Dark Horse Comics
History
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book and manga publisher. It 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 store, Pegasus Books, in Bend, Oregon, in 1980. From there, he was able to use the funds from his retail operation to start his own publishing company. Dark Horse presents itself as different from other comic book companies in that it gives creators ownership of their properties, which has attracted many high-profile creators such as Frank Miller, John Byrne, and Mike Mignola.
Notable Publications
Dark Horse publishes many licensed comics, including comics based on Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Predator, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Halo. Its original publications include Sin City, Hellboy, Usagi Yojimbo, Groo the Wanderer, The Goon, The Mask, Ghost, X and Barb Wire.
Expansion into Other Media
Dark Horse has also published collections of Anarchy Comics, outlaw manga, and translations of graphic novels from other countries, as well as original English-language manga. The company has also been aggressive in leveraging its properties in other media, including television series and films. For example, the Hellboy and 300 films were produced from Dark Horse Comics.
Influence and Impact
Dark Horse Comics has had a significant impact on the comic book industry. Its commitment to creator ownership has attracted top talent and allowed for the development of unique and innovative stories. The company's success with licensed properties has also shown the viability of this business model, influencing other publishers to pursue similar strategies. Dark Horse's expansion into other media has further broadened the reach and influence of its properties.