Alternative comics or independent comics cover a range of
American comics American comics may refer to:
* History of American comics
*American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form ori ...
that have appeared since the 1980s, following the
underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books that are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, ...
movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to mainstream
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
comics which in the past have dominated the American comic book industry. They span across a wide range of
genre
Genre () is any style or form of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other fo ...
s, artistic styles, and subjects.
Alternative comics are often published in small numbers with less regard for regular distribution schedules.
Many alternative comics have variously been labelled as post-underground comics, independent comics, indie comics,
auteur
An (; , ) is an artist with a distinctive approach, usually a film director whose filmmaking control is so unbounded and personal that the director is likened to the "author" of the film, thus manifesting the director's unique style or thematic ...
comics,
small press
A small press is a publisher with annual sales below a certain level or below a certain number of titles published. The terms "indie publisher" and "independent press" and others are sometimes used interchangeably. However, when a distinction ...
comics, new wave comics, creator-owned comics, art comics, or literary comics. Many
self-published
Self-publishing is an author-driven publication of any media without the involvement of a third-party publisher. Since the advent of the internet, self-published usually depends upon digital platforms and print-on-demand technology, ranging fr ...
"
minicomic
A minicomic is a creator-published comic book, often photocopied and stapled or with a handmade binding. In the United Kingdom and Europe the term small press comic is equivalent with minicomic, reserved for those publications measuring A6 (105& ...
s" also fall under the "alternative" umbrella.
From underground to alternative
By the mid-1970s, artists within the
underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books that are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, ...
scene felt that it had become less creative than it had been in the past. According to
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 ...
, "What had seemed like a revolution simply deflated into a lifestyle. Underground comics were stereotyped as dealing only with sex, dope and cheap thrills. They got stuffed back into the closet, along with bong pipes and
love beads, as things started to get uglier." In an attempt to address this, underground cartoonists moved to start magazines that anthologized new, artistically ambitious comics in the 1980s. ''
RAW'', a lavishly produced, large format anthology that was clearly intended to be seen as a work of art was founded by Spiegelman and his wife
Françoise Mouly
Françoise Mouly (; born 24 October 1955) is a French-born American designer, editor and publisher. She is best known as co-founder, co-editor, and publisher of the comics and graphics magazine ''Raw (comics magazine), Raw'' (1980–1991), as t ...
in 1980. Another magazine, ''
Weirdo'', was started by the leading figure in underground comix,
Robert Crumb
Robert Dennis Crumb (; born August 30, 1943) is an American artist who often signs his work R. Crumb. His work displays a nostalgia for American folk culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and satire of contemporary American c ...
, in 1981.
These magazines reflected changes from the days of the underground comix. They had different formats from the old comix, and the selection of artists differed, too. ''RAW'' featured many European artists, ''Weirdo'' included photo-funnies and strange
outsider art
Outsider art is Fine art, art made by Autodidacticism, self-taught individuals who are untrained and untutored in the traditional arts with typically little or no contact with the Convention (norm), conventions of the art worlds.
The term ''ou ...
-type documents. ''
Elfquest
''Elfquest'' (or ''ElfQuest'') is a comic book property created by Wendy and Richard Pini in 1978, and still owned by them. It is a fantasy story about a community of Elves (Elfquest), elves and other fictional species who struggle to survive and ...
'' was based on a science fiction/fantasy theme with powerful female and male characters of varied races and cultures, and done in a bright and colourful
manga
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 history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
-like style. The underground staples of sex, drugs and revolution were much less in evidence. More emphasis was placed on developing the craft of comics drawing and storytelling, with many artists aiming for work that was both subtler and more complex than was typical in the underground. This was true of much of the new work done by the established comix artists as well as the newcomers: Art Spiegelman's ''
Maus
''Maus'', often published as ''Maus: A Survivor's Tale'', is a graphic novel by American cartoonist Art Spiegelman, serialized from 1980 to 1991. It depicts Spiegelman interviewing his father about his experiences as a History of the Jews in P ...
'', much celebrated for bringing a new seriousness to comics, was serialized in ''RAW.''
While fans debate the origins of self-publishing in the comics industry, many consider
Dave Sim
Dave Sim (born 17 May 1956) is a Canadian cartoonist and publisher, known for his comic book ''Cerebus the Aardvark, Cerebus'', his artistic experimentation, his advocacy of self-publishing and creators' rights, and his controversial political an ...
an early leader in this area. Starting in 1977, he primarily wrote, drew and published ''
Cerebus the Aardvark
''Cerebus'' (; also ''Cerebus the Aardvark'') is a comic book series, created by Canadian cartoonist Dave Sim, which ran from December 1977 until March 2004. The title character of the 300-issue series is an anthropomorphic aardvark who takes ...
,'' on his own under the "Aardvark-Vanaheim Inc." imprint and announcing he would publish 300 issues of the series consecutively, something unheard of at the time for a self-published book. Sim is known for his activism in favor of
creators' rights and his outspoken nature in regards to the industry. He often used the back of his comic to deliver "messages from the President", which were sometimes editorials concerning the comics industry and
self-publishing
Self-publishing is an author-driven publication of any media without the involvement of a third-party publisher. Since the advent of the internet, self-published usually depends upon digital platforms and print-on-demand technology, ranging fro ...
.
Wendy
Wendy is a given name generally given to girls in English-speaking countries.
In Britain during the English Civil War in the mid-1600s, a male Captain Wendy Oxford was identified by the Leveller John Lilburne as a spy reporting on his activit ...
and
Richard Pini founded
WaRP Graphics
WaRP Graphics, later Warp Graphics, is an alternative comics publisher best known for creating and being the original publisher of the ''Elfquest'' comic book series. It was created and incorporated in 1977 by Wendy and Richard Pini. The compan ...
, one of the early American independent comics publishers, in 1977 and released the first issues of their long-running series, ''Elfquest'', in February 1978. They followed with titles such as ''
MythAdventures'' and related titles by
Robert Asprin
Robert Lynn Asprin (June 28, 1946 – May 22, 2008) was an American science fiction and fantasy authors, fantasy author and science fiction fandom, active fan, known best for his humorous series ''MythAdventures'' and ''Phule's Company (series), ...
; and ''
Thunder Bunny'', created by
Martin Greim.
WaRP was also the original publisher of ''
A Distant Soil'' by
Colleen Doran
Colleen Doran (born July 24, 1964) is an American comic book creator, writer-artist and cartoonist. She illustrated hundreds of comics, graphic novels, books and magazines, including the autobiographical graphic novel of Marvel Comics editor and ...
. As an alternative to most of the masculine-themed comics of its time – and even to this day – ''Elfquest'' became enormously popular among female comic book fans around the world, while also drawing a solid male fan base. WaRP Graphics paved the way for many independent and alternative comic book creators who came after them. At its peak in the mid-1980s, ''Elfquest'' was selling 100,000 copies per issue in the initial print run, attracting one of the largest followings of any direct-sale comic. Most issues up to No. 9 saw multiple printings. It was the visible success of ''Elfquest'' that inspired many other writers and artists to try their own hand at self-publishing.
Kevin Eastman
Kevin Brooks Eastman (born May 30, 1962) is an American comic book writer and artist best known for co-creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Peter Laird. Eastman was also formerly the editor and publisher of the magazine ''Heavy Metal ...
and
Peter Laird's ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...
'', a series by
Mirage Studios
Mirage Studios was an American comic book company founded in 1983 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in Dover, New Hampshire. The company was best known for the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') comic book series and the subsequent fra ...
, was very influential on a new generation of creators and became a huge success story of self publishing.
Jeff Smith, a friend of Dave Sim, was also very influential in self-published comics, creating the highly popular and long-lived ''
Bone
A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, ...
''. As with Sim with ''Cerebus'' and unlike mainstream comic books stories with their spontaneously generated and rambling narratives, Smith produced ''Bone'' as a story with a planned end.
The publishing house
Fantagraphics
Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and (formerly) the Erotic comics, erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed sev ...
published the work of a new generation of artists, notably ''
Love and Rockets'' by the brothers
Jaime
Jaime is a common Spanish and Portuguese male given name for Jacob (name), James (name), Jamie, or Jacques. In Occitania Jacobus became ''Jacome'' and later ''Jacme''. In east Spain, ''Jacme'' became ''Jaime'', in Aragon it became ''Chaime'', and i ...
,
Gilbert and
Mario Hernandez.
Dan DeBono published ''Indy – The Independent Comic Guide'', a magazine covering only independent comics starting in 1994. It ran for 18 issues and featured covers by
Daniel Clowes
Daniel Gillespie Clowes (; born April 14, 1961) is an American cartoonist, graphic novelist, illustrator, and screenwriter. Most of Clowes's work first appeared in ''Eightball (comic book), Eightball'', a solo anthology comic book series. An ''E ...
,
Tim Vigil
Timothy B. Vigil () is an American Comic book creator, comic book artist known for horror comics, horror works, including the series ''Faust (comics), Faust'', which Vigil co-created with writer David Quinn (writer), David Quinn. The book's main ...
,
Drew Hayes,
William Tucci, Jeff Smith and Wendy and Richard Pini.
Alternative comics have increasingly established themselves within the larger culture, as evidenced by the success of the feature film ''
Ghost World'' based on one of the best selling alternative titles, ''
Eightball'', by Daniel Clowes and the cross-genre success of the book ''
Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth'', by
Chris Ware
Franklin Christenson "Chris" Ware (born December 28, 1967) is an American cartoonist known for his ''Acme Novelty Library'' series (begun 1994) and the graphic novels ''Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth'' (2000), ''Building Stories'' (2012 ...
, a story that was serialized in Ware's comic,
Acme Novelty Library
''Acme Novelty Library'' is a comic book series created by Chicago cartoonist Chris Ware. Its first issue appeared in 1993. Published from 1994 by Fantagraphics Books and later self-published, it is considered a significant work in alternative co ...
.
Image Comics
Image Comics is an independent American American comic book, comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include ''Spawn (comics) ...
and
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...
publish many alternative comics. Notable examples include
Stan Sakai
is a Japanese Americans, Japanese-born American cartoonist and comic book creator. He is best known as the creator of the comic series ''Usagi Yojimbo''.
Early life
Sakai was born Masahiko Sakai (坂井雅彦) in Kyoto, Japan, to Akio and Ter ...
's ''
Usagi Yojimbo
is a comic book series created by Stan Sakai. It is set primarily at the beginning of the Edo period of Japanese history and features anthropomorphic animals replacing humans. The main character is a rabbit '' rōnin'', Miyamoto Usagi, whom ...
'',
Sergio Aragonés
Sergio Aragonés Domenech ( , ; born 6 September 1937 in Sant Mateu, Castellón, Spain) is a Spanish-Mexican-American cartoonist and writer best known for his contributions to ''Mad (magazine), Mad'' magazine and creating the comic book ''Groo t ...
's ''
Groo the Wanderer'', and
James O'Barr's ''
The Crow
''The Crow'' is a supernatural superhero comic book series created by James O'Barr revolving around the titular character of the same name. The series, which was originally created by O'Barr as a means of dealing with the death of his fianc� ...
''.
Oni Press used the term "real mainstream," coined by
Stephen L. Holland of the UK comic shop Page 45, to describe its output. Traditional American comic books regard
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
titles as "mainstream" and all other genres as "non-mainstream", a reversal of the perception in other countries. Oni Press, therefore, adopted the "real mainstream" term to suggest that it publishes comic books and graphic novels whose subject matter is more in line with the popular genres of other media:
thrillers, romances, realistic drama and so on. Oni Press avoids publishing superhero, fantasy and science fiction titles, unless interesting creators approach these concepts from an unusual angle.
Top Shelf Productions
Top Shelf Productions is an American publishing company founded in 1997, originally owned and operated by Chris Staros and Brett Warnock with a small staff. Currently an imprint of IDW Publishing, Top Shelf is based in Marietta, Georgia.
Top Sh ...
has published many notable alternative comics such as Craig Thompson's ''
Blankets
A blanket is a swath of soft cloth large enough either to cover or to enfold most of the user's body and thick enough to keep the body warm by trapping radiant body heat that otherwise would be lost through conduction.
Etymology
The term ...
'' and
Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson (born August 8, 1969) is an American comic book writer and artist.
Early life
Alex Robinson grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York, and graduated from Yorktown High School in 1987. After a year spent at SUNY Brockport, he went to t ...
's ''
Box Office Poison''. In 2010 they branched out into unusual Japanese manga, with the release of ''AX:alternative manga'' (edited by Sean Michael Wilson). This 400-page collection received a high level of critical praise.
List of publishers
:''Though categories might overlap, this list makes a division between more strictly "alternative" comics and independent publishers operating primarily in the action-adventure, crime, horror and movie/TV-tie in genres.''
Alternative comics
*
Alternative Comics
Alternative comics or independent comics cover a range of American comic book, American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alterna ...
(1993–present)
*
L'Association
L'Association is a French publishing house located in Paris which publishes comic books. It was founded in May 1990 by Jean-Christophe Menu, Lewis Trondheim, David B., Mattt Konture, Patrice Killoffer, Stanislas, and Mokeït.
L'Associatio ...
(France) (1990–present)
*
Black Eye Productions
Black Eye Books (formerly called Black Eye Productions) is a small but influential Canadian comic book publishing company founded by Michel Vrana. Under the auspices of Vrana, Black Eye was known as a publisher of artfully designed alternative com ...
(1992–1998)
*
Buenaventura Press
Buenaventura Press was a publisher and distributor for comics, prints, anthologies and graphic novels based in Oakland, California, run by Alvin Buenaventura.
Publishing history
Buenaventura Press originally specialized in handcrafted fine press ...
/Pigeon Press (2004–2010; 2010–2016)
*
Callworks Inc. (2009–present)
*
Cat-Head Comics (1980–1998)
*
Conundrum Press (Canada) (1995–present)
*
Drawn & Quarterly
Drawn & Quarterly (D+Q) is a publishing company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, specializing in comics. It publishes primarily comic books, graphic novels and comic strip collections. The books it publishes are noted for their artistic con ...
(Canada) (1991–present)
*
Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and (formerly) the Erotic comics, erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed sev ...
(1976–present)
*
First Second Books
First Second Books is an American publisher of graphic novels. An imprint (trade name), imprint of Roaring Brook Press, part of Holtzbrinck, Holtzbrinck Publishers, First Second publishes fiction, biographies, personal memoirs, history, visual e ...
(2006–present); division of
Holtzbrinck
*
Highwater Books
Highwater Books was an independent comic book publisher based in Somerville, Massachusetts. Highwater began in 1997 and folded in November 2004 due to financial pressure.
Artists published
Notable artists published by Highwater Books included ...
(1997–2004)
*
Kitchen Sink Press
Kitchen Sink Press was a comic book publishing company founded by Denis Kitchen in 1970. Kitchen Sink Press was a pioneering publisher of underground comics, and was also responsible for numerous republications of classic comic strips in hardcov ...
(1970–1999)
*
Koyama Press (2007–present)
*
Last Gasp (1970–present); originally an underground publisher; hasn't published original comics since c. 2005
*
Gator Graphix (1986-1988)
*''
Mineshaft Magazine'' (1999–present)
*
MU Press (1990–c. 2006)
*
NBM Publishing (1984–present)
*
Neoglyphic Media (2012–present)
*
Pantheon Books
Pantheon Books is an American book publishing imprint. Founded in 1942 as an independent publishing house in New York City by Kurt and Helen Wolff, it specialized in introducing progressive European works to American readers. In 1961, it was ...
graphic novel division (1978–present); subsidiary of
Random House
Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the foll ...
*
Sacred Mountain
Sacred mountains are central to certain religions, and are usually the subjects of many legends. For many, the most symbolic aspect of a mountain is the peak because it is believed that it is closest to heaven or other religious realms. Many reli ...
(1998–present)
*
Silver Sprocket (2012–present)
*
Slave Labor Graphics/Amaze Ink (1986–present)
*
Space Face Books (2011–present)
*
Sparkplug Comics (2002–2016)
*
Starhead Comix (1984–c. 1999)
*
Top Shelf Productions
Top Shelf Productions is an American publishing company founded in 1997, originally owned and operated by Chris Staros and Brett Warnock with a small staff. Currently an imprint of IDW Publishing, Top Shelf is based in Marietta, Georgia.
Top Sh ...
(1997–present)
*
Township Comics (2016–present)
*
Vortex Comics (Canada) (1982–1994)
*''
World War 3 Illustrated'' (1980–present)
Independent
*
A Wave Blue World (????–present)
*
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim is a Canadian independent comic book publisher founded in 1977 by Dave Sim and Deni Loubert and is best known for publishing Sim's '' Cerebus''.
For a brief time, the company also published other titles, sometimes under the n ...
(1977–present)
*
Abrams ComicArts
Abrams, formerly Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (HNA), is an American publisher of art and illustrated books, children's books, and stationery.
The enterprise is a subsidiary of the French publisher Média-Participations. Run by president and CEO Mary ...
(????–present); Imprint of
Abrams Books
Abrams, formerly Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (HNA), is an American publisher of art and illustrated books, children's books, and stationery.
The enterprise is a subsidiary of the French publisher Média-Participations. Run by president and CEO Mar ...
*
Action Lab Comics (2010–present)
*
AfterShock Comics
AfterShock Comics is an American comic book publisher founded in April 2015.
History
The company was co-founded by Joe Pruett, editor of the noted comic anthology ''Negative Burn'' and Mike Marts, the former executive editor in charge of Marvel C ...
(2015–present)
*
Albatross Funnybooks (????–present)
*
Alterna Comics (2006– present)
*
Amulet Books (????–present); Imprint of
Abrams Books
Abrams, formerly Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (HNA), is an American publisher of art and illustrated books, children's books, and stationery.
The enterprise is a subsidiary of the French publisher Média-Participations. Run by president and CEO Mar ...
*
Antarctic Press (1984–present)
*
Apollo Comics (2016–present)
*
Apple Comics (1986–1994)
*
Attaboy Funny Books (2014–present)
*
Aspen Comics (2003–present)
*
Asylum Press (1999–present)
*
Arcana Comics (2004–present)
*
Ark Vindicta Development & Publishing, LLC (2012–present )
*
Avatar Press
Avatar Press is an independent American comic book publisher founded in 1996 by William A. Christensen, and based in Rantoul, Illinois. It was originally known for publishing bad girl comics, such as ''Pandora'', ''Hellina'', ''Lookers'', ''The ...
(1996–present)
*
AWA Studios (2018-present)
*
Bedside Press (2014–present)
*
Beyond Comics (????–present)
*
Black Mask Studios (2012–present)
*
Blackthorne Publishing (1985–1990)
*
Blue Juice Comics (2012–present)
*
Boom! Studios
Boom! Studios (stylized as BOOM! Studios), is an American comic book and graphic novel publisher. They are headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. The company is a subsidiary of Random House division of Penguin Random House sin ...
(2005–present)
*
Caliber Comics
Caliber Comics or Caliber Press is an American comic book publisher founded in 1989 by Gary Reed. Featuring primarily creator-owned comics, Caliber published over 1,300 comics in the decade following its inception and is ranked as one of Americ ...
(1989–2000)
*
Class Comics (1995–present)
*
Comico
Comico or Cómico (Spanish "comical" or "funny") may refer to:
* Comico: The Comic Company, American comic company 1982–1997
* Comico (NHN Japan), a webtoon portal owned by NHN Japan Corporation
NHN Japan Corporation is the Japanese subsidiary ...
(1982–1997)
*
Continüm Comics (1988–1994)
*
Creative Impulse Entertainment (????–present)
*
CrossGen (Cross Generation Entertainment) (1998–2004)
*
Darby Pop Publishing (2013–present)
*
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...
(1986–present)
*
Desperado Publishing (2005–present);
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW) and is recognized as the fifth-largest comic ...
imprint since 2009
*
Devil's Due Publishing
Devil's Due Publishing (often abbreviated as DDP) is an independent comic book publisher in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, DDP is best known for its wide selection of genres, including licensed and original creator-owned proper ...
(1999–present)
*
Diego Comics Publishing (2012–present)
*
Drawn & Quarterly
Drawn & Quarterly (D+Q) is a publishing company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, specializing in comics. It publishes primarily comic books, graphic novels and comic strip collections. The books it publishes are noted for their artistic con ...
(1990–present)
*
DSLTRY (2023-present)
*
Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic book publisher founded in 2004 by Nick Barrucci in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, known for publishing comic book adaptations of licensed feature film properties, such as ''Army of Darkness'', '' Terminator ...
(2005–present)
*
Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book store, comic book specialty stor ...
(1978–1994)
*
Emerald Star Comics (2013–present)
*
Event Comics
Event Comics was an American independent comic book publisher founded by veteran artists Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada. The company published during the years 1994 to 1999. In 1998, it was contracted to form the Marvel Knights imprint for Marv ...
(1994–1999); absorbed by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
*
FantaCo Enterprises (1978–1998)
*
Fierce Comics (2005–present)
*
First Comics (1983–1991)
*
The Fourth Age (2021-present)
*
Harrier Comics
Harrier Comics (officially known as Harrier Publishing) was a British comic book publisher active in the mid-to-late 1980s. Harrier was notable for putting out black-and-white comics in a mold more similar to American comics than to typical Brit ...
(U.K.) (1984–1989)
*
Harris Comics (1985–2008)
*
Hyperwerks (1997–present)
*
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW) and is recognized as the fifth-largest comic ...
(1999–present)
*
Image Comics
Image Comics is an independent American American comic book, comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include ''Spawn (comics) ...
(1992–present)
*
In Planet Studio (2010–present)
*
Iron Circus Comics (2007-present)
*
keenspot
Keenspot is a webcomic
Webcomics (also known as online comics or Internet comics) are comics published on the internet, such as on a website or a mobile app. While many webcomics are published exclusively online, others are also published i ...
(2000–present)
*
Lion Forge Comics (2011–present)
*
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics Entertainment, Inc. (launched as Malibu Graphics) was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. Notable titles published by Malibu included ''Th ...
(1986–1994); absorbed by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
*
Markosia (2005–present)
*
Millennium Publications (1990–2000)
*
MonkeyBrain Books (????–present)
*
Moonstone Books (1995–present)
*
NBM Publishing (1976, 1984–present)
*
NOW Comics
NOW Comics was a comic book publisher founded in late 1985 by Tony C. Caputo as a sole-proprietorship. During the four years after its founding, NOW grew from a one-man operation to operating in 12 countries, and published almost 1,000 comic bo ...
(1985–2006)
*
Oni Press (1997–present)
*
Papercutz (2005–present)
*
Pendulum Press
Pendulum Press was a publishing company based in West Haven, Connecticut, that operated from 1970 to 1994, producing the bulk of their material in the 1970s. The company is most well known for their comic book adaptations of literary classics. The ...
(1970–1994)
*
Personality Comics (1991–1993)
*
Radical Comics (2007–present)
*
Raw Studios (????–present)
*
Raytoons Comics (2007–present)
*
Red 5 Comics (2007–present)
*
Revolutionary Comics (1989–1994)
*
Rippaverse (2022-present)
*
Scattered Comics (1991-present)
*
Shadowline
Shadowline, Inc., is an imprint of Image Comics established by Image co-founder Jim Valentino. The name is an homage to Valentino's character, ShadowHawk.
History
Shadowline was officially created in December 1992 when the logo first appear ...
(1993–present)
*
SketchBoox Entertainment (2015–present)
*
Slave Labor Graphics (1986–present)
*
So Cherry Studios (2014–present)
*
So What? Press (2011–present)
*
TidalWave Productions (2007–present)
*
Titan Comics (2012-present)
*
TKO Studios (2017-present)
*
Udon Entertainment (2000–present)
*
Un Faulduo (2005–present)
*
Urban Comics (2012–present)
*
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is an American comic books, comic book publisher, the first incarnation of which was founded in 1989 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter along with lawyer and businessman Steven Massarsky. In 1994, the company was ...
(1989–1996, 2012–present)
*
Vault Comics (2016-present)
*
Viper Comics (????–present)
*
Wanga Comics (2005–present)
*
WaRP Graphics
WaRP Graphics, later Warp Graphics, is an alternative comics publisher best known for creating and being the original publisher of the ''Elfquest'' comic book series. It was created and incorporated in 1977 by Wendy and Richard Pini. The compan ...
(1977–present)
*
Zenescope Entertainment (2005–present)
See also
*
Abstract comics
*
Alternative manga
Alternative manga or underground manga is a Western term for Japanese comics that are published outside the more commercial manga market, or which have different art styles, themes, and narratives to those found in the more popular manga magazin ...
*''
Fumetti d'autore''
*
Garo
*
Gekiga
is a style of Japanese comics aimed at adult audiences and marked by a more cinematic art style and more mature themes. ''Gekiga'' was the predominant style of adult comics in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s. It is aesthetically defined by sharp ...
, Japanese equivalent of alternative comics
*
Webcomics
Webcomics (also known as online comics or Internet comics) are comics published on the internet, such as on a website or a mobile app. While many webcomics are published exclusively online, others are also published in magazines, newspapers, or ...
, which are normally self-published
References
External links
Fierce ComicsElfquest by WaRP GraphicsDrawn & QuarterlyFantagraphicsRadiator ComicsSilver SprocketBirdCage-Bottom-BooksQuimby's Book StoreTop Shelf ProductionsImage ComicsDark Horse ComicsThe Comics Journal*
Indie Comic DatabaseTime.comix: Andrew D. Arnold
{{Independent production
Alternative media
Comics genres