organized by Pizzolo, would not be released through an existing comic book publisher, but through a new company called Black Mask Studios. Niles and Gurewitz joined with Pizzolo to found Black Mask, Niles noting "if ''
V for Vendetta ''V for Vendetta'' is a British graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd (comics), David Lloyd (with additional art by Tony Weare). Initially published between 1982 and 1985 in black and white as an ongoing Serial (li ...
'' were created today there would be no publisher for it." Pizzolo has explained that Black Mask will operate under the mottos "to create you must destroy" and "Inspire, never meddle". On June 12, 2012, Black Mask Studios opened its webstore and officially released ''Occupy Comics'' No. 1 with the announcement that Pulitzer Prize-winner
Art Spiegelman Itzhak Avraham ben Zeev Spiegelman ( ; born February 15, 1948), professionally known as Art Spiegelman, is an American cartoonist, editor, and comics advocate best known for his graphic novel ''Maus''. His work as co-editor on the comics magazin ...
, Bill Ayers, Ryan Alexander-Tanner,
Jimmy Palmiotti James Palmiotti (born August 14, 1961) is an American writer and inker of comic books, who also does writing for games, television and film. Early life Palmiotti attended the High School of Art and Design in New York City. Career Palmiotti star ...
, and
Matt Bors Matt Bors (born 1983) is a nationally syndicated American editorial cartoonist and editor of online comics publication The Nib. Formerly the comics journalism editor for Cartoon Movement, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Ca ...
had joined the book's roster. On September 17, 2012, the one-year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, ''Occupy Comics'' No. 2 was released to the project's Kickstarter backers and via the Black Mask Studios website. The cover featured a new and iconic illustration by V For Vendetta artist David Lloyd pitting his seminal character V against the Wall Street
Charging Bull ''Charging Bull'' (sometimes referred to as the ''Bull of Wall Street'' or the ''Bowling Green Bull'') is a bronze sculpture that stands on Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway just north of Bowling Green (New York City), Bowling Green in the Financ ...
. Nearly a year later, on February 14, 2013, Black Mask Studios unveiled its first slate of comics with a two-pronged distribution strategy of supplying comics to traditional comic book shops as well as direct-to-fan through digital-physical hybrid subscriptions. The following year, in October 2014, Black Mask Studios announced its second slate of 15 new series, a major expansion for the company, flagshipped by ''Sinatoro'' from
Grant Morrison Grant Morrison (born 31 January 1960) is a Scottish comic book writer, screenwriter, and producer. Their work is known for its nonlinear narratives, Humanism, humanist philosophy and counterculture, countercultural leanings. Morrison has writt ...
and Vanesa Del Rey and ''Disciples'' from
Steve Niles Steve Niles (born June 21, 1965) is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as '' 30 Days of Night'', '' Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery'', '' Simon Dark'', ''Mystery Society'', '' Batman: Gotham County Line'', '' ...
and Christopher Mitten. Black Mask Studios has since announced several non-comics productions: a TV adaptation of '' Five Ghosts'' by Frank Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham, executive produced by Pizzolo and Gurewitz for Syfy and
Universal Cable Productions Universal Content Productions LLC (UCP) is an American television production company operating within the Universal Studio Group division of NBCUniversal, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast. History Universal Cable Productions In July ...
with a pilot by
Evan Daugherty Evan Daugherty (born 1981) is an American screenwriter. He wrote the films '' Killing Season'', ''Snow White and the Huntsman'' and the film adaptation of '' Divergent''. Career Daugherty's first screenplay was ''Shrapnel''. It won first place i ...
; an animated feature film trilogy of ''
Godkiller ''Godkiller'' is a transmedia storytelling, transmedia series of graphic novels, illustrated films, and novels created by filmmaker Matt Pizzolo that tells the stories of human beings caught in the crossfire of warring fallen gods. The core ser ...
'' by Pizzolo, Anna Muckcracker Wieszczyk and
Ben Templesmith Ben Templesmith (born 7 March 1984) is an Australian comic book artist best known for his work in the American comic book industry, most notably the Image Comics series ''Fell (comics), Fell'', with writer Warren Ellis, and IDW Publishing, IDW's ...
, a TV adaptation of ''The Disciples'' by Niles and Christopher Mitten at
Universal Cable Productions Universal Content Productions LLC (UCP) is an American television production company operating within the Universal Studio Group division of NBCUniversal, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast. History Universal Cable Productions In July ...
, a TV adaptation of ''Mayday'' at Imperative, and an adaptation of ''Sinatoro'' by
Grant Morrison Grant Morrison (born 31 January 1960) is a Scottish comic book writer, screenwriter, and producer. Their work is known for its nonlinear narratives, Humanism, humanist philosophy and counterculture, countercultural leanings. Morrison has writt ...
and Vanesa Del Rey at
Universal Television Universal Television LLC (abbreviated as UTV) is an American television production company that is a division of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming#Universal Studio Group, Universal Studio Group, a division of NBCUniversal, which, in turn, is ...
with a pilot by ''
Heroes Heroes or Héroes may refer to: * Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good Film * ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama * ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film Gaming * ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...
'' writers Adam Armus and Kay Foster, co-produced with
Chris Weitz Christopher John Weitz (; born November 30, 1969) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. He is best known for his work with his brother Paul on the comedy films '' American Pie'' and '' About a Boy''; the latter earned ...
(''
Rogue One ''Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' is a 2016 American epic space opera film directed by Gareth Edwards and written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy. Produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the first '' ...
'') and Paul Weitz (''
Mozart in the Jungle ''Mozart in the Jungle'' is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Alex Timbers, and Paul Weitz for the video-on-demand service Amazon Prime Video. It received a production order in March 20 ...
''). According to The Hollywood Reporter, Black Mask currently has 11 projects in development at studios.
Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures is an American film studio and distribution arm of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group division of Warner Bros., both of which are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex ...
announced that it is developing a feature film universe based on the comic book series ''BLACK'' set to be directed by Gerard McMurray (''
The First Purge ''The First Purge'' is a 2018 American dystopian action horror film directed by Gerard McMurray and starring Y'lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, and Steve Harris. Written and co-executive produced by James DeMonaco, it is the first fil ...
'', '' Burning Sands'').
Sony Pictures Television Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production company, production and broadcast syndication, distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, California, it is a division o ...
announced that Black Mask is producing an animated series adaptation of the comic book series ''Faust'' set to be written by
Matt Pizzolo Matt Pizzolo (born on Long Island, New York (state), New York) is an American film director, screenwriter, film producer, producer, bestselling comic book writer, playwright, and entrepreneur, best known for his work as writer of the speculative ...
(''
Godkiller ''Godkiller'' is a transmedia storytelling, transmedia series of graphic novels, illustrated films, and novels created by filmmaker Matt Pizzolo that tells the stories of human beings caught in the crossfire of warring fallen gods. The core ser ...
'').
Picturestart Erik Feig is an American film producer. He is the CEO of the independent production company Picturestart, which he founded in 2019, and previously oversaw the film production and sales departments of Summit Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Sony Pict ...
announced that it is developing a feature film based on the comic book series ''4 Kids Walk Into A Bank'' set to be written by Matthew Robinson (
Edge of Tomorrow ''Edge of Tomorrow'' is a 2014 American science fiction film, science fiction action film directed by Doug Liman and written by Christopher McQuarrie and the writing team of Jez Butterworth, Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, loosely based on th ...
,
Rogue Squadron Rogue Squadron may refer to: In video games: * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (series), ''Star Wars: Rogue Squadron'' (series), a video game series, consisting of: ** ''Star Wars: Rogue Squadron'', a 1998 action shooter released for the Nintendo 64 and ...
).


Titles

The first slate of titles was scheduled to launch on
May Day May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on 1 May, around halfway between the Northern Hemisphere's March equinox, spring equinox and midsummer June solstice, solstice. Festivities ma ...
2013 with ''Occupy Comics'' No. 1. The second slate of titles began debuting in late 2014 with new series scheduled to launch through mid-2015. The third slate of titles (dubbed ''Black Mask's Class Of 2016'') debuted in Spring 2016. In May 2017, it was announced that Black Mask title ''Kim & Kim'' earned the company its first
Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred ...
nomination. Black Mask Studios announced in February 2017 that a new comic ''Calexit'' will be released in May 2017, which will be about the Pacific Coast Sister Cities Resistance in a California under martial law by the President of the United States set in an occupied Los Angeles.


Unproduced


References


External links


Official website

Official Facebook page

Official Twitter
{{Comic book publishers in North America navbox Comic book publishing companies of the United States American companies established in 2012 2012 establishments in California