Antarctic Press

Antarctic Press is a comic-book publishing company based in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in late 1984 by Ben Dunn and Marc Ripley, the company initially focused on Mangazine, an anthology that helped establish a North American market for original English-language manga-influenced comics. Antarctic Press subsequently became associated with the style often called Amerimanga: comics created primarily by North American artists but drawing on manga's visual language, pacing, genres, and production conventions. The publisher's early catalog included Mangazine and Extremely Silly Comics, but its first major commercial success came with Ben Dunn's Ninja High School. The title began as a limited series in 1987 and expanded into a long-running franchise after gaining unexpected popularity. Antarctic later developed another durable property through Fred Perry's Gold Digger, which began in limited-series form in 1992 and continued as one of the company's signature publications. Other notable properties associated with the publisher include Warrior Nun Areala, The Courageous Princess, Dragons Arms, Rochelle, Final Girl, and various anthologies and creator-owned genre titles. During the 1990s, Antarctic Press broadened its activity beyond manga-influenced superhero and adventure comics. It published furry and anthropomorphic material, as well as adult comics through the Venus Comics imprint, which operated from 1994 to 1998. In late 1996, the company changed direction, discontinuing translated manga, anthropomorphic titles, and adults-only publications in an effort to reduce costs and concentrate on more mainstream properties. Several former employees subsequently established Radio Comix, which assumed publication of titles including Furrlough and Genus. Antarctic has also published material about the practical craft and business of comics. Its how-to and 'you can' comics explain subjects such as writing, drawing, production, and entering the comics field. The 2005 book How to Break into Comics brought together characters and creators from several Antarctic properties in an instructional and fictionalized format. This combination of entertainment publishing and comics education became a distinctive part of the company's catalog. The publisher has served as an early platform for a number of creators, including Ben Dunn, Chris Bunting, Rod Espinosa, Joseph Wight, Fred Perry, and Alex Robinson. Robinson serialized his first comic, Box Office Poison, through Antarctic in the 1990s. Antarctic has also periodically refreshed established properties: Warrior Nun Areala was relaunched as Warrior Nun Lazarus in 2006 with computer coloring, while Final Girl, published in 2007, used a reader-choice mechanism that allowed audiences to determine which characters survived. In the 2010s and 2020s, Antarctic continued to combine long-running creator-owned series with new launches. Rochelle began publication in 2016. In 2018, the company more than doubled its monthly schedule to 15 titles and expanded into distribution by handling comics from the San Antonio all-ages publisher Guardian Knight Comics. In 2019, it launched Exciting Comics and began developing a shared 'Superverse' initiative. The company also attracted controversy in 2018 when it announced and then cancelled publication of Jawbreakers: Lost Souls after retailer opposition and public backlash. Antarctic Press remains identified with independent, creator-owned comics and with the development of English-language manga-influenced publishing in North America.

Antarctic Press was established in San Antonio, Texas, in late 1984 by comic creators Ben Dunn and Marc Ripley. Its first major project was Mangazine, an anthology of original English-language manga-influenced comics. At a time when translated Japanese manga was not yet broadly established in North America, Mangazine provided a venue for local and regional creators experimenting with manga-style storytelling. Fred Perry, Joseph Wight, and Rod Espinosa were among the early contributors. The anthology ultimately ran for 120 issues across three volumes over approximately two decades. The company developed its identity through independently created genre comics rather than through a large licensed-character catalog. Early material included Extremely Silly Comics, while the publisher's first significant breakout was Ben Dunn's Ninja High School. The series debuted as a limited project in 1987, but reader response led Antarctic to continue it as an ongoing title. The franchise eventually included more than 160 issues, additional miniseries, and related projects such as Ninja High School V2, Quagmire USA, and The Prom Formula. In 1989, Marc Ripley left the company, and Dunn brought in his brother Joeming, generally known as Joe Dunn, to assist with management. Antarctic's second important long-running property was Fred Perry's Gold Digger, which began as a limited series in 1992. Alongside Ninja High School, it helped define the publisher's role in creator-owned Amerimanga and adventure comics. The company also published works by creators who later became more widely recognized, including Chris Bunting, Rod Espinosa, Joseph Wight, and Alex Robinson. Robinson serialized Box Office Poison with Antarctic during the 1990s, giving the company a role in the early publication history of an eventual Eisner Award-winning cartoonist. The 1990s were a period of catalog diversification. Antarctic published furry and anthropomorphic comics and operated Venus Comics, an adults-only imprint, from 1994 through 1998. By late 1996, management decided to reduce costs and concentrate on more mainstream publishing. The company stopped publishing translated manga, anthropomorphic material, and adult titles. This change affected the careers of employees Elin Winkler-Suarez and Pat Duke, who departed and later formed Radio Comix. Radio Comix took over titles including the anthologies Furrlough and Genus. Antarctic's catalog also developed an educational strand. Its how-to and 'you can' books addressed the practical process of making comics, including creative development and professional entry into the field. The 2005 How to Break into Comics used characters from properties such as Warrior Nun Areala, Ninja High School, Gold Digger, The Courageous Princess, and Dragons Arms while featuring their creators in the narrative. This format connected the publisher's instructional mission with its existing intellectual property. The company continued revising and extending its series in the 2000s. Warrior Nun Areala was relaunched as Warrior Nun Lazarus in April 2006 and incorporated computer coloring. David Hutchison's Final Girl, released as a limited series in 2007, introduced a reader-participation device in which readers could choose which characters lived or died. In August 2016, Antarctic began publishing Rochelle by writer John E. Crowther and artist Dell Barras. In 2018, Antarctic Press significantly increased its monthly output, reaching 15 titles, and expanded into distribution for Guardian Knight Comics, another San Antonio publisher focused on all-ages material. In 2019, it launched Exciting Comics and began building a shared Superverse concept. The company also became involved in a contentious publishing dispute in 2018. It announced that it would publish Richard C. Meyer's Jawbreakers: Lost Souls, a crowdfunded book associated with the Comicsgate controversy, but withdrew from the project after backlash and threats of a retailer boycott. Meyer subsequently sued Mark Waid, alleging tortious interference with contract, defamation, and related damages. A joint statement released on December 23, 2020, said that Meyer had voluntarily dismissed the case. Through these changes, Antarctic Press has remained an independent publisher defined by creator-owned series, manga-influenced comics, genre fiction, anthologies, and comics instruction.

1. 2019Exciting Comics and the Superverse launch

   Antarctic introduces a new comics line and a shared superhero-oriented initiative.

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2. 2018Publishing and distribution expand

   The monthly schedule reaches 15 titles and the company begins distributing Guardian Knight Comics material.

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3. 2016Rochelle begins publication

   Antarctic launches Rochelle by John E. Crowther and Dell Barras.

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4. 2007Final Girl introduces reader-selected outcomes

   David Hutchison's limited series allows readers to determine which characters survive.

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5. 2006Warrior Nun Areala is relaunched

   The property returns as Warrior Nun Lazarus and begins incorporating computer coloring.

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6. 2005How to Break into Comics is published

   The instructional comic combines Antarctic characters and creators to explain entry into the comics profession.

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7. 1996Catalog strategy shifts toward mainstream publishing

   The company discontinues translated manga, anthropomorphic comics, and adults-only titles as part of a cost-reduction and mainstreaming effort.

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8. 1994Venus Comics imprint operates

   Antarctic operates its adult-oriented Venus Comics imprint during the 1994–1998 period.

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9. 1992Gold Digger begins publication

   Fred Perry's Gold Digger starts as a limited series and becomes one of Antarctic Press's enduring properties.

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10. 1989Marc Ripley leaves the company

    Co-founder Marc Ripley departs, and Joe Dunn joins Ben Dunn in helping manage the business.

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11. 1987Ninja High School debuts

    Ben Dunn's limited series becomes a major Antarctic Press success and develops into a long-running franchise.

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12. 1984Antarctic Press is founded

    Ben Dunn and Marc Ripley establish the company in San Antonio, Texas, initially to publish Mangazine.

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Independent publisher centered on creator-owned comics, manga-influenced North American work, genre entertainment, and practical comics education.

• MangazineComic anthology1984

  Antarctic Press's foundational anthology of original English-language manga-influenced comics. It provided an early North American platform for creators working in a style later described as Amerimanga and introduced several artists who went on to receive their own Antarctic titles. The publication ran for 120 issues in three volumes over roughly twenty years.

• Ninja High SchoolOngoing comic series1987

  Ben Dunn's manga-influenced action-comedy series was initially conceived as a limited series but expanded after strong reader response. It became one of Antarctic Press's defining properties, with more than 160 issues and related projects including Ninja High School V2, Quagmire USA, and The Prom Formula.

• Gold DiggerOngoing adventure comic1992

  Fred Perry's creator-owned adventure series began as a limited series and developed into one of Antarctic Press's longest-running staple titles. Its continued publication helped reinforce the company's focus on independently owned genre comics and Amerimanga-influenced storytelling.

• Warrior Nun ArealaAction and fantasy comic

  A major Antarctic Press property centered on a warrior nun character and related supernatural action stories. The title was later relaunched as Warrior Nun Lazarus, with the revised publication incorporating computer coloring.

• How to Break into ComicsInstructional comic2005

  An educational comic that explains aspects of entering and working in the comics field. Published in 2005, it uses Antarctic characters and presents the creators of properties such as Ninja High School, Gold Digger, Warrior Nun Areala, The Courageous Princess, and Dragons Arms within the instructional narrative.

• Final GirlLimited comic series2007

  David Hutchison's limited series used an interactive premise in which readers could choose which characters lived and which died. The format made audience participation part of the title's narrative design.

• RochelleComic series2016

  A comic created and written by John E. Crowther and illustrated by Dell Barras. Antarctic Press began publishing the title in August 2016 as part of its later expansion of creator-owned and independently produced material.

• Exciting ComicsSuperhero comic line2019

  A line launched by Antarctic Press in 2019 and connected with the publisher's Superverse initiative, which sought to organize superhero-oriented material within a shared publishing concept.

• 2019Launch Exciting Comics and the SuperverseProduct launch

  The publisher sought to extend its superhero and creator-owned publishing activity.

  What changed. Antarctic Press introduced Exciting Comics and began a shared Superverse initiative.

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• 2018Expand into distributionStrategy

  Antarctic Press increased its own monthly publishing output and pursued a broader role in the independent comics market.

  What changed. The company began distributing comics from San Antonio all-ages publisher Guardian Knight Comics.

  Aftermath. The move broadened Antarctic's activities beyond publishing its own catalog.

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• 2018Withdraw Jawbreakers: Lost Souls from its publishing plansOther

  The proposed publication generated public controversy and threats of a retailer boycott.

  What changed. Antarctic Press decided not to publish the title.

  Aftermath. Richard C. Meyer pursued litigation against Mark Waid, later voluntarily dismissing the case in 2020.

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• 2006Relaunch Warrior Nun Areala as Warrior Nun LazarusGeneration change

  Antarctic Press revisited one of its established properties.

  What changed. The series was relaunched under the Warrior Nun Lazarus title and began using computer coloring.

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• 1996Concentrate on mainstream propertiesStrategy

  The company sought to reduce costs and narrow its publishing focus after operating across translated manga, anthropomorphic comics, and adult material.

  What changed. Antarctic Press discontinued translated manga, anthropomorphic titles, and adults-only publications.

  Aftermath. Former employees Elin Winkler-Suarez and Pat Duke left and formed Radio Comix, which took over Furrlough and Genus.

  Source

• 2018Cancellation of Jawbreakers: Lost SoulsControversy

  Antarctic Press announced that it would publish Richard C. Meyer's crowdfunded Jawbreakers: Lost Souls, a project associated with the Comicsgate controversy. Following public backlash and threats of a retailer boycott, the publisher decided not to release the book.

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• 2018Lawsuit arising from the cancelled Jawbreakers publicationControversy

  Richard C. Meyer filed a civil lawsuit against creator Mark Waid, alleging tortious interference with contract, defamation, and exemplary damages in connection with efforts to prevent Antarctic Press from publishing Jawbreakers: Lost Souls. The dispute ended when Meyer voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit, as stated in a joint announcement released by the parties in December 2020.

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• 2019Antarctic Press launches Exciting Comics and the Superverse

  The publisher introduced Exciting Comics and began developing a shared superhero-oriented publishing initiative referred to as the Superverse.

  Product launch
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• 2018Antarctic Press expands its publishing schedule and enters distribution

  The company more than doubled its monthly publishing schedule to 15 titles and began distributing comics from San Antonio all-ages publisher Guardian Knight Comics.

  Other
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• 2016Antarctic Press announces Rochelle

  Antarctic Press began publishing Rochelle, created and written by John E. Crowther with art by Dell Barras.

  Product launch
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1. Antarctic Press
2. Antarctic Press official website