Alternative Comics
Alternative Comics was an American independent graphic novel and comic book publisher most recently based in Cupertino, California. In addition to publishing creator-owned titles, Alternative Comics was also a noted publisher of anthologies such as 9-11: Emergency Relief, Hi-Horse, Hickee, Rosetta, and True Porn.
History
Jeff Mason era
Alternative Press, Inc. was founded in 1993 by Jeff Mason – while he was still a law student at the University of Florida — to publish Indy Magazine, a magazine devoted to small-label music and comics..In 1996, Mason made the decision to publish comics, specifically to give up-and-coming creators their first break in the industry. The company changed its name to Alternative Comics and began publishing such cartoonists as Steven Weissman, Ed Brubaker, and Sam Henderson. At this point, the company established its policy of giving creators "complete artistic and legal control of their work."
In 1999, Alternative Comics published Monica's Story, by James Kochalka and Tom Hart, which satirized the Starr Report's coverage of President Bill Clinton's affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Proceeds from Monica's Story benefitted the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The publisher also received mainstream notice for publishing 2001's Titans of Finance: True Tales of Money and Business, by R. Walker and Josh Neufeld; and 2002's 9-11: Emergency Relief, a post-9/11 benefit anthology.
In 2003–2004, the company expanded its offerings, debuting new ongoing titles by such cartoonists as Graham Annable, Scott Campbell, Nick Bertozzi, and Josh Neufeld, as well as a number of one-shots and graphic novels. Alternative faced a major financial challenge in 2004 as a result of the 2002 bankruptcy of the distributor LPC. The company scaled back its publication schedule and was forced to cancel a few titles.
Mason operated Alternative Comics from 1993 to 2008, when the company went defunct.
Marc Arsenault era
In July 2012, it was announced that Alternative Comics was resuming operations under the new general manager Marc Arsenault, owner of the publisher/distributor Wow Cool, and moving to Cupertino, California.In February 2015, Alternative Comics formed a distribution cooperative with the small publishers Floating World Comics, Hic and Hoc Publications, Revival House Press, Study Group Comics, Hang Dai Editions, and Steve Lafler/Manx Media. Dubbed the Alternative Comics Publishing Co-Op, the publishers agreed to have their titles listed in distribution catalogs under the Alternative Comics banner, thus giving the publishers access to distribution from Diamond Comic Distributors and Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. In addition, Alternative Comics announced it was reviving Indy Magazine.
When Sparkplug Comics shut down in June 2016, the company's backlist was moved to Alternative Comics.
The company again ceased its operations in the spring of 2020, with at least some of its former titles being distributed by Wow Cool.
In early June 2024, Wow Cool announced on Instagram that "Alternative Comics has landed in its third home of Troy, New York. Everything should be up and running by next week."
Creators
Cartoonists who have published with Alternative include Graham Annable, Gabrielle Bell, Nick Bertozzi, Brandon Graham, Asaf Hanuka, Tomer Hanuka, Tom Hart, Dean Haspiel, Sam Henderson, James Kochalka, David Lasky, Jon Lewis, Matt Madden, Josh Neufeld, Dash Shaw, Jen Sorensen, and Sara Varon.The company was also known as a distributor for Xeric Foundation award-winners, such as Leela Corman, Derek Kirk Kim, Neufeld, Bishakh Som, Sorensen, Karl Stevens, Lauren Weinstein, and many others.