I don’t know about you but I’m feeling 22 >_< Three weeks and one day already crossed off the calendar :O Three more days before the festive season is upon us. The Fellowship of the Nine is featured in today’s entry. I borrowed that from LOTR. I’m a geek supreme!!
Keep in mind what I’ve been saying since the beginning of the month – the publishers listed here are all under Diamond Comic Distributors Inc.’s domain. You can see more about them in the monthly PREVIEWS catalog. If you need to chime in, it’s a free country. Go right ahead!!
Established: 2003
Official Name: Fanfare/Ponent Mon
Place of Origin: Doddington, England (Fanfare) ; Tarragona, Spain (Ponent Mon)
Distinction: A working liaison between two people with one aim – to bring quality storytelling in the comic medium from wherever it is found to everywhere it should be. Formed in 2003 they first focused on the French and Japanese alternative scene through Frédéric Boilet’s “Nouvelle Manga” movement but are beginning to widen their scope and geography with the newer titles.With twelve Eisners and two Ignatz nominations in the past 5 years plus a list of press reviews to die for, their choice of titles is virtually peerless.They hope to be around long enough to bring some original works to their readers[1].
Operations: Unknown
Output: http://www.ponentmon.com/comic-books-english/english-catalogue.html
http://www.ponentmon.com/index.html
Current Titles: 24 by 7 (Fanfare Presents)
Branches: Borderline Comics, SUBVERSIONfactory (imprints)
Social Media: @fanfare_ponent ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 1976
Official Name: Fantagraphics Books
Place of Origin: Seattle, WA
Distinction: Fantagraphics Books has been a leading proponent of comics as a legitimate form of art and literature since it began publishing the critical trade magazine The Comics Journal in 1976. By the early 1980s, Fantagraphics found itself at the forefront of the burgeoning movement to establish comics as a medium as eloquent and expressive as the more established popular arts of film, literature, poetry, et al. Fantagraphics quickly established a reputation as an advocacy publisher that specialized in seeking out and publishing the kind of innovative work that traditional comics corporations who dealt almost exclusively in super-heroes and fantasy either didn’t know existed or wouldn’t touch: serious, dramatic, historical, journalistic, political, and satirical work by a new generation of alternative cartoonists as well as many artists who gained prominence as part of the seminal underground comix movement of the ’60s. Fantagraphics has since gained an international reputation for its literate and audacious editorial standards and its exacting production values[2].
The work of artists such as R. Crumb, Peter Bagge, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Dan Clowes, Joe Sacco, Chris Ware, Carol Tyler and others has continued to gain commercial momentum and critical recognition over the last three decades by combining the social relevance of the previous generation of underground comix artists, attention to personal and psychological veracity, and formal experimentation and innovation[3].
Fantagraphics’ authors have garnered more favorable press attention than any publisher’s in the history of the medium. Recent books alone have received significant, positive coverage in TIME, Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly, Spin, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, The Nation, and others. Fantagraphics was ranked among the top five most influential publishers in the history of comics in a recent poll by an industry trade newspaper; it was the only independent publisher on the list, and the only contemporary publisher named alongside corporate behemoths Marvel and DC[4].
Operations: Gary Groth, Mike Catron (Founders), Gary Groth (Publisher), Eric Reynolds (Marketing)
Output: http://www.fantagraphics.com/comic-books/
http://www.fantagraphics.com/graphic-novels/
Current Titles: Dinomania: the Lost Art of Winsor McCay; The Eternaut; Hip Hop Family Tree; Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
Upcoming Titles: Comics Dementia; Love and Rockets: New Stories; Patience
Branches: Eros Comix, Ignatz Series (imprints)
Social Media: @fantagraphics ; Facebook ; Pinterest ; Tumblr
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 1946
Official Name: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Place of Origin: New York, NY
Distinction: Farrar, Straus and Giroux authors have won extraordinary acclaim over the years, including numerous National Book Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and twenty-one Nobel Prizes in Literature. Prize winners include Pablo Neruda, Joseph Brodsky, Shirley Hazzard, Susan Sontag, Alice McDermott, Seamus Heaney, Nadine Gordimer, Richard Powers, Marilynne Robinson, Isaac Bashevis Singer, C. K. Williams, Tom Wolfe, John McPhee, Thomas Friedman, Jonathan Franzen, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Richard Powers[5].
Operations: John C. Farrar, Roger W. Straus, Jr. (Founders), Robert Giroux (partner), Jonathan Galassi (President & Publisher)
Output: http://us.macmillan.com/fsgadult/categories/general/fsgadult/topsellers
Current Titles: Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey
http://us.macmillan.com/fsgadult/categories/general/fsgadult/newfromfsg
Branches: Sarah Crichton, Faber and Faber Inc., Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Younger Readers, FSG Originals, Hill & Wang, North Point, Scientific American/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (imprints)
Social Media: @fsgbooks ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2002
Official Name: Flesk Publications
Place of Origin: Santa Cruz, CA
Distinction: “The company was founded as a direct result of my desire to publish the art books I wanted to buy myself.” – John Fleskes[6]
This year marks Flesk Publications’ thirteenth anniversary of promoting the arts through quality collections. Flesk Publications prides itself on being different. A creative approach is pursued by exploring the aesthetics of each artist in order to design a package that serves as an extension of him or herself. The result is a unique and individual collection produced with passion. Flesk produces a full line of art books featuring the best of comics and graphic novels, fantasy, illustration, pinup and fine arts[7].
“A few things that separate us from other publishers are our absolute commitment to the quality of our books and the relationships formed with the artists we showcase,” continues Fleskes. “It’s not just about the books, but the positive future of the artists and making sure they are represented well and that their trust, in allowing us to collect their work, is not abused.” Fleskes shares a passion for the arts and feels a responsibility in making sure he represents his artists with the best books possible while also raising the art form. “We hope to educate the public to expect a higher standard from publishers,” continues Fleskes. “We take our work very seriously yet enjoy the process. Whether it’s a 16-page chapbook or a 300-page oversized art book, we give each collection our full attention to meet our standards first. I have a self-drive that makes this approach a natural part of what Flesk Publications is all about. It isn’t a policy, it’s who we are.”[8]
Operations: John Fleskes (President & Publisher)
Output: Flesk Prime; Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Naughty and Nice: the Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm
http://fleskpublications.com/flesksite/index.php?route=product/category&path=20
Current Titles:
http://fleskpublications.com/flesksite/index.php?route=product/category&path=20_27
Upcoming Title: The Nexus Chronicles
Branches: N/A
Social Media: Facebook ; Vimeo
Multi-Media: Spectrum Video http://spectrumfantasticart.com/video.php
Established: 2009
Official Name: FUBAR Press
Place of Origin: Unknown
Distinction: An independent small press publisher of black and white pulp comic books. Currently we specialize in historical military zombie short stories[9].
Operations: Jeff McComesy (President & Publisher), Steve Becker (Art Director), Jeff McClelland (Story Editor)
Output: The Ace of Spades; Better Red than Dead; By the Sword; Free Comic Book Day MMXIII; Free Comic Book Day MMXIV; Guts and Glory; Summer Special [all titles have FUBAR as the first word]
Current Titles: Mother Russia
Branches: Official imprint of Alterna.
Social Media: @FUBARPRESS ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 1990
Official Name: Fulcrum Publishing
Place of Origin: Golden, CO
Distinction: In physics, the word fulcrum denotes the point at which motion begins. We strive to create books that will inspire you to move forward in your life or to take action. Whether it’s exploring the world around you or discussing the ideas and issues that shape that world, our books provide the tools to create forward motion in your life[10].
Our mission is simple, yet profound: Publish books that inspire readers to LIVE life to the fullest and to LEARN something new every day. Publishing high-quality books from extraordinary authors. Fulcrum recognizes that good writers make good publishers[11].
To that end, we have published books from prominent politicians (Gov. Richard Lamm, Sen. Gary Hart, Sen. Eugene McCarthy), leading Native Americans (Wilma Mankiller, Vine Deloria Jr., Joseph Bruchac), master gardeners (Lauren Springer, Tom Peace, Richard Hartlage), and important organizations in the environmental community (Campaign for America’s Wilderness, World Wilderness Congress, Defenders of Wildlife).[12]
Our books have received accolades from the likes of Tom Brokaw, Kurt Vonnegut, Gloria Steinem, William Sears, MD, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Dole, and Nelson Mandela[13].
In addition, Fulcrum authors have received awards from such prestigious organizations as Book Sense, Colorado Center for the Book, ForeWord magazine, National Book Foundation, National Parenting Publications, New York Public Library, PEN USA Literary Awards, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Teacher’s Choice, and more[14].
Operations: Bob Baron (Founder)
Output: http://www.fulcrum-books.com/showproducts.cfm?Step=1&CrossCatID=4
Current Title: Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays, and Other Endangered Sea Creatures
Branches: N/A
Social Media: @FulcrumBooks ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2005
Official Name: Fun Publications Inc.
Place of Origin: Unknown
Distinction: A publishing company that runs the Transformers Collectors Club and G.I. Joe Collectors Club under license from Hasbro. Besides releasing comics, Fun Publications releases exclusive toys and runs conventions for their clubs[15].
Fun Publications also publishes a serial comic distributed as part of the official Transformer’s Collector’s Club magazine. There are six pages to the comic in each magazine, which together “make one complete story arc” by the end of the year with 36 pages in six months.[1] The full strips from the first two years were distributed by IDW as Transformers Cybertron: Balancing Act. The 2010 story is called “The Coming Storm” and follow after the events of the 2009 Timelines story[16].
Operations: http://www.fpcomics.com/
Output: http://www.fpcomics.com/
Upcoming Titles: G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: Welcome to Springfield Island! Special; Transformers Timelines: Cybertron’s Most Wanted Special
Branches: Licensed under Hasbro®.
Social Media: Facebook
Multi-Media: Toys, video media.
Established: 2010
Official Name: Future Dude Entertainment
Place of Origin: Unknown
Distinction: A production company that blends dazzling creativity with smart storytelling. Our goal: to rekindle the human spirit of science fiction for a mass audience. Our original stories come to life through immersive media experiences spanning film, games, books and beyond. By reuniting story, science and imagination, FutureDude creates epic entertainment for adventurous souls and inquisitive minds[17].
Our work has attracted passionate followers around the world. But it’s our outstanding collaborators that set us apart: accomplished TV and film actors, award-winning artists, renowned scientists and technical advisors (NASA, the European Space Agency), as well as far-sighted investors who fuel FutureDude and our projects[18].
Operations: Jeffrey Morris (Founder, CCO), Phil Hinderaker (President, CEO), Kimberly Morris (Producer, COO), Anne Marie Gillen (EP), Maria Reiten (Marketing Director)
Output: Venus: Dædalus One
Current Titles: Brainstorm; Parallel Man
Branches: N/A
Social Media: @FutureDudeEnt ; Facebook ; Tumblr ; Vimeo
Multi-Media: http://futuredude.com/film-tv/ Eight properties in development.
Established: 1913
Official Name: F+W Media
Place of Origin: New York, NY
Distinction: F+W connects passionate, like-minded groups of people to share an ongoing exchange of information, ideas, and inspiration[19].
We are committed to providing the very best experience for our consumers across our niche categories – craft, art, writing, design, outdoors, and lifestyle. We offer exclusive programs and products, Best-in-Industry Customer Service (100% Guaranteed), Curated Kit Flash Sales, Rewards and VIP programs, personalized 1-to-1 marketing, and more[20].
The greatest asset of any organization is its people. And the talents, energy, and creativity of our employees are unrivaled. We reward and foster innovation and entrepreneurship focused on a singular mission: to serve our Consumers and our Communities. Our employees are our best brand advocates and we value that, above all[21].
Our passion shines through in what we do[22].
Operations: Sara Domville (President), Jim Ogle (COO, CFO), Phil Graham (Senior VP),
Output: http://www.fwcommunity.com/#arts-crafts [check other tabs for more genres]
Branches: Tinicum is its parent company. In addition, F + W owns special interest publisher Adams Media.
Crimson Romance, Impact Books, Interweave Press, Krause Publications, Merit Press, North Light Books, Writer’s Digest (imprints)
Social Media: @fwmedia ; Facebook ; LinkedIn
Multi-Media: F+W publishes magazines, books, digital products including e-books and e-magazines, produces online video, offers online education, and owns and operates 21 e-stores, as well as consumer and trade shows[23].
F+W Media is a special interest content provider and marketer of enthusiast magazines, books, conferences, trade shows, and interactive media properties. Publications are organized around some 20 community-based units, each of which focuses on a particular special interest category, such as crafts, writing, fine arts, design, and sports. The company also publishes about 600 new book titles annually, and has a library of some 4,000 titles[24].
[1] http://www.ponentmon.com/comic-books-english/about-us.html
[2] http://fantagraphics.com/flog/about-us/
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] http://us.macmillan.com/publishers/farrar-straus-giroux
[6] http://fleskpublications.com/flesksite/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=4
[7] Ibid
[8] Ibid
[9] https://www.facebook.com/zombiefubar/info/?tab=page_info
[10] http://www.fulcrum-books.com/client/client_pages/about.cfm
[11] Ibid
[12] Ibid
[13] Ibid
[14] Ibid
[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fun_Publications
[16] Ibid
[17] http://futuredude.com/company/
[18] Ibid
[19] http://www.fwcommunity.com/about-us
[20] Ibid
[21] Ibid
[22] Ibid
[23] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%2BW
[24] Ibid
Find these fantastic folios at my local comic shop:
