Razorline
Encyclopedia
Razorline was an imprint
of American
comic book
company Marvel Comics
that ran from 1993-1995. It was created by filmmaker and horror
/fantasy
novelist Clive Barker
, with its characters existing in one of the many alternate universes
outside the mainstream continuity
known as the Marvel Universe
.
The Razorline imprint consisted of four interrelated titles, based on Barker's detailed premises, titles and lead characters. These were:
Marcus McLaurin
was the editor. The four titles were preceded by a one-shot sampler: Razorline: First Cut.
As Barker described:
In 2005, the appendix page of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
one-shot involving alternate universes revealed that the Earth of the Razorline imprint is designated "Earth-45828". Relatively real-world, without other superheroes, it includes Marvel Comics as a comic-book publisher, with Razorline characters making references to "X-Men
comics" and to Marvel editor Stan Lee
's Fantastic Four
writing.
Although two titles were superhero
series and all were released with a Comics Code
seal, they were often racked with horror and unrated comics, a factor that entered into the Razorline's short run of seven to nine issues each.
Two one-shots followed: Hyperkind Unleashed (which included a "Hokum & Hex" prose short story
) and Ektokid Unleashed (which included a "Saint Sinner" prose short story).
and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents including Jimmy Woo, for instance, guest-starred in Wraitheart #5; the Punisher
was to have guest-starred in "Mode Extreme" #5.
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
of American
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...
company Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
that ran from 1993-1995. It was created by filmmaker and horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novelist Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
, with its characters existing in one of the many alternate universes
Multiverse (Marvel Comics)
Within Marvel Comics, most tales take place within the fictional Marvel Universe, which in turn is part of a larger multiverse. Starting with issues of Captain Britain, the main continuity in which most Marvel storylines take place was designated Earth-616, and the multiverse was established as...
outside the mainstream continuity
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
known as the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
.
Publication history
- EctokidEctokidEctokid is a fantasy comic book series published by Marvel Comics' Razorline imprint, created by filmmaker and horror/fantasy novelist Clive Barker.-Publication history:...
— written first by James RobinsonJames Dale RobinsonJames Dale Robinson is a British writer of comic books and screenplays who is also known for his interest in vintage collectibles and memorabilia. His style is described as smart and energetic, built upon his vast knowledge of obscure continuity from the period known to fans and historians as the...
, then by future MatrixThe MatrixThe Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...
co-creator Larry Wachowski, and pencilledPencillerA penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
by Steve SkroceSteve SkroceSteve Skroce is a Canadian comic book and movie storyboard artist. He is of Croatian origin.-Biography:Skroce broke into comics in 1993 on the Clive Barker series Ectokid for Marvel Comics' Razorline imprint. He went to work on the Marvel series Cable and X-Man before moving onto The Amazing... - Hokum & HexHokum & HexHokum & Hex is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics' Razorline imprint. It was created by filmmaker and horror/fantasy novelist Clive Barker, written by Frank Lovece and penciled by Anthony Williams.-Publication history:...
— written by Frank LoveceFrank LoveceFrank Lovece is an American journalist, author, comedy performer and comic book writer. He was additionally one of the first professional Web journalists, becoming an editor of a Silicon Alley start-up in 1996....
, penciled by Anthony WilliamsAnthony Williams (comics)Anthony Williams is a Welsh comic book artist.-Biography:He broke into comics at Marvel UK, drawing for the series Action Force, The Real Ghostbusters and Transformers, among others... - HyperkindHyperkindHyperkind is a comic book series from Marvel Comics' 1993-1995 Razorline imprint, created by Clive Barker, written by Fred Burke penciled by Paris Cullins and inked by Bob Petrecca....
— written by Fred Burke, pencilled by Paris CullinsParis CullinsParis Cullins is an African-American comic-book artist best known for his work on DC Comics' Blue Devil and Blue Beetle, and Marvel Comics' Hyperkind.-Early career:...
and inked by Bob Petrecca - Saint SinnerSaint Sinner (comics)Saint Sinner is a horror/fantasy comic book published by Marvel Comics as a part of the Razorline imprint. All of the Razorline titles were creations of horror/fantasy writer and filmmaker Clive Barker and he described the series as "Saint Sinner is just a wild one, the series which hopefully will...
— written by Elaine LeeElaine LeeElaine Lee is an American actor, playwright, comic book colorist and comic book writer.-Theatre:She received a 1980 Daytime EMMY nomination for her role on NBC-TV’s The Doctors and was a founding member and artistic director of Manhattan-based theatre company, Wild Hair Productions.Wild Hair began...
, pencilled and inked by 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:...
Marcus McLaurin
Marcus McLaurin
Marcus McLaurin is an American comic-book writer and editor best known for developing the Marvel Comics limited series Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross.-Biography:...
was the editor. The four titles were preceded by a one-shot sampler: Razorline: First Cut.
As Barker described:
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
one-shot involving alternate universes revealed that the Earth of the Razorline imprint is designated "Earth-45828". Relatively real-world, without other superheroes, it includes Marvel Comics as a comic-book publisher, with Razorline characters making references to "X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
comics" and to Marvel editor Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
's Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
writing.
Although two titles were superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
series and all were released with a Comics Code
Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority was a body created as part of the Comics Magazine Association of America, as a tool for the comics-publishing industry to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. Member publishers submitted comic books to the CCA, which screened them for adherence to...
seal, they were often racked with horror and unrated comics, a factor that entered into the Razorline's short run of seven to nine issues each.
Two one-shots followed: Hyperkind Unleashed (which included a "Hokum & Hex" prose short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
) and Ektokid Unleashed (which included a "Saint Sinner" prose short story).
Other titles
Before the cancellations, several issues of four subsequent series were in various stages of completion: Wraitheart (written by Frank Lovece, art by Hector Gomez), Schizm (written by Fred Burke), Mode Extreme (written by Sarah Byam), and Fusion Force. These were to have begun blending the Razorline into primary Marvel continuity; Nick FuryNick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents including Jimmy Woo, for instance, guest-starred in Wraitheart #5; the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
was to have guest-starred in "Mode Extreme" #5.
In other media
A 2002 Barker telefilm titled Saint Sinner bore no relation to the comic. "I was always disappointed with the way that Marvel handled that entire line of comics, particularly Saint Sinner. I thought that's a waste of a good title. It was something that called for finding a new life in some way or another".Quotes
Clive Barker: "I loved many of the Razorline characters, and it was always a sadness to me that our work in the medium was ill-timed. As you probably know, the Razorline material was produced at a time when the comics industry was about to go through one of its worst shake-ups. Marvel almost disappeared entirely. Razorline was a victim of Marvel's downsizing. Very sad".External links
- "Comics" at CliveBarker.com (unofficial site). WebCitation archive.