AC Comics
Encyclopedia
AC Comics is a comic book
publishing company started by Bill Black.
AC Comics specializes in reprints of Golden Age
comics from now-defunct companies whose properties lapsed into public domain
and were not reprinted elsewhere. It also publishes a number of Modern Age
adventures starring the Golden Age superheroes that appeared in those stories. The most famous of those titles is Femforce
, which features the adventures of an all-female superhero team, one of the first teams of this nature in the comics industry.
Based on its focus on Golden Age reprints and stories inspired by that style, AC has developed a reputation for straightforward, fun, and action-packed superhero
tales which often avoid the darker themes of many modern comics. AC artists often make use of a style known as "good girl art
", made popular in the Golden Age era, which combines attractive, clean linework with elements of cheesecake and humor. In addition to superheroes, AC has attempted to preserve other comic book genres inspired by the series of the past, such as Westerns and jungle adventure.
, though its first recorded titles — Paragon Presents and White Savage — weren't released until 1970
. Other titles from Paragon's beginnings included Fem Fantastique and Paragon Golden Age Greats (1971), Macabre Western and
Captain Paragon
(1972), Paragon Magazine and Paragon Super Heroes (1973), Tara
on the Dark Continent (1974), and Paragon Illustrated and Paragon Western Stars (1975). The company's early titles were cheaply published black-and-white comics.
, the company changed its name to Americomics before settling on AC Comics in 1984
.
In 1985, AC debuted Femforce
, which it still publishes today. Other AC continuing series include Best of the West and Men of Mystery Comics. Following the popularity of size-changing Femforce members Garganta
and Tara
, AC made the giantess
concept a recurring theme in their comics. Tapping into this cult following, AC has released stories and anthologies specifically catered to fans of giant women, as well as DVD releases which embrace this theme in the tongue-in-cheek style of 1950s science fiction
B-movies. An ongoing giantess feature known as Gargantarama has even been added to the company's Femforce title.
Additionally, AC has expanded into other DVD projects which collect classic movie serials and other material now in the public domain, as well as low-budget films based on their own characters.
characters, particularly the Blue Beetle
and Captain Atom
, in the comic title Sentinels of Justice
. When the rights for these characters were sold to DC Comics
, AC Comics created a second Sentinels of Justice team (writing the first out of continuity), composed of some of its original characters as well as ones from the public domain
. Many of these are homage
s to Charlton and Quality Comics heroes, such as the Scarlet Scorpion (a stand-in for Blue Beetle
) and the Blue Bulleteer (later Nightveil
) who is based on the Fox Comics version of Phantom Lady
. Still another Phantom Lady
-inspired character was The Black Mistress, whose first episode was scripted by former Vampirella
writer T. Casey Brennan
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
publishing company started by Bill Black.
AC Comics specializes in reprints of Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
comics from now-defunct companies whose properties lapsed into public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
and were not reprinted elsewhere. It also publishes a number of Modern Age
Modern Age of Comic Books
The Modern Age of Comic Books is an informal name for the period in the history of mainstream American comic books generally considered to last from the mid-1980s until present day...
adventures starring the Golden Age superheroes that appeared in those stories. The most famous of those titles is Femforce
Femforce
Femforce is a comic book published by AC Comics that began publication in 1985, detailing the adventures of the titular team: the "Federal Emergency Missions Force" or "Femforce", some of them original creations, while others originated in the 1940s and 50s, lapsing into public domain by the time...
, which features the adventures of an all-female superhero team, one of the first teams of this nature in the comics industry.
Based on its focus on Golden Age reprints and stories inspired by that style, AC has developed a reputation for straightforward, fun, and action-packed superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
tales which often avoid the darker themes of many modern comics. AC artists often make use of a style known as "good girl art
Good girl art
Good girl art is found in drawings or paintings which feature a strong emphasis on attractive women no matter what the subject or situation. GGA was most commonly featured in comic books, pulp magazines and crime fiction...
", made popular in the Golden Age era, which combines attractive, clean linework with elements of cheesecake and humor. In addition to superheroes, AC has attempted to preserve other comic book genres inspired by the series of the past, such as Westerns and jungle adventure.
Paragon Publications
AC Comics was founded as Paragon Publications in 19691969 in comics
This is a list of comics-related events in 1969.- Year overall :* Paragon Publications established in Longwood, Florida, by Bill Black.* George Klein, long-time Superman inker, dies in his fifties from cirrhosis of the liver, six months after getting married.-February:* The Golden Age character...
, though its first recorded titles — Paragon Presents and White Savage — weren't released until 1970
1970 in comics
This is a list of comics-related events in 1970.- Events and publications :* Denis Kitchen founds Kitchen Sink Press in Princeton, Wisconsin-January:...
. Other titles from Paragon's beginnings included Fem Fantastique and Paragon Golden Age Greats (1971), Macabre Western and
Captain Paragon
Captain Paragon
Paragon, or Captain Paragon, is a fictional superhero character published by AC Comics currently as a supporting character in Femforce. This character initially had his own book, then was with the Sentinels of Justice....
(1972), Paragon Magazine and Paragon Super Heroes (1973), Tara
Tara Fremont
Tara Fremont is a fictional character appearing in the Femforce comic book, published by AC Comics. She is an attractive young woman with long dark hair, who is usually drawn wearing either a combat uniform or a green camouflage swimsuit...
on the Dark Continent (1974), and Paragon Illustrated and Paragon Western Stars (1975). The company's early titles were cheaply published black-and-white comics.
Americomics
In 19821982 in comics
-Year overall:* San Diego-based independent publisher Pacific Comics makes a strong push in the marketplace, following Jack Kirby's Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers with four new ongoing titles, Starslayer, Ms...
, the company changed its name to Americomics before settling on AC Comics in 1984
1984 in comics
-Year overall:* The independent publishing boom continues, as Antarctic Press, Continuity Comics, Deluxe Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, and Renegade Press all enter the arena...
.
AC Comics
Now a color publisher, AC was one of the initial quartet of independent color comics companies who pioneered the direct sales phenomenon in the early 1980s, targeting specialty comic book shops rather than newsstands or other venues.In 1985, AC debuted Femforce
Femforce
Femforce is a comic book published by AC Comics that began publication in 1985, detailing the adventures of the titular team: the "Federal Emergency Missions Force" or "Femforce", some of them original creations, while others originated in the 1940s and 50s, lapsing into public domain by the time...
, which it still publishes today. Other AC continuing series include Best of the West and Men of Mystery Comics. Following the popularity of size-changing Femforce members Garganta
Garganta
Garganta is a fictional comic book character published by AC Comics appearing in several of their titles, most commonly Femforce the title in which she debuted in 1990 . Originally appearing as a one-off antagonist, she proved so popular with readers that she re-appeared two issues later and...
and Tara
Tara Fremont
Tara Fremont is a fictional character appearing in the Femforce comic book, published by AC Comics. She is an attractive young woman with long dark hair, who is usually drawn wearing either a combat uniform or a green camouflage swimsuit...
, AC made the giantess
Giantess
A giantess is a female giant. The term may refer either a mythical being resembling a woman of superhuman size and strength or a human woman of exceptional stature, often the result of some medical or genetic abnormality ....
concept a recurring theme in their comics. Tapping into this cult following, AC has released stories and anthologies specifically catered to fans of giant women, as well as DVD releases which embrace this theme in the tongue-in-cheek style of 1950s science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
B-movies. An ongoing giantess feature known as Gargantarama has even been added to the company's Femforce title.
Additionally, AC has expanded into other DVD projects which collect classic movie serials and other material now in the public domain, as well as low-budget films based on their own characters.
Licenses
AC Comics had used Charlton ComicsCharlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
characters, particularly the Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
and Captain Atom
Captain Atom
Captain Atom is a fictional comic book superhero that has existed in three basic incarnations. Created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Space Adventures #33 . Captain Atom was created for Charlton Comics but was later acquired by DC Comics and revised for...
, in the comic title Sentinels of Justice
Sentinels of Justice
Sentinels of Justice is a fictional organization of superheroes. The comic was published by Americomics in 1983 during a very brief time that AC was able to license the Charlton Comics superheroes before the rights were purchased outright by DC Comics. The team consisted of Captain Atom, Blue...
. When the rights for these characters were sold to DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, AC Comics created a second Sentinels of Justice team (writing the first out of continuity), composed of some of its original characters as well as ones from the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
. Many of these are homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
s to Charlton and Quality Comics heroes, such as the Scarlet Scorpion (a stand-in for Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
) and the Blue Bulleteer (later Nightveil
Nightveil
Nightveil is a fictional character, a superheroine who appears in the Femforce comic book, published by AC Comics. An adaption of the Golden Age superhero Phantom Lady, she has also been known as Blue Bulleteer and Nightfall...
) who is based on the Fox Comics version of Phantom Lady
Phantom Lady
Phantom Lady is a fictional superheroine, one of the first female superhero characters to debut in the 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books. Originally published by Quality Comics, the character was subsequently published by a series of now-defunct comic book companies, and a new version of the...
. Still another Phantom Lady
Phantom Lady
Phantom Lady is a fictional superheroine, one of the first female superhero characters to debut in the 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books. Originally published by Quality Comics, the character was subsequently published by a series of now-defunct comic book companies, and a new version of the...
-inspired character was The Black Mistress, whose first episode was scripted by former Vampirella
Vampirella
Vampirella is a fictional character, a comic book vampire heroine created by Forrest J Ackerman and costume designer Trina Robbins in Warren Publishing's black-and-white horror comics magazine Vampirella #1 . Writer-editor Archie Goodwin later developed the character from horror-story hostess, in...
writer T. Casey Brennan
T. Casey Brennan
Terrance Casey Brennan is an American comic book writer.During the 1970s, he wrote for Warren Publishing's black-and-white horror-comics anthologies Creepy and Eerie, and Vampirella...
.