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AfterShock Comics

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AfterShock Comics, LLC.
Aftershock Comics logo
FoundedApril 2015[1]
FounderJoe Pruett
Mike Marts
Lee Kramer
Jon Kramer
Michael Richter
DefunctDecember 2022 (bankruptcy[2])
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationSherman Oaks, California
DistributionDiamond Book Distributors (books)
Publication typesComic books, graphic novels
Official websitehttp://aftershockcomics.com/

AfterShock Comics was an American comic book publisher founded in April 2015.[1]

Senior executives included Jawad Qureshi.[3] In December 2022, AfterShock Comics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy leaving many of their contributing artists unpaid for their work.[2][4]

History

The company was co-founded by Joe Pruett, editor of the noted comic anthology Negative Burn and Mike Marts, the former executive editor in charge of Marvel Comics' X-Men franchise and DC Comics' Batman franchise.[5] Other co-founders include Lee Kramer, Jon Kramer, and Michael Richter.[3] Other senior executives include Jawad Qureshi.[3]

AfterShock's published works are creator-owned and its portfolio includes comics by Cullen Bunn, Warren Ellis,[6] Garth Ennis,[7] Marguerite Bennett,[8] and Adam Glass,[9] among others.

AfterShock Comics won the New Publisher of the Year Diamond Gem Award in 2017.[10]

The label attracted attention in 2016 when it published Paul Jenkins' comic Alters, featuring the character Chalice, touted as the first transgender superhero.[11][12] In a column for The Mary Sue, transgender activist Jes Grobman dismissed Alters as "cliche".[13] Other critics were more positive; one noted that "[t]he visuals are beautiful and deserve attention, while the story looks to be addressing something avoided in American society."[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b McMillan, Graeme. "Brian Cunningham and Chris Ryall join AfterShock Comics". Aftershock Comics. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Cronin, Brian (2022-12-20). "AfterShock Comics Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  3. ^ a b c Busch, Anita (2015-04-13). "Marvel Exec Editor Mike Marts Quits To Join Upstart AfterShock". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  4. ^ Schmidt, Joe (2022-12-16). "AfterShock Comics Issues Statement After Creators Claim They Aren't Getting Paid". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  5. ^ Johnston, Rich (2014-04-13). "Mike Marts And Joe Pruett Head Up New Comics Publisher, Aftershock Comics". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  6. ^ Betancourt, David (7 July 2016). "Warren Ellis will bring the six-issue 'Shipwreck' to AfterShock Comics". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  7. ^ Jasper, Marykate (13 January 2017). "Garth Ennis Launches New AfterShock Series Titled Jimmy's Bastards". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  8. ^ Helvie, Forrest. "DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS Writer Tells 'Adults Only' Talking Animal Tale with ANIMOSITY". Newsarama. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  9. ^ MacNamee, Olly (2022-12-01). "Adam Glass' AfterShock Comics' Series 'The Normals' Gets Optioned For Television". COMICON. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  10. ^ "Diamond Announces 2017 Gem Award Winners". Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  11. ^ Barnett, David (4 July 2016). "Creating the first transgender superhero". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  12. ^ Gustines, George Gene (23 June 2016). "In a New Comic, a Transgender Superhero Hides 2 Identities". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  13. ^ Grobman, Jes (20 September 2016). "Babes in Tropeland: How Alters Shows We Need More Complex Trans Characters in Comics". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  14. ^ Hayes, Patrick (2017-08-06). "In Review: Alters #6". SciFiPulse.Net. Retrieved 2018-03-28.