Action Lab Entertainment (also known as Action Lab Comics or ALE), is an American publisher of comic books, known primarily for the publication of the all-ages fantasy title Princeless, as well as a wide range of titles from all genres. The company is also known for embracing digital comics[1] and is recognized as one of the first publishers to release a digital-only Free Comic Book Day title.[2]

Contents

1 History 2 Titles 3 References 4 External links

History[edit] Action Lab Entertainment was founded in October, 2010[3] by Shawn Pryor, Dave Dwonch and Shawn Gabborin. All three of the founding members had prior experience in self-publishing[4] and had worked together to publish small press comic books under Pryor's PKD Media imprint. Action Lab's first release was Back In The Day, an original graphic novel written by Dave Dwonch, with art by Daniel J. Logan (an artist who had also previously worked with PKD Media), and released in February, 2011.[5] This inaugural publication was available for pre-order through Discount Comic Book Service and marked the company's first foray into nationwide distribution.[6] During the same time period as Back In The Day's launch, Pryor ran a Kickstarter fundraiser to both promote and gather funds for the company's second title, Fracture, described as a "superhero dark comedy";[7] Fracture was written by Shawn Gabborin, with art by Chad Cicconi and Dave Dwonch. Pryor's campaign surpassed its funding goal by nearly 10%, allowing Action Lab to schedule the book's first issue for a July, 2011 release; the release would also mark Action Lab's entrance into the direct market.[8] In October 2011, the company released two books: the horror-suspense one-shot Snowed In, written by Shawn Gabborin with art by Rick Lundeen, and the first issue of the all-ages fantasy title Princeless, written by Jeremy Whitley, with art by Mia Goodwin.[9] Princeless, featuring the teenage Princess Adrienne (a princess who decides that she does not need a prince to rescue her and becomes a hero in her own right), became a major hit for the company, garnering five nominations in the 2012 Glyph Comics Awards[10] ("Story of the Year", "Best Writer", "Best Artist", "Best Female Character" and "Best Cover") and two nominations at the 2012 Eisner Awards ("Best Single Issue" and "Best Publication for Kids"),[11] giving the company both industry and worldwide recognition. Also in October, 2011, Action Lab launched Globworld, its first digital-only title,[12] based on the MMORPG specifically designed for children. This release also marked the company's first use of licensed characters and was also its first cross-company tie in. February, 2012, marked Action Lab's largest single-month expansion since the publisher's inception, in which they released two graphic novels and a trade paperback: the graphic novels Exo-1 and the Rock-Solid Steelbots, with story and art by Daniel J. Logan, and script by Shawn Pryor, and Monsters Are Just Like Us, with story and art by SuperUgly, and Space-Time Condominum, a trade paperback collecting the first "season" of Dave Dwonch's webcomic of the same name. All three were released as part of the "Signature Series" line, which includes individual numbering and hand-signatures for each copy.[13] Action Lab also announced at this time that it had taken over the publication of the series Jack Hammer, written by Brandon Barrows with art by Ionic, from the small-press publisher Reasonably Priced Comics, and that it would be part of the "Signature Series".[14][15] Action Lab recently partnered with the NFL to release NFL Rush Zone , a line of comic books based on the TV show. The first issue was released digitally during Super Bowl XLVII [16] Titles[edit]

Action Lab Confidential - Various Creators. Digital-only sampler book, released May 2012. Back In The Day - Written by Dave Dwonch, Art by Daniel J. Logan. Original graphic novel, released April 2011. Double Jumpers - Written by Dave Dwonch, Art by Bill Blankenship. Four-issue limited series, released May 2012 - December 2012. EXO-1 and the Rock-Solid Steelbots - Story & Art by Daniel J. Logan, Script by Shawn Pryor. Original graphic novel, released February 2012. The F1rst Hero - Written by Anthony Ruttgaizer, Art by Phillip Sevy (Vol.1), Danny Zabbal (Vol.2), Marco Renna (Vol.3), Letters/Colors by Fred C Stresing. Ongoing series, released August 2014. Fracture - Written by Shawn Gabborin, Art by Chad Cicconi & Dave Dwonch. Three-issue limited series, released July 2011 - September 2011. Globworld - Various Creators. Digital-only, five-issue limited series (#0 - #4), released October 2011 - February 2012. Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla - Written by John Reilly; Art by Tom Rogers; Inks, Colors, Letters by Dexter Weeks. Ongoing series, released December 2014. Hero Cats of Stellar City - Written by Kyle Puttkammer, Art by Marcus Williams, Inks by Ryan Sellers, Colors by Omaka Schultz. ongoing series, released August 2014. I, Mage - Story & Letters by Gary Turner, Art by Carlos E. Gomez & Mel Bontrager, Colors by Eddy-Swan. ongoing series, released January 2016. Jack Hammer, Volume 1: "Political Science" - Written by Brandon Barrows, Art by Ionic. Trade paperback, released June 2012. Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa - Story & Art by Martheus Wade. Digital-only collection, released May 2012. Monsters Are Just Like Us - Story & Art by SuperUgly. Original graphic novel, released February 2012. Princeless - Written by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Mia Goodwin. Four-issue limited series, released October 2011 - February 2012. Snowed In - Written by Shawn Gabborin, Art by Rick Lundeen. One-shot, released October 2011. Space-Time Condominium' - Story & Art by Dave Dwonch. Trade paperback, released February 2012. Nutmeg - Art & Colors by Jackie Crofts, Colors by Josh Eckert, Words by James F. Wright. Spencer & Locke - Written by David Pepose, Art by Jorge Santiago, Jr. Four-issue limited series, released April 2017 - August 2017.

References[edit]

^ http://www.actionlabcomics.com/2011/07/28/action-lab-acquires-digital-comics-distribution/[permanent dead link] Action Lab Comics blog post regarding digital distribution, Accessed 4/8/12 ^ http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/04/shawn-pryor-on-action-labs-digital-fcbd-comic/ Comic Book Resources interview with publisher Shawn Pryor, accessed 4/8/12 ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-04-08.  "welcome" post on Action Lab blog, Accessed 4/8/12 ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2012-04-08.  Action Lab "About" page, Accessed 4/8/12 ^ http://spacetimecondo.com/2010/12/08/sorry-about-the-delay/[permanent dead link] Dave Dwonch's blog regarding current projects, Accessed 4/8/12 ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-03-01. Retrieved 2012-04-08.  Pre-Order announcement for Back In The Day, posted 2/6/11 on Action Lab's website. Accessed 4/8/12. ^ http://www.thedaonline.com/a-e/action-lab-entertainment-to-release-first-comic-1.2256187[permanent dead link] Daily Athenaeum Newspaper article May 25, 2011. Accessed 4/8/12 ^ http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/23808096/action-lab-entertainment-presents-fracture Fracture Kickstarter page, Accessed 4/8/12 ^ http://www.majorspoilers.com/sneak-peek-snowed-in Major Spoilers, Sneak Peek at Action Lab's October titles. Accessed 4/8/12 ^ http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/03/2011-glyph-comics-awards-nominees-announced-2/ Comic Book Resources 2012 Glyph Awards Nominations Accessed 4/8/12 ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-08-13. Retrieved 2017-03-07.  San Diego Comic Con official website, Eisner Awards 2012. Accessed 4/8/12 ^ http://globworld.com/blog/2011/10/07/globworld-comic-book-to-release-next-thursday-oct-13/ Globworld.com's official press release, accessed 4/8/12 ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-04-08.  Action Lab announces the "Signature Series", Accessed 4/8/12 ^ http://comicrelated.com/news/15119/who-is-jack-hammer Action Lab's Jack Hammer teaser posted on Comic Related, accessed 4/8/12 ^ "Well, then...2012 News". Brandon Barrows Comics blog. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2012-04-08. As of late 2011, Jack Hammer has moved to Action Lab Comics.  ^ "Action Lab Launches First NFL Rush Zone Comic Book at Super Bowl XLVII". Comic Book Resources. 2013-01-31. 

Action Lab Comics at the Comic Book DB

External links[edit]

Official website

v t e

Action Lab Comics

Key people

Shawn Pryor Dave Dwonch Shawn Gabborin Chad Cicconi

Original series

Action Lab

The 27 Club Action Lab, Dog of Wonder The Adventures of Miru The Adventures of Aero-Girl Archon Artful Athena Voltaire and the Volcano Goddess Awake Back in the Day Beyond the Western Deep Bigfoot: Sword of the Earthman Blue Hour Cash & Carrie The Cask of Amontillado Cyrus Perkins and the Haunted Taxi Cab The F1rst Hero Fight Like A Girl Fracture GlobWorld Gronk: A Monster’s Story Herald: Lovecraft and Tesla Hero Cats The House of Montresor I, Mage Jack Hammer Just Another Sheep Kids of the Round Table Midnight Tiger Misha & the Sea Devil Molly Danger Monsters are Just Like Us Monty the Dinasaur Nutmeg Northstars Peach and the Isle of Monsters Pirate Eye Planet Gigantic Princeless Skyward Shinobi: Ninja Princess Snowed In Spot on Adventure SubCulture Super Human Resources Vamplets Venture

Action Lab: Danger Zone

Amerikarate Blood & Dust Bo Plushy Gansta Bolts Brigands Crimson Society DollFace Double Jumpers Dry Spell Ehmm Theory The Final Plague Ghost Town Ghoul Scouts: Night of the Unliving Undead Gravedigger Holy F*ck Infinite Seven Itty Bitty Bunnies Kingdom Bum Sleigher Southern Dog Space-Time Condominium Stray Tomboy The Trip Voracious Zoe Dare Versus The Disasteroid Zombie Tramp

Licensed series

The Gingerdead Man Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir NFL Rush Zone Oblivion Puppet Master Soft Spots Trancers Vampblade

Crossovers

Actionverse Zombie Tramp vs. DollFace Zombie Tramp vs. Vamplade

Miscallenia

Full Moon Features

v t e

Comic book publishers in North America

Active (major)

Archie Comics Boom! Studios Dark Horse Comics DC Comics Dynamite Entertainment IDW Publishing Image Comics Marvel Comics Oni Press Valiant Comics

Active (minor)

Aardvark-Vanaheim AC Comics Action Lab Comics AfterShock Comics AiT/Planet Lar Alias Enterprises Alternative Comics Another Rainbow Publishing Antarctic Press Arcade Comics Arcana Studio Archaia Entertainment Aspen MLT Avatar Press Azteca Productions Beyond Comics Black Mask Studios Blue Juice Comics Bongo Comics Group Caliber Comics Class Comics Conundrum Press Creative Impulse Entertainment Darby Pop Publishing Devil's Due Publishing Drawn and Quarterly Eureka Productions Fantagraphics Books First Second Books Hermes Press Kodansha USA Last Gasp Legendary Comics Lion Forge Comics Mad Cave Studios Milestone Media Mirage Studios NBM Publishing Northwest Press Papercutz Platinum Studios Radical Comics Radio Comix Rip Off Press Seven Seas Entertainment Shadowline Sirius Entertainment Slave Labor Graphics TidalWave Productions Tokyopop Top Cow Productions Udon Entertainment Vertical Viper Comics Viz Media WaRP Graphics Yen Press Zenescope Entertainment

Former

Aircel Comics All-American Publications Amalgam Comics American Comics Group Atlas Comics Atlas/Seaboard Comics Awesome Comics Blackthorne Publishing Broadway Comics Catalan Communications Centaur Publications Chaos! Comics Charlton Comics Harry "A" Chesler Comico ComicsOne Continuity Comics Crestwood Publications CrossGen Defiant Comics Dell Comics Del Rey Manga Disney Comics EC Comics Eclipse Comics Eternity Comics FantaCo Enterprises Fawcett Comics Fiction House First Comics Fox Feature Syndicate Gladstone Publishing Gemstone Publishing Gilberton Gold Key Comics Harvey Comics Highwater Books Holyoke Publishing Hyperwerks Innovation Publishing Kitchen Sink Press Mainline Publications Malibu Comics Millennium Publications Nedor Publishing NOW Comics Pacific Comics Print Mint Quality Comics Renegade Press Revolutionary Comics Skywald Publications Standard Comics Timely Comics Topps Comics Tundra Publishing Vortex Comics