Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986.[6] The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon, comic book shops known as Pegasus Books and founded in 1980.[6][7]
Parent company
Dark Horse Media
Active
February 4, 1986
United States
- Mike Richardson, CEO [3]
- Neil Hankerson, Executive VP and COO
Dave Marshall, Editor in Chief[4] - Freddye Miller, Managing Editor[5]
- Randy Stradley
- Mike Mignola (Hellboy)
- Frank Miller (Sin City)
- Eric Powell (The Goon)
- Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Geof Darrow (Hard Boiled)
- Mike Allred (Madman)
- Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo)
- John Arcudi (The Mask)
Gerard Way (The Umbrella Academy) - Kentaro Miura (Berserk)
Comics, graphic novels, manga, art books, novels
Dark Horse Comics has emerged as the fourth largest comic publishing company in the United States of America.[6] Dividing profits with artists and writers, as well as supporting artistic and creative rights in the comic book industry, Dark Horse Comics has become a strong proponent of publishing licensed material that often does not fit into mainstream media.[6][8] Several titles include: Sin City, Hellboy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 300, Ninja Gaiden, and Star Wars.[8]
In December 2021, Swedish gaming company Embracer Group launched its acquisition of Dark Horse Media, Dark Horse Comics' parent company, and completed the buyout in March 2022.[9]
Overview[edit]
Dark Horse has published many licensed comics, including comics based on Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ninja Gaiden, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Predator, and Terminator.[8][10] Dark Horse Comics holds a notoriety for being the most reputable publisher in regard to allowing creators to retain ownership of their work.[11] Founder Mike Richardson created the company with creator rights in mind because of his frustration with the treatment of artists by comic publishers of the time.[7] They have published several creator owned comics such as Frank Miller's Sin City and 300, Mike Mignola's Hellboy, Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo, and Gerard Way's Umbrella Academy.[8][12][9][11] With an emphasis on mini and limited series, Dark Horse Comics has given itself immense flexibility in the comic book publishing industry.[11] This model allows the company to pull poorly performing series while also retaining the ability to reprint past works without intense scrutiny.[11]
In 2006, The New York Times reported that "Dark Horse pays by the story or the page, and shares profit generated by comic books and related merchandise. That is different from the standard work-for-hire arrangement at DC and Marvel: creators are paid for a specific story and perhaps receive royalties from collected editions, but the bulk of the revenue, and all of the merchandising opportunities, remain with the companies".[8]
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Distribution[edit]
In June 2022, Dark Horse announced a business partnership with Penguin Random House Publishing as the company's new primary comic book distributor which was previously held by Diamond Comics Distributors for thirty years. On September 21, 2022, Dark Horse Comics announced the expansion of their business relationship with Penguin Random House. This multi-year distribution deal began in June 2023.[41]
Dark Horse CEO Mike Richardson stated that the company decided to expand their business relationship with the legendary publishing company because they both wanted to improve comic book accessibility worldwide, and address fans concerns over high distribution fees with Diamond Comics, Inc.