Broken Frontier

Komikwerks, a leader in digital distribution of comics and graphic novels, is proud to celebrate the 5th anniversary of its flagship website, www.komikwerks.com. The site launched on March 5th, 2001, with 9 titles including Astounding Space Thrills by Steve Conley, Buzzboy by John Gallagher, Abby's Menagerie by Jenni Gregory, The Crater Kid by Marty Baumann and Johnny Smackpants by Patrick Coyle. Since then, the site has grown immensely, now hosting over 70 comic titles, with over 10 weekly columns, and interviews with a wide range of comics’ top talent.

In its first five years, Komikwerks.com became an exclusive content partner with AOL and teamed up with the Joe Kubert School for a month long tribute to Mr. Kubert, in which former students posted their work online in honor of their mentor.

“I can’t believe it’s been five years since we launched the site,”
exclaimed co-founder Patrick Coyle. “Seems like just yesterday I was sending out the press release to announce the site’s launch! So many great things have happened to Komikwerks and the site, and we have no plans to stop anytime soon!”

Byron Press’ startup publishing venture iBooks, Inc. took an interest in the company and became a minority owner in April of 2003. That partnership continued until shortly after Preiss’ tragic and untimely passing in June of 2005.

“We’ve gotten to work and feature some really great writers and artists over the last five years,” beams co-founder Shannon Denton, “People like Ernie Colon, Shawn McManus, Steve Conley, Bruce Zick, Andy Kuhn, Todd Demong, Joe Staton, Chris Mills, Rick Hoberg, Aron Lusen (Liquid! Color), and Aaron Sowd, just to name a few.  It’s been a blast, and we’ve got lots more to come!”

In July of 2003, the company caught the interest of Hollywood management and production concern Circle of Confusion. They announced a deal that would allow the company to shepherd select works on the Komikwerks banner to film, animation, television and video games.

In August of 2003, Komikwerks published their first printed anthology of strips. Highlights of the book includes work by noteworthy comics, TV and animation pros like Andrew Cosby, Matt Haley, Andy Kuhn, Will Meuginot, Danny Miki among others, and featured the debut of Aaron Sowd’s Masterminds.

The anthology was a success and was followed up by four additional volumes over the next two years, each with increasing circulation.
These volumes featured the works of such names as Keith Giffen, Dwayne McDuffie, Dave Johnson, Art Thibert, Dan Mishkin, Tom Mandrake.

In August of 2004 Komikwerks entered into an agreement with comics legend Stan Lee. The result was the launch of Stan Lee's Sunday Comics, which featured premium quality strips, and the return of the Stan’s highly regarded column: Stan’s Soapbox.

In keeping with their goal of publishing comics through the most progressive and innovative means possible, Komikwerks began distributing free comics for the Sony PSP in December 2005.

At Comic-Con of 2005 they unveiled a slate of illustrated novels for young readers. Authors and illustrators contributing to the line include Keith Giffen, Louise Simonson, Colleen Doran, Dan Mishkin, Tom Mandrake, Christopher E. Long, Bruce Zick, John Helfers, Joe Corroney, Adam Beechen, Budd Lewis, Thomas Perkins, Marsha Griffin, Rob Worley, David, Annette and Ben O’Dell and Jon Bresman. The books are due out in 2006.

Other milestones include being named a "Cool Site" by SCI FI Channel in 2003, and in November 2005, Komikwerks and artwork by co-founder Shannon Denton were featured on an episode of the NBC prime-time TV series Las Vegas (episode #56 - "Mothwoman").

Recently, Komikwerks added three new members to the Komikwerks team; Rob Worley (writer of Marvel’s Young Ancient One and founder of Comics2film.com), Gary Reed (writer of Image’s Dead World, and founder of Caliber Comics), and Steve Horton (writer of Grounded Angel).

“Rob, Gary, and Steve have really helped us take the site to a new level,” states Coyle, “There’s more content on the site now than ever before, with new comics and columns every day.  And there’s more in store, both online and off, so watch out!”

Take a look at the five-year old website and see all the great things it has to offer: http://www.komikwerks.com