Former American comic publisher
This article is about a comic book publisher. For the publisher of illustrated lifestyle books, see
Quarto Group.
Apple Comics, also known asApple Press, was an Americancomic bookpublisher which operated from 1986 to 1994. Founded byMichael Catron, it began by taking over the publishing elements of comic production fromWaRP Graphics before expanding into its own titles while WaRP resumed publishing its own titles. Apple was known for publishingwar comics, particularly its long-running titleVietnam Journal (as well as many spin-offs and one-shots).
Other notable titles published by Apple includedBlood of Dracula,Desert Storm Journal,Eagle,FantaSci,Fish Police,Myth Conceptions,Thunderbunny, andVox. Creators associated with Apple includedDon Lomax,Lee Marrs,Aaron McClellan,Ken Mitchroney, Steven Moncuse,Rickey Shanklin,Neil Vokes,Mark Wheatley, andJohn Workman.
In 1986,Richard Pini turned over all of WaRP's publishing and marketing duties to Apple so that WaRP could concentrate on editing comics.[1] While still featuring the WaRP logo on their covers, theindicia ofFantaSCI #2,MythAdventures #10,Thunderbunny #6, andUnicorn 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.[2]
In March 1987 (originally promised for October 1986), Apple began publishing the eight-issue mini-seriesElfquest: Siege at Blue Mountain, which ran until December 1988. Also in 1987, Apple began publishing original titles, includingBlood of Dracula,Myth Conceptions, andVietnam Journal. They also picked up the titleSpace Ark fromAmericomics, and in 1988 picked upEagle from Crystal Publications.
From 1991–1994, Apple published anerotic comics imprint known asForbidden Fruit. Titles published by Forbidden Fruit includedThe Adventures Of Misty,Case Morgan, Gumshoe Private Eye (reprinting material byDon Lomax featured inGent),Sexy Superspy, andSindy.
End of Apple Comics
[edit]The comics market meltdown of 1994 hit the small press very hard, and Apple Comics was forced to close its doors.[3] Its final issue wasVietnam Journal: Valley of Death #2, published in August 1994.
- 101 Other Uses for a Condom (1991), #1
- The Adventures of Roma (January 1993), #1
- The Bat (March 1990), #1
- Big Bad Blood of Dracula (July 1991–September 1991), #1–2
- Blazing Combat: Vietnam and Korea (1993), #1–2 (reprints from theWarren series)
- Blazing Combat: World War I and World War II (1994), #1–2 (reprints from the Warren series)
- Blood Of Dracula (November 1987–March 1991), #1–19
- Dark Fantasy (September 1992), #1
- Days of Darkness (March 1992-February 1993), #1–6
- Days of Wrath (August 1993–June 1994), #1–4
- Death Dreams of Dracula (September 1991–March 1992), #1–4
- Desert Storm Journal (September 1991–March 1993), #1–9
- Dracula In Hell (January–March 1992), #1–2
- Eagle (July 1988 – 1989), #17–23 (from Crystal Publications)
- ElfQuest: Siege At Blue Mountain (March 1987–December 1988), #1–8 (with Warp Graphics)
- FantaSci (December 1986–December 1987), #2–9 (from/with Warp Graphics)
- Fish Police (August 1989-Spring 1991), #18–26 & #0 (fromComico)
- Fish Shticks (November 1991–March 1993), #1–6
- High Shining Brass (November 1990-June 1991), #1–4
- Invasion '55 (October 1990-May 1991), #1–3
- Lost Frankenstein Pages (August 1993), #1 (fromBernie Wrightson's Frankenstein)
- The Miracle Squad: Blood and Dust (January–June 1989), #1–4
- Mister Fixitt (January 1989-March 1990), #1–2
- MythAdventures (May 1986–October 1986), #10–12 (from/with Warp Graphics)
- Myth Conceptions (November 1987-January 1989), #1–8 (with Warp Graphics)
- The New Crime Files of Michael Mauser Private Eye (January 1992), #1 (fromE-Man)
- Retief! (March 1990), TPB (collects Mad Dog Graphics seriesKeith Laumer's Retief #1–6)
- Space Ark (1987), #3–5 (fromAmericomics)
- Survive! (April 1992), #1
- Thunderbunny (1986–November 1987), #6–12 (from/with Warp Graphics)
- The Timejump War (October–December 1989), #1–3
- Trollords v3: Death and Kisses ( July 1989-September 1991), #1–6 (fromComico)
- Unicorn Isle (December 1986-May 1987), #2–5 (from/with Warp Graphics)
- Vampiric Jihad (1991), #1
- Vietnam Journal
- v1 (November 1987–April 1991), #1–16
- Bloodbath at Khe Sanh (1992-December 1993), #1–4
- Tet '68 (March 1992 – 1993), #1–6
- The Iron Triangle (1993), #1
- Valley of Death (June–August 1994), #1–2
- Vox (June 1989 - July 1990), #1–6
| - The Adventures Of Misty (1991–1992), #1–12
- Aviatrix (January to May 1992), #1–3
- Bill Ward's Bad Girls (1994), #1
- Case Morgan, Gumshoe Private Eye (1991–1992), #1–11
- Fighting Fem Classics (December 1992–June 1993), #1–4
- Gray Morrow's Private Commissions (1992), #1–2
- Metallica (December 1991 - April 1992), #1–3
- Miranda the Tease (1992), #1–2
- Misty and the Valkyries (1993), #1–2
- Moonchild (January 1992 - November 1992), #1–3
- The Nine Lives of Leather Cat (1993), #1
- Scorchy (April 1992), #1
- Sexy Superspy (November 1990 to August 1991), #1–7
- Sindy (1991), #1–5
- Starlove (1992), #1–2
- Strange Sex Stories (April 1994), #1
- Spaced Out (1992), #1
|
- ^"WaRP titles now under Apple aegis,"The Comics Journal #110 (August 1986), p. 17.
- ^Catron, Michael (24 July 1986). "Notes from the New Publisher".MythAdventures. No. 11. Apple Press Inc. p. ifc.
- ^"Comics Publishers Suffer Tough Summer: Body Count Rises in Market Shakedown,"The Comics Journal #172 (Nov. 1994), pp. 13-18.
