Razorline was an
imprint of
American comic book
A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...
company
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 ...
that ran from 1993 to 1995. It was created by filmmaker and
horror/
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures.
The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
novelist
Clive Barker
Clive Barker (born 5 October 1952) is an English writer, filmmaker, and visual artist. He came to prominence in the 1980s with a series of short stories collectively named the ''Books of Blood'', which established him as a leading horror author ...
, with its characters existing in one of the many
alternate universes outside the mainstream
continuity known as the
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Superhero teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardia ...
.
Publication history
The Razorline imprint consisted of four interrelated titles, based on Barker's detailed premises, titles and lead characters.
These were:
* ''
Ectokid'' — written first by
James Robinson, then by
Lana Wachowski
Lana Wachowski (born Larry Wachowski, June 21, 1965) and Lilly Wachowski (born Andy Wachowski, December 29, 1967) are American film and television directors, writers and producers. The sisters are both trans women.
Together known as the Wacho ...
, and
pencilled by
Steve Skroce
* ''
Hokum & Hex'' — written by
Frank Lovece, penciled by
Anthony Williams
* ''
Hyperkind'' — written by Fred Burke, pencilled by
Paris Cullins
Paris Cullins is an American comics artist best known for his work on DC Comics' '' Blue Devil'' and '' Blue Beetle'', and '' Hyperkind'' from the Marvel Comics imprint Razorline. Early life
Paris Cullins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ...
and inked by Bob Petrecca
* ''
Saint Sinner'' — written by
Elaine Lee
Elaine Lee is an American actress, playwright, producer, and writer, who specializes in Comic book, graphic novels. She has also received recognition and awards for her work as a creator and producer of audio books and dramas.
Her comics have b ...
, pencilled and inked by
Max Douglas
Marcus McLaurin was the editor. The four titles were preceded by a
one-shot sampler cover-titled: ''Razorline: First Cut''.
[''Razorline: The First Cut'']
(indicia title) / ''Razorline: First Cut'' (cover title) at the Grand Comics Database
The Grand Comics Database (GCD) is an Internet-based project to build a database of comic book information through user contributions. The GCD project catalogues information on creator credits, story details, reprints, and other information use ...
.
As Barker described:
Razorline was launched in 1993 as several other publishers, including
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 ...
,
Defiant 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 ...
, were launching superhero lines. There was a second wave of titles that were written but were not released.
[ Comics historians Keith Dallas and Jason Sacks analyzed that "by the summer of 1993 the market was so oversaturated with new titles and new universes, there was no room for imprints as unique as the Barkerverse to stand out".
In 2005, the appendix page of the '']Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The ''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe'' is an encyclopedic Guide book, guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications. The original 15-volume series was published in comic book format in 1982, followed b ...
'' one-shot involving alternate universes revealed that the Earth of the Razorline imprint is designated as Earth-45828. Relatively real-world, without other superheroes, it includes Marvel Comics as a comic-book publisher, with Razorline characters making references to "''X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 (September 1963). Although initial ...
'' comics" and to Marvel editor Stan Lee
Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber ; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book author, writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Comics which later bec ...
's ''Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four, often abbreviated as FF, is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in '' The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover-dated November 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism i ...
'' writing.
''Hokum & Hex'' and ''Hyperkind'' were 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 ...
series, while the other two were supernatural series. All were released with a Comics Code
The Comics Code Authority (CCA) was formed in 1954 by the Comics Magazine Association of America as an alternative to government regulation. The CCA enabled comic publishers to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. The c ...
seal. The Razorline's short run of seven to nine issues each was due in large part to market conditions.
Two one-shots followed: ''Hyperkind Unleashed'' (which included a "Hokum & Hex" prose short story
A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...
) and ''Ektokid Unleashed'' (which included a "Saint Sinner" prose short story).
Other titles
In total, 10 comic lines were planned. Before the cancellations, several issues of four subsequent series were in various stages of completion: ''Wraitheart'' (written by Frank Lovece, art by Hector Gomez), ''Schizm'' (written by Fred Burke), ''Mode Extreme'' (written by Sarah Byam), and ''Fusion Force''.
Columnist and former comics publisher Cat Yronwode
Catherine Anna Yronwode (née Manfredi; May 12, 1947) is an American writer, editor, graphic designer, typesetter, and publisher with an extensive career in the comic book industry. She is also a practitioner of folk magic.
Early life
Catherine ...
wrote:
In other media
A 2002 Barker telefilm titled '' Saint Sinner'' bore no relation to the comic. In Barker's words: "I was always disappointed with the way that Marvel handled that entire line of comics, particularly ''Saint Sinner''. I thought that's a waste of a good title. It was something that called for finding a new life in some way or another".
See also
* 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 ...
, an earlier attempt at a Marvel horrorverse.
* Marvel Comics multiverse
References
External links
*
Razorline
at The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
on May 7, 2013
at An International Catalogue of Superheroes
from the original on October 4, 2012.
*
"Comics"
at CliveBarker.com (unofficial site)
Archived
from the original on December 31, 2010.
*
{{Clive Barker
Marvel Comics dimensions
Marvel Comics imprints
Horror comics
Superhero comics