Caliber Comics
Encyclopedia
Caliber Comics or Caliber Press was an American
comic book
publisher founded in 1989
by Gary Reed. Featuring primarily creator-owned comics, in the next decade Caliber published over 1300 comics and ranked as one of the America's leading independent publishers. Caliber ceased publishing in 2000
.
—Deadworld
and The Realm. Other initial launches included Caliber Presents, featuring Vince Locke
, Mark Bloodworth, Tim Vigil
, James O'Barr
, and Guy Davis; the first issue of Baker Street, co-created by Reed and Guy Davis; and the initial appearance of O’Barr’s The Crow
.
, to be released to the direct market
via Caliber Press. Over forty titles were distributed. The interest in literary works continued for Caliber when in 1991 the new imprint Tome Press was launched. Tome featured historical and biographical material in addition to literature. Over 65 different Tome Press titles would be released on subjects as diverse as the Russian Revolution, The Alamo, Amelia Earhart
, El Cid
, Jack London
stories, reprints of classic art print series, and dozens of others.
After its initial launch, Caliber expanded by bringing in new creators and projects. Jim Calafiore
was first published with his graphic novella, Progeny
. In Grafik Muzik, Mike Allred introduced his Madman character, Kevin VanHook
's Frost
series which was the storyline for the film released in 2002, Ted Slampyak
's Jazz Age Chronicles, Philip Hester's Fringe, Stuart Immomen's Playground, John Bergin
's Ashes, and other titles such as Go-Man, Northguard
, Varcel's Vixens, and more.
In the early 1990s, Caliber launched three new imprints, Gauntlet and Iconografix. Gauntlet was an action-based line whose leading titles were U.N. Force
, Berzerker (featuring work from Rob Liefeld
and Angel Medina
), Patrick Zircher
's Samurai Seven, and Serpent Rising (based on the stage play). Iconografix dealt with more obscure and cutting-edge material that included humor comics as well as comics often referred to as the "slice of life." Included here were the first issues of Ed Brubaker
's Lowlife
, Meatcake
from Dame Darcy
, Bound & Gagged from Michael Aushenker
, and a number of projects from Dave Cooper
, Jason Lutes
, and Matt Howarth
.
Caliber had ventured into licensed comics with their early release of Moontrap
, the science fiction film starring Star Trek
's Walter Koenig
, and the production of a comic for Troma Films called Frostbiter: Wrath of the Wendigo
; but it was the full-color adaptation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
, written and drawn by Kevin VanHook that proved the most successful. Another licensed property was Mechanoids from Palladium Books
.
The expansion of Caliber continued with some notable projects, including Michael Lark
's Airwaves, Silencers from Mark Askwith
and R.G. Taylor, and Negative Burn
, the anthology title that would run for fifty issues (and has since been picked up by Desperado Publishing
).
, including the series Big Bang Comics
(which later would have a long run at Image Comics
), Stormquest, and a number of literary adaptations, including a version of Frankenstein
. Caliber also produced some records and a specialty magazine, ARC, for distribution outside of comics.
In 1993, the principles of Stabur were involved in starting up a new toy company with Spawn
creator Todd McFarlane
. Reed was named vice president of McFarlane Toys
while still running Stabur and Caliber
. Jim Pruett
was hired to take over some of the editorial duties of Caliber. Reed would stay with McFarlane Toys
until May 1996.
Caliber expanded in the mid-1990s with titles such as David Mack
's Kabuki
, Brian Bendis
' AKA Goldfish and Jinx
, Mark Ricketts
' Nowheresville, Mike Carey and Michael Gaydos
on Inferno, and in 1995, Caliber launched the sub-imprint of New Worlds. New Worlds' titles were loosely connected, and included Raven Chronicles, Helsing
, Seeker, Saint Germaine, Red Diaries, Black Mist, and others. Although not an actual shared universe, the settings and characters could cross over with each other and often did.
As Caliber expanded, more editorial staff was hired to handle the growing line of comics. Moebius Comics launched and fan favorites Mr. Monster and Maze Agency
returned. Caliber handled the distribution of Amazing Comics, which featured the work of Mike Deodato
. Brian Lumley's Necroscope and Whitley Strieber
's Communion series were signed on for comic releases. Jon Sable
from Mike Grell
was announced but never came out. Caliber also started a new imprint in 1997, Tapestry Comics, that featured an "all ages" approach.
The demise of Caliber can be attributed primarily to the problems associated with the Spawn PowerCardz game. Caliber had invested heavily in time and money to launch the collectible card game and had great potential with purchase orders. However, the printer of the card game was running behind in production and outsourced the collation of the game to another printer who didn't understand the random assortment of the cards. When the game appeared with improper collation, the purchase orders, which exceeded over two million dollars, were cancelled. Although a lawsuit was filed and Caliber won, by the time the judgment came, it was too late. In addition, the printer declared bankruptcy and Caliber was left only with portions of the unusable product.
In 2000, Caliber released the last of its titles, and Gary Reed moved on to concentrate on teaching college biology and freelance writing. Many of Caliber's top titles continued on with new publishers, including Baker Street, Deadworld
, Saint Germaine, Kilroy Is Here, Negative Burn
, Raven Chronicles, and Red Diaries. Reed had been reviving many of the Caliber titles with reprints of collections and all new series, initially from Image Comics
, then from Desperado Publishing
and Transfuzion Publishing. Deadworld continues to be printed in new volumes via Desperado but now under the IDW
banner.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
publisher founded in 1989
1989 in comics
-Year overall:* "Inferno" company-wide Marvel Comics crossover continues, involving the mutant titles The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, The New Mutants, and Excalibur, as well as the X-Terminators limited series and various other Marvel titles...
by Gary Reed. Featuring primarily creator-owned comics, in the next decade Caliber published over 1300 comics and ranked as one of the America's leading independent publishers. Caliber ceased publishing in 2000
2000 in comics
-February:*Strange Adventures vol. 2, #4, final issue cover-dated February - January :* January 5: Goseki Kojima, co-creator of Lone Wolf and Cub, dies at age 71.* January 6: Mad magazine fixture Don Martin dies at age 68....
.
Beginnings
Gary Reed, who previously owned a chain of bookstores, began publishing with the release of two titles acquired from Arrow ComicsArrow Comics
Arrow Comics was one of the original independent publishers of black-and-white comics in the mid 1980s, starting out in Ypsilanti, Michigan by founders Ralph Griffith and Stuart Kerr.- Origins :...
—Deadworld
Deadworld
Deadworld is an ongoing American comic book currently published by Desperado Publishing in association with IDW Publishing.The series follows survivors in a post-apocalyptic scenario brought on by zombie attacks...
and The Realm. Other initial launches included Caliber Presents, featuring Vince Locke
Vince Locke
Vincent Locke is an American comic book artist known for his work on Deadworld and A History of Violence and for his ultraviolent album covers for death metal band Cannibal Corpse.-Biography:...
, Mark Bloodworth, Tim Vigil
Tim Vigil
Timothy B. Vigil is a comic book artist, mostly working in the horror/adult genre. His main graphic novel Faust was adapted by Brian Yuzna as the 2001 movie Faust: Love of the Damned. The followup Faust: Book of M, was nominated for the 1999 Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative...
, James O'Barr
James O'Barr
James O'Barr is an American graphic artist, best known as the creator of the comic book series The Crow.-Personal life:O'Barr, an orphan, was raised in the foster care system...
, and Guy Davis; the first issue of Baker Street, co-created by Reed and Guy Davis; and the initial appearance of O’Barr’s The Crow
The Crow
The Crow is a comic book series created by James O'Barr. The series was originally written by O'Barr as a means of dealing with the death of his girlfriend at the hands of a drunk driver. It was later published by Caliber Comics in 1989, becoming an underground success, and later adapted into a...
.
Expansion
Reed arranged with "Pocket Classics", a series of illustrated books similar in design to Classics IllustratedClassics Illustrated
Classics Illustrated is a comic book series featuring adaptations of literary classics such as Moby Dick, Hamlet, and The Iliad. Created by Albert Kanter, the series began publication in 1941 and finished its first run in 1971, producing 169 issues. Following the series' demise, various companies...
, to be released to the direct market
Direct market
The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for North American comic books. It consists of one dominant distributor and the majority of comics specialty stores, as well as other retailers of comic books and related merchandise...
via Caliber Press. Over forty titles were distributed. The interest in literary works continued for Caliber when in 1991 the new imprint Tome Press was launched. Tome featured historical and biographical material in addition to literature. Over 65 different Tome Press titles would be released on subjects as diverse as the Russian Revolution, The Alamo, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, El Cid
El Cid
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar , known as El Cid Campeador , was a Castilian nobleman, military leader, and diplomat...
, Jack London
Jack London
John Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...
stories, reprints of classic art print series, and dozens of others.
After its initial launch, Caliber expanded by bringing in new creators and projects. Jim Calafiore
Jim Calafiore
Jim Calafiore is an American comic book penciller and inker, known for his work on Marvel Comics Exiles, and DC Comics' Aquaman. His other work includes Faction Paradox, and writing Marvel's Exiles and Millennium Visions....
was first published with his graphic novella, Progeny
Progeny
Progeny can refer to:*A genetic descendant or offspring*An academic progeny Other uses*Progeny Linux Systems*Progeny - an episode of the television series Stargate Atlantis...
. In Grafik Muzik, Mike Allred introduced his Madman character, Kevin VanHook
Kevin VanHook
Kevin VanHook is an American filmmaker who began his career in storytelling as a comic book artist and writer. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.-Biography:...
's Frost
Frost (comics)
Frost is a fictional Image Comics superhero. He is Gaia's son from an extramarital affair and the black sheep of the family. Aside from Gaia, each member of the family treats him with varying degrees of scorn....
series which was the storyline for the film released in 2002, Ted Slampyak
Ted Slampyak
Ted Slampyak is an American comic strip cartoonist who until recently drew Little Orphan Annie. He also draws the color webcomic Jazz Age Chronicles, a comic based in 1920s Boston....
's Jazz Age Chronicles, Philip Hester's Fringe, Stuart Immomen's Playground, John Bergin
John Bergin
John Bergin is a writer, graphic novel artist, and musician best known for his book From Inside and his music to The Crow. For his graphic novel work, Bergin was nominated for the Harvey Award for Best New Talent in 1991.Bergin Attended from 1984-1988....
's Ashes, and other titles such as Go-Man, Northguard
Northguard
Northguard is a Canadian superhero created in 1984 by Mark Shainblum and Gabriel Morrissette.Developed during the mid-1980s burst of small- and medium-press comics publishing by Canadians, Northguard was one of several serious efforts at developing a made-in-Canada superhero series for modern...
, Varcel's Vixens, and more.
In the early 1990s, Caliber launched three new imprints, Gauntlet and Iconografix. Gauntlet was an action-based line whose leading titles were U.N. Force
U.N. Force
The U.N. Force is a fictional team of comic book superheroes created in 1993 by Brent Carpenter for Caliber Comics - under the Gauntlet Comics imprint - featuring an assembly of leading scientists selected from the United Nations...
, Berzerker (featuring work from Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld is an American comic book writer, illustrator, and publisher. A prominent artist in the 1990s, he has since become a controversial figure in the medium....
and Angel Medina
Angel Medina (artist)
Angel Medina is a comic book artist known for his work for various comic book companies, including Megaton Comics, First Comics, Marvel Comics, and Image Comics.-Career:...
), Patrick Zircher
Patrick Zircher
Patrick Zircher is an American comic book artist and penciller.-Biography:Zircher's early career as an illustrator in the genre began with production of several completed works for Villains and Vigilantes, Champions and other pen and paper role-playing games as well as early stints with...
's Samurai Seven, and Serpent Rising (based on the stage play). Iconografix dealt with more obscure and cutting-edge material that included humor comics as well as comics often referred to as the "slice of life." Included here were the first issues of Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and cartoonist. Brubaker first early comics work was primarily in the crime fiction genre with works such as Lowlife, The Fall, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives and Scene of the Crime...
's Lowlife
Lowlife (comics)
Lowlife is a semi-autobiographical comic book series written and drawn by Ed Brubaker, published by Slave Labor Graphics and later Caliber Comics...
, Meatcake
Meatcake
Meatcake, or meatloaf cake, is a cake or other dessert look-alike that is made with meat in a meatloaf style, and not a pastry.The term is used in a sketch by comedian George Carlin, in which he describes finding an unidentifiable item in the refrigerator. "Could be meat, could be cake.... It...
from Dame Darcy
Dame Darcy
Dame Darcy is an alternative cartoonist. Her comic book, Meatcake, has been published by Fantagraphics since 1993. Darcy has also released several graphic novels, Frightful Fairytales, Dame Darcy's Meatcake Compilation, The Illustrated Jane Eyre, Dollerium , Comic Book Tattoo, and Gasoline .-...
, Bound & Gagged from Michael Aushenker
Michael Aushenker
Michael Aushenker is an independent American comic-book artist and creator based in Los Angeles, California, best known for the comic book series El Gato, Crime Mangler...
, and a number of projects from Dave Cooper
Dave Cooper
David Charles Cooper is a cartoonist, commercial illustrator and a graphic designer who lives in Ottawa, Canada. In addition to comics, Cooper has worked extensively as a designer, producer, and creator in the field of animation...
, Jason Lutes
Jason Lutes
Jason Lutes is an American comics creator. His work is mainly historical fiction, but he also works in traditional fiction...
, and Matt Howarth
Matt Howarth
Matt Howarth is an American comic book writer/artist known for such series as Those Annoying Post Bros, Savage Henry, Star Crossed, and Bugtown....
.
Caliber had ventured into licensed comics with their early release of Moontrap
Moontrap
Moontrap is a 1989 science fiction movie from Magic Films. It was written by Tex Ragsdale and directed by Robert Dyke. A comic book adaptation was released on the same year by Caliber Comics. The cast features Walter Koenig, Bruce Campbell and Leigh Lombardi...
, the science fiction film starring Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
's Walter Koenig
Walter Koenig
Walter Marvin Koenig is an American actor, writer, teacher and director, known for his roles as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek and Alfred Bester in Babylon 5. He wrote the script for the 2008 science fiction legal thriller InAlienable.-Early life:...
, and the production of a comic for Troma Films called Frostbiter: Wrath of the Wendigo
Frostbiter: Wrath of the Wendigo
Frostbiter: Wrath of the Wendigo, is an independent horror-comedy movie, filmed sometime in 1988 but released in 1996 by Troma Entertainment. One of the stars, Ron Asheton, is the former guitarist for The Stooges.-Synopsis:...
; but it was the full-color adaptation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
, written and drawn by Kevin VanHook that proved the most successful. Another licensed property was Mechanoids from Palladium Books
Palladium Books
Palladium Books is a publisher of role-playing games perhaps best known for its popular, expansive Rifts series . Palladium was founded April 1981 in Detroit, Michigan by current president and lead game designer Kevin Siembieda, and is presently based in Westland, Michigan...
.
The expansion of Caliber continued with some notable projects, including Michael Lark
Michael Lark
Michael Lark is an American comics artist.Lark has provided pencils for DC Comics' Batman, Terminal City, Gotham Central and Legend of the Hawkman. His work for Marvel Comics includes The Pulse and Captain America...
's Airwaves, Silencers from Mark Askwith
Mark Askwith
Mark Askwith is a Canadian producer, writer, interviewer , and a familiar name in the fields of science fiction and comics.-Early life:...
and R.G. Taylor, and Negative Burn
Negative Burn
Negative Burn is a black-and-white anthology comic book published beginning in 1993 by Caliber Press, and subsequently by Image Comics and Desperado Publishing...
, the anthology title that would run for fifty issues (and has since been picked up by Desperado Publishing
Desperado Publishing
Desperado Publishing is an American independent comic book publisher, established in 2004. Located in Norcross, Georgia, Desperado's president is Joe Pruett, its creative director is Stephan Nilson, and its director of business development is former Caliber Press publisher Gary Reed.-Overview:With...
).
Stabur merger and further expansion
In late 1993, Caliber merged with the Stabur Corporation. Reed became president of Stabur as well as staying on with Caliber. Caliber began to produce special comics for Wal-MartWal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, including the series Big Bang Comics
Big Bang Comics
Big Bang Comics first appeared in 1994, with five issue mini-series , published by Caliber Comics. Their second series was published by Image Comics. Currently their titles are self-published.-Publication history:...
(which later would have a long run at Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where 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...
), Stormquest, and a number of literary adaptations, including a version of Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel about a failed experiment that produced a monster, written by Mary Shelley, with inserts of poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. The first...
. Caliber also produced some records and a specialty magazine, ARC, for distribution outside of comics.
In 1993, the principles of Stabur were involved in starting up a new toy company with Spawn
Spawn (comics)
Spawn is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in a monthly comic book of the same name published by Image Comics. Created by writer/artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1...
creator Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane is a Canadian cartoonist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur, best known for his work in comic books, such as the fantasy series Spawn....
. Reed was named vice president of McFarlane Toys
McFarlane Toys
McFarlane Toys, a subsidiary of Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc., is a company started by Todd McFarlane that makes highly detailed models of characters from movies, comics, musicians, video games, and sport figures...
while still running Stabur and Caliber
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
. Jim Pruett
Jim Pruett
James Calvin Pruett was a professional baseball player. He was a catcher over parts of two seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics. For his career, he compiled a .231 batting average in 13 at-bats....
was hired to take over some of the editorial duties of Caliber. Reed would stay with McFarlane Toys
McFarlane Toys
McFarlane Toys, a subsidiary of Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc., is a company started by Todd McFarlane that makes highly detailed models of characters from movies, comics, musicians, video games, and sport figures...
until May 1996.
Caliber expanded in the mid-1990s with titles such as David Mack
David Mack
David Mack may refer to:*David W. Mack, American comic book artist and writer*David Alan Mack, American television scriptwriter and novelist*David Mack , one of the central figures in the Los Angeles Police Department Rampart corruption scandal*David S. Mack, American businessman...
's Kabuki
Kabuki (comics)
Kabuki is a comic book series created by artist and writer David Mack, first published in 1994 by Caliber Press and later by Image Comics. It is a story of an assassin who struggles with her identity in near-future Japan. The most recent miniseries, Kabuki: The Alchemy, was published by Marvel...
, Brian Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
' AKA Goldfish and Jinx
Jinx (Image Comics)
Jinx is a comic book series published first by Caliber Comics and then Image Comics, written and drawn by Brian Michael Bendis.-Synopsis:...
, Mark Ricketts
Mark Scott Ricketts
Mark Ricketts is an American comic book writer, illustrator and cartoonist. He has worked for a variety of publishers including McGraw Hill, Caliber Comics, Chaos Comics, Mojo Press, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Moonstone and Image Comics...
' Nowheresville, Mike Carey and Michael Gaydos
Michael Gaydos
-Biography:At Marvel he has worked with Brian Michael Bendis on Alias and the last storyline of its follow up, The Pulse. He has also illustrated the mini-series Powerless and Daredevil Redemption,...
on Inferno, and in 1995, Caliber launched the sub-imprint of New Worlds. New Worlds' titles were loosely connected, and included Raven Chronicles, Helsing
Helsing
Helsing is a surname.It can refer to:* Helsing, Swedish surname/ soldier's name referring to the Swedish province Hälsingland. Someone from Hälsingland is called a "Hällsing", with the old spelling that is "Hellsing" or "Helsing" .* Van Helsing...
, Seeker, Saint Germaine, Red Diaries, Black Mist, and others. Although not an actual shared universe, the settings and characters could cross over with each other and often did.
As Caliber expanded, more editorial staff was hired to handle the growing line of comics. Moebius Comics launched and fan favorites Mr. Monster and Maze Agency
Maze Agency
The Maze Agency is an American mystery comic book series created by Mike W. Barr and first published in 1988. It revolves around a pair of detectives and their adventures solving puzzling murders...
returned. Caliber handled the distribution of Amazing Comics, which featured the work of Mike Deodato
Mike Deodato
Mike Deodato , sometimes credited as Mike Deodato Jr., is the professional pseudonym of Brazilian comic book artist Deodato Taumaturgo Borges Filho.-Biography:...
. Brian Lumley's Necroscope and Whitley Strieber
Whitley Strieber
Louis Whitley Strieber is an American writer best known for his horror novels The Wolfen and The Hunger and for Communion, a non-fiction account of his perceived experiences with non-human entities. Strieber also co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm with Art Bell, which inspired the film about...
's Communion series were signed on for comic releases. Jon Sable
Jon Sable
Jon Sable Freelance is an American comic book series, one of the first series created for the fledging publisher First Comics in 1983. It was written and drawn by Mike Grell and was a fully creator-owned title...
from Mike Grell
Mike Grell
Mike Grell is a comic book writer and artist, known for his work on books such as Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Jon Sable Freelance.-Early life:...
was announced but never came out. Caliber also started a new imprint in 1997, Tapestry Comics, that featured an "all ages" approach.
Decline and demise
As the overall comic market declined with the consolidation of the distribution system, Caliber slowly cut back on the number of titles. Caliber found some success of producing comics that appealed outside of the usual comics market with some of the Tome Press titles including the Sherlock Holmes Reader, which had the majority of its sales outside of the traditional comic stores.The demise of Caliber can be attributed primarily to the problems associated with the Spawn PowerCardz game. Caliber had invested heavily in time and money to launch the collectible card game and had great potential with purchase orders. However, the printer of the card game was running behind in production and outsourced the collation of the game to another printer who didn't understand the random assortment of the cards. When the game appeared with improper collation, the purchase orders, which exceeded over two million dollars, were cancelled. Although a lawsuit was filed and Caliber won, by the time the judgment came, it was too late. In addition, the printer declared bankruptcy and Caliber was left only with portions of the unusable product.
In 2000, Caliber released the last of its titles, and Gary Reed moved on to concentrate on teaching college biology and freelance writing. Many of Caliber's top titles continued on with new publishers, including Baker Street, Deadworld
Deadworld
Deadworld is an ongoing American comic book currently published by Desperado Publishing in association with IDW Publishing.The series follows survivors in a post-apocalyptic scenario brought on by zombie attacks...
, Saint Germaine, Kilroy Is Here, Negative Burn
Negative Burn
Negative Burn is a black-and-white anthology comic book published beginning in 1993 by Caliber Press, and subsequently by Image Comics and Desperado Publishing...
, Raven Chronicles, and Red Diaries. Reed had been reviving many of the Caliber titles with reprints of collections and all new series, initially from Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where 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...
, then from Desperado Publishing
Desperado Publishing
Desperado Publishing is an American independent comic book publisher, established in 2004. Located in Norcross, Georgia, Desperado's president is Joe Pruett, its creative director is Stephan Nilson, and its director of business development is former Caliber Press publisher Gary Reed.-Overview:With...
and Transfuzion Publishing. Deadworld continues to be printed in new volumes via Desperado but now under the IDW
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
banner.
Selected titles
- A.K.A. GoldfishA.K.A. GoldfishA.K.A. Goldfish is the title of a 1994 American creator-owned comic book series written and drawn by Brian Michael Bendis. The series was originally published by Caliber Comics, with later issues by Image Comics. The entire series was collected and published as a trade paperback, entitled Goldfish...
- Alan Moore's Songbook
- Ashes
- Baker Street
- Beck & Caul
- Big Bang ComicsBig Bang ComicsBig Bang Comics first appeared in 1994, with five issue mini-series , published by Caliber Comics. Their second series was published by Image Comics. Currently their titles are self-published.-Publication history:...
- Black Mist
- Boston Bombers
- Brian Lumley's Necroscope
- Caliber Presents
- Cavewoman: RainCavewomanCavewoman is an American comic book published primarily by Basement Comics and additionally by Caliber Comics and Avatar Press. The story follows superhuman Meriem Cooper, a voluptuous barefoot jungle goddess in a snakeskin bikini, who battles dinosaurs...
- The Crow
- DeadworldDeadworldDeadworld is an ongoing American comic book currently published by Desperado Publishing in association with IDW Publishing.The series follows survivors in a post-apocalyptic scenario brought on by zombie attacks...
- Dicks
- Disciples
- Fire
- Golgothika
- Helsing
- Inferno
- JinxJinx (Image Comics)Jinx is a comic book series published first by Caliber Comics and then Image Comics, written and drawn by Brian Michael Bendis.-Synopsis:...
- KabukiKabuki (comics)Kabuki is a comic book series created by artist and writer David Mack, first published in 1994 by Caliber Press and later by Image Comics. It is a story of an assassin who struggles with her identity in near-future Japan. The most recent miniseries, Kabuki: The Alchemy, was published by Marvel...
- Kaos Moon
- Kilroy Is Here
- Kingdom of the WickedKingdom of the WickedKingdom of the Wicked is a comic book series written by Ian Edginton and illustrated by D'Israeli. It was published as a mini-series in 1996 and collected into a hardcover volume in 2004.-Publication history:...
- Legendlore
- Lori Lovecraft
- Magus
- The Marquis
- Maze AgencyMaze AgencyThe Maze Agency is an American mystery comic book series created by Mike W. Barr and first published in 1988. It revolves around a pair of detectives and their adventures solving puzzling murders...
- Mike Deodato Comics
- Moebius Comics
- Mr. Monster
- Nature of the Beast
- Negative BurnNegative BurnNegative Burn is a black-and-white anthology comic book published beginning in 1993 by Caliber Press, and subsequently by Image Comics and Desperado Publishing...
- New Worlds Anthology
- Nowheresville
- OzOz (comics)Oz is a comic book series created by Ralph Griffth , Stuart Kerr , and Bill Bryan, artist. The series was begun by Caliber Comics...
- Pakkin's Land
- Raven Chronicles
- Red Diaries
- Renfield
- The Realm
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Saint Germaine
- Seeker
- The Searchers
- Sherlock Holmes
- Ship of Fools
- Sinergy: A Jouney Through Hell
- Spawn PowerCardz
- Sudden Gravity
- Technopolis
- U.N. Force
- Untouchables
- War of the Worlds
- Whitley Streiber's Beyond Communion
- World of H.P. Lovecraft
Tome Press
- Erewhon
- Jack London's Koolau the Leper
- Medieval Tales: Murder of Thomas Becket
- Pre-Raphaelite Persuasion
- Siege of The AlamoSiege of the AlamoThe siege of the Alamo describes the first twelve days of the Battle of the Alamo. On February 23, Mexican troops under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna entered San Antonio de Bexar, Texas and surrounded the Alamo Mission...
- Song of the Cid
- Suppressed
- True Spy
- Zulunation
New Worlds
- Black Mist
- HelsingHelsingHelsing is a surname.It can refer to:* Helsing, Swedish surname/ soldier's name referring to the Swedish province Hälsingland. Someone from Hälsingland is called a "Hällsing", with the old spelling that is "Hellsing" or "Helsing" .* Van Helsing...
- Raven Chronicles
- The Red Diaries
- Saint Germaine
- Seeker
Gauntlet
- Berzerker
- Samurai Seven
- Serpent Rising
- U.N. ForceU.N. ForceThe U.N. Force is a fictional team of comic book superheroes created in 1993 by Brent Carpenter for Caliber Comics - under the Gauntlet Comics imprint - featuring an assembly of leading scientists selected from the United Nations...
Iconografix
- Bound & Gagged
- LowlifeLowlife (comics)Lowlife is a semi-autobiographical comic book series written and drawn by Ed Brubaker, published by Slave Labor Graphics and later Caliber Comics...
- MeatcakeMeatcake (comics)Meatcake is a comic book series written by Dame Darcy. Originally published by Caliber Press, Meatcake has been published by Fantagraphics in the United States since 1993 and is still in publication, despite varied and prolonged periods of time between the releases of issues....
Tapestry Press
- DreamwalkerDreamwalker"A Dreamwalker" is a person with the ability to enter another persons dreams or even a dream realm known as "regno quietem" or "kingdom of rest", often unkowingly. "Dreamwalking" is the term used when a Dreamwalker is moving from dream to dream...
- Explorers
- Pakkins' LandPakkins' LandPakkins' Land is an epic all-ages fantasy story created by husband and wife team, Gary and Rhoda Shipman. Originating as a critically hailed comic book series, the story was written by the pair with Gary Shipman illustrating the series....
- Patty Cake
Creators
- Michael Allred
- Brian Michael BendisBrian Michael BendisBrian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
- David Boller
- Troy BoyleTroy BoyleTroy Boyle is an American comic book artist and writer. Boyle is best known for his gritty revenge fantasy, The Return of Happy the Clown, written by Gary Francis...
- Ed BrubakerEd BrubakerEd Brubaker is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and cartoonist. Brubaker first early comics work was primarily in the crime fiction genre with works such as Lowlife, The Fall, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives and Scene of the Crime...
- Jim CalafioreJim CalafioreJim Calafiore is an American comic book penciller and inker, known for his work on Marvel Comics Exiles, and DC Comics' Aquaman. His other work includes Faction Paradox, and writing Marvel's Exiles and Millennium Visions....
- Mike Carey
- Gary CarlsonGary CarlsonGary Carlson is an American comic book writer, editor and publisher.-Biography:Gary self-published and created the black and white superhero anthology Megaton back in the early '80s, which introduced many new comic book talents including artists Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld and Angel Medina as well...
- Guy Davis
- Michael GaydosMichael Gaydos-Biography:At Marvel he has worked with Brian Michael Bendis on Alias and the last storyline of its follow up, The Pulse. He has also illustrated the mini-series Powerless and Daredevil Redemption,...
- Phil HesterPhil Hester (comics)Phil Hester is an American comic book artist, penciller and writer.-Biography:This Eisner Award-nominated artist was born in eastern Iowa, where he went on to study at the University of Iowa...
- Steve Jones
- Michael LarkMichael LarkMichael Lark is an American comics artist.Lark has provided pencils for DC Comics' Batman, Terminal City, Gotham Central and Legend of the Hawkman. His work for Marvel Comics includes The Pulse and Captain America...
- Max DouglasMax DouglasMax Douglas is a Canadian comic book creator. Since approximately 1996, he has worked under the pen name of Salgood Sam which is derived from a reverse spelling of his name.-Biography:...
- Vince LockeVince LockeVincent Locke is an American comic book artist known for his work on Deadworld and A History of Violence and for his ultraviolent album covers for death metal band Cannibal Corpse.-Biography:...
- David MackDavid MackDavid Mack may refer to:*David W. Mack, American comic book artist and writer*David Alan Mack, American television scriptwriter and novelist*David Mack , one of the central figures in the Los Angeles Police Department Rampart corruption scandal*David S. Mack, American businessman...
- Tom PappalardoStandard designStandard Design, aka Tom Pappalardo is a Northampton, Massachusetts graphic designer, cartoonist, illustrator, and animator best known for his animated TV ads , a grant-funded mural located in downtown Easthampton, Massachusetts, and his rock poster designs...
- J.M. Martin
- Joe PruettJoe PruettJoe Pruett is an American comic book writer and occasional editor, and, most recently, a publisher.-Biography:Pruett broke into the industry in 1989 as Bob Burden's assistant on Flaming Carrot Comics, where he inked backgrounds, assisted on lettering, and transcribed scripts...
- Mark RickettsMark Scott RickettsMark Ricketts is an American comic book writer, illustrator and cartoonist. He has worked for a variety of publishers including McGraw Hill, Caliber Comics, Chaos Comics, Mojo Press, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Moonstone and Image Comics...
- Gary Reed
- Galen Showman
- Matt SmithMatt Smith (illustrator)Matt Smith is a Cambridge, Massachusetts illustrator best known for his work in such children's magazines as Cricket, Highlights for Children, and Muse. He is also known for creating album cover art and concert posters for Minibosses and as a contributor to FORTY-3, The official Massachusetts...
- Kevin Van Hook
- Philip Xavier
- Patrick ZircherPatrick ZircherPatrick Zircher is an American comic book artist and penciller.-Biography:Zircher's early career as an illustrator in the genre began with production of several completed works for Villains and Vigilantes, Champions and other pen and paper role-playing games as well as early stints with...