Twenty-eight days. This block of time can relate to a lunar cycle or the onset of the zombie apocalypse *_* The only zombies I believe in are found in comic books!! I definitely zone out when I open one and pore over every single panel.
Letter B gets a second serving. The very last first letter will be spread over three days. That’s a massive list :0 I suppose it’s naïveté to think that all the info presented would be complete. Nope!! Wishful thinking. Once again, I want to emphasize that I took time to use as many search engines as possible. All these publishers are currently in the monthly PREVIEWS catalog, itself a product of Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.
Established: 2009
Official Name: Blackwatch Comics
Place of Origin: New York, NY [office also in Wisconsin]
Distinction: Blackwatch Comics is a publisher of fine graphic novels. Blackwatch
has been a noteworthy force in producing some of the most beautiful graphic novels in the world. With its small, specialized, boutique approach to publishing, Blackwatch only produces limited edition beautifully designed art books and graphic novels. Its philosophy, “bringing master craftsmanship perfection back to books,” has garnered praised, and Blackwatch’s books ranks as some of the most sought after. The company’s stated mission is “only publish when it’s perfection.” Blackwatch is not a large publishing house, rather, and independent publisher focused on producing stories and novels that lie outside the mainstream[1].
Operations: Unknown
Output: Blackwatch’s catalog includes the Leaves trilogy by Christopher Shy, and the long awaited over-sized Perfect Edition of Soul Stealer. Blackwatch editions are available in a variety of sizes, from the large completed edition of the Soul Stealer Series, to album cover sized artbooks[2].
Blackwatch tours only once a year for the artists and authors to meet with fans and sign copies[3].
Current Titles: Silent Leaves: Exceptions to Life; Soul Stealers
Upcoming Titles: http://www.blackwatchcomics.com/page13.html
Branches: N/A
Social Media: Facebook ; Tumblr
Multi-Media: Trailers for all three Soul Stealer books.
Established: 2009
Official Name: Bleeding Cool
Place of Origin: Rantoul, IL
Distinction: Comic book, Film, and Entertainment news and rumors. The source for comic book and movie rumors, breaking news, and more.
On 27 March 2009, Johnston announced his launch of the website BleedingCool.com, which he described as “Lying in the Gutters, four times a day, seven days a week.” It is funded by Avatar Press. He recruited Warren Ellis, Si Spurrier, Adi Tantimedh, Josh Adams, Alex De Campi, and Denny O’Neil to provide regular content for the site.
Johnston’s writing does not often impart sources. Johnston said, “I often obfuscate sources to hide their identity—even deny that a story has sources on many occasions.” However, his column reported first on many topics of note regarding the comic book industry, something The Comics Journal attributes in part to “Johnston’s discerning intelligence and an attitude that sometimes approaches iconoclasm.” Johnston sees himself as part of a tradition established by the “British tabloid press, one that seeks to entertain rather than inform…”[4]
Bleeding Cool was nominated for the “Favourite Comics Related Website” Eagle Award in 2010 and 2011 and won in 2012. It was named as one of PC Magazine’s top blogs of 2010.[5] and Technorati gave it a perfect 1000 score for influence in the comics category.[6] Rich Johnston was awarded the Shel Dorf Award for Best Comics Blogger for his work on Bleeding Cool in 2012.[7]
Operations: Rich Johnston (Founder, Creator, Head Writer)
Output: All the dirt is published in magazines!! http://mycomicshop.com/search?TID=22969495
Current Titles: Bleeding Cool magazine
Branches: Funded by Avatar Press
Social Media: @bleedingcool ; @richjohnston ; Facebook [BC & Rich Johnston] ; YouTube [Rich Johnston]
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2004
Official Name: Bliss on Tap Publishing
Place of Origin: Los Angeles, CA
Distinction: “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” – Herman Melville
Brian Phillipson is the President and co-founder of Bliss on Tap Publishing. He got his start in animation working in the editorial departments on Daria, Celebrity Deathmatch, King of the Hill and Futurama and others. Alternative stories are his passion and he plans on bringing many more weird tales to the world to go along with God the Dyslexic Dog, Andie and the Alien and Future Proof. He currently works in Business Affairs at a movie studio and would also like to time-travel back to ancient Rome someday[8].
Phil Phillipson is the Chairman of the Board and the co-founder of Bliss on Tap Publishing. He has spent the last 30 years in the animation industry. Credits include 20 theatrical films, 14 of them Disney. He has also worked with Hanna-Barbera, Marvel and Universal, as well as on dozens of television programs and publications. He currently working on the Tom & Jerry television reboot[9].
Operations: Brian Phillipson (Founder, President), Phil Phillipson (Founder, Chairman of the Board), Alex Murillo (EVP)
Output: Andie and the Alien; The Art of Phil Mendez; Evergreen; God the Dyslexic Dog; The Legion of Molly Doves; Monster Candy; O.C.D. (Organize. Clean. Die.)
Current Titles: Future Proof; I Play the Bad Guy
Branches: https://squareup.com/market/bliss-on-tap-publishing
Social Media: @BlissOnTap1 ; Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 1998
Official Name: Bloomsbury Publishing US
Place of Origin: New York, NY
Distinction: Bloomsbury USA is a general interest publisher of adult and children’s books. The publisher of the bestselling books The Finkler Question, Logicomix, Pearl of China, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Rats, Schott’s Original Miscellany, My Horizontal Life, and Kitchen Confidential ; as well as works by award-winning writers Howard Jacobson, Anchee Min, Rowan Jacobson, Alan Hollinghurst, William Boyd, Melissa Fay Greene, Robert Sullivan, and David Leavitt[10].
Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) is a leading independent publishing house established in 1986.
Operations: Nigel Newton (Founder)
Output: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/fiction/graphic-novels/
Current Titles: Apocalypse Meow Meow
Branches: Offices in London, New Delhi, and Sydney.
Four divisions – Bloomsbury Academic and Professional, Bloomsbury Information, Bloomsbury Adult Publishing and Bloomsbury Children’s Publishing.
Social Media: @BloomsburyPub ; Facebook ; Instagram ; LinkedIn ; Pinterest ; YouTube
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2012
Official Name: Blue Juice Comics
Place of Origin: Orlando, FL
Distinction: When Thomas Mumme, Adam Miller, Michael Misconi, and Jeremy Schneider formed Blue Juice Films, Inc in 2005, their plans for the company didn’t include making comics. The four had freelance experience in television and film when they set up their own shop in Orlando, Florida with the intention of creating short films, music videos, and feature films. They succeeded with the first two, but hit roadblock after roadblock when they tried to get funding for their feature films. According to Mumme, their biggest hurdle was getting their scripts in front of the people with money[11].
In the meantime, the quartet were still getting work outside of BJF. In 2011, Mumme and Schneider were hired to work on AMC’s Comic Book Men show with Kevin Smith. An old friend and fellow Orlandian Ronnie Porto was also part of the production. Working on the show revived the three’s dormant love for comics, and Mumme was struck with inspiration. Instead of dumping cash into expensive short films and using them as proof-of-concepts to get financing for longer films, why not try building a comparatively cheap comic franchise?[12]
The guys at BJF asked Porto to submit some of his screenplay ideas. When they reviewed them, a science fiction story called “The Accelerators” stood out as a great concept for a comic. They committed to the idea in January of 2012 without doing any preliminary investigation into what comic publishing entailed. Mumme researched the industry, and the more he learned the more excited he became. He would talk about his progress with Schneider and Porto while working on Comic Book Men, which drew the attention of the hosts. Two of them, Mike Zapcic and Ming Chen, invited the group onto their podcast to give weekly updates on their progress. They shared experiences with two others, Walt Flanagan and Bryan Johnson, who had previously made their own comics (“Cryptozoic Man”, “War of the Undead”).[13]
The BJF quartet discovered an unexpected passion for publishing and has been moving forward with their print division, Blue Juice Comics, ever since[14].
Operations: R.F.I. Porto (Creator, Writer), Thomas Mumme (Editor)
Output: http://bluejuicecomics.com/wordpress/books/
Current Titles: The Accelerators: Momentum; Anne Bonnie
Branches: http://bluejuicecomics.com/wordpress/store/
Social Media: @BlueJuiceComics ; Facebook
Multi-Media: Blue Juice Films studio.
Established: 2005
Official Name: Blue Snake Books
Place of Origin: Berkeley, CA
Distinction: One of the largest publishers of internal and historical martial arts books in the world[15].
A dedicated martial arts imprint of North Atlantic Books, though the company has been publishing martial arts titles for over 25 years. Disciplines of martial arts featured include capoeira, karate, muay thai, tai chi, ba gua, judo, jiu jitsu, and more. Blue Snake Books authors include t’ai chi master Bruce Frantzis and Russian Prime Minister and judo practitioner Vladimir Putin[16].
Operations: Unknown
Output: T’ai Chi Ch’uan: A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health and Self Defense by Cheng Man-ch’ing; Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: Qigong for Lifelong Health, Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong (Volumes 1 and 2), and Taoist Sexual Meditation: Connecting Love, Energy and Spirit by Bruce Frantzis; and Capoeira: A Brazilian Art Form: History, Philosophy, and Practice by Bira Almeida.
Branches: Imprint of North Atlantic Books.
Social Media: @BlueSnakeBooks ; Facebook ; YouTube
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: Unknown
Official Name: Bohemian Press
Place of Origin: Minneapolis, MN
Distinction: The Bohemian Press is a non-profit print collective based in the University of Minnesota Department of Art. Bo’ Press enables undergraduate and graduate printmakers to show, sell, and exhibit their work, furiously spreading print in the community as they go[17].
This organization provides a community for printmakers by providing the means to research printmaking methods, and spread accessibility and understanding of printmaking through events, sales, exhibitions, and demonstrations[18].
Fine Arts: Printmaking is a department within the overall art department and is particularly connected to community. Prints’ ubiquity make them accessible while the techniques involved in making them are often unknown. This provides a socially-relevant and fun teaching and learning opportunity for U of M people and the public alike[19].
Operations: Jack Hanisch (Officer), Blake Stuefen (VP), Michael Johnson (Treasurer)
Output: A Piggy’s Tale; Tails
Branches: N/A
Social Media: @bohemian_press ; Facebook ; Flickr ; Inkteraction ; LinkedIn ; Tumblr ; YouTube
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 1993
Official Name: Bongo Comics Group
Place of Origin: Santa Monica, CA
Distinction: In 1991, the explosive, worldwide popularity of Matt Groening’s upstart prime time animated series, “The Simpsons,” led to the publication of a fan magazine called Simpsons Illustrated. Matt created the magazine with the help of his longtime friends and fellow artists Steve and Cindy Vance. The periodical featured a few pages of comics written and drawn by the Vances and Bill Morrison, and in early 1993, the same creative team joined with Matt to produce the one-shot comic book Simpsons Comics & Stories. It was an immediate success, and Matt decided to pursue his childhood dream of starting a comic book company. Beginning in November of that same year, “Simpsons” fans were rewarded with inaugural issues of Radioactive Man, Itchy & Scratchy Comics, Bartman, and Simpsons Comics, and Bongo Comics Group was born![20]
Operations: Matt Groening (Founder, Publisher, Creator), Nathan Kane (Creative Director)
Output: http://www.bongocomics.com/catalog
Current Titles: Bart Simpson Comics; Futurama Comics; Simpsons Comics; Simpsons Illustrated; Simpsons Summer Shindig; Simpsons Winter Wingding; Treehouse of Horror
Branches: N/A
Social Media: @Bongoheads ; Facebook
Multi-Media: The Simpsons TV series, airing on FOX Network since 1989. Duh!! or D’oh!
Established: 1995
Official Name: Book Palace Books
Place of Origin: London, England, UK
Distinction: We’ve been selling books and illustration art for over 40 years. We started trading in 1973 as Conquistador and were incorporated in 2001 and trade as The Book Palace. Our wide range of prestigious illustrated books covers book and comic illustration and includes first editions, limited editions and signed books.[21]
We are the proud publishers of Illustrators, the art quarterly featuring the world’s finest illustrators and their art[22].
We also publish highly collectable illustrated books under the Book Palace Books imprint. These Limited Editions are produced to a very high standard and our growing list of titles are shown in the left hand column under ‘Book Palace Books’![23]
Our excellent contacts and know-how mean that we can source out-of-print, back-catalogued illustrated books and limited editions that are otherwise unavailable[24].
Operations: Unknown
Output: https://www.bookpalace.com/acatalog/Books.html
Current Titles: Illustrators
Branches: Imprint of Illustration Art Gallery.
Social Media: Facebook
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2005
Official Name: BOOM! Studios
Place of Origin: Los Angeles, CA
Distinction: Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios generates New York Times best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic books and graphic novels[25].
A unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry’s biggest talents![26]
Operations: Ross Richie (Founder, CEO), Matt Gagnon (EIC), Filip Sablik (President of Publishing & Marketing), Lance Kreiter (VP of Licensing & Merchandising), Paul Levitz (Board of Directors)
Output: http://www.boom-studios.com/series
Current Titles: Adventure Time; Big Trouble in Little China; Giant Days; John Flood; Klaus; Lumberjanes; Toil and Trouble and tons others!!
Upcoming Titles: Bill & Ted Go to Hell; The Last Contract; Mezolith vol. 1; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Branches: Studios, BOOM! Box, KaBOOM!, Archaia (imprints)
Social Media: @boomstudios ; Facebook ; Tumblr
Multi-Media: Since 2013, BOOM! Studios has had a unique first-look feature film relationship with 20th Century Fox and since August 2014 BOOM! has had a similar first-look relationship with Fox’ television studio to develop properties for the small screen[27].
Established: 2010
Official Name: Boundless Comics
Place of Origin: Rantoul, IL
Distinction: The first and so far only character is their flagship character Lady Death. They have decided to stay small and focus on Lady Death by giving her a brand new monthly series[28].
Operations: William A. Christensen (Founder of Avatar Press)
Output: http://www.comcav.net/
Current Titles: Ember; Lady Death; Webwitch
Branches: Imprint of Avatar Press.
Social Media: @boundlesscomics ; Facebook ; Kickstarter
Multi-Media: N/A
Established: 2000
Official Name: BroadSword Comics
Place of Origin: Pennsylvania
Distinction: BroadSword Comics® was a long-time dream for artist Jim Balent and in 2000 that dream became a reality. Jim, along with his wife, artist Holly Golightly, started the company and are the two creators and its driving force. Jim and Holly are dedicated to their vision that comic books should have high quality, an uncompromised artistic vision and loyalty to the readers[29].
BroadSword Comics® has won several awards including best independent title, best comic book, and best artist[30].
*We* are the music makers… and *we* are the dreamers of dreams[31].
Jim: Since I was five I always wanted to start my own company and draw my own titles.
I like creating strong female characters, I liked staying in touch with the readers and I felt
I had something to say with my books. Holly felt the same way and together we started
Broadsword Comics[32].
Operations: Jim Balent (Publisher, Editor, Writer, Penciller, Inker), Holly Golightly (Colorist, Letterer)
Output: Other popular titles with the readers are School Bites, 3 Little Kittens, and VampFire.
Current Titles: Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose
Branches: BroadSword Comics® has expanded its creativity beyond comic books into t-shirts, statues, and toys plus more. Jim and Holly’s vision for BroadSword continues to grow and they have no intention of stopping[33].
Social Media: @BroadSwordComic ; Facebook ; Pinterest
Multi-Media: http://jimbalentstudios.com/videos/
[1] http://www.blackwatchcomics.com/page2.html
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] http://web.archive.org/web/20060505030232/http://www.tcj.com/266/n_johnston.html
[5] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372438,00.asp
[6] http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/21/wednesday-runaround-going-to-bat-law-school/
[7] http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/27/bleeding-cool-wins-shel-dorf-award-for-best-blogger/
[8] http://www.blissontap.com/p/about-us.html
[9] Ibid
[10] http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/company/about-us/
[11] http://www.multiversitycomics.com/columns/small-press-publisher-spotlight-blue-juice-comics/
[12] Ibid
[13] Ibid
[14] Ibid
[15] https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/blue-snake-books/
[16] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_Books
[17] http://thebohemianpress.blogspot.ca/
[18] http://sua.umn.edu/groups/directory/group/1885/
[19] Ibid
[20] http://www.bongocomics.com/legend-bongo
[21] https://www.bookpalace.com/acatalog/About-Us.html
[22] Ibid
[23] Ibid
[24] Ibid
[25] http://blog.boom-studios.com/about-us/
[26] https://www.facebook.com/BOOMStudiosComics/info/?tab=page_info
[27] http://blog.boom-studios.com/about-us/
[28] http://www.comicvine.com/boundless-comics/4010-2667/
[29] http://jimbalentstudios.com/broadsword-comics/
[30] Ibid
[31] https://www.facebook.com/broadswordcomics/info/?tab=page_info
[32] Ibid
[33] http://jimbalentstudios.com/broadsword-comics/
Bust a move! Use your buying power!!
