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Current Comic Book Publishers from Z-A – entry #17

Dec 17, 2015

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Day 17. Full speed ahead!! Today’s entry is brought to you by the letter K, as in krazy good! In all sincerity, I’ve never experienced a more rushed December! By tomorrow, I’ll finally start contemplating if not seeking Christmas gifts :-@

This daily entry relates to publishers that are firmly entrenched within Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.’s monthly PREVIEWS catalog. If I’m unaware of anything, please tell me!!

Kent State University Press

Established: 1965

Official Name: Kent State University Press

Place of Origin: Kent, OH

Distinction: The Kent State University Press is the publishing arm of Kent State University. Our imprint is controlled by an editorial board composed of Kent faculty scholars. As a member of the Association of American University Presses, the Press is included in the select group of more than 100 university-sponsored scholarly presses, whose outstanding programs make them an important segment of the academic and publishing communities[1].

The Press annually publishes two journals and 35 titles in history, literature, and regional studies that further knowledge of the humanities and preserve and promote a literate society[2].

Operations: Howard Allen (Founder), Will Underwood (Director)

Output: http://www.kentstateuniversitypress.com/category/new-releases/

Current Title: Roses in December: a Story of Love and Alzheimer’s

Branches: Black Squirrel Books (imprint)

Social Media: @KentStateUPress ; Facebook

Multi-Media: N/A

Established:

Official Name: Kenzer & Company

Place of Origin: Waukegan, IL

Distinction: Publisher of comic books, role-playing games, board games, card games, and miniature games[3]. Meeting the needs of gamers through comics, role-playing games, board games, card games and more[4].

Operations: David Kenzer (President, Game Designer), Jennifer Kenzer (CFO), Jolly R. Blackburn (VP, creator of KotDT), Barbara Blackburn (Staff Writer, Assistant Ed. of KotDT), Steve Johansson, Brian Jelke (VPs, Game Designers), Mark Plemmons (Senior Editor, Art Director, Game Designer, Convention Manager, HackMaster Association Manager)

Output: Knights of the Dinner Table (comic)

Branches: Knights of the Dinner Table magazine and related products, HackMaster RPG, Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting, Aces & Eights: Shattered Frontier western RPG, Great Space Race board game, Tech Support card game, Fairy Meat miniatures game, Final Days miniatures game, Dwarven Dig! miniatures game, Elemental.

Social Media: @Kenzerco ; Facebook

Multi-Media: N/A

Established: 2010 (current), 1975 (original)

Official Name: Knockabout Comics Ltd.

Place of Origin: London, England, UK

Distinction: Publisher and distributor of the finest underground and alternative comics. Knockabout has carried on publishing legendary British talents such as Alan Moore, Hunt Emerson, Eddie Campbell, Brian Bolland, Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean, Melinda Gebbie, and many many more[5].

“Not only has Knockabout been instrumental in pioneering the market for challenging underground material, it has also been at the forefront of legal battles over censorship; it is probably no exaggeration to say that the increased leeway enjoyed in the medium today is thanks in no small part to the cases Knockabout has fought out with The Man so we could have the right to decide what we wanted to read for ourselves.” – Forbidden Planet International

Operations: Tony & Carol Bennett (Founders), Josh Palmano (Publisher)

Output: The Big Book of Everything; The Complete Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers; From Hell; Knockabout Comics; R. Crumb Draws the Blues

Current TitleS: Alpha; Hieronymus: the Unauthorized Biography; Hot Jazz with Max Zillion and Alto Ego

Branches: Gosh! Comics (partnered with the company as of 2010)

Social Media: @KnockaboutComix ; Facebook

Multi-Media: N/A

Established: 1915

Official Name: Knopf Books

Place of Origin: New York, NY

Distinction: One of America’s foremost book publishers—known for both the quality of its authors and for the high level of its book design and production[6].

The Borzoi Credo: I believe that a publisher’s imprint means something, and that if readers paid more attention to the publisher of the books they buy, their chances of being disappointed would be infinitely less[7]. [first part of seven]

Operations: Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. & Blanche Knopf (Founders)

Output: http://knopfdoubleday.com/genre/

Branches: Now part of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Social Media: @AAKnopf ; Facebook

Multi-Media: N/A

Established: 2008

Official Name: Kodansha Comics USA

Place of Origin: New York, NY

Distinction: Kodansha Comics USA is a manga publishing imprint. It is the American subsidiary of Japanese publisher Kodansha. First works under the Kodansha Comics imprint were Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira and Masamune Shirow’s The Ghost in the Shell.[8]

Operations: Yoshiro Irie (President, CEO)

Output: http://kodanshacomics.com/series/

Current Titles: Ajin: Demi-Human; Attack on Titan; Coppelion; LDK; Parayste; Say I Love You

Branches: Started printing Del Rey Manga titles. Random House is its distributor.

Social Media: @KodanshaUSA ; Facebook ; Instagram ; Tumblr

Multi-Media: N/A

Established: 2007

Official Name: Koyama Press

Place of Origin: Toronto, Ontario, CANADA

Distinction: Koyama Press is a Toronto-based small press. Our mandate is to promote and support a wide range of emerging and established artists. Projects include comics, graphic novels, art books, and zines. We are known for our alternative edge and diverse range of titles that include a myriad of genres from autobiography to photography, from horror to humour, and more[9].

Koyama Press’s mandate has been to promote and provide support to an array of emerging and established artists. This mandate is realized by funding and producing a diverse collection of publications and artists’ projects. Projects include comics, art books, exhibitions, prints, and zines. Koyama Press has quickly become one of the most important and relevant publishers working in North America today. The press has produced and given audience to the earliest work from some of the brightest emerging talents in fi ne art and cartooning, as well as publishing work by more established artists. The artists and books they have produced have since gone on to win a number of awards and accolades and influence the medium itself. Koyama Press’s pioneering approach to book publishing—one that places art and artists above profits and bottom lines— has made a dramatic impact on the comics, artistic, and literary communities both locally, in their native Canada, and internationally[10].

Operations: Annie Koyama (Founder, Publisher, Owner), Ed Kanerva (Marketing & Production Coordinator), Helen Koyama (Publishing & Administrative Assistant)

Output: http://koyamapress.com/portfolio/products/

Branches: Koyama Press titles are distributed internationally by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution.

Social Media: @AnnieKoyama ; Facebook

Multi-Media: N/A

[1] http://www.kentstateuniversitypress.com/about/

[2] Ibid

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenzer_%26_Company

[4] https://www.facebook.com/Kenzer-and-Company-105424779490484/info/?tab=page_info

[5] http://www.goshlondon.com/knockabout/

[6] https://www.facebook.com/aaknopf/info/?tab=page_info

[7] Ibid

[8] http://kodanshacomics.com/about/