| DC Allies
Itself With Humanoids...
There
is no truth to the rumor that they must change their name
to Freedomoids.
Seriously,
though, this is a win-win situation for both companies. DC
gets more market share, Humanoids gets greater distribution,
and comics fans get exposed to some critically acclaimed stuff
that was previously darned hard to find at your local bookstore.
From
DC:
The stars
of the European graphic novel are coming to America.
European
artists Moebius, Bilal, and Jodorowsky, will soon be joining
the likes of Will Eisner (The Spirit), Alan Moore (Watchmen),
and New York Times best selling author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman)
at DC Comics.
Paul Levitz,
President and Publisher of DC Comics (a Warner Bros. Entertainment
Company) and Fabrice Giger, founder of the Humanoids Group
(owner of Les Humanoïdes Associés and Humanoids
Publishing), announced today an agreement that calls for the
publication of 36 books per year from Les Humanoïdes
Associés, and Humanoids Publishing, as part of the
DC Comics catalog. DC retains worldwide English language publishing
rights on these titles.
The venture
marks the first time that the full array of avant-garde and
high-end European graphic novels have been available in the
American marketplace. European stars of the Les Humanoïdes
Associés library (such as Moebius, Bilal, Jodorowsky),
and the big American stars of the Humanoids Publishing Catalog
(Charest, Busiek, Cassaday) will now be published under the
Humanoids brand name. The steady supply of graphic novels
will support DC Comics' continued efforts to aggressively
expand into trade bookstores, while building on its impressive
presence in the comic book specialty market.
"This
is a rare and wonderful opportunity to bring one of the great
catalogs of graphic novels to our audience," said Paul
Levitz, " and to connect an extraordinary tradition of
storytelling to a new generation of readers."
With the
first titles slated to be released in July 2004, the Humanoids
titles will benefit from a brand new visibility and access
to the American market that they have not enjoyed to date.
DC will use the same marketing, distribution and promotional
strengths for the Humanoids books that do for the rest of
their line, which includes Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman,
and the Vertigo and WildStorm imprints.
Fabrice
Giger said, " Through this deal, our books will gain
more visibility in the United States. It' s a real opportunity
for European comics."
Based
in Paris and Geneva, Les Humanoïdes Associés is
one of Europe' s leading publishers of graphic novels. Founded
in 1975 by Moebius, Dionnet and Druillet, it published the
works of cutting edge artists who revolutionized the world
of graphic novels. Les Humanoïdes Associés prestigious
catalogue of several hundred titles is focused in fantasy,
horror and science-fiction. The company is also the creator
of the magazine Metal Hurlant.
Founded
in 1999, Humanoids, Inc is the US arm of the Humanoids Group,
under the direction of former CAA veteran, Justin Connolly,
and Giger himself. Humanoids, Inc. publishes English translations
of the French books, commissions new books from US creators
for both the French and US markets, sells motion picture and
television rights to the graphic novels, sells French animated
shows to US networks, and creates new animated television
shows and motion pictures with US creators.
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