Desperado Publishing
Encyclopedia
Desperado Publishing is an American
independent comic book
publisher, established in 2004. Located in Norcross, Georgia
, Desperado's president is Joe Pruett
, its creative director is Stephan Nilson, and its director of business development is former Caliber Press publisher Gary Reed.
, Pruett founded Desperado in 2004.
After initially planning on launching the Desperado line alone, Pruett instead announced in September 2004 that Desperado had joined Image Comics
' publishing lineup. The debut titles under the Desperado/Image publishing partnership were Bob Burden
's Flaming Carrot and a specially priced preview book, Desperado Primer, which gave readers a chance to sample the talent assembled under the Desperado umbrella. (The Desperado Primer featured stories written by Paul Jenkins
, with art by Adam Hughes
, Brian Stelfreeze
, Cully Hamner
, Phil Hester
, Kelsey Shannon, and Jason Pearson
, and a prologue to Tony Harris
's Roundeye).
In addition, Pruett and Desperado revived Negative Burn, starting with two seasonal specials in 2005, and seguing into a monthly title in 2006. Pruett views the new incarnation of Negative Burn as a potential launching pad for new creators: "I'm offering Negative Burn as a way for a new creator to break in with us. If a creator shows promise and potential with his/her short story contributions then I might try to find them work with an already established creator or title in our library of titles.... I believe there needs to be an outlet for new talent... and [I] will try to do what I can to help them."
In March 2007, Desperado separated from Image after a two-and-a-half-year publishing partnership to become a self-sufficient publishing entity. (Negative Burn volume two's first eleven issues were published by Image.) As such, Desperado would publish under its own banner.
Desperado is also producing a line of art books, which kicked off with the Eisner Award
-winning The Art of Brian Bolland
. Other titles include Archetype: The Art of Tim Bradstreet
, The Art of P. Craig Russell
, and The Art of Joe Jusko
.
, P. Craig Russell
, Andrew Robinson, Joe Jusko
, Michael Gaydos
, Tim Bradstreet
, Goran Sudzuka
, John McCrea
, J.M. DeMatteis, Mike Ploog
, and Keith Giffen
.
s:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent comic book
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...
publisher, established in 2004. Located in Norcross, Georgia
Norcross, Georgia
As of 2010 Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white , 19.8% black or African American , 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races...
, Desperado's president is Joe Pruett
Joe Pruett
Joe Pruett is an American comic book writer and occasional editor, and, most recently, a publisher.-Biography:Pruett broke into the industry in 1989 as Bob Burden's assistant on Flaming Carrot Comics, where he inked backgrounds, assisted on lettering, and transcribed scripts...
, its creative director is Stephan Nilson, and its director of business development is former Caliber Press publisher Gary Reed.
Overview
With a background as former creative director of Caliber Press and editor of Caliber's 1990s anthology Negative BurnNegative Burn
Negative Burn is a black-and-white anthology comic book published beginning in 1993 by Caliber Press, and subsequently by Image Comics and Desperado Publishing...
, Pruett founded Desperado in 2004.
After initially planning on launching the Desperado line alone, Pruett instead announced in September 2004 that Desperado had joined Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
' publishing lineup. The debut titles under the Desperado/Image publishing partnership were Bob Burden
Bob Burden
Bob Burden is an American comic book artist and writer, best known as the creator of Flaming Carrot Comics and the Mystery Men.-Early life:Burden grew up in the industrial rust belt of the Northeast United States...
's Flaming Carrot and a specially priced preview book, Desperado Primer, which gave readers a chance to sample the talent assembled under the Desperado umbrella. (The Desperado Primer featured stories written by Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins (writer)
Paul Jenkins is a British comic book writer and Gary Gygax's stepson. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.-Life and career:Paul Jenkins...
, with art by Adam Hughes
Adam Hughes
Adam Hughes is an American comic book artist who has worked for companies such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros...
, Brian Stelfreeze
Brian Stelfreeze
Brian Stelfreeze is an American comic book artist. Stelfreeze, an accomplished painter, penciller, inker and colorist, has worked for nearly every major American comic book publisher and is one of the original members of Atlanta's Gaijin Studios, a prominent breeding ground for some of comics' most...
, Cully Hamner
Cully Hamner
Cully Hamner is an American comic book artist and writer.-Career:Since his 1992 debut on Green Lantern: Mosaic, Hamner has worked for nearly every major American comic book publisher, and is chiefly known for such titles as the aforementioned Green Lantern: Mosaic, Blue Beetle, and Red...
, Phil Hester
Phil Hester (comics)
Phil Hester is an American comic book artist, penciller and writer.-Biography:This Eisner Award-nominated artist was born in eastern Iowa, where he went on to study at the University of Iowa...
, Kelsey Shannon, and Jason Pearson
Jason Pearson
Jason Pearson is an American comic book writer/artist, known for his work on books such as Legion of Super-Heroes, The Dragon: Blood & Guts, Global Frequency, and his own creator-owned series, Body Bags....
, and a prologue to Tony Harris
Tony Harris (cartoonist)
Tony Harris is an American comic book artist, known for his work as series such as Starman, Iron Man, and Ex Machina. He has been nominated for five Eisner Awards for his work.-Career:...
's Roundeye).
In addition, Pruett and Desperado revived Negative Burn, starting with two seasonal specials in 2005, and seguing into a monthly title in 2006. Pruett views the new incarnation of Negative Burn as a potential launching pad for new creators: "I'm offering Negative Burn as a way for a new creator to break in with us. If a creator shows promise and potential with his/her short story contributions then I might try to find them work with an already established creator or title in our library of titles.... I believe there needs to be an outlet for new talent... and [I] will try to do what I can to help them."
In March 2007, Desperado separated from Image after a two-and-a-half-year publishing partnership to become a self-sufficient publishing entity. (Negative Burn volume two's first eleven issues were published by Image.) As such, Desperado would publish under its own banner.
Desperado is also producing a line of art books, which kicked off with the Eisner Award
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
-winning The Art of Brian Bolland
Brian Bolland
Brian Bolland is a British comics artist, known for his meticulous, detailed linework and eye-catching compositions. Best known in the UK as one of the definitive Judge Dredd artists for British comics anthology 2000 AD, he spearheaded the 'British Invasion' of the American comics industry, and in...
. Other titles include Archetype: The Art of Tim Bradstreet
Tim Bradstreet
Timothy "Tim" Bradstreet , is an artist and illustrator, best known for his work on comic books , book covers, movie posters, roleplaying games and trading cards.-Career:...
, The Art of P. Craig Russell
P. Craig Russell
Philip Craig Russell , also known as P. Craig Russell, is an American comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. His work has won multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards...
, and The Art of Joe Jusko
Joe Jusko
Joe Jusko is an American artist known for his realistic, highly detailed painted fantasy, pin-up, and cover illustrations, mainly in the comic book industry...
.
Creators
In addition to the aforementioned Burden, Harris, Hester, Jenkins, and Stelfreeze; notable creators involved with Desperado include Brian BollandBrian Bolland
Brian Bolland is a British comics artist, known for his meticulous, detailed linework and eye-catching compositions. Best known in the UK as one of the definitive Judge Dredd artists for British comics anthology 2000 AD, he spearheaded the 'British Invasion' of the American comics industry, and in...
, P. Craig Russell
P. Craig Russell
Philip Craig Russell , also known as P. Craig Russell, is an American comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. His work has won multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards...
, Andrew Robinson, Joe Jusko
Joe Jusko
Joe Jusko is an American artist known for his realistic, highly detailed painted fantasy, pin-up, and cover illustrations, mainly in the comic book industry...
, Michael Gaydos
Michael Gaydos
-Biography:At Marvel he has worked with Brian Michael Bendis on Alias and the last storyline of its follow up, The Pulse. He has also illustrated the mini-series Powerless and Daredevil Redemption,...
, Tim Bradstreet
Tim Bradstreet
Timothy "Tim" Bradstreet , is an artist and illustrator, best known for his work on comic books , book covers, movie posters, roleplaying games and trading cards.-Career:...
, Goran Sudzuka
Goran Sudzuka
-Biography:Sudžuka who began his work in animation and later began to publish with Darko Macan in Croatia and Germany.His works include Outlaw Nation, Y: The Last Man, and Hellblazer: Lady Constantine with Andy Diggle....
, John McCrea
John McCrea
John McCrea is a comic book artist best known for his collaborations with writer Garth Ennis.-Career:...
, J.M. DeMatteis, Mike Ploog
Mike Ploog
Michael G. Ploog is an American storyboard and comic book artist, and a visual designer for movies....
, and Keith Giffen
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
.
Titles
- Antoine Sharp (formerly The AtheistThe Atheist (comics)The Atheist is a horror comic book originally released in April 2005 and is published by Image Comics. Phil Hester, of "The Wretch" and "Green Arrow," writes "The Atheist," while British John McCrea of "Hitman" does the black and white artwork....
) - Atomik Mike
- Cherubs!Cherubs!Cherubs! Paradise Lost is a graphic novel by Bryan Talbot who wrote the script and provided the layouts, with the finished art by Mark Stafford...
- Common Foe
- DeadworldDeadworldDeadworld is an ongoing American comic book currently published by Desperado Publishing in association with IDW Publishing.The series follows survivors in a post-apocalyptic scenario brought on by zombie attacks...
- Detectives Inc.Detectives Inc.Detectives Inc. is a series of two original graphic novels written by Don McGregor and published by Eclipse Enterprises in 1980 and 1985.The first, Detectives Inc.: A Remembrance of Threatening Green, featured black-and-white art by penciler-inker Marshall Rogers...
- Flaming Carrot
- Hatter M
- MonsterpocalypseMonsterpocalypseMonsterpocalypse is a giant monster-themed collectible miniatures game which is published by Privateer Press. Released series include Rise, I Chomp NY, All Your Base, Monsterpocalypse Now and the current series Big in Japan....
- Necessary Evil
- Negative BurnNegative BurnNegative Burn is a black-and-white anthology comic book published beginning in 1993 by Caliber Press, and subsequently by Image Comics and Desperado Publishing...
- The Revenant
- Roundeye
- SabreSabre (graphic novel)Sabre , published in August 1978, is one of the first modern graphic novels and the first to be distributed in comic book shops...
- StarchildStarchild (comics)Starchild was a densely illustrated fantasy comic book self-published in the 1990s by James A. Owen. There were 24 issues total, and the series has been collected in a boxed set of reprints titled The Essential Starchild from Owen's Coppervale Press....
- Thirteen Steps
Awards
Two Desperado titles won 2007 Eisner AwardEisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
s:
- Best Humor Publication: Flaming Carrot Comics by Bob Burden
- Best Comics-Related Book: The Art of Brian Bolland, edited by Joe Pruett