UK Comic Publishers
• Major Publishers • Part Work Publishers • Independent Publishers • Printers
• The British Library Newspaper Library holds
a number of comics. Find out more at:
http://www.bl.uk/collections/comlist.html
Land Address: The British Library, Newspaper Library, Colindale Avenue,
London NW9 5HE
General Enquiries: Tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7353 Fax: +44 (0)20 7412 7379
Email: newspaper@bl.uk
Majors (News Stand Titles)
• Click here for UK Magazine Publishers including part Works publisher who now publish several titles that use comic strip and comics-style illustration
BBC Magazines
Official: www.bbcmagazines.com
Room A1130, BBC Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0TT
The BBC publishes a huge number of titles but in among its many magazines,
pre-school fare and boy-oriented titles such as Action Hero there's also Mysti
magazine, based around the show and the books -- and it includes comic
strip. Apart from Animals and You, a DC Thomson title aimed at 7 - 10s,
this is the only girls news stand title to feature comic strip today. Web
Link: www.mysti.co.uk
DC Thomson & Co Ltd.
Official:
www.dcthomson.co.uk
Albert Square, Dundee DD1 9QJ
Publishers of The Beano, Dandy, War Library and other titles. Syndicates
strips abroad, including strips no longer published in the UK such as Wendy, but are still originated.
David Fickling Books
Official: www.thedfc.co.uk
Publishers of the subscription-only weekly comic The
DFC featuring strips
by Philip Pullman, the Etherington Brothers, James Turner and many more.
Read the downthetubes review of the first issue
Dennis Publishing Ltd.
Offical: www.dennis.co.uk
30 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JD Tel: 020 7907 6000
Publishes humour, adventure titles, pockets books and annuals, including
Viz.
Egmont Magazines Ltd.
Official: www.egmontmagazines.co.uk
Egmont House, 25/31 Tavistock Place, London
WC1H 9SU Tel: 0207 344 6400
Publishers of Toxic. European-wide company with active publishing
program in countries such as Sweden, where The Phantom remains popular.
Hamlyn Books
Official: www.hamlyn.co.uk
2 - 4 Heron Quays, London E14 4JB Tel: 0207 531 8584
John Brown Citrus Publishing
Offical: www.jbcp.co.uk
The Boathouse, Crabtree Lane, Fulham, London
SW6 Tel: 0207 381 6007
Publishers of graphic albums. Also a major contract publisher. John Brown
Junior publish a number of titles.
Panini
Comics UK
Official: www.paninicomics.co.uk
Panini House, Coach and Horses Passage, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells,
Kent KT2 5UJ
Publishes young readers titles, adventure titles such as Action Force plus
Marvel reprints (and some originated superhero strips), along with the
wonderful Doctor Who Magazine, which I used to edit so ignore my
bias!
• Read about some of the history of Marvel
UK at International Hero: Go
| 2000AD Values |
Early issues of 2000AD command a good price - but we are only talking the first ten issues. You'd probably expect to get a £1-2 for individual progs between #30 and 100 (not counting the Burger Wars and Soul Food two-parters with the never reprinted Dredd stories inside), and more for progs #11-29. Once you get past Prog 100, you'll be lucky to get ten pence per copy Selling a whole 2000AD collection is problematic, simply because that many progs altogether weigh so much and are impossible to post.
|
Rebellion Developments
Ltd.
Official: www.rebellion.co.uk
2000AD: www.2000ADonline.com
The Studio, Brewer Street, Oxfrod OX1 1QN Tel:
01865 792201
Publishers of 2000AD and Judge Dredd: The Megazine
Software company Rebellion, creators of games such as Gunlok and
Aliens vs. Predator, bought 2000AD in 2000 from publisher Egmont
International.
The Oxford-based software developer assumed creative control of the magazine's
content and its sister title Judge Dredd: The Megazine, while looking
to maximize the potential of the many characters and storylines which
the franchise has created (in both commercial and creative terms).
2000AD occupies an unequaled
position in the world of science
fiction, having been published
for more than 30 years. During
this time, the comic has introduced
a number of the genre's most popular
characters (Judge Dredd, Strontium
Dog, Slaine, Rogue Trooper, Nemesis
and many more) as well as launching
the careers of some of the UK's
most successful comic writers
and artists, including Alan Moore,
Dave Gibbons, Brian Bolland, Grant
Morrison, Garth Ennis and Steve
Dillon.
The first issue of 2000AD ('Prog 1' to use the comic's own terminology)
hit the streets on 28 February 1977, for the down-to-earth price of 8p
(or 17 Galactic Groats on Mercury) and featured a number of characters
and stories which went on to enjoy huge popularity, including M.A.C.H.
1, Flesh and Invasion. It was not until Issue Two, however,
that the publication's most enduring and notorious icon, Judge Dredd,
first appeared.
At the height of its popularity, the comic sold more than 120,000 copies
per week.
"I am only too happy to confess that I have been an avid 2000AD reader
since Prog 1," said Rebellion's Chief Executive Officer, Jason
Kingsley when the takeover was announced. "However,
that doesn't mean that this deal
was done for sentimental reasons. 2000AD is
not only a goldmine of intellectual
properties, it is also a hugely
enjoyable read. We are looking
forward to helping this top quality
publication to achieve its fullest
potential."
Rebellion's ownership of 2000AD allows the team full use
of more than 700 characters and
series, not only in computer games, but also in films, as action figures,
in collectable card games and in any other suitable merchandising vehicle.
Redan Publishing Ltd
Official: www.redan.co.uk
Canon Court East, Abbey Lawn, Shrewsbury SY2 5DE
Tel: 01743 364433
E-mail: info@redan.com
Pre-school titles and licensed titles, including Thunderbirds.
Redan describes itself as the leading UK independent publisher for the pre-school
magazine sector. Established in 1991 by Robert Sutherland,
operating at first as part of Marvel UK, Redan largely
focuses its output on magazines to pre-schoolers and their parents.
Most titles are based on popular children's television characters including
Barney, Dora the Explorer, Oswald, Mr Men, Blue's Clues and many more.
Titles range from standalone character titles
to the highly successful multi-character magazines,
Fun To Learn Friends, Fun To Learn Favourites
and Sparkle World. Redan prints over 3/4 million
magazines a month, and considers its innovative
approach to children's publishing sets the standard
for the pre-school sector
Savoy
Books
Official: www.abel.net.uk/~savoy
446 Wilmslow Road, Whittington, Manchester
M20 3BW Tel: 0161 833 2664
Publishers of adult comic magazines, graphic novels and books.
Titan Magazines
Official: www.titanmagazines.com
Publishes Simpsons Comics, and magazines such as Dreamwatch and Star Trek Magazine. The company has begun to create new comic strip with titles such as Wallace and Gromit as well as publishing reprints such as Simpsons Comics and Star Wars Comic.
It is also
the largest graphic novels publisher in the UK. In 2004 it began publishing classic UK comics in album format including Dan Dare and Modesty Blaise.
Toontastic Publishing Ltd
Office Block One, Southlink Business Park,
Oldham 0L4 1DE
Tel: 0161 624 0414 Fax: 0161 628 4655
Currently publish titles including Beyblade and their
own creation, the Lucky
Bag comic. Lucky Bag is
fully reprint.
Part Works Publishers
Led by companies such as Deagostini (www.deagostini.co.uk),
Fabbri (www.gefabbri.co.uk)
and Del Prado, these are ongoing 'series'
of magazines building up into a collection. Recent examples include Star Trek --
now being re-issued with DVD -- Carry On and Lord of the Rings.
Usually there's a gift to accompany each issue.
In recent years, the companies started breaking into titles with
plenty of comics material in them. Terry Deary's brilliant "Horrible Histories" has
been adapted into a part work -- loads of former Marvel UK people working on
that, including Nick Abadzis -- and Jackie Chan Adventures.
The business has grown massively in recent years and the Part Works companies
are competing aggressively for new licences, to the extent that apparently there's
little chance some big TV successes will become regular comics but instead become
part works. (The Guardian did a feature on the success of part works: click here for that story (registration
required to read this).
The difference between Part Works and regular titles is that they go firm
sale after about Issue 7 and depend on subs sales and high sales to keep
going. Most are very short-lived, maybe two years tops, although the Star
Trek one apparently set records by lasting for over six on its first run.
Of course the titles can be re-released because they don't carry much time
sensitive material. They're also re-published across Europe. The Star Trek title
was repackaged as Star Trek Magazine for the US and as Fact Files in Japan where
it proved extraordinarily popular.
The publishers do a lot of market testing and have plenty of material under
their belts before going national. My friend Marcus Hearn had to plan the entire
run of the Star Wars Fact Files in minute detail before it even began to go into
commissioning.
Deagostini
Web Link:
www.deagostini.co.uk
PO Box 1000, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE85 2BS
Publishers of such titles as Disney Princess and Funny Bones and
many others -- click here for a full list of titles (www.deagostini.co.uk/contact_corp.php)
De Agostini UK Ltd is the leading partwork publisher in the United Kingdom. In addition to the UK, the company publishes its titles in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Malta.
De Agostini UK Ltd is part of the international De Agostini group of companies with its head office in Milan. The parent company was founded in Italy in 1901.
Eaglemoss
Web Link: www.eaglemoss.co.uk
5 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2HR Tel: + 44 (0)20 7590 8300
Publishers of the Marvel Superheroes part work (launched September 2005). Describes itself as market leader in the highly competitive world of partwork publishing for over 20 years. They publish partworks in most of the English-speaking markets, as well as in France and Eastern Europe; and we license local publishers elsewhere. In addition,
they produce a wide range of high-quality illustrated books for publishers around the world.
GE Fabbri
Web Link (UK):www.gefabbri.co.uk
Elme House, 133 Long Acre, London WC2E 9AW
Tel: Corporate Enquiries 020 7836 0519 or 020 7468 5600
Publishers of such titles as the Star Trek Fact Files, Tracey Beaker, CSI and
others.
Independents
• If you are interested in self-publishing,
check out the book "How to
Self Publish" from Engine
Comics. This is a great guide to going it alone!
• SmallZone is
a great service publishes information on fanzines and sells
them online, and at UK comic marts and events. If you've started a fanzine
this could be worth checking out. They also offer a print
service.
•
If you can't
find the publisher you're looking for here, try my "Small
Press"
page
Ariel Press
Official: www.arielpress.com
Roseleaf Media, PO Box 732, York YO30 5WR
Publishers of Raven,
a black and white US-size comic which includes strips by Vince Danks
and Roger Gibson among others, including Sapphire and
The Bishop.
Bad
to the Bone
Official: www.ankh.datasnake.co.uk/ankh.htm
This website is the home
of Noel K. Hannan's science fiction publishing featuring archive material
from Nightfall Press, Bad To The Bone and ankh. There's also over x thousand
words of fiction including the complete texts of two novels, Kingdoms of
Clay and The Children, and an MP3 soundtrack for the graphic novel Streetmeat.
Bulletproof
Comics
Official: www.bulletproofcomics.co.uk
An Internet-based showcase for up-and-coming UK comic book creators.
"Bulletproof began as an idea for a comics newsletter but soon expanded
into an online, portfolio-style magazine after the interest shown by many
UK comic creators," explained Matt Yeo, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher, Bulletproof
Comics. "There is a wealth of incredible untapped comics talent
in the UK, and Bulletproof has been set-up to get them under the
spotlight!"
Within bulletproofcomics.co.uk
you'll discover material from exciting new writers, artists and creators,
as well as exclusive interviews and artwork from established industry
professionals such as Frank Quitely, Steve Yeowell, Richard Starkings
and Andy Diggle.
"It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a platform to showcase
your comic book work, whether it be art or writing," added Stu Taylor,
Editorial Consultant, Bulletproof Comics. "As a new writer,
I find the potential of bulletproofcomics to be extremely exciting.
It's essentially a UK comics talent pool that allows writers to find
artists, artists to find writers, and even mainstream publishers
to find entire creative teams at a click of a button!"
• Read a review of Bulletproof #1
The
Girly Comic
Official: http://factorfictionpress.co.uk/girly/index.html
The
Girly Comic is a comic strip anthology launched at the Comics
2002 Festival in the UK. While by no means restricted just to women
readers, the plan is to produce something a little more woman-friendly
than a lot of mainstream comic titles out there, with a diversity
of material, at an affordable price. Edited by Selina Lock, it plans
to feature strips from romance to comedy, sci-fi to fantasy, slice
of life to anthropomorphic animals - depending on the submissions...
Knockabout Comics
Official: www.knockabout.com
10 Acklam Road, London W10 5QZ Tel: 0208
969 2945
Site requires Shockwave 3 or later. Publishers of humour and underground comix,
including Hunt Emerson's cracking tales.
Mam
Tor Publishing
Link: www.mamtor.com
PO Box 6785 Derby D22 1X7 E-mail: info@mamtor.com
Publishers of the creator owned Event Horizon anthology. The first isue,
released May 2005, is an eclectic, energetic mixture of strips and art
pages from the likes of Liam Sharp (the originator of this project), Chris
Weston, Gary Erskine, Rich Johnston, Savetto Tenuta, John Bamber, John
Howard, Edmund Bagwell and many others. As with all anthologies, some stories
will appeal more than others but for me Sharp's Steve Niles scripted F*******
Savages makes for a great opener and I enjoyed strips such as Weston's
H.E.A.D. Trips and Johnston/Tenuta's Chase Variant immensely. Bagwell's
beautiful illustrations to Ralph R. Raims The True Adventures of Jed Lightspear,
Space Pirate are simply stunning.
The title's been described as pulp fcition for the 21st Century: it certainly is that, in spades. There's an unfettered joy from the contributors involved in this project as they've flexed their creative skills to maximum, doing what they want simply for the hell of it. unconstrained from any ediotorial interference. While some of the contributions left me a little cold -- always the way of anthologies, not every item will appeal to all -- there is more than enough from some terrific creators at the top of their game to justify the high price tag for this quality publication. Nice one, Liam!
Moonface Press
Link: www.moonfacepress.com
Publishers of the Devilchild graphic novel series and the Hero Killers
one-shot in 2006. The site includes PDF previews of most of our books, a PayPal-
friendly shop, and a regularly updated news page.
Pulp Entertainment
Official: www.pulptheatre.com
Publishers of Brodie's Law. Pulp Theatre Entertainment is a leading UK publishing/media
studio that has been in business for 7 years. Founded by creators David Bircham
and Daley Osiyemi as a collective for talented artists and writers, dedicated
to developing and successfully marketing exciting new and original titles.
•
Review of Brodie's Law: Click
Here
Rough Cut Comics
Official: www.roughcut-comics.com
Order comics from: 129 Langmuirhead Road, Glasgow
G66 5DL
An independent publishing company based in the United Kingdom.
Formed by Edward Murphy to develop two-way tie-ins between the comics'
medium and the film, television, and games markets, the company produces
American-style publications, which are distributed throughout the UK and
United States.
The company are currently working with a host of innovative writers -
Colin Barr, John Dorans, Douglas Skelton (Blood on the Thistle),
UK LetterHack El Sloano and artists - Colin Barr, Jaeson Finn, Shelby
Robertson (Morbid Angel), and Dominic Regan (A1, Dom Zombie).
If you're a comic artist (or would like to be) & you'd
like to draw or ink for Rough Cut they need you to send them
scanned samples of your work.Please send JPEGS no larger than
100k. A couple of pages ought to do it.
Be warned though, you might be able to draw like Michael Angelo but if
it takes you a week to draw a page... don't call them, go find a ceiling
somewhere.
Email your scans to tryout@roughcut-comics.com
Soaring Penguin
Official: www.soaringpenguin.co.uk
E-mail: help@soaringpenguin.co.uk
Tel: 020 8265 8575
In addition to publishing its own titles such as Meanwhile, Soaring Penguin
offers a print and design service and say they can provide competitive
print quotes and distribution assistance.
Sweatdrop Studios
Official: www.sweatdrop.com
Sweatdrop Studios is a semi
professional collective of UK creators working on original manga. We start
our work as small-press style floppies, but our larger anthologies and longer
running series are printed in paperback format with ISBNs. Members of the group
are made up of amateurs, hobbyists and full-time professional comic artists.
Wikipedia
sums up a lot about Sweatdrop at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweatdrop_Studios
Typocrat
Official: www.typocrat.com
3 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, London E2 7NX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 7719 889 906
Typocrat Press is a new independent comics publisher specializing in putting
out the best contemporary European comics and graphic novels in high quality
English editions. Europe is home to some of the most inventive and exciting artists
in the world, and this company's goalgoal is to make them more available to English-speaking
readers. They will be publishing around three or four books a year from 2005
onwards by the best European artists, as well as a regular anthology series featuring
a host of outstanding talents from across the continent.
Warpton
Official: www.warpton.co.uk
Publishers of Nature's Guard and doing some interesting work in the area
of trying to promote indpenedent titles in the UK.
WildFur Productions
Official: www.wildfur.net
An online publishing company established by comics creators Simon Furman
and Andrew Wildman.
Witch
Official: www.lornamiller.com
Lorna Miller has been producing illustrations
and writing and drawing her own comic stories since she graduated
from Glasgow School of Art in 1994. Her 80 page comic book Witch is
sold worldwide. The 'zine has also included interviews with comics creators such as Frazer Irving and Alan Moore.
Zarjaz
Web Link: www.zarjaz.blogspot.com
Award-winning
fanzine devoted to 2000AD characters. Copies are available
for £2
plus 70p postage each from Andrew Lewis, 39 Priory Court,
Brynoch, Neath SA10 7RZ. Cheques/Postal Orders
payable to A Lewis
Printers
• ComiXpress
P.O. Box 434 Dumont, NJ 07628 United States
Link:
www.comiXpress.com
This
is a new service for
independent comix artists that will print books with
no minimum orders, act as their online store, then fulfill the order so
that all the artist needs to worry about is creating their comix and being
notified of their sales.
ComiXpress allows creators the opportunity to print
their comics in quantities as low as one single issue for incredibly low
prices (You can literally get the ball rolling for just over $10!).
While getting ComixXpress to print comics and send them to the UK might be very
expensive, this might be an excellent way for artists in the UK to sell
their comics to a North American audience. More variety in comics is
good for everyone!
• Printers
UK Directory
If you're thinking of publishing
a fanzine, here's a comprehensive list of UK
litho printers who embrace the Internet
and online business. Printing firms are
ranked below in order of user popularity. In
each case their service response and quality
has been anonymously checked by the site's
directory team.
• Mitchell & Wright
Printers Limited
The Print Works, Banastre Road, Southport, Merseyside
PR8
5AL
Tel: 01704 535529 Fax: 01704 543216
E-mail: print@mitchell-wright.demon.co.uk
Printers of Carl Critchlow's Thrud
the Barbarian comic.
