Continuity Publishing, also known as Continuity Comics, was an American 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 ...

company formed by

Neal Adams Neal Adams (June 15, 1941 – April 28, 2022) was an American comic book artist. He was the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates, and was a creators-rights advocate who helped secure a pension and recognition for Supe ...

in 1984, publishing comics until 1994.

History

After years as a freelancer and comics art packager (with his company

Continuity Associates Continuity Studios (formerly Continuity Associates, originally known as Continuity Graphics Associates)Eury, Michael and Giordano, Dick. ''Dick Giordano: Changing Comics, One Day at a Time'', TwoMorrows Publishing, 2003. is a New York City and Los ...

), in 1984 Adams ventured into publishing as a way to maximize his creative freedom (and profits). Continuity mainly published a variety of

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

comics developed by Adams. For instance, the title '' Ms. Mystic'' was first published by

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 ...

, and was revived in 1987 by Continuity. Adams' own detailed, realistic art was the basis of Continuity's "house style"; the company's creators included Dan Barry,

Vicente Alcazar Vicente Alcazar (born April 4, 1944) is a Spanish comics artist best known for his work for the American comic-book publishers DC Comics and Marvel Comics, including a 1970s run on the DC Western character Jonah Hex. His name is sometimes mis-c ...

Mike Deodato, Jr. Mike Deodato (; born May 23, 1963), sometimes credited as Mike Deodato Jr., is the professional pseudonym of Brazilian comic book artist Deodato Taumaturgo Borges Filho. Early life Mike Deodato was born on May 23, 1963 in Campina Grande, Paraí ...

Mark Texeira Mark Texeira () is an American comic book artist. Classically trained as a painter, he broke into the comics field in the early 1980s. Career Mark Texeira was born and raised in New York City. He attended Manhattan's High School of Art and ...

Dave Hoover David Harold Hoover (May 14, 1955 – September 4, 2011) was an American comics artist and animator, most notable for his art on DC Comics' ''The Wanderers'' and '' Starman'' and Marvel Comics' '' Captain America''. Biography Early life ...

, Richard Bennett,

Tom Grindberg Tom Grindberg (born 3 November 1961) is a British comic book illustrator. His British comic book work includes '' 2000 A.D. Presents'' #16-19 and ''Judge Dredd'' #10-11 for Fleetway in 1987. Among his earliest DC Comics work was illustrating "P ...

Bart Sears Bart Whitman Sears (born 1963) is an American comics artist, toy and packaging designer and author, known for his work on such books as ''Justice League Europe'', '' Legends of the Dark Knight'', ''X-O Manowar'', ''Turok'', '' Violator'', ''The He ...

Esteban Maroto Esteban Maroto (born 1942) is a Spanish comic book artist. Career Born in Madrid, he began his career in the 1960s with series like ''Cinco por infinito'', published in English by Continuity Comics as '' Zero Patrol'' (heavily retouched by ed ...

, and

Michael Netzer Michael Netzer (born 9 October 1955) is an American-Israeli artist best known for his comic book work for DC Comics and Marvel Comics in the 1970s, as well as for his online presence. Early life Michael Nasser (later Netzer) was born in Detroit, ...

. Adams often provided layouts for the company's titles, as well as inking many faces and contributing other personal touch-up artwork. Adams also plotted many of Continuity's titles, most of which were scripted by writer Peter Stone. Continuity's comics tended to be grittier than the mainstream

Marvel Marvel may refer to: Business * Marvel Entertainment, an American entertainment company ** Marvel Comics, the primary imprint of Marvel Entertainment ** Marvel Universe, a fictional shared universe ** Marvel Music, an imprint of Marvel Comics ...

or DC comics of their day, often depicting bloody, graphic violence. For instance, in one issue of ''Armor'' the title character has his hand chopped off and then the appendage is destroyed in a blender. Continuity was also part of a trend towards more

eroticism Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, sculp ...

in mainstream comics. For instance, the costume and the cover artwork illustrated by Mark Beachum for the character Samuree were often revealing, and she was sometimes drawn in sexy poses on the cover of her comic. During the 1990s "

variant cover In comic books, a variant cover (sometimes variant edition) refers to an issue of a comic book printed with multiple covers, each with unique cover art. The first comic book marketed with a variant cover was the 1986 first issue of '' The Man of St ...

" craze, Continuity got into

Tyvek Tyvek () is a brand of synthetic flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers. The name "Tyvek" is a registered trademark of the American multinational chemical company DuPont, which discovered and commercialized Tyvek in the late 1950s and early ...

(marketed as "indestructible"), die-cut, glow-in-the-dark, chrome-plated, and hologram covers, as well as pull-out posters, stickers, and trading cards, all of which are associated with the speculation bubble which burst in the mid-1990s. Continuity also bought into the crossover craze of the era with ''Deathwatch 2000'' (1992–1993) and ''Rise of Magic'' (1993–1994). Over the course of its life as a publisher, Continuity was the subject of much criticism from comics retailers and fans for poor editorial oversight and the publisher's inability to ship its products on time or according to schedule. Continuity stopped publishing in 1994 during its ''Rise of Magic'' crossover, embroiled in legal and financial"Comics Publishers Suffer Tough Summer: Body Count Rises in Market Shakedown", ''The Comics Journal'' #172 (Nov. 1994), pp. 13-18. troubles. Several of Continuity's later titles and characters wound up being picked up by other publishers. For instance, ''Samuree'', ''Valeria'' and ''Knighthawk'' would be published by

Valiant Comics Valiant Comics is an American comic book publisher. The company was founded in 1989 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter along with lawyer and businessman Steven Massarsky. In 1994, the company was sold to Acclaim Entertainment ...

' Windjammer line of creator-owned titles.

Titles

*''Armor'' (13 issues, 1985–1992; 6 issues, 1993) *''

Bucky O'Hare Bucky O'Hare is a fictional character and the hero of an eponymous comic book series and spin-off (media), spin-off media, including an Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars, animated TV series and various toys and video games. He was created by comic bo ...

'' (graphic novel, 1986; 5 issues, 1991–1992) * ''

Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future ''Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future'' is a science fiction-action television series, merging live action with animation based on computer-generated images, that ran for 22 episodes in Canadian and American syndication. A toy line was ...

'' (2 issues, 1988–1989) *''Crazyman'' (3 issues, 1992; 4 issues, 1993–1994) *''Cyberrad'' (7 issues, 1992–93; 1 issue, 1993; 2 issues 1992–1993) *'' Echo of Futurepast'' (9 issues, 1984–1986) *''Hybrids'' (4 issues, 1993; 1 issues, 1994) *''Hybrids: The Origin'' (6 issues, 1993–1994) *''

Megalith A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. There are over 35,000 in Europe alone, located widely from Sweden to the Mediterranean sea. The ...

'' (9 issues, 1989–1993; 8 issues, 1993–1994) *'' Ms. Mystic'' (9 issues, 1987–1992; 1–3, 1993; 1–4, 1993–1994) *''The Revengers featuring Megalith'' (6 issues, 1985–1989) *''Samuree'' (9 issues, 1987–1991; 4 issues, 1993–1994) *''Shaman'' (1 issue, 1994) *''Toyboy'' (7 issues, 1986–1989) *'' Urth 4'' (4 issues, 1989–1990); renamed ''Earth 4'' (3 issues, 1993; 4 issues, 1993–1994) *''Valeria, She-Bat'' (2 issues, 1993; no issues #2–4) *'' Zero Patrol'' (2 issues, 1984–1985; 5 issues, 1987–1989)

Crossovers

*''Deathwatch 2000'' **''Armor'' (#1–3, 1993) **''Cyberrad'' (#1–2, 1992/93) **''Earth 4'' (#1–3, 1993) **''Hybrids'' (#0–3, 1993) **''Megalith'' (#0–3, 1993) **''Ms. Mystic'' (#1–3, 1993) *''Rise of Magic'' **''Armor'' (#4–6, 1993) **''Hybrids'' (#1, 1994) **''Megalith'' (#4–7, 1993/94) **''Ms. Mystic'' (#2–4, 1993/94) **''Samuree'' (#1–4, 1993/94) **''Shaman'' (#0, 1994) **''Valeria, She-Bat'' (#5, 1993)

Characters

*Armor *

* Crazyman *Cyberrad *Hybrids *

* Ms. Mystic *Samuree *Shaman *Silver Streak *Toyboy *Valeria, She-Bat

References

External links