| Heroic Publishing | |
| Predecessor: | Hero Comics Hero Graphics |
| Headquarters: | Long Beach, California |
| Founder: | Dennis Mallonee |
| Publications: | Comic books |
| Genre: | Superhero |
Heroic Publishing is an American comic book publisher founded by Dennis Mallonee.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the company published about 100 superhero comics issues across several series – the most prolific of which featured the League of Champions and other titles associated with the Champions role-playing game. Heroic Publishing returned to the marketplace in 2005, and currently publishes via print-on-demand, distributing both physical copies and electronic editions.
Notable creators associated with the company include Daniel Acuña, Mark Beachum, Howard Bender, E. R. Cruz, Al Gordon, Dærick Gröss Sr., Don Heck, Rick Hoberg, Jimmy Janes, Grant Miehm, Gordon Purcell, J. David Spurlock, and Roy Thomas.
In 1986, comics writer Dennis Mallonee licensed characters from the tabletop superhero role-playing game Champions for a comic book limited series he wrote, which was published by Eternity Comics.[1] That same year, he co-created (with artist Rick Hoberg) and wrote the series Eternity Smith for Renegade Press.
Founding Hero Comics, Mallonee struck out on his own. Hero Comics' first titles were a new ongoing Champions series, Eternity Smith (continuing the numbering from Renegade), and Captain Thunder and Blue Bolt, written by Marvel Comics veteran Roy Thomas. All three titles debuted with September 1987 cover dates. Other early titles published by Hero Comics included The Marksman and Flare,[2] both featuring characters also licensed from the Champions role-playing game.
After taking a short break from publishing, Mallonee re-entered the marketplace in 1990 as Hero Graphics, co-publishing a handful of issues with David Campiti's Innovation Comics, which also served as the company's distributor.
Mallonee rebranded the company again in 1991, as Heroic Publishing. As Mallonee's company evolved, it became more centered on depicting attractive pinups.[1] Hero Games, the original licensor of Champions, became increasingly uncomfortable with these changes in tone, and some of the characters' owners pulled Mallonee's licensing rights, forcing him to rename the characters. For instance, Bruce Harlick's Marksman became Huntsman, and Harlick's Foxbat became The Flying Fox.[3] [1]
Icestar and Flare's rights' owners, Gleen Thain and Stacy Lawrence, respectively, allowed Heroic to continue using their characters.[1] Over the years, Mallonee developed many original characters as well, slowly pushing his comics further from Hero Games' Champions universe.[1] (To avoid confusion, Hero Games removed creator-owned characters that were still being used by Mallonee from new editions of their products.)[1]
By late 1992, however, Heroic Publishing was in the red, offering retailers deep discounts on their titles.[4] The company effectively suspended publishing in late 1993/early 1994.
Heroic returned to publishing again in 2005; in addition to new titles, it continued a number of series from its earlier incarnation, including Captain Thunder and Blue Bolt, Champions,[5] Murcielaga She-Bat, and The Tigress.
The company currently publishes print-on-demand, distributing both physical copies and electronic editions.