Apple Comics
Apple Comics, also known as Apple Press, was an American comic book publisher which operated from 1986 to 1994. Founded by Michael Catron, it began by taking over the publishing elements of comic production from WaRP Graphics before expanding into its own titles while WaRP resumed publishing its own titles. Apple was known for publishing war comics, particularly its long-running title Vietnam Journal.
Other notable titles published by Apple included Blood of Dracula, Desert Storm Journal, Eagle, FantaSci, Fish Police, Myth Conceptions, Thunderbunny, and Vox. Creators associated with Apple included Don Lomax, Lee Marrs, Aaron McClellan, Ken Mitchroney, Steven Moncuse, Rickey Shanklin, Neil Vokes, Mark Wheatley, and John Workman.
History
Origins
In 1986, Richard Pini turned over all of WaRP's publishing and marketing duties to Apple so that WaRP could concentrate on editing comics. While still featuring the WaRP logo on their covers, the indicia of FantaSCI #2, MythAdventures #10, Thunderbunny #6, and Unicorn Isle #2 listed themselves as "published bi-monthly by Apple Press Inc." Their next issues featured both the WaRP and Apple Comics logos on the cover, along with a note from the new publisher, Michael Catron, including an explanation of the arrangement:Broadly speaking, WaRP handles all the creative details involved in preparing each issue for publication and Apple handles all of the business and production details. Richard remains editor on all titles. It's his job to edit each issue, work with the creators to help them do their best, and generally see to it that everything lives up to the standards WaRP has set — that's why the "WaRP Graphics" imprint will continue to appear on the cover of every issue WaRP prepares for Apple.
In March 1987, Apple began publishing the eight-issue mini-series Elfquest: Siege at Blue Mountain, which ran until December 1988. Also in 1987, Apple began publishing original titles, including Blood of Dracula, Myth Conceptions, and Vietnam Journal. They also picked up the title Space Ark from Americomics, and in 1988 picked up Eagle from Crystal Publications.
Forbidden Fruit
From 1991–1994, Apple published an erotic comics imprint known as Forbidden Fruit. Titles published by Forbidden Fruit included The Adventures Of Misty, Case Morgan, Gumshoe Private Eye, Sexy Superspy, and Sindy.End of Apple Comics
The comics market meltdown of 1994 hit the small press very hard, and Apple Comics was forced to close its doors. Its final issue was Vietnam Journal: Valley of Death #2, published in August 1994.Titles
Apple Comics
101 Other Uses for a Condom, #1The Adventures of Roma, #1The Bat, #1Big Bad Blood of Dracula, #1–2Blazing Combat: Vietnam and Korea, #1–2 Blazing Combat: World War I and World War II, #1–2 Blood Of Dracula, #1–19Dark Fantasy, #1Days of Darkness, #1–6Days of Wrath, #1–4Death Dreams of Dracula, #1–4Desert Storm Journal, #1–9Dracula In Hell, #1–2Eagle, #17–23 ElfQuest: Siege At Blue Mountain, #1–8 FantaSci, #2–9 Fish Police, #18–26 & #0 Fish Shticks, #1–6 High Shining Brass, #1–4Invasion '55, #1–3Lost Frankenstein Pages, #1 The Miracle Squad: Blood and Dust, #1–4 Mister Fixitt, #1–2MythAdventures, #10–12 Myth Conceptions, #1–8 The New Crime Files of Michael Mauser Private Eye, #1 Retief!, TPB Space Ark, #3–5 Survive!, #1Thunderbunny, #6–12 The Timejump War, #1–3Trollords v3: Death and Kisses, #1–6 Unicorn Isle, #2–5 Vampiric Jihad, #1Vietnam Journal- * v1, #1–16
- * Bloodbath at Khe Sanh, #1–4
- * Tet '68, #1–6
- * The Iron Triangle, #1
- * Valley of Death, #1–2Vox, #1–6