List of comic book publishers and presses that put out black & white comics during the heydays of the '80s. Most did nothing but b&w, some dabbled in color, and a rare few had one or two non-color titles. It was atypical for any to survive the decade, let alone make it into the 21st century.
Most of the publishers listed are/were US based. Any significant titles of which the publisher is outside of the USA, have been listed here also.
Publisher | Country | Years Active | Titles | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | |||||
The 3-D Zone | USA | 1987-1993? | Hoodoo; The 3-D Zone | notable for turning comic art into 3-D comics | |
3D Cosmic Publications | USA | 1978-1982 | Battle for a Three Dimensional World; Fun with Basky and Robin | Parent company was 3D Video Corporation | |
4Winds Publishing | USA | ||||
A | |||||
A.C.E. Comics (ACE (Ace?)) | |||||
A-Plus | CAN | 1987-1991 | Sword In Stone imprint, mostly French Language titles in the '80s; reprinted original ACG and Charlton titles in the '90s; a Roger Broughton publishing company, later gets folded into his Charlton Media Group | ||
A-V | |||||
Aaaargh! Comics | |||||
Aardvark One (Aardvark-Vanaheim) | |||||
Aardvark-Vanaheim | CAN | Cerebus; Flaming Carrot | |||
Abacus Press | USA | 1987-1990? | The Chronicles of Panda Khan | ||
AC Comics | USA | 1983- | Amazon Warriors, Femforce, | AC Comics | |
Aced Comics | USA | 1986 | The Foton Effect | ||
Acme Comics Group (ACG) | USA | 1980-1994 | Acme Comics; | ||
Acme Press | |||||
Action Comics | |||||
Adventure Comics | USA | 1987?-1989 | Became an imprint of Malibu in Oct 1989 | ||
Adventure Publications (↑same) | USA | 1987?-1989 | Became an imprint of Malibu in Oct 1989 | ||
Aeon | |||||
Age of Heroes | USA | 1987 | The Renegades | Publisher letter in The Renegades #3 mentions not getting paid by distributors. | |
Aircel Publ | |||||
Ajax Comics | USA | 1982-1985 | Graphic Fantasy, Prism | Self-publishing company of Erik Larsen, Al Harris, & Kevin Keyes. | |
All American Comics | USA | 1989?-1993? | Straw Men | Most productive in 1990 | |
Alpha Productions | USA | ~1989-1995 | Cosmic Steller Rebellers, Eternal Thirst, Lance Stanton | Hammac's new name in 1989 | |
Alternate Concepts | USA | ?-? | Ground Zero | ||
Amazing Comics | |||||
Amazing Publications (↑same?) | |||||
Amazing Publishing | |||||
American Friends Service Committee | USA | 1987 | Adventure In Moscow | AFSC founded in 1917, published one comic book for their cause | |
AmeriComics | USA | 1980?-1983 | Femforce | Founded by Bill Black, from Paragon; shortened name to AC Comics in '83 | |
Anderpol Comics | USA | 1988-'89? | Delta Squadron | ||
Antarctic Press | Mangazine, Mighty Tiny, Ninja High School | ||||
Apple Comics / Press | |||||
Archer Comics | USA | 1987 | Hunters Special | ||
Archie? | |||||
Army Surplus Komikz | |||||
Arrow Comics | USA | ||||
Astral Comics | |||||
Atlas | |||||
Attitude Zone | |||||
August Comics | USA | 1987 | Rottweiler; Stormbringer | ||
B | |||||
B-Movie Comics | USA | 1986-'87 | B-Movie Presents, Reacto Man | ||
BAM Productions | USA | 1985-'87 | Adam and Eve A.D. | ||
The Beanworld Press | |||||
Black Tie Studios | |||||
Blackburn Video and Comics | |||||
Blackthorne Publishing | |||||
Blue Comet Comics | |||||
Brave New Words | |||||
Bruce Quast | |||||
Burcham Studio | Dark Wolf; Dober-Man; Stargators | ||||
Burnside Comics | USA | 1987 | The Survivors | comic shop-turned-publisher, one issue | |
C | |||||
C&T Graphics Publications | USA | 1985-'87+ | Bathing Machine, Mighty Guy | Started with minis | |
CA Comics | USA | 1987 | The Foton Effect; Sulton; Tunesia | took over Foton Effect from Aced | |
Caliber Comics | |||||
Cadillac Comics | |||||
Canis Publications | |||||
Capital Comics | |||||
Cassette Book Co. | |||||
Catalan Communications | |||||
Centurian Graphics | USA | 1987 | Animism | ||
CFW Enterprises | USA | 1988-1989 | Robo Warriors | ||
Chance Entertainment | |||||
Chester Brown (Tortured Canoe) | |||||
Chicago Tribune | USA | ?-1983? | Dick Tracy Dailies and Sundays, Terry and the Pirates | comic strip dailies and Sunday reprints | |
Chrome Tiger Comics | 1987-88 | Menagerie | |||
Coda Publishing | |||||
Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund | CAN | 1988-1991 | The True North; The True North II | Created to help comic book store Comic Legends cover legal defense fees | |
Comico | USA | 1982- | Comico Primer; Elementals; Mage | ||
Comics Consortium | USA | 1982 | Four-Fisted Tales | ||
Comics Interview Publications | USA | 1983-1995? | Comics Interview, Southern Knights | An imprint of Fictioneer Books | |
Continüm / Continum Comics | USA | 1988-1994 | Continüm Presents; The Dark | Changed business name to August House, Inc. in 1994, ceased all business in 1995. | |
Creative Force | |||||
Crimson Productions | USA | Crimson Dreams | |||
Crowquill Comics | |||||
Cry for Dawn Publications | |||||
Crystal Publications | USA | 1986-88 | Death's Head; Eagle; Skrog | ||
Custom Pic Comics | |||||
CX | USA | 1983 | Don Rosa's Comics and Stories, Love and Rockets | Fantagraphics company/imprint | |
D | |||||
Dark Horse Comics | |||||
Darkline Publications | USA | 1986?-87 | Cecil Kunkle; Dark Adventures | ||
David Boswell | CAN | ||||
David Publishing House | |||||
Deep Sea | |||||
Dimension Graphics | |||||
Double Diamond | |||||
Dragon's Teeth | |||||
Drawn & Quarterly | |||||
E | |||||
E.F. Graphics | Cat and Mouse | ||||
Eastern Comics | |||||
Eclectic Press | USA | 1987-88 | Gambit and Associates; Japanimation/Anime Journal | ||
Eclipse Enterprises | USA | ||||
Elite Comics | USA | 1986-87 | Elite Presents | Some full-color comics, too | |
Elsewhere Productions | USA | 1985-87 | Kyra; Launch! | ||
Emerald Comics | 1987 | Stanley the Snake with the Overactive Imagination | |||
Entertainment Publishing | USA | The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Delta Tenn | aka TE Comic (That's Entertainment) | ||
Entropy Enterprises | USA | 1986-87 | Entropy Tales, Nightwolf, Tales From the Heart | ||
Escape Velocity Press | USA | 1986-87? | Escape Velocity, Null Patrol | ||
Eternity Comics (became? Malibu imprint) | |||||
Evolution Comics | USA | 1989-? | Dangerous Times, New Frontiers | ||
Excalibur Publ | |||||
Exeter Entrance Studios | USA | 1986 | The Saga of Elf Face | ||
Express Press | |||||
Extrava-Gandt | |||||
Eye-N-Apple | |||||
F | |||||
Fancheristics | |||||
Fandom House | USA | 1986/87-? | Near to Now; Phoenix Restaurant | an imprint of Acme Comics Group | |
FantaCo Enterprises | USA | 1980-1998? | Alien Encounters; Hembeck Series | ||
Fantagor Press | |||||
Fantagraphics | |||||
Fantasy Book Enterprises | USA | 1981-87 | Fantasy Book | ||
Fantasy General Comics | |||||
Fantasy West Publ | |||||
Firecracker Comics | USA | 1986? | The Quadro Gang | Published Quadro Gang #2 | |
First Comics | |||||
Fishwrap Productions | The Fish Police | ||||
Flagship Comics | USA | 1987? | Lugh Lord of Light | ||
Forever Entertainment | |||||
Fragments West | USA | 1975?-1994? | Adventures of a Modern Day Unicorn | Phil Yeh owner. Notable for "Frank the Unicorn" titles | |
Frontiers | USA | 1986? | Frontiers 85 Crusaders, Frontiers 86 Presents Frontline Combat(?) | ||
G | |||||
Galaxy | USA | 1984-? | Bloody Bones and Blackeyed Peas | ||
Gary Lankford | USA | 1987 | Tales of the Crimson Lion | his 1 title was also worked on by Debi Lankford | |
Gatekeeper Publishing | |||||
Gateway Comics | |||||
Gateway Graphics (↑ same?) | |||||
Gator Graphix | USA | 1986-1987? | Missing Link | ||
Gebhart | USA | Kobier and Oso | Brad Gebhart | ||
Gemstone Comics | USA | 1988-? | Teykwa | May not be the same publisher that prints comic book price guides | |
George R. Reid Publications | USA | 1983 | Nightslayer | ||
Graphic Serials | USA | 1985-? | Time Out of Mind, 2x Justice | ||
Graphik Publikations | |||||
GraphXPress | USA | 1986-96? | Equine the Uncivilized, Morphs, Red Shetland | ||
Grazing Dinosaur Press | USA | 1983 | Tales of the Dinosaur | Writers and artists as self-publishers | |
Greater Mercury Comics | USA | 1988-1993 | Eradicators; Grips Adventure | Picked up titles and characters after Silver Wolf was sold, Kris Silver Editor/writer | |
Grim Trojan Comics | USA | 1988 | Gnome Legends | self-publisher Steven Moore | |
Ground Zero Comics | USA | 1987-2003 | Daikazu | published several titles in the '90s | |
Guild Publications | |||||
Gulf Comics | USA | 1983-1984? | Aftermath | ||
H | |||||
Halley's Comics | |||||
Hammac Publications | USA | 1987-1989 | Changed name to Alpha Productions in 1989 | ||
Harrier | UK | ||||
Hernandez (, Jamie?) | |||||
Heroic Fantasy Publ | |||||
Hot Comics | USA | 1986-87 | Johnny Gambit, Shadow Blade | ||
Hot Shot Comix | USA | 1987-? | The Adventures of Slate Skate | ||
Howski Studios | USA | 1976?-1985? | Rock Horror; Temple Snare | Mostly printed minis | |
I | |||||
Ianus | |||||
ICG / Independent Comics Group | |||||
IHAC Comics | International Humor Advisory Council; Picked up Fragment West's titles in ~1989 | ||||
Imperial | USA | 1985-'87 | Blackstar, Nazrat, Probe | By 1987, most titles went to Eternity | |
Infinity Graphics | Bob Hickey ran press. Last working name Knight Press | ||||
Invasion Comics | USA | 1986-1987 | The Adventures of B.O.C. | ||
Iron Saga Productions | USA | 1987 | Iron Saga's Anthology | ||
J | |||||
Jabberwocky Graphix | USA | 1976-1995 | Chuck Chicken and Bruin Bear, Our Story Thus Far | mostly printed adult oriented titles, and mini-comics | |
James Reade | |||||
Jet City Graphics | USA | 1986 | Shadowlord / Triune | ||
John C. Productions / JC / JCP | USA | 1981-'83? | THUNDER Agents (1981), Basically Strange | ||
Just Imagine Graphics | USA | 1982-1986 | Just Imagine Comics and Stories, Mildly Microwaved Pre-Pubescent Kung-Fu Gophers | ||
K | |||||
Keyline | USA | 1989-1990 | Empire Lanes | imprint of Comico | |
KHB Productions | USA | 1987-88 | International Fallout Shelter Zone | Self-publisher Ken Branch? | |
Kidgang Comics | |||||
Killian Barracks | CAN? | ||||
Kitchen Sink Press | |||||
Klutzian Komidy Kause | USA | 1981 | Ultra Klutz | Jeff Nicholson, publisher | |
Komik Arkyves | USA | 1989 | Hell for Leather | ||
Kona Press | USA | 1989-? | The Bells of Kongur | ||
Krause Publications | |||||
KZ Comics | |||||
L | |||||
Lankford Comics | USA | 1987-88? | Dream Weaver | Robert Lankford, publisher | |
Last Gasp | USA | 1970- | Zap! | Mostly underground comics, some current events and reprints | |
Lee Roy Brown / LRB | USA | 1987 | Affable Tales for Your Imagination | self publisher | |
Leung (Dr. Leung's Comics/Publications) | USA | 1988-90? | Yin Fei, the Chinese Ninja | mostly color productions | |
Lighthouse Publications | CAN? | 1988-92 | Macabre, Omni Man | Originally called Necromics. Last imprint, Undead Graphics | |
Lightning Comics | USA | 1987-97? | A.C.T.I.O.N. Force, Heroic | ||
Literacy Volunteers of Chicago | USA | 1987-95? | Quest for Dreams Lost, Word Warriors | ||
Lodestone | |||||
M | |||||
M.E. Comix (McNeil Enterprises) | USA | 1986-'87 | Corban the Barbearian, Peter Risk Monster Masher, | ||
MA Comics ? | |||||
Mad Dog Graphics | |||||
Madison Comics | USA | 1984-'85? | Black Atlas, Power Stars | ||
Malibu Graphics | |||||
Marvel | USA | 1961- | Bizarre Adventures, Classic Punisher, The Conan Saga, The Destroyer, Savage Tales | Not known for B&W | |
Mass Productions | USA | 1988 | Missing Links | ||
Matrix Graphic Series | |||||
Mature Magic Publications | 1986-87? | Jontar, Side Show Comics, Zdin | |||
McNeil Entrepeneurs | |||||
ME / Magnum Entertainment Products | CAN | 1980-1989? | Comic Strip Illustrated | imprint of Quality Comic Art Productions | |
Megaton Comics | USA | 1981-1987 | Megaton; Wildman; RAMM | ||
Metro Comics | USA | 1986-1987? | Tex Benson; Wild Things | ||
Metropolis Publishing | USA | 1986? | Turtlemania Special | editor and publisher Robert Wilson | |
Micro-Comics | Paul Curtis | ||||
Milky Way Graphics | |||||
Millennium | |||||
Miller Publishing | |||||
Mind Visions | |||||
Mirage Publishing | |||||
Mirage Studios / Mirage | |||||
Mother of Ashes Press | |||||
N | |||||
Necromics | USA? | 1987 | Just Twisted | Changed name to Lighthouse Publications | |
Nerve Publications | |||||
The Nevada City Publishing Co. | |||||
New Comics Group (NCG) | USA | 1987-1990 | Young Master | ||
New England Comics (Press) (NEC) | |||||
New Horizons | |||||
New Media Publishing | |||||
New Sirius Productions | |||||
New York Comics | USA | 1986 | Washmen | ||
Nicotat Comics | USA | 1988-1996 | Boris the Bear | ran by comic creater James Dean Smith | |
Nightwynd Productions | |||||
Nobody's Home Productions | USA | 1987 | Joe Dinosaur-Head | ||
Nonsense Unlimited | USA | 1986? | The Quadro Gang #1 | ||
Northern Lights (Press) | CAN | 1986-1990 | Empire Lanes | ||
Northstar Publ. | |||||
Not Available Comics | USA | 1985-2006 | Zot! ½ | Matt Feazell | |
Now Comics | Ralph Snart Adventures | ||||
Nuclear Age Comix | USA | 1986 | The Boogieman | co-op with Rion Productions? | |
O | |||||
Oasis Comics | USA | 1984-? | Future Beat; Whispers and Shadows | Tracy Schell, owner | |
Ocean Comics | USA | 1985-1999? | Mr. Jigsaw Special; Ocean Comics | ||
Odyssey Publishing | |||||
Onward Comics | USA | 1986-1991 | Ultra Klutz | ||
Opus Graphics | USA | 1987-2008 | Lejentia | self-publisher Steve Crompton? | |
Oracle Comics | |||||
Outerealm Comix | |||||
Outlaw | |||||
Outside Comics | USA | 1985?-1991? | Maxwell Madd and his Wrestling Women; Scratch | ||
P | |||||
P.S. Productions | |||||
Pacific Comics | parent company Blue Dolphin Enterprises | ||||
Pacific Comics Club | |||||
Pandemonium Press | USA | 1986-? | Tammas | ||
Paragon Publications > (AC)? | USA | 1969?-1980? | Fun Comics | Bill Black company; re-imagined as Americomics, then name changed to AC Comics | |
ParaGraphics | |||||
Perrydog Press | |||||
Phantasy Press | Kitz 'n' Katz Komiks | Did a reprint of Zot! ½ in Jun 1986 | |||
Pied Piper Comics | Ex-Mutants, The New Humans | ||||
Pinnacle Comics | |||||
Pioneer Comics | USA | 1988-90 | Prince Valiant, and Mandrake the Magician titles | Mostly reprinted comic strips | |
Piranha Press (DC) | |||||
Planet X Productions / Comics | |||||
Platinum Canyon Publication, Ltd. | USA | 1982 | Vikon | ||
Prairie Dog Publications | USA | 1986 | The Anonymous | ||
Prelude Graphics? | |||||
Printed Matter | USA | 1986-1987 | Renegade Rabbit | ||
Protoculture (confirmed?) | |||||
PSI Comics | USA | 1987 | BrainGlo | ||
Pure Imagination | USA | 1975-? | Doc Weird's Thrill Book; Jack Kirby Treasury | Mostly reprints; Greg Theakston, publisher. Imprint Black Cat Books | |
Pyramid Productions | |||||
Q | |||||
Quad Star Comics | USA | 1988 | Terror Syndrome | Anthony Monzo, publisher | |
Quadrant | |||||
Quality Comic Art Productions | CAN | 1980 | The Comic Strip News, The Comic Art Showcase, Comic Strip Showcase | Notable for their comic strip reprints | |
Quality Communications | UK | 1982-88 | Marvleman Special, Warrior | Ceased comic book publishing in 1988 | |
Quest Publications | USA | 1983 | Quest Presents | ||
R | |||||
R.A.K. Graphics | |||||
Raven Graphics | USA | 1987? | Marionette | ||
Raw Books & Graphics | |||||
Rebel Creations | |||||
Rebel Studios | |||||
Red Spade Graphics | USA | 1987 | Flyin' Ralph, New Hero Comics | ||
Redstone | |||||
Renegade Press | |||||
Revolutionary Comics | USA | 1989-1994 | Rock 'n' Roll Comics, Tipper Gore's Comics and Stories | Got a lot of attention with sue threats over the biographical Rock 'n' Roll Comics | |
Rion Productions | USA | 1986 | The Boogieman (?); Rion 2990 | Ryan Brown, publisher | |
Rip Off Press | |||||
Robin Snyder (and Steve Ditko) | USA | 1989- | Steve Ditko Package series, The Lonely One, Out of This World | Prints Steve Ditko's Golden Age and later work | |
Rocket Comics (Graphics?) | USA | 1983-2006? | Comet Tales, The Comic Book Newsletter, Orbit | Jim Park, publisher | |
Rocky Hartberg Productions | |||||
S | |||||
Saga Publishing | USA | ? | Shadow of the Groundhog | founder B.J. Miller | |
Sage Productions | USA | 1988 | Saga of the von Erich Warriors | solicited Blue Warriors, but never printed | |
Savage Graphics | |||||
ShadowStar Press | |||||
Showcase Publ. | |||||
Silver Snail | |||||
Silver Wolf / SilverWolf | USA | 1984-'87 | Grips; Fat Ninja | Kris Silver, proprietor. Greater Mercury Comics would pick up future printing | |
Silverline | |||||
Sirius Comics | |||||
Slave Labor / Graphics | |||||
Smithsonian | USA | ?- | Comics In the Classroom | Publishes many things educational | |
Solson - Lubert | |||||
Solson Publications | |||||
Special Studio (Diamond Press) | CAN | 1988-'91The Snake; Tony Bravado, Trouble-Shooter | |||
Spectrum Comics | |||||
Sphinx Productions | |||||
Spider Optics (CAN) | |||||
SpiderBaby Grafix | USA | 1988-1997 | SpiderBaby Comics, Taboo, Tyrant | Publisher Stephen R. Bissette | |
Spotlight Comics | USA | 1986-'87 | Mighty Mouse Adventure Magazine; Samurai Squirrel | Did some color titles | |
Sputnik Press | USA | 1990-? | Near to Now (some) | imprint of Acme Comics Group? | |
Stages Comics | USA | 1986 | Constellation Graphics | ||
Starblaze Graphics | |||||
Star-Shepherd Ltd. | USA | 1986 | Miss Ma'am's Intergalactic Fried Chicken... | ||
Starhead Comix | |||||
Stats, Etc. | USA | 1986 | 3-D Adventure Comics | promo by printer | |
SteelDragon Press | 1983-1988 | Omaha the Cat Dancer, Captain Confederacy | |||
StingRay Comics | USA | 1987-? | Dangerworld | ||
Stop Dragon Comics | |||||
Strawberry Jam Comics | CAN | 1986-1992 | Night Life; To Be Announced | ||
Studio Proteus (Dark Horse) | |||||
Survival Art Press | USA | 1981-'89? | In-Country Nam, The Survivalist Chronicles | ||
Sword In Stone | CAN | 1987-1991 | Corbo | Roger Broughton's original publishing company, later gets folded into Charlton Media Group | |
Synchronicity Comics | USA | 1987 | Golden Dragon | ||
T | |||||
Tami Comics | |||||
Target Comics | |||||
Ten-Buck Comics | 1986-89 | Space Beaver | |||
That Other Comix Co. | USA | 1984 | Wonderland Express | Mr. Moses publisher? | |
Thoughts and Images (&) | |||||
Thumbprint Productions | 1989 | Martian Summers | |||
Thunder Bass Press | |||||
Tiger Comics | US | 1987 | Phantasy Against Hunger | ||
Timbuktu Graphix | USA | 1988-92 | Zombie Boy | ||
Trident Comics | |||||
Tru Studios | |||||
True Fiction Publications | USA | 1986-'87? | Steel PUlse | imprint of Fandom House | |
TRT | |||||
Trylvertell Press | USA | 1986-87 | Starjongleur | Gary Davis project | |
Twilight Twins Productions | USA | 1987-95? | Zolastraya and the Bard | ||
U | |||||
Unbridled Ambition | USA | 82?-? | Spaced | ||
Unicorn Comics | USA | 1986?-2014? | New Beginning | Published some large format books | |
U.S. Comics | |||||
U.S James Bond 007 Club | |||||
V | |||||
Valkyrie | UK | Luther Arkwright; Redfox | |||
Victor Plajas ?Victor Comics? | USA | 1986-'87? | Concepts Illustrated; The Last Super Hero | ||
Victory Productions | |||||
Vincent Creations | |||||
Visionary Graphics | |||||
Viz Comics | USA | 1986- | Area 88; The Legend of Kamui; Mai, The Psychic Girl | U.S. distributor of Manga | |
Vortex Comics | |||||
W | |||||
WaRP Graphics | |||||
Warren Publishing | |||||
Wandering Star | |||||
WeeBee Comics | |||||
Wehner Publishing, Inc. | USA | 1987-1989 | Astonish!; The Legends of Elfinwild | ||
White Buffaloe Press | |||||
White Wolf Publishing | USA | 1987-? | Dark Regions | ||
Wild Think Productions | USA | 1987 | Wild Think | ||
Wonder Comix | USA | 1987-1995? | Heroes of Rock 'N Fire; Mythos; Night Brigade | ||
Wrecking Row | USA | 1984-? | Leo Derek | Joshua Stewart, publisher | |
Z | |||||
Zen Comics | USA | 1987-? | Zen, Intergalactic Ninja | ||
Zinzinnati Animation Productions (ZAP) | USA | 1988 | Fantaescape | Book creator's owned |
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The Independent B&W's of the '80s was a very special time, and we can enjoy the fruit of the work over and over again. Fantastic for us!