Black Eye Books (formerly calledBlack Eye Productions) is a small but influential Canadiancomic book publishing company founded by Michel Vrana. Under the auspices of Vrana, Black Eye was known as a publisher of artfully designedalternative comics andgraphic novels, most of whose cartoonists have gone on to successful careers with fellow Canadian publisherDrawn & Quarterly. For several years, Vrana acted as Drawn & Quarterly's exclusive outside design consultant.[1] In 2019 the company was relaunched as a micro-press with a focus on using crowdfunding to bring projects to fruition.
Vrana's first worked with publisherTragedy Strikes Press,[2] which operated out ofGuelph,Ontario, from 1991–1993.[3] Comics published by Tragedy Strikes Press included Nick Craine'sThe Cheeseheads, the anthology seriesReactor Girl,Jay Stephens'Sin, Carol Swain'sWay Out Strips, and the first issue ofDylan Horrocks'Pickle.Sin andPickle were picked up by Black Eye Books;Way Out Strips was picked up byFantagraphics.
Black Eye acted as a comic book publisher from 1992 to 1998, when Vrana transitioned the business to graphic design studio.[4] In 2019, Vrana relaunched Black Eye Books to publish the previously cancelled 11th issue ofPickle, by Dylan Horrocks. This was followed by the publication ofDejects, by Jay Stephens, the first full-colour publication from Black Eye. From 2010-2024, Black Eye Books published Jay Stephens’ horror seriesDwellings. Other publications since 2019 include the collectedDishman by John MacLeod,That Distant Fire by JR Hughto and Curt Merlo,Assorted Baggage by Matthew Daley, and a box set of James Kochalka books:Elf Cat is Famous,Moon Book Prototype, andDuck Fighter.
