AWA Studios
Artists, Writers & Artisans or AWA Studios is an American independent comic book publisher founded in November 2018 by Axel Alonso, Bill Jemas and Jonathan F Miller.[3]
Status | Active |
---|---|
Founded | November 2018 |
Founder |
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Country of origin | United States |
Headquarters location | New York City |
Distribution | Simon & Schuster (books)[1] |
Key people |
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Publication types | Comics |
Fiction genres | |
Imprints |
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Owner(s) |
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Official website | Official website |
History
AWA Studios was founded in November 2018 by Axel Alonso and Bill Jemas from Marvel Comics, with the addition of Jonathan F Miller from Fandom. While Alonso and Jemas are Chief Creative Officers, Miller is a Senior Council member. The initials in the company's name stand for "Artists, Writers & Artisans".[3] Initial funders included Lightspeed Venture Partners and James Murdoch's Lupa Systems. The SISTER media investment firm also contributed funding in March 2020.[4] Over time, a Creative Council was joined by J. Michael Straczynski, Reginald Hudlin, Garth Ennis, Gregg Hurwitz, Margaret Stohl and Frank Cho.[5] In September 2019, AWA announced a Retail Council to be assembled.[6]
American Ronin was presented as a potential book from AWA in June 2019.[7] In August 2019, Straczynski announced a new shared universe for AWA, debuting in 2020 with The Resistance.[8] During New York Comic Con 2019, AWA released Upshot Now No. 0.[9] AWA Studios premiered with four titles, released in March 2020 under its Upshot imprint.[10]
In June 2021, AWA announced the foundation of its own film/TV division, being helmed by Zach Studin as President.[11][12]
Key people
Leadership team
- Axel Alonso, chief creative officer (2018–present)[3]
- Bill Jemas, chief executive officer and publisher (2018–2022)[3]
- Jonathan F Miller, chairman of the board (2018–present)[3]
Creative council
- J. Michael Straczynski (2018–present)[5][13]
- Reginald Hudlin (2018–present)[5][13]
- Garth Ennis (2018–2022)[5]
- Gregg Hurwitz (2018–present)[5][13]
- Margaret Stohl (2018–2022)[5]
- Frank Cho (2018–2022)[5]
- Laeta Kalogridis (2022–present)[13]
- Joseph Kosinski (2022–present)[13]
- Al Madrigal (2022–present)[13]
List of works
Series
Title | Issues | Writer(s) | Artist | Colorist | Start date | Conclusion date | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Resistance[8] | #1–6 | J. Michael Straczynski | Mike Deodato | Frank Martin | March 18, 2020 | September 30, 2020 | Part of The Resistance universe. |
Archangel 8[16] | #1–5 | Michael Moreci | C. P. Smith | Snakebite Cortez | September 23, 2020 | Standalone series. | |
Hotell[17] | #1–4 | John Lees | Dalibor Talijic | Lee Loughridge | August 19, 2020 | Part of the Hotell universe. | |
Red Border[18] | Jason Starr | Will Conrad | Ivan Nunes | August 26, 2020 | Standalone series. | ||
Year Zero[19] | #1–5 | Benjamin Percy | Ramon Rosanas | Lee Loughridge | April 4, 2020 | September 30, 2020 | Part of the Year Zero universe. |
Old Haunts[20] | Ollie Masters Rob Williams |
Laurence Campbell | May 20, 2020 | October 28, 2020 | Standalone series. | ||
Devil's Highway[19] | Benjamin Percy | Brent Schoonover | Nick Filardi | June 3, 2020 | November 25, 2020 | Part of the Devil's Highway universe. | |
Bad Mother[21] | Christa Faust | Mike Deodato | Lee Loughridge | August 5, 2020 | December 30, 2020 | Standalone series. | |
Grendel, Kentucky[22] | #1–4 | Jeff McComsey | Tommy Lee Edwards | September 2, 2020 | December 23, 2020 | ||
American Ronin[7] | #1–5 | Peter Milligan | ACO | Dean White | October 7, 2020 | February 17, 2021 | |
Year Zero Vol. 2[23] | Benjamin Percy | Juan Jose Ryp | Frank Martin | November 4, 2020 | March 24, 2021 | Part of the Year Zero universe. | |
E-Ratic[24] | Karee Andrews | Brian Reber | December 2, 2020 | April 28, 2021 | Part of The Resistance universe. | ||
Byte-Sized[25] | #1–4 | Cullen Bunn | Nelson Blake II | Snakebite Cortez | December 9, 2020 | March 31, 2021 | Standalone series. |
Mann's World[26] | Victor Gischler | Niko Walter | January 13, 2021 | April 21, 2021 | |||
Redemption[27] | #1–5 | Christa Faust | Mike Deodato | Lee Loughridge | February 3, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | |
Casual Fling[27] | Jason Starr | Dalabor Talijic | Marco Lesko | February 10, 2021 | May 27, 2021 | ||
Chariot[28] | Bryan Edward Hill | Priscilla Petraites | March 3, 2021 | July 28, 2021 | |||
The Resistance: Uprising[29] | #1–6 | J. Michael Straczynski | C. P. Smith | Snakebite Cortez | April 7, 2021 | September 29, 2021 | Part of The Resistance universe. |
Marjorie Finnigan, Temporal Criminal[30] | #1–8 | Garth Ennis | Goran Sudžuka | Miroslav Mrva | May 5, 2021 | December 29, 2021 | Standalone series. |
Moths[31] | #1–6 | J. Michael Straczynski | Mike Choi | June 2, 2021 | November 24, 2021 | Part of The Resistance universe. | |
Fight Girls[32] | #1–5 | Frank Cho | Sabine Rich | July 7, 2021 | November 17, 2021 | Standalone series. | |
Not All Robots[33] | Mark Russell | Mike Deodato | Lee Loughridge | August 4, 2021 | December 29, 2021 | ||
Telepaths[34] | #1–6 | J. Michael Straczynski | Steve Epting | Brian Reber | September 1, 2021 | February 23, 2022 | |
Out[35] | #1–5 | Rob Williams | Will Conrad | Marco Lesko | October 6, 2021 | ||
Knighted[36] | Gregg Hurwitz | Mark Texeira | Brian Reber | November 8, 2021 | March 30, 2022 | Part of The Resistance universe. | |
Hotell Vol. 2[37] | John Lees | Dalabor Talijic | Lee Loughridge | December 1, 2021 | April 27, 2022 | Part of the Hotell universe. | |
Crimson Cage[38] | Alex Cormack | Ashley Cormack | December 8, 2021 | April 20, 2022 | Standalone series. | ||
The Fourth Man[39] | #1–4 | Jeff McComsey | Mike Deodato | Lee Loughridge | January 5, 2022 | April 27, 2022 | |
Primos[40] | Al Madrigal | Felipe Flores | Brian Reber | February 2, 2022 | May 25, 2022 | ||
Hit Me[41] | #1–5 | Christa Faust | Priscilla Petraites | Marco Lesko | March 2, 2022 | July 27, 2022 | |
The Joneses[42] | Michael Moreci | Alessandro Vitti | Ive Svorcina | April 6, 2022 | August 31, 2022 | Part of The Resistance universe. | |
Devil's Highway Vol. 2[43] | Benjamin Percy | Brent Schoonover | Nick Filardi | May 4, 2022 | September 28, 2022 | Part of the Devil's Highway universe. | |
Newthink[44] | Gregg Hurwitz | Mike Deodato | Lee Loughridge | June 1, 2022 | October 26, 2022 | Standalone series. | |
Absolution | Peter Milligan | July 6, 2022 | November 30, 2022 | ||||
Sacrament | Marcelo Frusin | August 3, 2022 | December 28, 2022 | ||||
E-Ratic 2: Recharged[45] | #1–4 | Kaare Andrews | Brian Reber | September 7, 2022 | December 21, 2022 | Part of The Resistance universe. | |
Year Zero Vol. 0 | #1–5 | Daniel Kraus | Goran Sudžuka | Miroslav Mrva | October 5, 2022 | February 22, 2023 | Part of the Year Zero universe. |
Trojan | #1–4 | Daniel Kraus | Laci | Marco Lesko | January 4, 2023 | April 26, 2023 | Standalone series. |
Black Tape | Dan Panosian | Dalibor Talijic | Ive Svorcina | February 1, 2023 | May 24, 2023 | ||
Red Zone | Cullen Bunn | Mike Deodato Jr. | Lee Loughridge | March 1, 2023 | June 21, 2023 | ||
Sins of the Salton Sea | #1–5 | Ed Brisson | C. P. Smith | June 7, 2023 | TBA | ||
The Ribbon Queen | #1–8 | Garth Ennis | Jacen Burrows | Dan Brown | July 26, 2023 | ||
The Madness | #1–6 | J. Michael Straczynski | ACO | Marcelo Mariolo | August 9, 2023 | ||
Rumpus Room[46] | #1–5 | Mark Russell | Ramon Rosanas | Ive Svorcina | September 20, 2023 | ||
Rumpus Room[47] | #1–4 | Sarah Cho | Priscilla Petraites | Miroslav Mrva | November 1, 2023 | ||
Announced series
Title | Issues | Writer | Artist | Colorist |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Amazing Ordinary[48] | TBA | Margaret Stohl | TBA | TBA |
The Cong: Gorilla Warfare[49] | TBA | |||
Lil' Freakin Maniacs[24] | Kaare Andrews | |||
YT Savior[50] | Ales Kot | Robert Sammelin | ||
Graphic novels
Title | Writer | Artist | Colorist | Release date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gatsby | Jeremy Holt | Felipe Cunha | Dearbhla Kelly | May 10, 2023 |
One-shots
Title | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Colorist(s) | Release date | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Resistance: Reborns[26] | J. Michael Straczynski | C. P. Smith | Snakebite Cortez | January 6, 2021 | Part of The Resistance universe. |
ET-ER[51] | Jeff McComsey Dan Panosian |
Javier Pulido Shawn Crystal |
Javier Pulido Jean-Francois Beaulieu |
October 13, 2021 | Part of the ET-ER universe. |
ET-ER Vol. 2 | John Lees Michael Coast Stuart Moore |
Mark Texeira Nelson Blake II |
TBA | June 8, 2022 | |
Magazines
Title | Issues | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Colorist(s) | Start date | Conclusion date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Upshot Now[9] | #0– | Various | October 3–6, 2019 (New York Comic Con) |
Present | ||
The official magazine of AWA's Upshot imprint, featuring previews of its comic books and graphic novels. |
References
- "Comic Publishers are flocking to Simon & Schuster for Distribution". March 15, 2021.
- Goldbart, Max (February 14, 2023). "Fremantle Invests In Lis & James Murdoch-Backed AWA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
- Gustines, George Gene (March 20, 2019). "A Comic Book Publisher Creates Its Own Origin Story". The New York Times.
- Lang, Brent (March 18, 2020). "Sister Invests in AWA Studios, New Comic Book Company From Marvel Vets (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- Marston, George (March 20, 2019). "ENNIS, JMS, HUDLIN, CHO, STOHL, More Join Bill Jemas' AWA". Newsarama.
- Griepp, Milton (September 3, 2019). "AWA ASSEMBLING RETAIL COUNCIL". ICv2.
- Burlingame, Russ (June 5, 2019). "Peter Milligan Talks AWA's American Ronin". ComicBook.com.
- Babos, John (August 9, 2019). "J. Michael Straczynski, Mike Deodato Jr. Team for 'The Resistance' Comic". Hollywood Reporter.
- "AWA To Debut Sampler Magazine UPSHOT NOW at NYCC" (Press release). Artists Writers & Artisans. September 25, 2019 – via Newsarama.
- Arvedon, Jon (February 11, 2020). "AWA Studios Creators and Execs Preview Upshot Imprint Titles". CBR. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- Goldsmith, Jill (June 10, 2021). "Zach Studin To Lead New Studio Division For Graphic Fiction Publisher AWA". Deadline. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- "Bill Jemas, AWA Launches Film and TV Studios Division". CBR. June 11, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- Jackie (November 21, 2022). "AWA Studios Enlists Top Creatives to Shepherd Content Derived From Graphic Novels". AWA: Artists Writers & Artisans. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- Destito, Deanna (June 5, 2020). "AWA Studios launches new imprint iPOP! with BE WAWA". The Beat. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- "The Borough of Brooklyn is the Setting for New Supernatural Comic Series, 'Lesser Evils'". BK Reader. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
- Destito, Deanna (March 10, 2020). "PREVIEW: Take a peek at AWA's ARCHANGEL 8 ahead of its debut". comicsbeat.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "John Lees and Dalibor Talajić Launch "Hotell" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
- Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "Jason Starr and Will Conrad Launch "Red Border" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
- Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "Benjamin Percy Launches Two Comics From AWA – Year Zero and Devil's Highway". Bleeding Cool.
- Old Haunts
- Bad Mother
- Grendel, Kentucky
- McMillan, Graeme (August 20, 2020). "Zombie Comic 'Year Zero' Getting Second Volume". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Kaare Andrews to Launch Two Comics, "E-Ratic" and "Lil' Freakin Maniacs" From AWA". Bleeding Cool.
- Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Cullen Bunn and Nelson Blake II's "Byte Sized" Coming From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
- "JMS and Mike Deodato's Resistance Returns – AWA January 2021 Solicits". Bleeding Cool. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- Johnston, Rich (November 20, 2020). "AWA Has a Casual Fling – and Redemption – in February 2021 Solicits". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- McMillan, Graeme (December 14, 2020). "Sci-Fi Comic 'Chariot' to Hit Stores in March". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- McMillan, Graeme (January 15, 2021). "Pandemic Sci-Fi Comic 'The Resistance' Returns in New 'Uprising'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- Tantimedh, Adi (January 25, 2021). "Marjorie Finnegan: AWA Teases Garth Ennis' Time Travel Caper Comedy". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- Johnston, Rich (March 19, 2021). "J Michael Straczynski and Mike Choi Launch Moths #1 From AWA in June". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- Burdette, Chad (January 25, 2021). "Frank Cho returns to comics with Fight Girls from AWA Publishing". comic-watch.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- Avila, Mike (May 13, 2021). "Mark Russell's 'Not All Robots' is a parable of toxic masculinity & AI supremacy in our capitalist hellscape". Syfy Wire. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- Avila, Mike (June 11, 2021). "Imagine a world with millions of telepaths. J. Michael Straczynski did, and wrote a comic about it". Syfy Wire. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- "AWA Studios announces Out from Rob Williams, Will Conrad and Marco Lesko". Graphic Policy. July 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- Johnston, Rich (August 17, 2021). "Gregg Hurwitz & Mark Texeira's Knighted, Batman Of The AWA Universe". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- Dyce, Andrew (September 16, 2021). "Horror Anthology HOTELL Returns For Volume 2 This December (Exclusive)". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- Dyce, Andrew (September 7, 2021). "'Crimson Cage' is The Comic Wrestling Fans Have Been Waiting For (Exclusive)". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- Johnston, Rich (October 24, 2021). "Jeff McComsey, Lee Loughridge, Mike Deodato's The Fourth Man from AWA". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "The Daily Show's Al Madrigal to Write New Comic, "Primos", For AWA". Bleeding Cool.
- Mega, Al (December 28, 2021). "AWA announces Hit Me, a female driven crime thriller comic book series from creator Christa Faust and artist Priscilla Petraites". comiccrusaders.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- King, Samantha (January 22, 2022). "Writer of Barbaric Pens New Fantastic Four-Style Superhero Comic". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- Brooke, David (February 23, 2022). "Devil's Highway Vol. 2 sets to crank up the paranoia and speed". Adventures in Poor Taste. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- MacNamee, Olly (March 17, 2022). "AWA Studios Announces New Sci-Fi Anthology 'Newthink'". comicon.com. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "AWA Studios' High School Superhero Returns in E-Ratic: Recharged Volume 2". Comics. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- "AWA unveils Mark Russell and Ramon Rosanas's "Rumpus Room"". Multiversity Comics. June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- Brooke, David (August 16, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE AWA Studios First Look: Red Light #1". Adventures in Poor Taste. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Margaret Stohl's "The Amazing Ordinary", From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
- Johnston, Rich (September 24, 2019). "AWA to Publish Mystery Giant Ape Comic, "The Cong – Gorilla Warfare"". Bleeding Cool.
- AWA Studios – YT Savior
- Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Jeff McComsey and Javier Pulido's Universal Healthcare Comic, "ET ER" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
- Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 12, 2021). "'Top Gun: Maverick' Helmer Joseph Kosinski To Direct 'Chariot,' Graphic Novel Adaptation Won By Warner Bros; Julian Meiojas Scripting, 21 Laps Producing". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
- Kroll, Justin (June 22, 2022). "Elle Callahan To Write And Direct Adaptation Of Graphic Novel 'Hotell' As AWA Studios Ramps Up Slate". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
- Complex, Valerie (December 1, 2022). "AWA Studios Partners With LuckyChap Entertainment For Feature Film Adaptation Of Garth Ennis Graphic Novel 'Marjorie Finnegan, Temporal Criminal'". Deadline. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Tommy Lee Edwards Draws Cannabis Horror Comic For AWA – "Grendel, Kentucky"". Bleeding Cool.
- Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). ""Marjorie Finnegan, Temporal Criminal" by Garth Ennis, From AWA, to Be Announced at NYCC". Bleeding Cool.
- Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Babylon 5's Joe Michael Straczynski to Write Resistance Spinoff, "Moths", From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
- Johnston, Rich (July 8, 2019). "Ales Kot's "Savior" Gets a Name Change to "YT S@vior" for AWA". bleedingcool.
- Whalen, Andrew (September 24, 2019). "UPCOMING COMIC 'SAVIOR' STARS CORPORATE FASCIST MEGACHURCH MESSIAH". newsweek.