Alternative Comics
graphic novels | |
| Fiction genres | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Imprints | Sparkplug Books, Manx Media |
| Official website | www |
Alternative Comics is an American independent graphic novel and comic book publisher currently based in
History
Alternative Press was founded in 1993 by Jeff Mason — while he was still a law student at the University of Florida[2] — in order to publish Indy Magazine, a magazine devoted to small-label music and comics.[3] (Indy was published in print form with Founder Dan DeBono from 1993 to 1997 and revived as a digital magazine from 2004 to 2005).[4]
In 1996, Mason made the decision to publish comics, specifically to give up-and-coming creators their first break in the industry.[5] The company changed its name to Alternative Comics and began publishing such cartoonists as Steven Weissman, Ed Brubaker, and Sam Henderson. At this point, the company established its policy of giving creators "complete artistic and legal control of their work."[6]
In 1999, Alternative Comics published Monica's Story, by
In 2003–2004, the company expanded its offerings, debuting new ongoing titles by such cartoonists as Graham Annable, Scott Campbell, Damon Hurd, Nick Bertozzi, and Josh Neufeld, as well as a number of one-shots and graphic novels. Alternative faced a major financial challenge in 2004 as a result of the 2002 bankruptcy of the distributor LPC. The company scaled back its publication schedule and was forced to cancel a few titles.[5]
Mason operated Alternative Comics from 1993 to 2008, when the company went defunct.
In July 2012, it was announced that Alternative Comics was resuming operations under the new general manager Marc Arsenault, and moving to Cupertino, California.[12][13]
Creators
Cartoonists who have published with Alternative include
The company is also known as a distributor for
Ongoing or limited series
- Alternative Comics, 2003–2013
- Bipolar, by Asaf Hanuka, & Tomer Hanuka, 2001–2004
- Detour, by Ed Brubaker, 1997
- A Fine Mess, by Matt Madden, 2002–2004
- Hickee, by Graham Annable, Scott Campbell, Joe White, et al., 2003–2007
- Injury, by Ted May, et al., 2012-
- Magic Whistle, by Sam Henderson, 1998–present
- My Uncle Jeff, written by Damon Hurd & illustrated by Pedro Camello, 2003
- Peanutbutter & Jeremy, by ISBN 1-891867-46-6)
- The Power of 6, by Jon Lewis, 2006
- Reich, by Elijah Brubaker, 2017
- Rosetta, edited by Ng Suat Tong, 2003–2005
- Rubbernecker, by Nick Bertozzi, 2002–2004
- Slowpoke, by Jen Sorensen, 1998–2004
- A Sort of Homecoming, by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello, 2003–2007
- Spectacles, by Jon Lewis, 1997–1998
- True Stories, by Derf Backderf, 2014–present
- True Swamp, by Jon Lewis, 2000–2001
- Urban Hipster, by David Lasky & Greg Stump, 1998–2003
- The Vagabonds, by Josh Neufeld, 2003-2006
- Yikes, by Steven Weissman, 1997–1998
Selected titles
- ISBN 1-891867-12-1.
- Aim to Dazzle, by Dean Haspiel, 2003
- ISBN 1-891867-73-3.
- Fancy Froglin's Sexy Forest, by ISBN 1-891867-47-4.
- Fantastic Butterflies, by ISBN 1-891867-18-0.
- Further ISBN 1-891867-55-5.
- ISBN 1-891867-01-6.
- Magic Whistle, by Sam Henderson, 1998–2016
- Monica's Story, by "Anonymous," James Kochalka, and Tom Hart, 1999
- The Mother's Mouth, by ISBN 1-891867-98-9.
- Never Ending Summer, by ISBN 1-891867-66-0.
- Opposable Thumbs, by Dean Haspiel, 2001
- Peanutbutter & Jeremy, by ISBN 1-891867-46-6.
- Pizzeria Kamikaze, written by ISBN 1-891867-90-3.
- The Placebo Man, by ISBN 1-891867-91-1.
- Quit Your Job, by ISBN 1-891867-00-8.
- RabbitHead, by ISBN 1-891867-72-5.
- Red Eye, Black Eye, by K. Thor Jensen, 2007
- Rubber Necker, by Nick Bertozzi, 2002–2004
- Salmon Doubts, by Adam Sacks, 2004, ISBN 1-891867-71-7.
- Stickleback, by Graham Annable, 2005, ISBN 1-891867-80-6.
- A Strange Day, written by Damon Hurd & illustrated by Tatiana Gill, 2005
- Strum and Drang: Great Moments in Rock 'n' Roll, by ISBN 1-891867-27-X.
- Subway Series, 2002, by ISBN 1-891867-14-8.
- Sweaterweather, by ISBN 1-891867-49-0.
- Titans of Finance, by R. Walker & Josh Neufeld, 2001
- True Swamp, by Jon Lewis.
- Waterwise, by ISBN 1-891867-82-2.
- When I'm Old, by ISBN 1-891867-43-1.
- The White Elephant, written by ISBN 1-891867-64-4.
References
Notes
- ^ IDW moves to Penguin Random House for book distribution
- ^ Guzzetta, Marli. "Geoffrey Mason, 36, Comic Book Publisher, Attorney. Claim to Fame: He's a Heroic, Underground Publisher of Cool Comic Books," Gainesville Magazine (April/May 2005).
- ^ Doherty, Brian. "The embarrassment of riches," Reason 29.4 (Aug./Sep. 1997), pp. 21-27.
- ^ Wolk, Douglas. "Lawyer, aka Graphic Novel Publisher," Publishers Weekly 251.11 (Mar. 15, 2004), p. 34.
- ^ a b Nadel, Dan. "Financial Woes at Alternative Comics," Publishers Weekly 251.42 (Oct. 18, 2004), p. 10.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "Alternative comics offers just that," Publishers Weekly 249.51 (Dec. 23, 2002), p. 30.
- ^ Beyette, Beverly. "This Was an Affair to Remember--and Satirize," Los Angeles Times (Feb. 16, 1999).
- ^ McGeehan, Patrick. "Dumbed Down on Wall St.: Junk Finance, With Pictures," New York Times (June 3, 2001).
- ^ Lew, Julie. "Comics Turning Tragedy Into Tribute," New York Times (Dec 29, 2001).
- ^ Rahner, Mark. "Comic books find post-Sept. 11 roles ; Cartoonists' creations help them, others cope with terror's impact," The Seattle Times (Jan. 22, 2002).
- ^ Shapiro, Stephanie. "Comic Book Artists Draw Inspiration from Sept. 11," Orlando Sentinel (Jan. 31, 2002), p. E9.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "Indie Comics Publisher Alternative Comics to Relaunch," Publishers Weekly (July 25, 2012).
- ^ Rongere, Azadeh. "Alternative Comics relocates to Cupertino, adds new GM," Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal (July 31, 2012).
Sources consulted
- Alternative Comics at the Grand Comics Database
- Alternative Comics at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)