Day 16. December is officially half over!! Truthfully, I’m beside myself in terms of the quickness. Perhaps throwing myself into this project has skewed my concept of time. Too bad it’s not the 15th since there are fifteen publishers featured today. The learning process is fascinating!!! These companies come from opposite ends and cross the rivers of time. Sadly, one publisher has a miniscule amount of info despite extensive internet searches. The other doesn’t seem to have any social media attached to it. That in itself is quite peculiar!!
By now you’re probably sick of reading this disclaimer: this list is as inclusive as possible relating to the entries within the monthly PREVIEWS catalog, the comic book bible of Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.
Established: 1970
Official Name: Last Gasp
Place of Origin: San Francisco, CA
Distinction: Last Gasp is one of the largest and oldest publishers and purveyors of underground books & comics in the world, as well as being a distributor of all sorts of weird ‘n’ wonderful subversive literature, graphic novels, tattoo and art books[1].
Last Gasp operates as a publisher, distributor, and wholesaler for books of all types, often with a lowbrow art and counterculture focus[2].
Operations: Ron Turner (Founder), Colin Turner
Output: Today Last Gasp publishes few comic books, though they have published English-language versions of some manga titles, including Barefoot Gen, Pure Trance and Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms. The company publishes art and photography books, graphic novels, fiction, and poetry[3].
Current Titles: As You Were vol. 4: Living Situations; Extra Good Stuff; Pareidolia
Branches: N/A
Social Media: Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2010
Official Name: Legendary Comics
Place of Origin: Burbank, CA
Distinction: Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with film, television and digital, and comics divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to mainstream audiences with a targeted focus on the powerful fandom demographic[4].
Through complete or joint ownership, Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment including some of the world’s most popular intellectual property[5].
Operations: Bob Schreck (EIC)
Output: http://www.legendary.com/comics/#catalog
Current Titles: Black Bag; Cops for Criminals; The Infinite Adventures of Jonas Quantum; Krampus: Shadow of Saint Nicholas; Pacific Rim: Tales from the Drift
Branches: N/A
Social Media: @Legendary ; Facebook ; YouTube
Multi-Media: Legendary Pictures, Legendary Television and Digital Media
Established: 1959
Official Name: Lerner Publishing Group
Place of Origin: Minneapolis, MN
Distinction: Lerner Publishing Group is one of the nation’s largest independently owned children’s publishers with more than 5,000 books in print. For more than 50 years, we’ve created nonfiction and fiction books for pre-school to young adult readers and for libraries, classrooms, and homes across the country[6].
We bring together authors, illustrators, photographers, and educators to ensure that each book is age-appropriate and meets curriculum standards. Our books are thoroughly researched and exceptionally written with amazing illustrations and captivating photography that hold readers’ attention. And because each year brings a new class of students, we use our proprietary Muscle Bound® hardcover library binding so our books last a lifetime in the classroom and library. We guarantee it[7].
Operations: Harry Lerner (Founder, CEO), Adam Lerner (President, Publisher), Margaret Wunderlich (CFO)
Output: https://www.lernerbooks.com/pages/browse-books.aspx
Current Title: Cici: a Fairy Tale vol. 1 – Believe Your Eyes; SheHeWe
Branches: 21 imprints: https://www.lernerbooks.com/About-Lerner/Pages/imprints.aspx
Social Media: @LernerBooks ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
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Established: 2000
Official Name: Linsner.com
Place of Origin: North Georgia mountains (current location); Queens, NY (original location)
Distinction: Joseph Michael Linsner (Penciler, inker, writer)
Operations: Joseph Michael Linsner (Founder, Publisher)
Output: Dawn; Dark Ivory; Sinful Suzi
Current Title: Dawn 2015 Linsner Signed Sketchbook
Branches: N/A
Social Media: @JosephLinsner ; Facebook ; Blogspot
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2011
Official Name: Lion Forge Comics
Place of Origin: St. Louis, MO
Distinction: Lion Forge is a collective of the best and brightest talent, brought together to refine raw content into the new legends of tomorrow[8].
Lion Forge is a trans-media studio with a focus on comics publishing across all age groups. With both original and licensed titles, Lion Forge assembles the brightest and most diverse talent in the industry to create the most interesting new comics and graphic novels that we — as fans — want to see in the world[9].
Operations: Dave Steward II (CEO), Carl Reed (CCO)
Output: http://www.lionforge.com/comics/
Current Titles: Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven; The Joshua Run
Branches: Roar Comics (imprint)
Social Media: @lionforge ; Facebook ; Instagram
Multi-Media: Animated movies in production.
Established: 2003
Official Name: Lion Hudson
Place of Origin: Oxford, England, UK
Distinction: Lion Hudson is committed to publishing quality literature, worldwide, which is true to the Christian faith. We publish books for adults and children under five different imprints. Our books sell around the world and are translated into over 200 languages. International co-edition publishing is a particular strength with more than half our sales made in export markets[10].
Operations: David & Pat Alexander (Founders of Lion Publishing, 1971); Angus Hudson (Founder of Angus Hudson Ltd., 1973). The two companies merged in 2003.
Output: http://www.lionhudson.com/page/newbooks
Current Title: The Lion Comic Book Hero Bible
Branches: Lion Books, Lion Children’s Books, and Lion Fiction take accessible books that reflect a Christian worldview to a general audience while Candle Books and Monarch Books support Christian families, individuals and communities in their devotional and spiritual lives[11].
Social Media: @LionHudson
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2008
Official Name: Liquid Comics LLC
Place of Origin: Los Angeles, CA
Distinction: A digital entertainment company focused on creating cinematic and mythic graphic novel stories with filmmakers, creators and storytellers[12].
Liquid Comics has created and is creating original graphic novels with acclaimed filmmakers and talents including John Woo, Guy Ritchie, Grant Morrison, Dave Stewart, Marc Guggenheim, Jonathan Mostow, Edward Burns, Nicolas Cage, John Moore, Wes Craven, Barry Sonnenfeld and many others[13].
Operations: The company was founded by entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman and uses the medium of digital graphic novel publishing to develop properties for theatrical live-action films, animation and video games[14].
Output: http://liquidcomics.com/comics/
Current Title: Wes Craven’s Coming of Rage
Branches: http://www.zazzle.com/liquidcomics
Social Media: @LiquidComics; Facebook ; YouTube
Multi-Media: The company currently has a number of film and television projects in development based on their properties.
Established: 1837
Official Name: Little, Brown, & Company
Place of Origin: New York, NY
Distinction: Little, Brown and Company, for close to two centuries has published fiction and nonfiction by many of America’s finest writers. http://www.littlebrown.com/about.html
Operations: Charles Coffin Little, James Brown (Founders)
Output: http://www.littlebrown.com/books.html
Current Title: Lego Friends
Branches: Back Bay Books, Lee Boudreaux Books, Mulholland Books (imprints)
Social Media: @LittleBrown ; Facebook ; Pinterest ; Tumblr
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: Unknown
Official Name: Little Brown Book for Young Readers
Place of Origin: New York, NY
Distinction: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers features our core list of picture books and hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction for middle grade and young adult readers; LB Kids produces novelty and brand/licensed tie-ins; and Poppy publishes paperback original series for teen girls. Books teens love. Books kids can’t put down. Books everyone is talking about… or will be[15].
Operations: Unknown
Output: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/kids/books/
Branches: Imprint of Little, Brown, & Company. Under the Hachette Book Group banner.
Social Media: @lbkids ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2001
Official Name: Little Rocket Publications
Place of Origin:
Distinction:
Operations: Michael Tierney
Output: Wild Stars: the Book of Circles 30th Anniversary Edition
Branches:
Social Media:
Multi-Media:
Established: 1917
Official Name: Liveright
Place of Origin: New York, NY
Distinction: Liveright Publishing Corporation grew out of the storied Boni & Liveright press, one of the most important publishers of the early twentieth century. Though no original titles had been published bearing the distinctive cowled monk colophon of Liveright for many years, W.W. Norton & Company, in 2012, re-launched the storied imprint, producing an inaugural catalog of publications sure to once again secure Liveright as a pre-eminent publisher of the finest literature. Maintaining its historical high standards and progressive literary sensibilities in both fiction and nonfiction[16].
In its modern incarnation Liveright will be a home for outstanding works that define and redefine our culture, just as do the works published by Horace Liveright so many years ago continue, works that continue to provoke interest and inspire readers around the world[17].
A home for outstanding works of literature that define and redefine our culture[18].
Operations: Horace Liveright (Founder)
Current Title: Kill My Mother – a Graphic Novel
Branches: Imprint of W.W. Norton.
Social Media: @LiverightPub
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 1987
Official Name: Lo Scarabeo
Place of Origin: Torino, Italy
Distinction: Lo Scarabeo is one of the most innovative and experimental tarot publishers around today. They are well-known for their high artistic standards and willingness to explore new ideas in the realm of tarot[19].
Decks from Lo Scarabeo range from purely delightful, simple pleasures to challenging and thought-provoking. Creating tarot decks that delight the eyes…or challenge the mind. Lo Scarabeo seeks to actively participate in the evolution of tarot[20].
The Art Publisher Lo Scarabeo is internationally renowned for its artistic quality into the realm of illustration, and for its careful research: emotional, suggestive, but also historic and technical. The line of Lo Scarabeo originated by this passion for graphics and art, and developed especially into the Tarot world. A whole collection of card decks and books, created by important and famous contemporary artists and experts was published[21].
Operations: Unknown
Output: http://www.loscarabeo.com/lang-en/31-comics
Current Title: Druuna: Seriperi Collection
Branches: Books, divination accessories, cards, incenses, inspirational cards, writing tools.
Social Media: @LoScarabeo ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2012
Official Name: Locust Moon Press
Place of Origin: Philadelphia, PA
Distinction: West Philly’s favorite comic shop, art gallery, small press.
Operations: Andrew Carl (EIC)
Output: Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream; Once Upon a Time Machine
Current Title: Little Nemo’s Big New Dreams; Prometheus Eternal; Shaman
Upcoming Title: The Lost Work of Will Eisner
Branches: N/A
Social Media: @LocustMoon ; @Facebook; Reddit; Tumblr
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: Unknown
Official Name: LucasBooks
Place of Origin: Marin County, CA
Distinction: A small department within Lucas Licensing which serves as the publishing imprint of Lucasfilm. It targets readers of all ages with books, comics, and magazines based on perennials such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones as well as newly developed fiction and non-fiction material[22].
Operations: George Lucas (Chairman), Howard Roffman (President)
Output: http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/imprints/lucasbooks
Current Title: Aftermath: Star Wars; Battlefront: Twilight Company; Dark Disciple: Star Wars; The Rise of the Empire: Star Wars
Branches: Small imprint of Lucas Licensing. Published through Del Rey Books.
Social Media: N/A
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2013
Official Name: Lucha Comics
Place of Origin: London, Ontario, CANADA
Distinction: Our Mission: To publish awesome, independent comics from around the world. Creators from the U.K., The Philippines, Switzerland, Mexico, Pakistan, Korea, Spain, Canada, the USA and more all have great stories to tell[23].
For years, big publishers like Marvel and DC have told us great stories, but what about those that want something different? Real war books, old-school westerns, slice of life, and so much more is what we want to bring you[24].
Operations: Rodolfo Martinez (Founder)
Output: http://luchacomics.com/lucha-comics-releases/
Branches: N/A
Social Media: @LuchaComics ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Gasp
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] http://www.legendary.com/about/
[5] Ibid
[6] https://www.lernerbooks.com/about-lerner/Pages/default.aspx
[7] Ibid
[8] https://www.facebook.com/LionForge/info/?tab=page_info
[9] Ibid
[10] http://www.lionhudson.com/page/about
[11] Ibid
[12] http://liquidcomics.com/about-us/
[13] Ibid
[14] Ibid
[15] https://www.facebook.com/LittleBrownBooks/info/?tab=page_info
[16] http://books.wwnorton.com/books/affiliatecontent.aspx?id=24633
[17] Ibid
[18] https://www.facebook.com/liverightpub/info/?tab=overview
[19] https://www.facebook.com/LoScarabeoTarot/info/?tab=page_info
[20] Ibid
[21] http://italbooks.com/company/lo-scarabeo/
[22] http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/LucasBooks
[24] Ibid
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