Insomnia Publications
Encyclopedia
Insomnia Publications Ltd was a British
comic book
publishing company.
, Scotland
, with various partners in London
, Dundee
and Vancouver
.
Insomnia began publishing Layer Zero in 2007, an anthology
title as showcase for new creators.
2009 saw the release of Cancertown and Cages, the first Insomnia Graphic Novels by which the company would make its name as an independent publisher, focussed on "instant trades" or "albums" in the European model, along with art portfolio books. It was also one of the first independent companies to partner with Sony
to bring digital comics to the PSP
.
Insomnia books are aimed at teen/mature readers and most have an 18+ age rating. The focus is on stories which are unusual, literate, challenging and thought-provoking.
In 2009 Insomnia launched the Vigil imprint for "Bio-Graphic Novels", starting with Burke and Hare.
Following internal problems in early 2010, Insomnia Publications filed final accounts with Companies House on 30 June 2010.On the 20 August 2010, Crawford Coutts issued a statement released creators from their contracts with the company.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
publishing company.
History
Insomnia was an independent comics publisher founded by Managing Director Crawford Coutts in 2006 to publish his own work. It was based in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, with various partners in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Insomnia began publishing Layer Zero in 2007, an anthology
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
title as showcase for new creators.
2009 saw the release of Cancertown and Cages, the first Insomnia Graphic Novels by which the company would make its name as an independent publisher, focussed on "instant trades" or "albums" in the European model, along with art portfolio books. It was also one of the first independent companies to partner with Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
to bring digital comics to the PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
.
Insomnia books are aimed at teen/mature readers and most have an 18+ age rating. The focus is on stories which are unusual, literate, challenging and thought-provoking.
In 2009 Insomnia launched the Vigil imprint for "Bio-Graphic Novels", starting with Burke and Hare.
Following internal problems in early 2010, Insomnia Publications filed final accounts with Companies House on 30 June 2010.On the 20 August 2010, Crawford Coutts issued a statement released creators from their contracts with the company.
Graphic novels
- Cages by Xander Bennet and Melanie Cook. Foreword by Ben TemplesmithBen TemplesmithBen Templesmith is an Australian comic book artist best known for his work in the American comic book industry, most notably the Image Comics series Fell, with writer Warren Ellis, which is credited with pioneering a new format for commercial comics, and IDW's 30 Days of Night with writer Steve...
(January 2009, ISBN 1905808100) - Cancertown by Cy Dethan, Stephen Downey, Melanie Cook and Nic Wilkinson. Foreword by Bryan TalbotBryan TalbotBryan Talbot is a British comic book artist and writer, born in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1952. He is best known as the creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire.-Career:...
(May 2009, ISBN 1905808135) - Buskers by Jeyems Samuel, Sean Michael WilsonSean Michael WilsonSean Michael Wilson is a comic book writer from Edinburgh, Scotland, but who now lives and works in Japan.-Biography:Wilson was inspired to create comics at an early age by 2000 AD but he largely published poetry while studying sociology and psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh...
and Michiru Morikawa (Oct 2009)
Vigil
Titles in the Virgil "Bio-Graphic Novels" imprint include:- Burke and Hare by Martin Conaghan and Will Pickering. Foreword by Alan Grant (Oct 2009, ISBN 1905808127)