Top Shelf Productions
Encyclopedia
Top Shelf Productions is an American
publishing company founded in 1997
, owned and operated by Chris Staros
and Brett Warnock and a small staff. The company is based in Marietta, Georgia
, Portland, Oregon
, and New York City, New York.
Top Shelf publishes comics
and graphic novels
by authors such as Alan Moore
, Craig Thompson
, James Kochalka
, Andy Runton
, Jeffrey Brown
, Nate Powell
, Alex Robinson
, Jeff Lemire
, and Matt Kindt
.
Small Press Expo
. Previously Warnock had used the Top Shelf name as the title for a self-published anthology
, whilst Staros had worked in the industry representing Eddie Campbell
in the United States and self-published a number of comics-based zines. The partnership evolved from combining Warnock's design skills and marketing abilities with Staros' talents for editing and book-keeping. The duo started publishing under the name Primal Groove Press, but soon changed the name to Top Shelf. (The name is a reference to the high-quality brands of liquor which are kept on the "top shelf" in a bar.)
The first title to be published by the new imprint was Pete Sickman-Garner's Hey, Mister: After School Special, a collection of Garner's previously self-published comic books along with two new tales. Works by James Kochalka
followed, and then in 1999 the company published Good-bye, Chunky Rice
, a work which saw its creator, Craig Thompson
, win a Harvey Award
and which helped establish Top Shelf's reputation for publishing works of merit, with it being chosen as a book of the year by The Comics Journal (#220) alongside the Top Shelf distributed From Hell
.
Staros and Warnock have aimed to give their imprint a style "that is quite hip, but also quite endearing", and Staros regularly signs correspondence with the tagline
"Your friend thru comics". The company launched at a recessional period for comics, and saw themselves as, together with Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly and the now defunct Highwater, attempting to "change the public perception and face of comics altogether". In 2000 Staros delivered the keynote speech at the Ignatz Awards
, and argued that the industry must focus more on content, and that more works of the merit of From Hell
and Jimmy Corrigan would help the public re-evaluate their perceptions of the medium.
In April 2002 the collapse of the bookstore distributor LPC caused severe financial problems for the company. A $20 000 check the distributor had issued bounced. Investigation by Top Shelf revealed an LPC filing for Chapter 11, a move which left Top Shelf in a perilous state: The company had issued checks based on the LPC check clearing. The company called upon the goodwill it had previously established in the comics market and issued a communication asking for help. They asked former customers to "find it in your hearts to each spend around fifty bucks ... this would literally pull us through". The communication swiftly spread across the internet, with both Neil Gaiman
and Warren Ellis
disseminating the appeal through their online presences. The move created such an atmosphere that rival publisher and fellow LPC client Dark Horse
felt moved to issue a statement to the effect that they were "in a profitable position."
Top Shelf were unprepared for the response, with a volunteer drafted to help pack the orders. A second communication was issued a day later, declaring "Top Shelf Saved by Comics Community Record 12 Hours." The move was greeted with envy by rival publishers, Tom Devlin of Highwater told The Comics Journal
that although he viewed the move initially as maybe "a little pathetic", he later realized it as "the most remarkable marketing scheme", although qualifying that he didn't feel "there was a cynical moment" in Top Shelf's actions.
Top Shelf have slowly expanded their line and typically aim to launch works at conventions in order to generate a buzz. The 2004
Comic Con International saw the company launch 8 books, of which two were immediate sell-outs. This has at times caused unrest with retailers, particularly when Blankets was launched at the 2003
Comic Con International. The company also followed this route with Lost Girls
, launching it at the 2006 Comic Con International. The work had long been on the schedules of Top Shelf, initially intended as a three volume affair scheduled for a 2002 release. The eventual publication proved controversial, with Alan Moore describing the work as "pornography
" and Chris Staros admitting that publication was "putting the whole company on the line". Before publication fears were raised that the book would prove hard to sell given its nature, and that there may be legal implications. However, the work received good reviews and the initial print run sold out in one day. The work has yet to be distributed in the United Kingdom, as the Great Ormond Street Hospital
currently owns the copyright to Peter Pan
. Top Shelf have agreed not to distribute the work in the UK until after that copyright expires at the end of 2007. They do, however, refute that the work breaches the copyrights held.
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publishing company founded in 1997
1997 in comics
-January:*Avengers #3 - Marvel Comics*Captain America #3 - Marvel Comics*Fantastic Four #3 - Marvel Comics*Iron Man #3 - Marvel Comics-February:...
, owned and operated by Chris Staros
Chris Staros
Chris Staros is the publisher of the graphic novel publisher Top Shelf Productions, as well as the president of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund . He is also the author of Yearbook Stories, 1976–1978, published by Top Shelf....
and Brett Warnock and a small staff. The company is based in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, and New York City, New York.
Top Shelf publishes comics
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...
and graphic novels
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
by authors such as Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
, Craig Thompson
Craig Thompson
Craig Matthew Thompson is a graphic novelist best known for his books Good-Bye, Chunky Rice , Blankets , Carnet de Voyage and Habibi . Thompson has received four Harvey Awards, two Eisner Awards, and two Ignatz Awards...
, James Kochalka
James Kochalka
James Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal...
, Andy Runton
Andy Runton
Andy Runton is the creator of the graphic novel series Owly, first published in 2005 by Top Shelf. Before he worked on Owly he was a graphic designer. His artwork is a reflection of his affection for wildlife. Andy currently resides in Atlanta, GA. In 2005, Runton won the Ignatz Award for Promising...
, Jeffrey Brown
Jeffrey Brown
Jeffrey Brown is a comic book writer and artist born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.-Biography:After growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a 25-year-old Jeffrey Brown moved to Chicago in 2000 to pursue an MFA at the School of the Art Institute. By the time he finished his studies, he had abandoned...
, Nate Powell
Nate Powell
Nate Powell is a graphic novelist, publisher, and musician. He owns DIY punk record label Harlan Records, has performed in several punk bands , and occasionally performed hip hop as Featherweight MC...
, Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson is an award-winning American comic book writer and artist.-Early life:Alex Robinson grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York, and graduated from Yorktown High School in 1987...
, Jeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire is a Canadian comics artist and writer. He is the author of the Essex County Trilogy, Sweet Tooth and The Nobody. Lemire is known for a his moody, humanistic stories and sketchy, cinematic, black-and-white art....
, and Matt Kindt
Matt Kindt
Matt Kindt is an American independent comic book artist and graphic designer.-Early life:Kindt was born in 1973 in St. Louis and currently resides in Webster Groves, Missouri. He worked in the local mini-comics scene from a young age, self-publishing his own copyshop zines since 1990. In 1995 he...
.
History
The company was founded by Chris Staros and Brett Warnock after discussions between the pair at the 19971997 in comics
-January:*Avengers #3 - Marvel Comics*Captain America #3 - Marvel Comics*Fantastic Four #3 - Marvel Comics*Iron Man #3 - Marvel Comics-February:...
Small Press Expo
Small Press Expo
The Small Press Expo is an alternative comics convention that takes place every September or October in Bethesda, Maryland. It rivals the Alternative Press Expo as the premiere convention for alternative comics creators and fans. SPX is the home of the Ignatz Awards, which have been presented...
. Previously Warnock had used the Top Shelf name as the title for a self-published anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
, whilst Staros had worked in the industry representing Eddie Campbell
Eddie Campbell
Eddie Campbell is a Scottish comics artist and cartoonist who now lives in Australia. Probably best known as the illustrator and publisher of From Hell , Campbell is also the creator of the semi-autobiographical Alec stories collected in Alec: The Years Have Pants, and Bacchus , a wry adventure...
in the United States and self-published a number of comics-based zines. The partnership evolved from combining Warnock's design skills and marketing abilities with Staros' talents for editing and book-keeping. The duo started publishing under the name Primal Groove Press, but soon changed the name to Top Shelf. (The name is a reference to the high-quality brands of liquor which are kept on the "top shelf" in a bar.)
The first title to be published by the new imprint was Pete Sickman-Garner's Hey, Mister: After School Special, a collection of Garner's previously self-published comic books along with two new tales. Works by James Kochalka
James Kochalka
James Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal...
followed, and then in 1999 the company published Good-bye, Chunky Rice
Good-bye, Chunky Rice
Good-bye, Chunky Rice is a 1999 graphic novel written by Craig Thompson. It was originally published by Top Shelf Productions.-Publication history:...
, a work which saw its creator, Craig Thompson
Craig Thompson
Craig Matthew Thompson is a graphic novelist best known for his books Good-Bye, Chunky Rice , Blankets , Carnet de Voyage and Habibi . Thompson has received four Harvey Awards, two Eisner Awards, and two Ignatz Awards...
, win a Harvey Award
Harvey Award
The Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
and which helped establish Top Shelf's reputation for publishing works of merit, with it being chosen as a book of the year by The Comics Journal (#220) alongside the Top Shelf distributed From Hell
From Hell
From Hell is a comic book series by writer Alan Moore and artist Eddie Campbell, originally published from 1991 to 1996, speculating upon the identity and motives of Jack the Ripper. The title is taken from the first words of the "From Hell" letter, which some authorities believe was an authentic...
.
Staros and Warnock have aimed to give their imprint a style "that is quite hip, but also quite endearing", and Staros regularly signs correspondence with the tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
"Your friend thru comics". The company launched at a recessional period for comics, and saw themselves as, together with Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly and the now defunct Highwater, attempting to "change the public perception and face of comics altogether". In 2000 Staros delivered the keynote speech at the Ignatz Awards
Ignatz Awards
The Ignatz Awards are intended to recognize outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning by small press creators or creator-owned projects published by larger publishers. They have been awarded each year since 1997, but skipped a year in 2001 due to the show's cancellation after the September...
, and argued that the industry must focus more on content, and that more works of the merit of From Hell
From Hell
From Hell is a comic book series by writer Alan Moore and artist Eddie Campbell, originally published from 1991 to 1996, speculating upon the identity and motives of Jack the Ripper. The title is taken from the first words of the "From Hell" letter, which some authorities believe was an authentic...
and Jimmy Corrigan would help the public re-evaluate their perceptions of the medium.
In April 2002 the collapse of the bookstore distributor LPC caused severe financial problems for the company. A $20 000 check the distributor had issued bounced. Investigation by Top Shelf revealed an LPC filing for Chapter 11, a move which left Top Shelf in a perilous state: The company had issued checks based on the LPC check clearing. The company called upon the goodwill it had previously established in the comics market and issued a communication asking for help. They asked former customers to "find it in your hearts to each spend around fifty bucks ... this would literally pull us through". The communication swiftly spread across the internet, with both Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
and Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
disseminating the appeal through their online presences. The move created such an atmosphere that rival publisher and fellow LPC client Dark Horse
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
felt moved to issue a statement to the effect that they were "in a profitable position."
Top Shelf were unprepared for the response, with a volunteer drafted to help pack the orders. A second communication was issued a day later, declaring "Top Shelf Saved by Comics Community Record 12 Hours." The move was greeted with envy by rival publishers, Tom Devlin of Highwater told The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
that although he viewed the move initially as maybe "a little pathetic", he later realized it as "the most remarkable marketing scheme", although qualifying that he didn't feel "there was a cynical moment" in Top Shelf's actions.
Top Shelf have slowly expanded their line and typically aim to launch works at conventions in order to generate a buzz. The 2004
2004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
Comic Con International saw the company launch 8 books, of which two were immediate sell-outs. This has at times caused unrest with retailers, particularly when Blankets was launched at the 2003
2003 in comics
-January:* January 2: Kid Colt artist Jack Keller dies at age 80.- April :* Action Comics #800: Double-sized anniversary issue, "A Hero's Journey," by Joe Kelly, Pascual Ferry, and Duncan Rouleau...
Comic Con International. The company also followed this route with Lost Girls
Lost Girls
Lost Girls is a graphic novel depicting the sexually explicit adventures of three important female fictional characters of the late 19th and early 20th century: Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz and Wendy Darling from Peter Pan...
, launching it at the 2006 Comic Con International. The work had long been on the schedules of Top Shelf, initially intended as a three volume affair scheduled for a 2002 release. The eventual publication proved controversial, with Alan Moore describing the work as "pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
" and Chris Staros admitting that publication was "putting the whole company on the line". Before publication fears were raised that the book would prove hard to sell given its nature, and that there may be legal implications. However, the work received good reviews and the initial print run sold out in one day. The work has yet to be distributed in the United Kingdom, as the Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
currently owns the copyright to Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
. Top Shelf have agreed not to distribute the work in the UK until after that copyright expires at the end of 2007. They do, however, refute that the work breaches the copyrights held.
Pete Sickman-Garner
Titles by Pete Sickman-Garner are:- Hey Mister- Afterschool special
- Hey Mister- Celebrity Roast
- Hey Mister- The Fall Collection
Alan Moore
Titles by Alan MooreAlan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
include:
- Lost GirlsLost GirlsLost Girls is a graphic novel depicting the sexually explicit adventures of three important female fictional characters of the late 19th and early 20th century: Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz and Wendy Darling from Peter Pan...
(with Melinda GebbieMelinda GebbieMelinda Gebbie is an American comics artist and writer, probably best known for Lost Girls, the three-volume graphic novel she produced in collaboration with writer Alan Moore, published by Top Shelf.-Biography:...
, 2006) - From HellFrom HellFrom Hell is a comic book series by writer Alan Moore and artist Eddie Campbell, originally published from 1991 to 1996, speculating upon the identity and motives of Jack the Ripper. The title is taken from the first words of the "From Hell" letter, which some authorities believe was an authentic...
(with Eddie CampbellEddie CampbellEddie Campbell is a Scottish comics artist and cartoonist who now lives in Australia. Probably best known as the illustrator and publisher of From Hell , Campbell is also the creator of the semi-autobiographical Alec stories collected in Alec: The Years Have Pants, and Bacchus , a wry adventure...
, 1999) - Voice of the FireVoice of the FireVoice of the Fire is the first novel from Alan Moore, acclaimed comic book writer. The twelve-chapter book was initially published in the United Kingdom c. 1996. The narratives take place around Moore's hometown of Northampton, England during the month of November, and span several millennia — from...
(1996) - The Mirror of LoveThe Mirror of LoveThe Mirror of Love is a book of romantic poems on the history of same-sex. Originally written fourteen years ago in a comic form as a protest against England's anti-homosexual Clause 28...
(with Jose VillarrubiaJosé VillarrubiaJosé Antonio Villarrubia Jiménez-Momediano – known professionally as José Villarrubia – is a Spanish artist and art teacher who has done considerable work in the American comic book industry, particularly as a colorist....
) - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: CenturyThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: CenturyThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century is the third volume of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill. Co-published by Top Shelf Productions and Knockabout Comics in the US and UK respectively, Century will be published in...
(with Kevin O'NeillKevin O'Neill (comics)Kevin O'Neill is an English comic book illustrator best known as the co-creator of Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law , and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .-Early career:...
, 2009) - The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of MagicThe Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of MagicThe Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic is an upcoming hardcover work by Alan Moore and Steve Moore . Both men have written comics and together co-founded the private magical order known as The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels...
(with co-writer Steve MooreSteve Moore (comics)Steve Moore is a British comics writer.Moore is credited with showing acclaimed writer Alan Moore , then a struggling cartoonist, how to write comic scripts...
and artists including Kevin O'NeillKevin O'Neill (comics)Kevin O'Neill is an English comic book illustrator best known as the co-creator of Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law , and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .-Early career:...
, Melinda GebbieMelinda GebbieMelinda Gebbie is an American comics artist and writer, probably best known for Lost Girls, the three-volume graphic novel she produced in collaboration with writer Alan Moore, published by Top Shelf.-Biography:...
, John CoulthartJohn CoulthartJohn Coulthart is a British graphic artist, illustrator, author and designer who has produced book covers and illustrations, CD covers and posters...
, and José VillarrubiaJosé VillarrubiaJosé Antonio Villarrubia Jiménez-Momediano – known professionally as José Villarrubia – is a Spanish artist and art teacher who has done considerable work in the American comic book industry, particularly as a colorist....
, 320 pages, hardcover, 2009, ISBN 978-1-60309-001-8) http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=2&title=578
Craig Thompson
Titles by Craig ThompsonCraig Thompson
Craig Matthew Thompson is a graphic novelist best known for his books Good-Bye, Chunky Rice , Blankets , Carnet de Voyage and Habibi . Thompson has received four Harvey Awards, two Eisner Awards, and two Ignatz Awards...
include:
- BlanketsBlankets (graphic novel)Blankets is an autobiographical graphic novel by Craig Thompson, published in 2003 by Top Shelf Productions. As a coming-of-age autobiography, the book tells the story of Thompson's childhood in an Evangelical Christian family, his first love, and his early adulthood...
- Good-bye, Chunky RiceGood-bye, Chunky RiceGood-bye, Chunky Rice is a 1999 graphic novel written by Craig Thompson. It was originally published by Top Shelf Productions.-Publication history:...
- Carnet de VoyageCarnet de VoyageCarnet de Voyage is a 2004 graphic novel by cartoonist Craig Thompson. The book is a combination of a travelogue and sketches that Thompson compiled while traveling through France, Barcelona, the Alps and Morocco, during a promotional tour for his earlier graphic novel Blankets. Thompson also...
Andy Runton
Titles by Andy RuntonAndy Runton
Andy Runton is the creator of the graphic novel series Owly, first published in 2005 by Top Shelf. Before he worked on Owly he was a graphic designer. His artwork is a reflection of his affection for wildlife. Andy currently resides in Atlanta, GA. In 2005, Runton won the Ignatz Award for Promising...
include:
- OwlyOwlyOwly is an American children's graphic novel series created by Andy Runton and published by Top Shelf Productions.-Series overview:The series, which is largely without standard text dialogue, is about the adventures of a gentle owl named Owly who resolves to do good and make friends in his world...
- The Way Home
- Just A Little Blue
- Flying Lessons
- A Time To Be Brave
Jeffrey Brown
Titles by Jeffrey BrownJeffrey Brown
Jeffrey Brown is a comic book writer and artist born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.-Biography:After growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a 25-year-old Jeffrey Brown moved to Chicago in 2000 to pursue an MFA at the School of the Art Institute. By the time he finished his studies, he had abandoned...
include:
- Clumsy
- Unlikely
- Aeiou
- Every Girl Is The End Of The World For Me
- I Am Going To Be Small
- Be a Man
- Minisulk
- BigheadBigheadThis article is about the graphic novel, for the insult "bighead", see insult.Bighead is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Jeffrey Brown and published by Top Shelf Productions. The title character is a superhero whose main power seems to be the fact that he has a giant head...
- Feeble Attempts
- Incredible Change-Bots
James Kochalka
Titles by James KochalkaJames Kochalka
James Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal...
include:
- Super F*Ckers
- Monkey Vs. Robot
- American ElfAmerican ElfAmerican Elf is an online comic strip diary created by award-winning cartoonist James Kochalka.Many critics consider these strips to be Kochalka's most significant work. American Elf has won the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic Series and Outstanding Online Comic.-Style:Each strip usually...
- Pinky & Stinky
- Conversation
- Magic Boy and the Robot Elf
- The Perfect Planet
Alex Robinson
Titles by Alex RobinsonAlex Robinson
Alex Robinson is an award-winning American comic book writer and artist.-Early life:Alex Robinson grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York, and graduated from Yorktown High School in 1987...
include:
- Tricked
- Box Office PoisonBox Office PoisonBox Office Poison is a series of comic books by Alex Robinson. It was published in collected form by Top Shelf Productions in 2001. The story concerns the life and trials of a group of young people in New York City....
- Bop! - More Box Office Poison
- Too Cool To Be Forgotten
- Alex Robinson's Lower Regions
Nate Powell
Titles by Nate PowellNate Powell
Nate Powell is a graphic novelist, publisher, and musician. He owns DIY punk record label Harlan Records, has performed in several punk bands , and occasionally performed hip hop as Featherweight MC...
include:
- Please Release
- Swallow Me Whole
Renée French
Titles by Renée FrenchRenée French
Renée French is an American comics writer and illustrator and, under the pen name Rainy Dohaney, a children's book author.Her work includes The Soap Lady , The Ticking , and Micrographica , "Edison Steelhead's Lost Portfolio - Exploratory...
include:
- The Ticking
- The Soap LadyThe Soap LadyThe Soap Lady is a 2001 children's novel by underground comics writer/artist Renee French. It focuses on themes of friendship and acceptance instead of Renee's normal themes of sex and death. It is about a dirty young boy named Rollo who finds a naked woman made out of soap who washed up upon shore...
- Micrographica
Jason Hall
Titles by Jason Hall include:- Pistolwhip (with Matt KindtMatt KindtMatt Kindt is an American independent comic book artist and graphic designer.-Early life:Kindt was born in 1973 in St. Louis and currently resides in Webster Groves, Missouri. He worked in the local mini-comics scene from a young age, self-publishing his own copyshop zines since 1990. In 1995 he...
):- Pistolwhip
- The Yellow Menace
- Mephisto & The Empty Box
Matt Kindt
Titles by Matt KindtMatt Kindt
Matt Kindt is an American independent comic book artist and graphic designer.-Early life:Kindt was born in 1973 in St. Louis and currently resides in Webster Groves, Missouri. He worked in the local mini-comics scene from a young age, self-publishing his own copyshop zines since 1990. In 1995 he...
include:
- 2 Sisters
- Pistolwhip (with Jason Hall):
- Pistolwhip
- The Yellow Menace
- Mephisto & The Empty Box
- Super Spy
Jeff Lemire
Titles by Jeff LemireJeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire is a Canadian comics artist and writer. He is the author of the Essex County Trilogy, Sweet Tooth and The Nobody. Lemire is known for a his moody, humanistic stories and sketchy, cinematic, black-and-white art....
include:
- Essex County Trilogy:
- Tales From The Farm (Top Shelf Productions, 2008)
- Ghost Stories (Top Shelf Productions, 2008)
- The Country Nurse (Top Shelf Productions, 2009)
- The Collected Essex County (Top Shelf Productions, 2009)
- Contains the three main stories "Tales From The Farm", "Ghost Stories" and "The Country Nurse"
- Added short stories "The Essex County Boxing Club" and "The Sad and Lonely Life of Eddie Elephant Ears."
- Bonus materials, such as: unused promotion art, a deleted scene, character designs and so on.
Nicolas Mahler
Titles by Nicolas Mahler include:- Lone Racer
- Van Helsing's Night Off
Tom Hart
Titles by Tom HartTom Hart (comics)
Tom Hart is an American comics creator best known for his Hutch Owen series of comics.-Career:Tom Hart began making mini-comics while living in Seattle in the early 1990s...
include:
- Hutch Owen:
- The Collected
- Unmarketable
Rich Koslowski
Titles by Rich Koslowski include:- The King
- Three Fingers
Tony Consiglio
Titles by Tony ConsiglioTony Consiglio
Antonino Gilligan "Tony" Consiglio is an American cartoonist. He has had two graphic novels, More or Less and 110 Percent, published by Top Shelf Comics.- Education :...
include:
- 110 Per¢
- Doublecross
Dan James
Titles by Dan JamesDan James
Daniel Anthony James is a former professional American football offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1960 to 1966...
include:
- Mosquito
- The Octopi & The Ocean
David Yurkovich
Titles by David YurkovichDavid Yurkovich
David Yurkovich is an independent writer and illustrator of comic books and graphic novels.Yurkovich began self-publishing in 1996 following receipt of a grant from Peter Laird's acclaimed Xeric Foundation...
include:
- Less Than Heroes
- Death By Chocolate: Redux
Misc
Other titles by various authors include:- AX CollectionAx (manga)is a Japanese underground manga anthology. In October 2008, North American publisher Top Shelf announced that it will release a 400-page selection of underground manga stories called AX Collection, edited by Sean Michael Wilson...
edited by 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... - Barefoot Serpent by Scott MorseScott MorseScott Morse is an American animator, filmmaker, and comic book artist/writer.Much of Morse's published work consists of stand-alone graphic novels, although he is perhaps best known for his epic series Soulwind, a story serialised in a sequence of graphic novels, which was nominated for both the...
- Comic Book ArtistComic Book ArtistComic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
magazine edited by Jon B. Cooke - A Complete LowlifeLowlife (comics)Lowlife is a semi-autobiographical comic book series written and drawn by Ed Brubaker, published by Slave Labor Graphics and later Caliber Comics...
by Ed BrubakerEd BrubakerEd Brubaker is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and cartoonist. Brubaker first early comics work was primarily in the crime fiction genre with works such as Lowlife, The Fall, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives and Scene of the Crime... - Creature TechCreature TechCreature Tech is a graphic novel, written and penciled by Doug TenNapel and published by Top Shelf Productions. Elements of the story tie in with TenNapel's previous comic book work Gear....
by Doug TenNapelDoug TenNapelDouglas Richard "Doug" TenNapel is an American musician, animator, Eisner Award-winning artist, author, essayist and Christian. He is best known for creating Earthworm Jim, a character that spawned a famous video game, cartoon series, and toy line.-Early life:TenNapel was born and raised in the... - Cry Yourself To SleepCry Yourself To Sleep"Cry Yourself to Sleep" is a one-shot comic book published by Top Shelf Comics and written and drawn by Jeremy Tinder. The black-and-white book is in digest form, much smaller than typical comic size.-Plot:...
by Jeremy Tinder - Dang! by Martin Cendreda
- Discovered by Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah College of Art and DesignSCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
’s Sequential Art Program - Grampa & Julie: Shark Hunters by Jef Czekaj
- KeyholeKeyhole (comics)Keyhole was a critically acclaimed black-and-white alternative comic book published from 1996–1998. A two-man anthology by cartoonists Dean Haspiel and Josh Neufeld, Keyhole was published by two different publishers, starting with Millennium Publications and ending up at Top Shelf Productions.-...
by Dean HaspielDean HaspielDean Edmund Haspiel is an American comic book artist. He is known for his collaborations with writer Harvey Pekar on his American Splendor series as well as the graphic novel The Quitter. He has been nominated for numerous Eisner Awards, and won a 2010 Emmy Award for TV design work.-Early...
and Josh NeufeldJosh NeufeldJosh Neufeld is an alternative cartoonist known for his nonfiction comics on subjects like Hurricane Katrina, international travel, and finance, as well as his collaborations with writers like Harvey Pekar and Brooke Gladstone... - KorgiKorgiKorgi is a children's graphic novel series written and illustrated by Christian Slade and published by Top Shelf Productions. It is set in a fantasy world in which "Mollies" bear close relationships with their pet Korgis. The series focuses on a young Mollie, Ivy, and her Korgi cub, Sprout, and...
by Christian Slade - Regards From Serbia by Aleksandar ZografAleksandar ZografSasa Rakezic is a Serbian cartoonist, author of such works as Life Under Sanctions, Psychonaut, Dream Watcher, and Bulletins from Serbia....
- Same Difference & Other Stories by Derek Kirk Kim
- Second Thoughts by Niklas Asker
- Speechless by Peter KuperPeter KuperPeter Kuper is an American alternative cartoonist and illustrator known for his autobiographical, social, and political observations.-Early life:...
- Spiral-Bound by Aaron Renier
- The SurrogatesThe SurrogatesThe Surrogates is a five-issue comic book limited series written by Robert Venditti, drawn by Brett Weldele, and published by Top Shelf Productions from 2005 to 2006...
by Robert VendittiRobert VendittiRobert Venditti is a comic book creator. Venditti is most notably known for his work on the Top Shelf Productions title The Surrogates, which was adapted to a major motion picture starring Bruce Willis directed by Jonathan Mostow for Disney.-Education:...
& Brett WeldeleBrett WeldeleBrett Weldele is an American comics artist and originally from Great Falls, Montana.-Biography:Weldele attended the Savannah College of Art and Design and received his BFA there in Sequential art.... - Tales From The Farm by Jeff LemireJeff LemireJeff Lemire is a Canadian comics artist and writer. He is the author of the Essex County Trilogy, Sweet Tooth and The Nobody. Lemire is known for a his moody, humanistic stories and sketchy, cinematic, black-and-white art....
- Tales Of Woodsman Pete by Lilli CarreLilli CarréLilli Carré is a film maker and cartoonist from Los Angeles. She now lives and works in Chicago.Her books of comics include Nine Ways to Disappear, The Lagoon, and Tales of Woodsman Pete. An excerpt from The Lagoon was chosen to be included in The Best American Comics 2010 and "The Carnival" was...
- That Salty Air by Tim Sievert
- Will You Still Love Me If I Wet The Bed? by Liz PrinceLiz PrinceLiz Prince is an American comics creator, noted for her sketchbook-style autobiographical comics. Her first book, Will You Still Love Me If I Wet the Bed? won an Ignatz award for Outstanding Debut in 2005.-Biography:...
External links
- Top Shelf Productions
- Brett Warnock's Blog
- Podcast Interview with Chris Staros
- Interview with Brett Warnock at The Wright Opinion, from January 21, 2008