Sumerian Comics
Parent companySumerian Records
StatusActive
PredecessorBehemoth Comics
Founded2020 (2020)
Founders
  • Nathan Yocum
  • Ryan Swanson
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationLos Angeles, California
DistributionSimon & Schuster (books)
Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. (comics)
Key peopleAsh Avildsen (CEO)
Nathan Yocum (President)
Ryan Swanson (President)
Publication types
Official websitesumerian.ink

Sumerian Comics is an American comic book publisher based in Los Angeles, California. The company was founded in 2020 by Nathan Yocum and Ryan Swanson as Behemoth Comics. The comic division sells over half a million (500,000+) comics yearly, reached 8th in total market share in 2021,[1] and is known for its licensed titles like American Psycho and Basic Instinct and working with companies like Ubisoft,[2] Netflix, among others. Their titles are currently distributed globally by Simon & Schuster[3][4][5] & Diamond Comic Distributors.[6] As of 2022, the company is owned by Sumerian Records and was subsequently renamed as Sumerian Comics in July 2022.[7]

History

2020–2022: Behemoth

Founded in 2020 after acquiring the Spain-based comic book publisher, Amigo Comics,[8] Behemoth Comics debuted in the March Previews catalog for Diamond Comic Distributors.[9] Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and Diamond shutting down its distribution services for a brief period, Behemoth's first titles were not released until July 2020. On May 25, 2020 Bloody Disgusting announced that Behemoth would be releasing a spin-off of the popular video game series, Hotline Miami.[10] The title, Hotline Miami: Wildlife is an 8-part series that was released monthly beginning in September 2020.[11]

In November 2020, Bleeding Cool announced that A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night #1, written by film Director, Ana Lily Amirpour had sold through at least 10,000 copies of its first printing and would receive a second printing before the first issues releases.[12] Shortly after Publishers Weekly and Graphic Policy[3][4] revealed that Behemoth had signed a global distribution deal with Simon & Schuster and received managed publisher status with Amazon, Kindle, and ComiXology. The article also revealed that they acquired Film and TV representation for a portion of their books by the Hollywood-based Talent Agency, Grandview/Automatik founded by notable Film Producer, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones (Insidious, Sinister, Upgrade). The deal with Simon & Schuster would only cover trade paperbacks for the global market meanwhile Diamond Comic Distributors would still distribute their comic books and graphic novels to hobby stores around the globe.

On February 22, 2021, as part of the Comic Industry's Annual Publisher and Retailer conference, ComicsPro, Behemoth announced that it would publish the comic MFKZ, which was adapted and released as a film on Netflix.[13] Shortly after the conference it was revealed that You Promised Me Darkness #1 had sold through 55,000 copies, marking the publisher's best selling first issue to date alongside MFKZ #1, which reached 40,000 copies sold.[14] The company was revealed as a sponsor for the 2021 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.[15]

Leading off a wave of new licensed titles, Bloody Disgusting, GamesRadar+, and others revealed that Behemoth would be adapting the 2015 cult film, Turbo Kid into a prequel comic book series due to be released in September, 2021.[16][17][18] This was followed by IGN[19] revealing that Ubisoft and Behemoth had partnered for a comic book series based on Watch Dogs: Legion with the first issue being released November 3, 2021.[20][21]

At the end of 2021, Behemoth revealed that they had surpassed half a million (500,000+) comics and graphic novels sold during the year; their first full year of operation.[1]

At the end of 2021, Syfy[22] and others revealed a comic by Behemoth called Kult Cable. Meant to be the lead in to a full series featuring more celebrities, the comic includes New Jersey hip-hop and punk group, Ho99o9 and the famous actor, Jack Black. The comic is a tie-in to the bands variety show of the same name that features well-known guests each episode.[23]

On January 25, 2022, the entertainment website GamesRadar+ previewed a new licensed series from Behemoth based on the open-world RPG video game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance.[24]

2022-present: Sumerian

Deadline Hollywood reported on March 23, 2022, that the record label Sumerian Records and their film division, Sumerian Films acquired Behemoth.[7]

Deadline Hollywood reported the following week that Behemoth's original series, Paranormal Hitmen from creators Brett Murphy and Wilson Gandolpho is set to be adapted by Entertainment One and Hasbro into a TV series.[25][26]

In July 2022, Behemoth was renamed as Sumerian Comics.[27]

As part of the first titles announced under their new name, Billboard revealed that one of the best-selling Latin musicians of all time would be partnering with Sumerian for an action-packed comic book. Ozuna stated, “I love collaborating to take my creativity to new, interesting places,” Ozuna said in a statement. “I’m very excited to partner with the talented team at Sumerian and make something fresh, captivating, and fun for my fans and my culture.” [28]

On March 21, 2023 various news sites announced that Sumerian has teamed up with the mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan for a graphic novel based on their 2013 record, One of Us Is the Killer. Guitarist Ben Weinman appeared at the annual WonderCon convention in Anaheim, CA to promote the release where he signed preview copies. [29][30]

The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Cocaine Bear star and Critics' Choice Movie Awards winning actress Brooklynn Prince would be releasing her first comic book with Sumerian. The book is titled Misfortune's Eyes and follows Vivian Nightingale, a girl who wakes up on the morning of her 15th birthday and discovers that she can see human auras.[31]

On June 8th, 2023 Revolver Magazine revealed that Sumerian produced the first comic book series for the band Bad Omens. Vocalist Noah Sebastian co-wrote the four issue series and it served as an expansion on the bands third record, The Death of Peace of Mind.[32]

Entertainment Weekly and Deadline revealed that Sumerian gained the rights to the 2000 classic film, American Psycho and would release a four issue limited series with more planned, in October 2023. Christian Bale's likeness was provided as part of the deal and the comic featured a dual narrative.[33][34][35]

In August, 2023 Deadline and CBR detailed Sumerian's newest licensed series, Basic Instinct based on the steamy ’90s Thriller With Sharon Stone & Michael Douglas. The series would debut in November 2023.[36][37][38]

Subsidiaries

Amigo Comics

Founded in Spain in 2012 by Juan "El" Torres, Amigo Comics is known for collecting Juan's series previously published by Image Comics such as Nancy in Hell and Drums. Amigo also published other creator-owned and licensed titles that Juan was not involved in a creative capacity. In 2019 Amigo was nominated for an Eisner Award in the Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips category for their title Sky Masters of the Space Force: The Complete Sunday Strips in Color.[39] On February 24, 2020, it was announced that Amigo was acquired by Behemoth Comics and all future titles would be published in the US by Behemoth but would still carry the Amigo brand.[8] This enabled Juan to focus solely on his titles.

Sumerian Comics publications

Notable Licensed Titles

Notable Original titles

  • You Promised Me Darkness #1-5 (April 14, 2021 - August 15, 2021) 55,000+ sold[14]
  • Until My Knuckles Bleed #1-3 (January, 2022 - March, 2022) 20,000+ sold
  • Paranormal Hitmen #1-4 (February, 2021 - May, 2021)
  • Nancy in Hell Vol. 1: The Long Road (June, 2021)
  • Osaka Mime Vol. 1 (May, 2021)
  • Follow Me Into the Darkness #1-4 (February, 2022 - May, 2022)
  • Heavy Metal Drummer #1-6 (February, 2022 - July, 2022)
  • Dark Beach #1-6 (April, 2022 - September, 2022)
  • Sara Lone #1-4 (October, 2022 - January, 2023)
  • How I Became A Shoplifter #1-3 (January, 2023 - March, 2023)

References

  1. 1 2 "Exclusive: Behemoth Invests Heavily in Video Games with a New Publishing Arm". Graphic Policy. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Ubisoft, Behemoth Comics Partner for Watch Dogs: Legion Comic Series". Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Exclusive: Behemoth signs a distribution deal with Simon & Schuster". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  4. 1 2 "S&S to Distribute for Behemoth". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "Behemoth Signs Multi-Year Simon & Schuster Global Distribution Deal". Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "Cardinal Dagon Launches in Behemoth Comics July 2020 Solicits, Maybe". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Sumerian Records & Films Acquires Comic Book Publisher And Gaming Company Behemoth". Deadline Hollywood. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Behemoth Buys Publisher Amigo Comics, Launches Osiris Path and Prom Of The Dead in May 2020 Solicitations". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "OSIRIS PATH #1 (OF 3) (MR)". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "[Exclusive] 'Hotline Miami: Wildlife', a Comic Spin-Off From the Video Game Series, Arrives This Fall". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "Hotline Miami: Wildlife is a comic book series by Behemoth Comics". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  12. ↑ "Batgirl #50 and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night Get Second Printings". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "MFKZ". Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 "You Promised Me Darkness #1 Sells Over 55,000 Copies and MFKZ #1 is expected over 40,000 Copies". Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Behemoth Comics Hires Steve Ekstrom As Their New Editorial Director". Olli Mag. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  16. 1 2 "'Turbo Kid' Prequel Comic Miniseries Arriving This September". Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Cult film Turbo Kid returns with comic book prequel". Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "Turbo Kid returns with prequel comic Apple's Lost Adventure". Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Watch Dogs Legion Comic Book Will Expand on the Game's Universe". Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  20. ↑ "Introducing Watch Dogs: Legion Graphic Novels And More". Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "Watch Dogs: Legion Pits Hackers Against London's Surveillance State". Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Free Comic Book Day 2022 revealed: Spider-Man, Resident Alien, Stranger Things, Doctor Who & more". Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  23. ↑ "Free Comic Book Day 2022 revealed: Spider-Man, Resident Alien, Stranger Things, Doctor Who & more". Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Kingdom Come Deliverance slashes its way into comics". Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  25. ↑ "eOne Developing 'Paranormal Hitmen' TV Series Based On Comic Books By Brett Murphy & Wilson Gandolpho". Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  26. ↑ "eOne Developing 'Paranormal Hitmen' TV Series Based On Comic Books By Brett Murphy & Wilson Gandolpho". Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  27. ↑ "Behemoth Comics Changes To Sumerian Comics For October 2022 Solicits". Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  28. ↑ "Here's a First Look at Ozuna's Upcoming Graphic Novel in Partnership With Sumerian Comics". Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Teams Up With SUMERIAN COMICS For Graphic Novel 'One Of Us Is The Killer'". Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  30. ↑ "THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Announces One Of Us Is The Killer Graphic Novel". Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  31. ↑ "12-Year-Old 'Cocaine Bear' Star Unveils New Comic Book She Created and Co-Authored (Exclusive)". Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  32. ↑ "SEE BAD OMENS' EMOTIONAL NEW VIDEO FOR HIT SONG "JUST PRETEND"". Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  33. ↑ "Christian Bale's Patrick Bateman returns in American Psycho comic book". Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  34. ↑ "Christian Bale Classic 'American Psycho' Getting Comic Book Adaptation: Comic-Con". Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  35. ↑ "'American Psycho' Gets the Comic Book Treatment, With a Twist". Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  36. 1 2 "'Basic Instinct': Steamy '90s Thriller With Sharon Stone & Michael Douglas Inspires Comic Book Adaptation; Covers Revealed". Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  37. ↑ "Sharon Stone's Basic Instinct Gets a Comic Book Adaptation". Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  38. ↑ "Basic Instinct Getting a Comic Book Series". Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  39. ↑ Graeme McMillan> (26 April 2019). "Eisner Award Nominees Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 December 2020. (in English)
  40. ↑ "BEHEMOTH COMICS ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF THEIR HAPPY TANK IMPRINT". ICv2. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  41. ↑ "Bad Omens Release New "Just Pretend" Video + Announce Comic Book Series". Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  42. ↑ "Christian Bale's Patrick Bateman returns in American Psycho comic book sequel". Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  43. ↑ "Christian Bale Classic 'American Psycho' Getting Comic Book Adaptation: Comic-Con". Retrieved 20 July 2023.
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