Paradox Press

Last updated
Paradox Press
Paradox press logo.jpg
Parent company DC Comics
StatusDefunct (2001)
Predecessor Piranha Press
Founded1993
Country of origin United States
Headquarters location New York City
Key people Andrew Helfer
Bronwyn Carlton
Jim Higgins
Heidi MacDonald
Publication types Graphic novels

Paradox Press was a division of DC Comics formed in 1993 after editor Mark Nevelow departed from Piranha Press. Under the initial editorship of Andrew Helfer and Bronwyn Carlton the imprint was renamed. It is best known for the graphic novels A History of Violence and Road to Perdition , both of which were later adapted into feature films. Jim Higgins edited the line after Helfer's departure, and Heidi MacDonald briefly took the helm in 2000 at the time of the line's final three Big Books , none of which ever saw publication.

Contents

History

Paradox Press was designed to publish graphic novels that were not of the superhero genre (as comprises most of DC's publishing efforts) and were lacking the fantasy and sci-fi elements of DC's "mature reader" line, Vertigo comics.

Due to the limited interest in non-fantasy stories among the graphic novel demographic, the line produced only a handful of books over its decade-long history. While almost all received critical acclaim, none reached high sales amongst the general graphic-novel and comic book reading populace. Two of the imprint's books ( A History of Violence and Road to Perdition ) were adapted into successful films and Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics (originally published through Kitchen Sink Press) is considered one of the authoritative bibles of the medium. The true-life anthology series of Big Books also found a niche following. The Big Book Of series was an anthology series, each devoted to a theme or concept, e.g., The Big Book of Conspiracies or The Big Book of Urban Legends.

Due to low sales amongst the line, it was phased out, and most of the books under this imprint are out of print for the foreseeable future. Those books which have remained in print were released under DC's more lucrative Vertigo label.

Books

Below is a list of books published under the Paradox Press logo:

Unpublished work

Slated for 2001 Paradox Press had intentions to release a book known as The Big Book of Wild Women. From time to time mentions of this book can be found on the internet. The book is narrated by "Susie the Floozie". The book was to profile notable women throughout history who had made an impact on our culture while pushing the envelope of unconventional behavior. Among the women to be profiled were risqué nightclub singer-comic Rusty Warren, B-movie goddess Tura Satana, presidential candidate Victoria Woodhull, 19th century sex star Lola Montes, legendary seductress Cleopatra, scandalous writer Anaïs Nin and kinky pin-up icon Bettie Page. According to DC comics the book is in a perpetual "pre-production". [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Comics</span> American comic book publisher, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment

DC Comics, Inc. is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertigo Comics</span> Imprint of comic-book publisher DC Comics

Vertigo Comics, also known as DC Vertigo or simply Vertigo, was an imprint of American comic book publisher DC Comics started by editor Karen Berger in 1993. Vertigo's purpose was to publish comics with adult content, such as nudity, drug use, profanity, and graphic violence, that did not fit the restrictions of DC's main line, thus allowing more creative freedom. Its titles consisted of company-owned comics set in the DC Universe, such as The Sandman and Hellblazer, and creator-owned works, such as Preacher, Y: The Last Man and Fables. The Vertigo branding was retired in 2020, and most of its library transitioned to DC Black Label.

Karen Berger is an American comic book editor. She is best known for her role in helping create DC Comics' Vertigo imprint in 1993 and serving as the line's Executive Editor until 2013. She currently oversees Berger Books, an imprint of creator-owned comics being published by Dark Horse Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Quitely</span> Scottish artist

Vincent Patrick Deighan, better known by the pen name Frank Quitely, is a Scottish comic book artist. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with Grant Morrison on titles such as New X-Men, We3, All-Star Superman, and Batman and Robin, as well as his work with Mark Millar on The Authority and Jupiter's Legacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Pope</span> American cartoonist

Paul Pope is an American alternative cartoonist. Pope's work combines the precision and romance of European comics artists with the energy and page design of the manga tradition. Pope's two protagonist types are the silent, lanky outsider male of One-Trick Ripoff, Escapo and Heavy Liquid; or the resourceful, aggressive, humorous young teenage girls of THB. He has self-published some of his work, most notably THB, through his own Horse Press, with other work for such publishers as DC Comics/Vertigo and First Second Books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helix (comics)</span> Defunct imprint of DC Comics (1996–1998)

Helix was a short-lived science fiction and science fantasy imprint of DC Comics, launched in 1996 and discontinued in 1998. In early promotional materials prior to the release of the first title, the imprint was called Matrix instead of Helix. It was renamed because of the then-upcoming film, The Matrix. It featured a handful of ongoing monthly series, several limited series, and one short graphic novel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piranha Press</span> Imprint of DC Comics from 1989 to 1994

Piranha Press, an imprint of DC Comics from 1989 to 1994, was a response by DC to the growing interest in alternative comics. The imprint was edited by Mark Nevelow, who instead of developing comics with the established names in the alternative comics field, chose to introduce several unknown illustrators with an eclectic and diverse line of experimental graphic novels and stories. Unusual for the time, Nevelow succeeded in getting DC to agree to contracts giving creator ownership to writers and artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adult comics</span> Comics intended primarily or strictly for adult readers

The catch-all term adult comics typically denotes comic books, comic magazines, comic strips or graphic novels that are marketed either mainly or strictly towards adult readers. This can be because they contain material that could be considered thematically inappropriate for children, including vulgarity, morally questionable actions, disturbing imagery, and sexually explicit material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seth Fisher</span> American comic book artist

Seth Fisher was an American comic book artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minx (comics)</span> Imprint of DC comics

Minx was an imprint of DC Comics that published graphic novels aimed at teenage girls. It ran from 2007 to 2008.

Richard Bruning is an American graphic designer and comics creator.

Road to Perdition is a series of fictional works written by Max Allan Collins.

Richard Piers Rayner is an English comic book artist. He is best known for his work on Road to Perdition.

Andrew Helfer is an American comic book creator best known for his work as an editor and writer at DC Comics, where he founded the Paradox Press imprint.

The Big Book Of is a series of graphic novel anthologies published by American company DC Comics imprint Paradox Press.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erica Schultz</span> American comic book writer, letterer, and editor

Erica Schultz is an American comic book writer, letterer, and editor. She is best known for writing the 2018 Daredevil Annual for comic book publisher Marvel, her urban fantasy series Forgotten Home with ComiXology Originals, participation in DC Comics' first Writers Workshop, and her creator-owned crime series, M3.

Jeff Nicholson is an American comic book writer, artist and self-publisher, known primarily for his work on Ultra Klutz, Through the Habitrails, Father & Son, and Colonia. Nicholson received a total of six Comics Industry Eisner Award nominations in his 25-year career, and was one of the first four recipients of the Xeric Award comic book self-publishing grants in 1992.

DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults, formerly known as DC Ink, is an imprint of American comic book publisher DC Comics consisting of original one-shots, graphic novels and reprints of books previously published under other imprints. The imprint intends to present traditional DC Universe characters for young adult readers. The first title of the DC Ink imprint, Mera: Tidebreaker, was published on February 2, 2019 and Batman: Nightwalker was the last title to be published under DC Ink. Wonder Woman: Warbringer, the first title of DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults, was published on January 10, 2020.

References

  1. Fleener, Mary. "Rev. Susie the Floozie". The Comics Journal, #237. Retrieved 2007-02-27.