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{{Short description|Imprint of Marvel Comics}}
[[Image:Havok & Wolverine.jpg|thumb|260px|A cover for the mini-series ''Havok & Wolverine'' by [[Kent Williams]]]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2014}}
'''Epic Comics''' was a creator-owned imprint of [[Marvel Comics]] started in [[1982]], lasting through the mid-1990s, and being briefly revived on a small scale in the mid-2000s.
{{Infobox company
| name = Epic Comics
| type = Privately held company (subsidiary)
| foundation = 1982
| founder = [[Jim Shooter]]
| key_people = [[Jim Shooter]]<br />[[Al Milgrom]]<br />[[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]]
| industry = Publishing
| products = Comics
| owner = [[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel Entertainment, LLC]]
| parent = [[Marvel Comics]]
| successor = [[Icon Comics]]
}}


'''Epic Comics''' (also known as the '''Epic Comics Group''')<ref name="BullpenBulletins">Shooter, Jim. "Bullpen Bulletins: The Truth About the Epic Comics Group!" Marvel comics cover-dated November 1982.</ref> was an [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]] of American publishing company [[Marvel Comics]], active from 1982 to 1996. A spin-off of the publisher's ''[[Epic Illustrated]]'' magazine, it published [[Creator ownership in comics|creator-owned]] work unconnected to Marvel's superhero universe, and without the restrictions of the [[Comics Code Authority|Comics Code]]. The name was revived by Marvel in the mid-2000s for a short-lived program inviting new writers to pitch series proposals to the publisher.
Launched by editor-in-chief [[Jim Shooter]] as a spin-off of the successful ''[[Epic Illustrated]]'' magazine, the Epic imprint allowed creators to retain control and ownership of their properties. Co-edited by [[Al Milgrom]] and [[Archie Goodwin (comic book writer)|Archie Goodwin]], the imprint also allowed Marvel to publish a more mature line of comics oriented toward an older audience.


==History==
The first project was ''[[Dreadstar]]'', a [[space opera]] by [[writer]]-[[artist]] [[Jim Starlin]], published November 1982. Subsequent titles included ''[[Coyote (comics)|Coyote]]'' by [[Steve Englehart]], ''[[Alien Legion]]'' (a war series set in outer space, created by [[Carl Potts]] but written by others), ''[[Six from Sirius]]'', a [[sci-fi]] title by writer [[Doug Moench]] and artist [[Paul Gulacy]], ''[[Sisterhood of Steel]]'', a saga of elite women-warriors by [[Christy Marx]] and [[Mike Vosburg]] and [[Void Indigo]], a controversial title written by [[Steve Gerber]].
===Origins===
Launched by editor-in-chief [[Jim Shooter]] as a spin-off of the successful ''Epic Illustrated'' magazine, the Epic imprint allowed creators to retain control and ownership of their properties. Co-edited by [[Al Milgrom]] and [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]], the imprint also allowed Marvel to publish more objectionable content (sometimes explicit) without needing to comply with the stringent [[Comics Code Authority]]. Epic titles were printed on higher quality paper than typical Marvel comics, and were only available via the [[direct market]].<ref name="BullpenBulletins" />


==Titles==
The line branched out later with [[historical fiction]] (''Black Dragon'', ''Swords of the Swashbucklers''), [[social commentary]] (''[[The One (comic)|The One]]'', ''[[Marshal Law]]''), [[humor]] (''[[Groo the Wanderer|Groo]]'') and [[fantasy]] (''[[Moonshadow]]'', ''[[Elfquest]]''). However, initial sales were disappointing, so in order to give the line a boost, popular Marvel writer-artist [[Frank Miller]] and artist [[Bill Sienkiewicz]] were commissioned to develop ''[[Elektra (comics)|Elektra: Assassin]]'', featuring the ninja assassin from the ''[[Daredevil]]'' comic book.
[[Image:Dreadstar issue 1.jpg|thumb|''[[Dreadstar]]'' #1 (Nov. 1982), debut publication of Marvel Comics' Epic imprint. Cover art by [[Jim Starlin]].<!-- FAIR USE of :Dreadstar_issue_1.jpg see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dreadstar_issue_1.jpg for rationale --><!--confirmed: he both penciled & inked-->]]


* ''[[Alien Legion]]'' by writers [[Carl Potts]] and [[Alan Zelenetz]] and artist [[Frank Cirocco]]
Although Epic was meant to be mainly a creator-owned line, ''Elektra: Assassin'' became only the first title featuring Marvel characters published by the imprint. Others included ''Meltdown'', a painted mini-series featuring [[Havok]] and [[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]] from the ''[[X-Men]]''; a resurrected ''[[Tomb of Dracula]]''; and the miniseries ''[[Silver Surfer|Silver Surfer: Parable]]'', dealing with messianic themes, written by [[Stan Lee]] with art by [[France|French]] comics storyteller [[Jean Giraud|Mœbius]]). Marvel then commissioned writer and Marvel editor [[Dan G. Chichester]] to create original characters specifically for Epic; this took the form of the "Shadowline Saga", a storyline spanning four different titles, in [[1988]].
*''[[Atomic Age (comics)|Atomic Age]]'' by writer [[Frank Lovece]], penciler [[Mike Okamoto]] and inker [[Al Williamson]]
* ''[[The Black Dragon (comic book)|The Black Dragon]]'' by writer [[Chris Claremont]] and artist [[John Bolton (illustrator)|John Bolton]]
* ''[[The Bozz Chronicles]]'' by writer [[David Michelinie]] and artists [[Bret Blevins]] and [[John Ridgway (comics)|John Ridgway]], moved to [[Dover Publications]] in 2015
* ''[[Xenozoic Tales|Cadillacs and Dinosaurs]]'' (colorized version) by writer-artist [[Mark Schultz (comics)|Mark Schultz]]
* ''[[Captain Confederacy]]'' (second series) by writer [[Will Shetterly]] and artist Vince Stone
* ''[[Coyote (comics)|Coyote]]'' by writer [[Steve Englehart]] and artist [[Marshall Rogers]], moved to [[Image Comics]] in 2005
* ''[[Crash Ryan]]'' by writer-artist Ron Harris
* ''[[Dreadstar]]'' by writer-artist [[Jim Starlin]]
* Dreadlands by Andy Lanning, Steve White, and Phil Gascoine
* ''[[Hellraiser (franchise)|Clive Barker's Hellraiser]]'' by various writers and artists, moved to [[Boom studios|Boom! Studios]] in 2011
* ''[[Clive Barker's Nightbreed|Clive Barker's Night Breed]]'' by writers [[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant]] and [[John Wagner]] and artist [[Jim Baikie]]
* ''Clive Barker's The Harrowers'' by writers McNally Sagal, Malcolm Smith, Anna Miller and Fred Vicarel and artist [[Gene Colan]]
* ''[[Elfquest#Marvel|Elfquest]]'' by writer-artists [[Wendy and Richard Pini]]
* ''[[Elektra Lives Again]]'' by writer-artist [[Frank Miller]] and colorist [[Lynn Varley]]
* ''[[Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser#Comics adaptations|Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser]]'' by writer [[Howard Chaykin]] and artist [[Mike Mignola]], moved to [[Dark Horse Comics]] in 2007
* ''Feud'' by writer [[Mike Baron]] and artist [[Mark Nelson (artist)|Mark A. Nelson]]
* ''[[Groo the Wanderer|The Groo Chronicles]]'' by writer-artist [[Sergio Aragonés]] and writer [[Mark Evanier]]
* ''Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown'' by writers [[Walt Simonson|Walt]] and [[Louise Simonson]] and artists [[Kent Williams (artist)|Kent Williams]] and [[Jon J Muth|Jon J. Muth]]
* ''Interface'' by writer [[James D. Hudnall]] and various artists
* ''Iron Man: Crash'' by writer-artist [[Mike Saenz]]
* ''Lawdog'' by writer [[Chuck Dixon]] and artists Flint Henry,
* ''[[The Light and Darkness War]]'' by writer [[Tom Veitch]] and artist [[Cam Kennedy]], moved to [[Titan Books]] in 2015
* ''[[Marshal Law (comics)|Marshal Law]]'' by writer [[Pat Mills]] and artist [[Kevin O'Neill (comics)|Kevin O'Neill]], moved to [[DC Comics]] in 2013
* ''Metropol'' by writer-artist [[Ted McKeever]]
* ''Midnight Men'' by writer-artist [[Howard Chaykin]]
* ''[[Moonshadow (comics)|Moonshadow]]'' by writer [[J. M. DeMatteis]] and artists [[Jon J. Muth]], [[Kent Williams (artist)|Kent Williams]] and [[George Pratt (artist)|George Pratt]], moved to Dark Horse Comics in 2019
* ''[[The One (comics)|The One]]'' by writer-artist [[Rick Veitch]], moved to [[King Hell Press]] in 2003
* ''[[Pinhead (Hellraiser)#Comics|Pinhead]]'' by writers [[D.G. Chichester]] and Erik Saltzgaber and artists Dario Corrasco and [[Phil Gascoine]]
* ''Psychonauts'' by writers Alan Grant and Tony Luke and artist [[Motofumi Kobayashi]]
* ''[[Sachs and Violens]]'' by writer [[Peter David]] and writer-artist [[George Pérez]], moved to DC Comics in 2006
* ''[[Shadowline Saga]]'' by creator [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]]
* ''[[Sisterhood of Steel]]'' by writer Christie Marx and artist [[Mike Vosburg]]
* ''[[Six from Sirius|Six From Sirius]]'' by writer by [[Doug Moench]] and artist [[Paul Gulacy]]
* ''[[The Sleeze Brothers]]'' by writer [[John Carnell]] and artist [[Andy Lanning]]
* ''[[Spyke (limited series)|Spyke]]'' by writer Mike Baron and artist [[Bill Reinhold]]
* ''[[Stray Toasters]]'' by writer-artist [[Bill Sienkiewicz]]
* ''[[Swords of the Swashbucklers]]'' by writer [[Bill Mantlo]] and artists [[Jackson Guice]], [[Geof Isherwood]] and [[Colleen Doran]]
* ''[[Timespirits]]'' by writer [[Stephen Perry (writer)|Stephen Perry]] and artist [[Tom Yeates]]
* ''[[Void Indigo]]'' by writer [[Steve Gerber]] and artist [[Val Mayerik]]
* ''[[Wild Cards#Comics|Wild Cards]]'' by various writers and artists


'''Source:'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Epic Comics |url=http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/e/epic.htm |access-date=2022-04-12 |publisher=www.internationalhero.co.uk}}</ref>
Epic was also notable as one of the first American comic publishers to release material originally produced in other countries, such as the Moebius graphic novels ''[[Airtight Garage]]'', ''[[The Incal]]'' and ''[[Mike Blueberry|Blueberry]]'', published here in English translation. Epic also published [[Katsuhiro Otomo]]'s [[manga]] classic ''[[Akira (film)|Akira]]'', with translations by Marvel staffer [[Mary Jo Duffy]] and colors by [[Steve Oliffe]].


==See also==
As well, Epic, now edited by Potts, [[licensing|licensed]] a variety of literary material, the best known of which were the [[Clive Barker]] novels and stories, including ''[[Hellraiser]]'', ''[[Nightbreed]]'' and ''[[Weaveworld]]''. Other adapted works included ''[[TekWar|William Shatner's Tekworld]]'', the ''[[Wild Cards]]'' anthologies, and William Gibson's ''[[Neuromancer]]''.
* [[Icon Comics]] - imprint of Marvel Comics
* [[MAX (comics)]] - imprint of Marvel Comics


== Citations ==
Epic's cache dimmed somewhat in the late 1980s and early '90s, partly as a consequence of the new breed of "grim and gritty" stories Epic had helped to pioneer but which had now become a staple of mainstream comics. Yet during a sales boom in comics around that time, Epic published the four-part [[graphic novel]] [[miniseries]] ''[[Atomic Age (comics)|Atomic Age]]'', a [[1950]]s-style [[science fiction]] story reimagined from a contemporary perspective by writer [[Frank Lovece]] and artists [[Mike Okamoto]] and [[Al Williamson]], and brought out the action-oriented "Heavy Hitters" line with material from [[Peter David]] (''[[Sachs and Violens]]''), [[Howard Chaykin]] (''[[Midnight Men]]''), [[Gerard Jones]] (''[[The Trouble with Girls (comics)|The Trouble with Girls]]''), [[Joe Kubert]] ''(Abraham Stone'') and [[Steve Purcell]] (''[[Sam and Max]]''). The subsequent comic-book sales bust, however, prompted Marvel to end Epic in [[1994]].
{{reflist}}


== General and cited references ==
In 2001, after recovering from [[bankruptcy]], Marvel returned to publishing material suited for mature audiences, inaugurating with a new imprint called [[MAX (comics)|MAX]]. Yet in 2003, Epic was brought back, with editors originally scouting for new creator-owned projects before deciding to adapt lesser-known Marvel properties. The new Epic received considerable attention with [[Trouble (comics)|Trouble]], a miniseries by [[Mark Millar]] that supposedly would [[retcon]] the [[Spider-Man]] mythos by revealing that [[Aunt May|May Parker]] was actually Peter's mother, but although all the main characters sported names any Spider-fan would recognize, there was no explicit revelation that they were in any way connected to their Marvel Universe namesakes. Other comics in the line, including a [[Crimson Dynamo]] title, were produced by lesser-known talents, and the line was aborted before it could develop traction. A number of solicitations were cancelled. Titles that were in progress when Marvel's new management dumped the line were hastily thrown together under one cover with the title [[Epic Anthology Presents]], which was promptly cancelled after the first issue was published.
{{Refbegin}}
* {{gcdb brand group|id=2002|title=Epic Comics}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=imprint|id=10|title=Epic Comics}}
* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/e/epic.htm "Epic Comics"] at the International Catalogue of Superheroes
{{Refend}}


== Titles ==
==External links==
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=2065 "Marvel to tell 'Epic' stories once again"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060322191201/http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=2065 |date=March 22, 2006 }}, ''[[Comic Book Resources]]''
*''[[Epic Illustrated]]'' - magazine anthology similar to ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100302074736/http://archives.tcj.com/journalista/zarch200306Ba.html "The Trouble with Marvel"], ''[[The Comics Journal]]''
*''[[Airtight Garage]]'' - French comic, created by [[Moebius]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051217220912/http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/SELED.HTM#G7 "Epic publishing timeline"], Maelmill.com
*''[[Akira (film)|Akira]]'' - Manga
*''[[Alien Legion]]'' - created by [[Carl Potts]]
*''[[Atomic Age (comics)|Atomic Age]]''
*''[[Coyote (comics)|Coyote]]''
*''[[Dreadstar]]'' - created by [[Jim Starlin]]
*''[[Elektra: Assassin]]''
*''[[Groo the Wanderer]]'' - by [[Sergio Aragones]], [[Mark Evanier]] and [[Stan Sakai]]
*''[[Hellraiser]]'' - based on concepts by [[Clive Barker]]
*''[[Silver Surfer|Silver Surfer: Parable]]''
*''[[Moonshadow]]'' - created by [[J.M. DeMatteis]]
*''[[The One]]''
*''[[The Sleeze Brothers]]''
*''[[Starstruck]]''
*''[[Sisterhood of Steel]]''
*''[[Six from Sirius]]''
*''[[Tomb of Dracula]]'' - controversial revival by [[Marv Wolfman]] and [[Gene Colan]]
*''[[Trouble (comics)|Trouble]]''


{{Jim Shooter}}
{{Marvel Comics}}
{{authority control}}


[[Category:Epic Comics| ]]

[[Category: Marvel Comics imprints]]
[[Category:1982 in comics]]
[[Category: Comic book publishers]]
[[Category:Publishers of adult comics]]
[[Category:Epic Comics]]

[[pt:Epic Comics]]

Latest revision as of 13:29, 11 March 2024

Epic Comics
Company typePrivately held company (subsidiary)
IndustryPublishing
Founded1982
FounderJim Shooter
SuccessorIcon Comics
Key people
Jim Shooter
Al Milgrom
Archie Goodwin
ProductsComics
OwnerMarvel Entertainment, LLC
ParentMarvel Comics

Epic Comics (also known as the Epic Comics Group)[1] was an imprint of American publishing company Marvel Comics, active from 1982 to 1996. A spin-off of the publisher's Epic Illustrated magazine, it published creator-owned work unconnected to Marvel's superhero universe, and without the restrictions of the Comics Code. The name was revived by Marvel in the mid-2000s for a short-lived program inviting new writers to pitch series proposals to the publisher.

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

Launched by editor-in-chief Jim Shooter as a spin-off of the successful Epic Illustrated magazine, the Epic imprint allowed creators to retain control and ownership of their properties. Co-edited by Al Milgrom and Archie Goodwin, the imprint also allowed Marvel to publish more objectionable content (sometimes explicit) without needing to comply with the stringent Comics Code Authority. Epic titles were printed on higher quality paper than typical Marvel comics, and were only available via the direct market.[1]

Titles[edit]

Dreadstar #1 (Nov. 1982), debut publication of Marvel Comics' Epic imprint. Cover art by Jim Starlin.

Source:[2]

See also[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Shooter, Jim. "Bullpen Bulletins: The Truth About the Epic Comics Group!" Marvel comics cover-dated November 1982.
  2. ^ "Epic Comics". www.internationalhero.co.uk. Retrieved April 12, 2022.

General and cited references[edit]

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epic_Comics&oldid=1213169223"