AdHouse Books was an independent

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

publisher based in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

. It was founded in 2002 by graphic designer Chris Pitzer. AdHouse was known primarily as a publisher of

graphic novels A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

, beginning with 2002's '' Pulpatoon: Pilgrimage'', traditional comic book series, and art books, including

James Jean James Jean is a Taiwanese-American visual artist working primarily in painting and drawing. He lives and works in Los Angeles, where he moved from New York in 2003. Early life Jean was born in Taiwan and raised in New Jersey. During his early e ...

's '' Process Recess''; The company announced on July 14th 2021 that it would cease publications after its 101st book. The company would then take 2022 to visit as many shows, conventions, festivals, etc., as they could. Among the reasons, Pitzer mentioned his older age, as well as "low sales on recent releases, uneasiness about the crowdfunding model, and the lack of conventions due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

Graphic novels and single issue comics

* '' Superior Showcase'' (2005 - 2008) anthology, by Dean Trippe,

Nick Bertozzi Nick Bertozzi (born May 26, 1970) is an American comic book writer and artist, as well as a commercial illustrator and teacher of cartooning. His series ''Rubber Necker'' from Alternative Comics won the 2003 Harvey Awards for best new talent and ...

, Mike Dawson, and

Hope Larson Hope Raue Larson (born 1982) is an American illustrator and cartoonist. Her main field is comic books. Biography Larson grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and attended Carolina Day School.Anne Fitten Glenn"Graphic Insight" ''Mountain Xpress'' ...

(4 issues) * ''Zig Zag'' (2005–2007) by J. Chris Campbell (2 issues) * '' Project: Romantic'' (2006) Anthology, edited by Chris Pitzer * '' Bumperboy and the Loud, Loud Mountain'' (2006) by

Debbie Huey Debbie (or Debby or Deb) is a feminine given name, commonly but not always short for Deborah (or Debra and related variants). Notable people * Debbie Allen, American actress, choreographer and film director *Debbie Armstrong, American athlete *D ...

* '' Noble Boy'' (2006) by

Scott Morse Scott Morse (sometimes known as C. Scott Morse or C. S. Morse) is an American animator, filmmaker, and comic book artist/writer. Much of Morse's published work consists of stand-alone graphic novels, although he is perhaps best known for his 1 ...

, published by Red Window and distributed by AdHouse Books * '' The Preposterous Adventures of IronHide Tom'' (2006) by Joel Priddy * '' Project: Superior'' (2005) Anthology, edited by Chris Pitzer,

Dean Haspiel Dean Edmund Haspiel (born May 31, 1967 in New York City) is an American comic book artist, writer, and playwright. He is known for creating Billy Dogma, The Red Hook, and for his collaborations with writer Harvey Pekar on his ''American Splendor'' ...

and

* '' Mort Grim'' (2005) by Doug Fraser * '' Bumperboy Loses His Marbles'' (2005) by Debbie Huey, distributed by AdHouse Books * ''

Salamander Dream ''Salamander Dream'' () is an original graphic novel by Hope Larson, her first, released by AdHouse Books in 2005. The story about a young girl and a magical salamander was inspired by Larson's youth playing in nature, and it was originally releas ...

'' (2005) by

* '' The Secret Voice'' (2005) by Zack Soto (1 issue) * '' The Collected Sequential'' (2004) by

Paul Hornschemeier Paul Hornschemeier (born October 27, 1977) is an artist, author, and director based in Pasadena, California. He is known for his thought-provoking explorations of the layered complexities of human life in his work. Biography Hornschemeier was b ...

* '' Return of the Elephant'' (2004) by

* '' One Step After Another'' (2004) by Fermin Solis * '' FREE Comic Book Day Comic Book 2004'' (2004) by

, Joel Priddy, and Chris Pitzer * '' Southpaw'' (2004) by

* '' Monkey & Spoon'' (2004) by

Simone Lia Simone Lia is an English cartoonist and author. Early life and education Born to Maltese parents, Lia grew up in Haverhill, Suffolk. She studied art in Ipswich, illustration at the University of Brighton, and did an MA in communication in ar ...

* '' Project: Telstar'' (2004) Anthology, edited by Chris Pitzer * '' Skyscrapers of the Midwest'' (2004) by Joshua W. Cotter (4 issues) * '' My Own Little Empire'' (2003) by

Scott Mills Scott Robert Mills (born 28 March 1973) is an English radio DJ, television presenter and occasional actor. He is best known for presenting the '' Scott Mills'' show on BBC Radio 1 from 2004 to 2022 and since then, on BBC Radio 2. Mills has also ...

* '' Pulpatoon Pilgrimage'' (2002) by Joel Priddy

Art books

* Blue Collar / White Collar by Sterling Hundley *'' Pink, Vol. 1: GRRR!'' (2004) by

* '' Process Recess'' (2005) by

*Process Recess 2: Portfolio (2007) by James Jean *Process Recess 3 (2009) by James Jean

Awards

In 2004, AdHouse's '' Project: Telstar'' received Domtar Paper's Kudos Award for Excellence. The anthology was also nominated for several other awards, including Best Anthology and Special Award for Excellence in Presentation by the

Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are given for achievement in comic books. Named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman, the Harvey Awards were founded by Gary Groth in 1988, president of the publisher Fantagraphics, to be the successor to the Kirby Awards that were ...

, and Best Anthology and Best Publication Design by the

Eisner Awards The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in ...

. AdHouse's first publication, '' Pulpatoon Pilgrimage'', won the 2002

Small Press Expo The Small Press Expo (SPX) is an American alternative comics convention. A registered 501(c)(3) that was created in 1994, every year since its inception, SPX has put on a festival, known as The Expo, that provides a forum for artists, writers an ...

Ignatz Award The Ignatz Awards recognize outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning by small press creators or creator-owned projects published by larger publishers. They have been awarded each year at the Small Press Expo since 1997, only skipping a ...

for Outstanding Debut and the 2002 Ninth Art Lighthouse Award for Debut Book, and was nominated for a 2003

Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in ...

for Best Graphic Novel.

References

External links

AdHouse Books official website

2008 podcast interview
with Peter Semeti and Chris Pitzer a
comiXology

2006 Newsarama Interview
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2008 Comics Reporter Holiday Interview
Comic book publishing companies of the United States Publishing companies established in 2002 2002 establishments in Virginia