Blackthorne Publishing, Inc. was a

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 Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...

that flourished from 1986–1989. They were notable for the ''Blackthorne 3-D Series'', their reprint titles of classic

comic strip A comic strip is a sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions. Traditionally, throughout the 20th and into the 21st ...

s like Dick Tracy, and their licensed products. Blackthorne achieved its greatest sales and financial success with their licensed 3-D comics adaptations of the

California Raisins The California Raisins were a fictional rhythm and blues animated musical group as well as advertising and merchandising characters composed of anthropomorphized raisins. Lead vocals were sung by musician Buddy Miles. The California Raisins ...

, but the financial loss suffered by the failure of their 3-D adaptation of

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

's film ''

Moonwalker ''Moonwalker'' is a 1988 American experimental anthology musical film starring Michael Jackson. Rather than featuring one continuous narrative, the film expresses the influence of fandom and innocence through a collection of short films about J ...

'' was a major contributor to the publisher's downfall.

History

Blackthorne was established in 1985 by husband-and-wife team Steve Schanes and Ann Fera, formerly associated with

Pacific Comics Pacific Comics (PC) was an American comic book publisher that was active from 1981 to 1984. It was also a chain of comics shops and a distributor. It began at a San Diego, California, comic book shop owned by brothers Bill and Steve Schanes. Alo ...

(which had gone out of business in 1984). Schanes explained, "My abilities have always been to sell and promote, and I needed to have a job to pay my debts and to maintain a minimum life-style with my family. Since I could not locate enough work where I was living, I decided to start up another company, so I borrowed on my credit cards and started Blackthorne." Schanes and Fera raised $16,000 to start Blackthorne (naming the company after the street on which they lived),Sanford, Jay Allen
"The History Of Comic Books In San Diego: The '80s,"
''San Diego Reader'' blog (September 14, 2008). mostly using their credit cards.
''San Diego Business Journal'' (March 6, 1989). Blackthorne's first title was ''

Jerry Iger Samuel Maxwell "Jerry" Iger (; August 22, 1903 – September 5, 1990) was an American cartoonist and art-studio entrepreneur. With business partner Will Eisner, he co-founded Eisner & Iger, a comic book packager that produced comics on deman ...

's Classic Sheena'', with a cover date of April 1985, featuring

Sheena, Queen of the Jungle Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, is a fictional American comic book jungle girl heroine, originally published primarily by Fiction House during the Golden Age of Comic Books. She was the first female comic book character with her own title, with he ...

reprints and a new

Dave Stevens Dave Lee Stevens (July 29, 1955 – March 11, 2008) was an American illustrator and comics artist. He was most famous for creating ''Rocketeer, The Rocketeer'' comic book and film character, and for his pin-up style "glamour art" illustrations, ...

cover. (The book had originally been slated as a Pacific Comics release.) Despite early struggles due to their limited funds, Blackthorne steadily expanded during its first years. To increase their profitability and visibility, the company employed sales representatives which sold their comics to retail stores not covered by any comic book distributors, such as

Hallmark Cards Hallmark Cards, Inc. is a private, family-owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce Hall, Hallmark is the oldest and largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was award ...

Spencer Gifts Spencer Gifts LLC, doing business as Spencer's, is a North American mall retailer with over 600 stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores specialize in novelty and gag gifts, and also sell clothing, band merchandise, sex toys, room dec ...

, and 7-Elevens nationwide. By the end of 1987, according to Schanes, the company was publishing 22 comic books a month and was distributing to 900–1,200 gift stores not covered by comics distributors. Meanwhile, Blackthorne earned praise from critics and hobbyists for its reprints of classic newspaper comic strips. Schanes chose to do newspaper strip reprints because they required less financial investment and because there was little competition in the field at the time. Blackthorne immediately bought the rights for 60 different newspaper strips, even though they knew they wouldn't be able to produce most of them for years at best, to lock out any competition in the field. In addition to their comic book line, Blackthorne published paperback books and created faux books for movie props; for instance, the comic books and technical manuals seen in the movie ''

Russkies ''Russkies'' is a 1987 American comedy-drama film starring Whip Hubley and Leaf Phoenix, directed by Rick Rosenthal with cinematography by Reed Smoot. Plot A few nights before Independence Day, three 12-year old military brats (Danny, Adam, ...

'' are all props crafted by Blackthorne Publishing. In 1987, however, with the company losing money on its color line, it cancelled those titles to focus on their 3-D books and black-and-white licensed products. Blackthorne also suffered from the contemporaneous financial troubles of the Los Angeles-based distributor

Sunrise Distributors Scott Mitchell Rosenberg is an American film, television, and comic book producer. He is the chairman of Platinum Studios, an entertainment company that controls a library of comic-book characters and adapts them for film, television and other ...

. Sunrise went bankrupt in 1988, and although Blackthorne (along with fellow West Coast publisher

Fantagraphics Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and the erotic Eros Comix imprint. History Founding Fantagraphics was founde ...

) sued the distributor, they were never able to recoup their losses. This in turn led to Blackthorne being

audited An audit is an "independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form when such an examination is conducted with a view to express an opinion thereon.” Auditing ...

by the federal government in 1988. In early 1989, the company was still the fifth-largest U.S. comics publisher, bringing in about $1 million in sales and boasting a staff of eight full-time editorial and production employees. They published about 240 different titles a year, with an average print run of about 10,000 copies each. The company made a fatal error, however, when they signed on to adapt the

film ''

'' to a 3-D comic book. The publisher paid a large licensing fee for the property and when the ''Moonwalker'' comic flopped later that year, they experienced a large financial loss. By mid-1989 the company was outsourcing its operations, and in November the company laid off eight of its nine employees, including editor-in-chief John Stephenson. $180,000 in debt, Blackthorne limped into 1990 before it finally folded."Blackthorne Struggles to Stay Afloat," ''The Comics Journal'' #134 (February 1990), pp. 7–8.

Titles

Original series

* ''Adventures in the Mystwood'', 1 issue * ''Alien Ducklings'', 4 issues * ''

Alien Worlds ''Alien Worlds'' is an American science fiction anthology comic that was published by Pacific Comics and, later, Eclipse Comics, in the early 1980s. It was edited by Bruce Jones and April Campbell.Johnston, Rich"When Diamond Comic Distributor ...

'' graphic novel * ''Atomic Man Comics'', 3 issues * ''Blackthorne's 3-in-1'', 2 issues * ''Brik Hauss'', 1 issue * ''Cold Blooded Chameleon Commandos'', 5 issues * ''Crow of the Bear Clan'', 6 issues * ''Danse'', 1 issue * ''Dogaroo'', 1 issue * ''Duckbots'', 2 issues * ''Enchanted Valley'', 2 issues * ''Failed Universe'', 1 issue * ''Figments'', 3 issues * ''Fragments (Black)'', 2 issues * ''Freak-Out on Infant Earths'', 2 issues — ''

Crisis on Infinite Earths "Crisis on Infinite Earths" is a 1985 American comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics. The series, written by Marv Wolfman and pencilled by George Pérez, was first serialized as a 12-issue limited series from April 1985 to Mar ...

'' parody * ''The Gift'', 1 issue * ''Ground Pound! Comix '', 1 issue * ''

Hamster Vice Hamsters are rodents (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 19 species classified in seven genera.Fox, Sue. 2006. ''Hamsters''. T.F.H. Publications Inc. They have become established as popular small pets. The ...

'', 6 issues — ''

Miami Vice ''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann (director), Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo ...

'' parody * ''Jack Hunter'' (Vol. 1, color), 1 issue * ''Jack Hunter'' (Vol. 11, Prestige format B&W), 3 issues * ''

Jax and the Hellhound ''Jax and the Hellhound'' is a limited series comic book by Dennis Morales Francis and published by Blackthorne Publishing. The series was about a young man who traveled around the world helping the U.S. Government fight the bad guys and helpin ...

'', 3 issues * ''Labor Force'', 8 issues * ''Lann'' graphic novel * ''Laffin' Gas'', 12 issues * ''Legion Of Stupid Heroes'', 1 issue — ''

Legion of Super-Heroes The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the Legion is a group of superpowered beings living in the 30th and 31st c ...

'' parody * ''Mad Dog Magazine'', 3 issues * ''The Man of Rust'', 1 issue * ''Midnite'', 3 issues * ''Mr. Cream Puff'', 1 issue * '' Nervous Rex'', 10 issues * ''Of Myths and Men'', 2 issues * ''Omega Elite'', 1 issue * ''Omni Men'', 1 issue * ''Operative: Scorpio'' graphic novel * ''Outposts'', 1 issue * ''Pajama Chronicles'', 1 issue * ''Planet Comics'', 3 issues * ''Possibleman'', 2 issues * ''

Pre-Teen Dirty-Gene Kung Fu Kangaroos Lee Marrs (born September 5, 1945) is an American cartoonist and animator, and one of the first female underground comix creators. She is best known for her comic book series ''The Further Fattening Adventures of Pudge, Girl Blimp'', which lasted ...

'', 3 issues —

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' is an American media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers (named after It ...

parody * ''Red Heat'', 2 issues * ''Revolving Doors'', 3 issues * '' Roachmill'', 6 issues * ''Rivit'', 1 issue * ''Serius Bounty Hunter'', 3 issues * ''Shuriken'' graphic novel * ''Starlight Squadron'', 1 issue * ''Street Poet Ray'', 2 issues * ''Street Wolf'', 3 issues * ''To Die For'', 1 issue * ''Timeline Color Comics'', 1 issue (?) * ''Tracker'', 2 issues * ''Twisted Tantrums of the Purple Snit'', 2 issues * ''Wings Comics'' graphic novel * ''Wolph'', 1 issue * ''Xeno-Men'', 1 issue * ''X-L'', graphic novel

''Blackthorne 3-D Series''

''80 issues'' * ''3-D Bullwinkle & Rocky'', 1 issue * ''3-D Bullwinkle For President In 3-D'', 1 issue * ''3-D Heroes'', 1 issue * ''3-D Sports Hall of Shame'', 1 issue * ''Adventures of Capt. Holo 3-D'', 1 issue * '' Baby Huey 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

BattleTech ''BattleTech'' is a wargaming and military science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2001, which was in turn acquired by Topps in 2003; and published since 2007 by Catalyst Game Labs. The tradema ...

3-D'', 1 issue * '' Betty Boop 3-D'', 1 issue * ''Bizarre 3-D Zone'', 1 issue * ''

Bozo the Clown Bozo the Clown, sometimes billed as "Bozo, The World's Most Famous Clown", is a clown character created for children's entertainment, widely popular in the second half of the 20th century. He was introduced in the United States in 1946, and to te ...

in 3-D'', 3 issues * ''

Bravestarr ''BraveStarr'' is an American space Western animated series that aired 65 episodes from September 1987 to February 1988 in syndication. The show was created a year after Mattel had released a line of action figures. ''BraveStarr'' was the last a ...

in 3-D'', 2 issues * ''

in 3-D'', 5 issues * ''

: The Ultimate Collection'' trade paperback * ''

Casper Casper may refer to: People * Casper (given name) * Casper (surname) * Casper (Maya ruler) (422–487?), ruler of the Mayan city of Palenque * Tok Casper, first known king of Maya city-state Quiriguá in Guatemala, ruling beginning in 426 * David ...

in 3-D'', 1 issue * ''Classic Jungle Comics'', 1 issue * '' Dick Tracy in 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

The Flintstones ''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the activities of the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighb ...

in 3-D'', 4 issues * ''

G.I. Joe ''G.I. Joe'' is an American media franchise and a line of action figures owned and produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier ( U.S. Army), Ac ...

in 3-D'', 6 issues * ''G.I. Joe in 3-D Annual'', 1 issue * '' Goldyn in 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Gumby ''Gumby'' is an American clay animation franchise, centered on the titular green clay humanoid character created and modeled by Art Clokey. Gumby stars in two television series, the feature-length '' Gumby: The Movie'', and other media. He im ...

3-D'', 7 issues * ''

in 3-D'', 2 issues * ''

Kull Kull may refer to: Arts * Kull of Atlantis, a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard ** ''Kull the Conqueror'', a 1997 fantasy action film based on Howard's character and starring Kevin Sorbo * King Kull (DC Comics), a Fawcett Comics and D ...

3-D'', 2 issues * ''Lars of Mars in 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Laurel & Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in t ...

in 3-D'', 2 issues * '' Little Dot 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Little Nemo in Slumberland Little Nemo is a fictional character created by American cartoonist Winsor McCay. He originated in an early comic strip by McCay, ''Dream of the Rarebit Fiend'', before receiving his own spin-off series, ''Little Nemo in Slumberland''. The f ...

3-D'', 1 issue * ''Merlin Realm in 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

in 3-D'', 1 issue * '' The Noid in 3-D'', 2 issues * '' Playful Little Audrey in 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Rambo III ''Rambo III'' is a 1988 American action film directed by Peter MacDonald and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, who also reprises his role as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. A sequel to '' Rambo: First Blood Part II'' (1985), it is the third i ...

3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Red Sonja Red Sonja is a fictional sword and sorcery comic-book superheroine created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith for Marvel Comics in 1973, partially inspired by Robert E. Howard's character Red Sonya of Rogatino. Marvel Comics p ...

3-D'', 1 issue * '' Richie Rich and Casper 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Sad Sack ''Sad Sack'' is an American comic strip and comic book character created by Sgt. George Baker during World War II. Set in the United States Army, ''Sad Sack'' depicted an otherwise unnamed, lowly private experiencing some of the absurdities and ...

3-D'', 1 issue * ''Salimba 3-D'', 2 issues * '' Sheena 3-D Special'', 1 issue * ''

Solomon Kane Solomon Kane is a fictional character created by the pulp magazine, pulp-era writer Robert E. Howard. A late-16th-to-early-17th century Puritan, Solomon Kane is a somber-looking man who wanders the world with no apparent goal other than to vanqu ...

3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...

3-D'', 3 issues * ''

Transformers ''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the Autobots and the Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms ...

in 3-D'', 3 issues * ''To Die For 3-D'', 1 issue * '' Twisted Tales 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Underdog An underdog is a person or group in a competition, usually in sports and creative works, who is largely expected to lose. The party, team, or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the case where an underdog wins, the ...

3-D'', 1 issue * '' Waxwork 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Wendy Wendy is a given name now generally given to girls in English-speaking countries. In Britain, Wendy appeared as a masculine name in a parish record in 1615. It was also used as a surname in Britain from at least the 17th century. Its popularity ...

in 3-D'', 1 issue * ''

Werewolf In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (; ; uk, Вовкулака, Vovkulaka), is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf (or, especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature), either purposely ...

3-D'', 1 issue

Licensed and reprint titles

* ''

Battle Beasts is a line of small 2" tall action figure toys, in the form of an anthropomorphised animals with body armor and a unique weapon. Several figures have their left hand replaced by a weapon of some kind. Battle Beasts were created and largely produce ...

'', 4 Issues * ''Battle Force'', 2 issues * ''

'', 6 issues * ''BattleTech Annual'' * ''

Beyond Mars ''Beyond Mars'' was a science fiction comic strip written by Jack Williamson and drawn by Lee Elias. The Sunday strip ran in the '' New York Daily News'' from February 17, 1952, to March 13, 1955, initially as a full tabloid page and, near the ...

'', 5 issues (later released as two-part trade paperback) * ''Comic Strip Preserves'' series ** '' Betty Boop'', 3 issues ** ''

Boner's Ark ''Boner's Ark'' is an American comic strip created by Mort Walker, also the creator of ''Beetle Bailey''. Walker debuted the strip under the pseudonym "Addison" on March 11, 1968. The title is a reference to Noah's Ark of Abrahamic religions. Des ...

'', 1 issue ** '' Brenda Starr Reporter'', 2 issues ** '' Smokey Stover'', 1 issue ** '' Steve Roper and the Wahoo'', 2 issues ** ''

Tales of the Green Beret ''Tales of the Green Beret'' is an American comic strip created by the nonfiction author Robin Moore and artist Joe Kubert. Published in the 1960s, its Vietnam War setting was concurrent with the controversial real-life conflict. Publication hist ...

'', 3 issues * Dick Tracy series ** ''Dick Tracy Book'', 21 issues ** ''Dick Tracy (Reuben series)'', 24 issues ** ''Dick Tracy Monthly/Weekly'', 99 issues ** ''Dick Tracy Special'', 3 issues ** ''Dick Tracy: The Early Years'', 4 issues ** ''Dick Tracy: The Unprinted Stories'', 4 issues ** ''Dick Tracy trade paperback'' * ''The Iger Comics Kingdom'' trade paperback * ''Jerry Iger's Classic Jumbo Comics'', 1 issue * ''Jerry Iger's Golden Features'', 7 issues * ''Jerry Iger's National Comics'' trade paperback * ''Jungle Comics'', 4 issues * ''

Kerry Drake ''Kerry Drake'' is the title of a comic strip created for Publishers Syndicate by Alfred Andriola as artist and Allen Saunders as uncredited writer. It debuted on Monday, October 4, 1943, replacing Norman Marsh's ''Dan Dunn'', and was syndica ...

'', 5 issues * ''Kirby: King of the Serials'', 1 issue * ''

'', 2 issues * ''

Li'l Abner ''Li'l Abner'' is a satirical American comic strip that appeared in many newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe. It featured a fictional clan of hillbilly, hillbillies in the impoverished mountain village of Dogpatch, USA. Written a ...

'' (Reuben Series) trade paperback * ''Official How to Draw'' series ** ''Official How to Draw

'', 3 issues ** ''Official How to Draw

Robotech ''Robotech'' is a science fiction franchise that began with an 85-episode anime television series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production and first released in the United States in 1985. The show was adapted from ...

'', 14 issues ** ''Official How to Draw

'', 6 issues * '' On Stage by Leonard Starr'' trade paperback * ''

Prince Valiant ''Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur'', often simply called ''Prince Valiant'', is an American comic strip created by Hal Foster in 1937. It is an epic adventure that has told a continuous story during its entire history, and the full stretc ...

'' graphic novel, 2 issues * ''

Rambo Rambo is a surname with Norwegian (Vestfold) and Swedish origins. It possibly originated with '' ramn'' + '' bo'', meaning "raven's nest". It has variants in French (''Rambeau'', ''Rambaut'', and ''Rimbaud'') and German (''Rambow''). It is now best ...

'', 1 issue * ''

'', 1 issue * ''Rover from

Gasoline Alley ''Gasoline Alley'' is a comic strip created by Frank King and distributed by Tribune Content Agency. It centers on the lives of patriarch Walt Wallet, his family, and residents in the town of Gasoline Alley, with storylines reflecting traditio ...

'', 1 issue * ''Salimba'' graphic novel * ''

Star Hawks ''Star Hawks'' was a comic strip created by Ron Goulart and Gil Kane, first published on October 3, 1977, that ran through May 2, 1981. It was written through April 1979 by Goulart, followed by Archie Goodwin (1979-1980), Roger McKenzie (1980- ...

'', 4 issues * ''Stories of the West'', 2 issues * ''Tales of the

Jackalope The jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The word ''jackalope'' is a portmanteau of ''jackrabbit'' and ''antelope''. Many jackalope taxidermy mounts, including the original, ...

'', 7 issues * ''

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...

'', 1 issue * '' Waxwork'', 1 issue * ''

'', 5 issues

Notes

References

* * * Steve Schanes interview, ''David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview'' #54–55 (1988) * Duin, Steve, and Mike Richardson. ''Comics Between the Panels'' (Dark Horse Comics, Milwaukie, OR: 1998), p. 50. {{Authority control Comic book publishing companies of the United States Companies based in El Cajon, California Defunct comics and manga publishing companies Defunct companies based in California Lists of comics by publisher Publishing companies established in 1985 Publishing companies disestablished in 1990 1985 establishments in California 1990 disestablishments in California American companies established in 1985