Paradox Press was a division of

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...

formed in 1993 after editor Mark Nevelow departed from Piranha Press. Under the initial editorship of Andrew Helfer and Bronwyn Carlton the imprint was renamed. It is best known for

graphic novel 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 ...

s like '' A History of Violence'' and '' Road to Perdition''. Jim Higgins edited the line after Helfer's departure, and Heidi MacDonald briefly took the helm in 2000 at the time of the line's final three '' Big Books'', none of which ever saw publication.

History

Paradox Press was designed to publish

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 ...

that were not of the superhero genre (as comprises most of DC's publishing efforts) and were lacking the fantasy and sci-fi elements of DC's "mature reader" line,

Vertigo comics Vertigo Comics, also known as DC Vertigo or simply Vertigo, was an imprint of American comic book publisher DC Comics started by editor Karen Berger in 1993. Vertigo's purpose was to publish comics with adult content, such as nudity, drug u ...

. Due to the limited interest in non-fantasy stories among the graphic novel demographic, the line produced only a handful of books over its decade-long history. While almost all received critical acclaim, none reached high sales amongst the general graphic-novel and comic book reading populace. Two of the imprint's books ('' A History of Violence'' and '' Road to Perdition'') were adapted into successful films and

Scott McCloud Scott McCloud (born Scott McLeod; June 10, 1960) is an American cartoonist and comics theorist. He is best known for his non-fiction books about comics: ''Understanding Comics'' (1993), ''Reinventing Comics'' (2000), and '' Making Comics'' (200 ...

's ''

Understanding Comics ''Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art'' is a 1993 non-fiction work of comics by American cartoonist Scott McCloud. It explores formal aspects of comics, the historical development of the medium, its fundamental vocabulary, and various ways i ...

'' (originally published through Kitchen Sink Press) is considered one of the authoritative bibles of the medium. The true-life anthology series of ''Big Books'' also found a niche following. '' The Big Book Of'' series was an anthology series, each devoted to a theme or concept, e.g., ''The Big Book of Conspiracies'' or ''The Big Book of Urban Legends''. Due to low sales amongst the line, it was phased out, and most of the books under this imprint are out of print for the foreseeable future. Those books which have remained in print were released under DC's more lucrative Vertigo label.

Books

Below is a list of books published under the Paradox Press logo: * '' The Big Book of'': ** the '70s ** Bad ** Conspiracies ** Death ** Freaks ** Grimm ** Hoaxes ** Little Criminals ** Losers ** Martyrs ** Scandal! ** Thugs ** the Unexplained ** Urban Legends ** Vice ** the Weird Wild West ** Weirdos * '' The Bogie Man'' * '' Brooklyn Dreams'' * ''Family Man'' * '' Gon'': ** Gon ** Gon on Safari ** Gon Swimming ** Gon Underground ** Gon Wild! * ''Green Candles'' * ''A Gregory Treasury'' * '' A History of Violence'' * ''Hunter's Heart'' * ''La Pacifica'' * ''The Project'' * ''

Reinventing Comics ''Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an Art Form'' (2000) is a book written by comic book writer and artist Scott McCloud. It was a thematic sequel to his critically acclaimed ''Understanding Comics'', and was f ...

'' * '' Road to Perdition'': ** Road to Perdition ** Road to Perdition: On the Road *** On the Road to Perdition Book 1: Oasis *** On the Road to Perdition Book 2: Sanctuary *** On the Road to Perdition Book 3: Detour * '' Stuck Rubber Baby'' * ''

'' In addition, several magazines entitled ''Weird'' collected reprint material from the above volumes.

Unpublished work

Slated for 2001 Paradox Press had intentions to release a book known as ''The Big Book of Wild Women''. From time to time mentions of this book can be found on the internet. The book is narrated by "Susie the Floozie". The book was to profile notable women throughout history who had made an impact on our culture while pushing the envelope of unconventional behavior. Among the women to be profiled were risqué

nightclub singer A nightclub act is a production, usually of nightclub music or comedy, designed for performance at a nightclub, a type of drinking establishment, by a nightclub performer such as a nightclub singer or nightclub dancer, whose performance ma ...

-comic Rusty Warren, B-movie goddess Tura Satana, presidential candidate

Victoria Woodhull Victoria Claflin Woodhull, later Victoria Woodhull Martin (September 23, 1838 – June 9, 1927), was an American leader of the women's suffrage movement who ran for President of the United States in the 1872 election. While many historians ...

, 19th century sex star Lola Montes, legendary seductress

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. ...

, scandalous writer

Anaïs Nin Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell (February 11, 1903 – January 14, 1977; , ) was a French-born American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Born to Cuban parents in France, Nin was the ...

and kinky pin-up icon Bettie Page. According to DC comics the book is in a perpetual "pre-production".

References

{{Authority control American companies established in 1993 2001 disestablishments in the United States DC Comics imprints Defunct comics and manga publishing companies