Know Your Comics! A quick guide to the Publishers out there...

Just as there are different movie studios, computer game developers and television production companies, there are different publishers for comic books, with titles and characters which are exclusive to them.

The ‘Big 2’ are DC and Marvel.

DC Comics was founded in 1934, and is still going strong today.  The letters 'DC' actually stand for Detective Comics, a name still used for a Batman title these days.  

Their main titles include the characters Batman, Green Lantern, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Justice League, Supergirl and Watchmen.

Marvel was properly founded in 1961, though the company did exist firstly as Timely Comics, and then Atlas Comics, before taking on the Marvel name.

It was in 1961 that Marvel launched the Fantastic Four, and the rest as they say, is history.

Marvel – Iron Man, Spiderman, Avengers, Thor, Hawkeye, Hulk, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy.

Then there are the independent companies –

By far the biggest of the independent companies, Image Comics are not too far behind the ‘Big 2’.  They were founded in 1992 by several high-profile illustrators as a venue where comics creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains one of the largest comic book publishers in North America.

Their biggest titles would include – The Walking Dead, Saga, Deadly Class, Birthright, The Wicked & The Divine, Snotgirl, Nailbiter and Outcast.

Vertigo is an imprint owned by DC Comics.  It was created in 1993 to publish stories with more graphic or adult content that could not fit within the restrictions of the Comics Code Authority, thus allowing more creative freedom than DC's main imprint. These comics were free to contain explicit violence, substance and drug abuse, sexuality, nudity, profanity, and other controversial subjects, similar to the content of R-Rated films.  There are still some quality title being released, but it is in their back library that there is so much quality.  

Their biggest titles would include – Preacher, Y:The Last Man (your humble authors favourite comic series of all time), 100 Bullets, Sandman, Hellblazer, Fables, Scalped and American Vampire.

Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Oregon with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals.

Richardson started out by opening his first comic book store, Pegasus Books, in Bend, Oregon, in 1980. From there he was able to use the funds from his retail operation to start his own publishing company. 

Another quality indie imprint with an emphasis on science fiction and dark, gritty noir.  Their biggest titles include – Sin City, Hellboy, The Massive, Fight Club 2 and Aliens.

The company was founded as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW) and is regularly recognized as the fifth-largest comic book publisher in the United States.  

The company is perhaps best known for its licensed comic book adaptations of movies and cartoons though they also release quality original titles as well.  

Their main titles include – Transformers, My Little Pony, Doctor Who and Locke & Key.

Aftershock are the new guys on the scene.  

Going for around 2 years at this point, they have managed to secure some quality titles from some of the most talented creators around.  They have Cullen Bunn working on titles, Garth Ennis, Donny Coates and Francesco Francavilla to name but a few.

Their main titles include – Black Eyed Kids, Unholy Grail, Jimmy’s Bastards, Captain Kid and Babyteeth.

There are others, but no matter what your tastes, you should be able to find titles published by one of the above.

Hope this intro guide helps!