American comic book publisher
Slave Labor Graphics (SLG ) is an independent
American
comic book
publisher , well known for publishing darkly humorous, offbeat adult comics. Creators associated with SLG over the years include
Evan Dorkin ,
Roman Dirge ,
Sarah Dyer ,
Woodrow Phoenix ,
Jhonen Vasquez , and
Andi Watson .
Company history
Slave Labor Graphics was started in 1986 by
Dan Vado ,
[1] who remains the company's president and publisher.
The first book Slave Labor Graphics published was ShadowStar #3, a female superhero character previously published independently by some of Vado's friends. The company's first wave of titles — Samurai Penguin , Barrabas , Lee Flea , and The Light — were all written by Vado, with art by a variety of creators.
[1] Other early titles, such as Hero Sandwich and It's Science With Dr. Radium , were all created by friends of Vado's from high school.[
citation needed ]
Slave Labor Graphics's first major success was Samurai Penguin #1 by Vado and Mark Buck,
[1] which sold 58,000 copies in the summer of 1986.[
citation needed ] Other successes were
Milk & Cheese , a comic about mean-spirited
anthropomorphic dairy products by
Evan Dorkin , and
Johnny the Homicidal Maniac , a comic about the adventures of a serial killer by
Jhonen Vasquez . In this time period, comic book speculation was rampant, so Slave Labor Graphics was able to sell its entire print run of many titles. [
citation needed ] However, at the end of the mid-1990s speculation bubble, some
distributors went out of business without paying Slave Labor Graphics.[
citation needed ]
In 1995, Slave Labor Graphics added a more genre-oriented
imprint called "Amaze Ink" intended to be for all audiences;
[2] the "stranger, more adult, and more difficult to categorize material"[
citation needed ] would still be published under the main "Slave Labor" imprint.
In 2005, Slave Labor Graphics entered into a partnership with
The Walt Disney Company to produce comic book series based on some of its properties:
Haunted Mansion ,
Wonderland ,
Tron , and
Gargoyles .
[3] Its own creations, such as
Little Gloomy (1999–2005), Kid Gravity (2003–2007), and
The Super Scary Monster Show: Featuring Little Gloomy (2005–2007), appeared regularly in
Disney Adventures magazine.
[4]
In September 2008, SLG remodeled its lobby to be a smaller gallery/shop
[5] which opened as Boutiki in San Jose in December 2008.
[6] The gallery/shop is still operating (with name of
Art Boutiki ) as of 2014 December.
[7]
In late 2010, Slave Labor Graphics established an independent
record label entitled Slab Yard Sound Company .
[8]
In January 2012, editor-in-chief Jennifer de Guzman, who had been with the company since 2001, left to become the PR and Marketing Director at
Image Comics .
[9]
Titles
Absent Friends (2004)
A Bag of Anteaters
Action Girl Comics #1–19 (by
Sarah Dyer , 1994–2001)
Adora Gone and The Electric Electric Elephant (2010)
Awkward (by
Ariel Schrag , 1999)
Autumn #1–5 (2004–2006)
Babyhead Magazine #1 (2004)
Babysitter
Bad Art Collection
Barrabas #1–2 (1986)
[1]
Bear #1–10 (by
Jamie Smart , 2004–2005)
Beer and Roaming in Las Vegas
Bill The Clown 3 issues (1992–1993)
Bloody Dreadful (by
Justin Bastard Sane )
Black Heart Billy
Bombaby Screen Goddess #1–3 plus a TPB (by
Antony Mazzotta , 2003–2004)
Byron: Mad, Bad, and Dangerous (by
Karl Christian Krumpholz , 2007)
Cactus Thief #1–20
Caffeine #1–10 (by Jim Hill; April 1996 – 1999)
Camping with Bigfoot
Captain Dingleberry
The Cat With The Really Big Head
Cemetarians 6 issues (2008)
Charm School #1–9 (by
Elizabeth Watasin ; Apr. 2000 – 2003)
Chumble Spuzz (by
Ethan Nicolle , 2008)
The Clarence Principle (by
Fehed Said and
Shari Chankhamma , 2007)
Cocopiazo
The Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy
Comic Book Heaven
Corporate Ninja (2005)
Dead Eyes Open (by Matt Shepherd and
Roy Boney , 2005)
Definition
Dim Witted Darryl
Dork #1–11 (by
Evan Dorkin , 1993–2006; continued by
Dark Horse Comics )
Dr. Grave (by
Ed Clayton
Dystopik Snomen (by Don M. Haring, Jr., 1995)
Eating Steve: A Love Story
Egg Story
Elmer
Emily and the Intergalactic Lemonade Stand
Emo Boy #1–11 (by
Steve Emond , 2005–2007)
Empty Love Stories #1–2 (all stories written by
Steve Darnall , Nov. 1994 – Aug. 1996)
Evenfall (by Pete Stathis, 2004)
Everwinds
Everything Can Be Beaten
Farewell Georgia
Fishmasters
Gargoyles 15 issues (by
Greg Weisman , et al; a continuation of the
TV series )
Ghost Ship #1–3 (by
Jon Lewis , Mar. 1996 – Oct. 1996)
Ghouly Boys
Gloomcookie #1–28 (by
Serena Valentino and
Vincent Batignole , 1999–2006)
The Griffin (by Dan Vado)
Halo and Sprocket #1–4 (2002)
Haunted Mansion
Heart of a Corpse (by
Justin Bastard Sane )
Hectic Planet (by
Evan Dorkin ; previously known as Pirate Corp$)
Hero Sandwich #1–5 (1987–1989)
Highway 13 #1–10 (by
Les McClaine , 2001–2003)
Hummingbird
Hsu and Chan (by
Jeremy "Norm" Scott )
I Feel Sick #1–2 (by
Jhonen Vasquez , 1999–2000)
Imp
Iliad #1–2
It's Science With Doctor Radium (1986)
Jellyfist (by
Jhonen Vasquez and Jenny Goldberg)
Jet Comics #1–3
Jet Pack Pets
Johnny the Homicidal Maniac #1–7 (by
Jhonen Vasquez , 1995–1997)
Kitsune Tales #1 (by
Woodrow Phoenix and
Andi Watson , 2003)
Knights of the Living Dead
Lenore #1–13 (by
Roman Dirge , 1998–2007)
Life of a Fetus #1–7
Likewise #1–2 (by
Ariel Schrag , 2002)
Little Gloomy #1–6 (by
Landry Walker and
Eric Jones , 1999)
Little Gloomy Adventures one-shot (2003)
Little Gloomy Crypt of Creepts one-shot (2004)
Little Gloomy Hallowe'en Special one-shot
Little Scrowlie 18 issues (by
Jennifer Feinberg and
Todd Meister ; Mar. 2003 – Jan. 2008)
Longshot Comics , Shanne Simmons (volume 1: 1995. volume 2: 1997)
Love In Tights
Metamorphosis Odyssey (by
Jim Starlin )
Midnight Sun
Milk & Cheese 7 issues plus a TPB (by
Evan Dorkin , 1991–2000)
Mister Blank 15 issues (by
Christopher J. Hicks , 1996–1998)
Model A
The Monsters In My Tummy
Mr. Night
Murder Can Be Fun #1–12 (anthology; 1996–1999)
MuZz
My Monkey's Name is Jennifer (2002)
Next Exit #1–10 (by
Christy Lijewski ; 2004 – 2006)
Nightmares & Fairy Tales #1–23 (by
Serena Valentino and
Camilla D'Errico , May 2002 – May 2008)
Nil: A Land Beyond Belief original graphic novel (by
James Turner , 2005)
No Hope
Oblivion City
Oddjob #1–8 (by
Ian Smith and
Tyson Smith , Spring 1999 – May 2001)
On the Bus
One Fisted Tales #1–11 (anthology, 1990 – Aug. 1994)
Outlook:Grim #1–6 (2003–2004)
The Pants Ant Trouser Hour
Paris (by
Andi Watson , 2005–2006)
Patty Cake 33 issues (by
Scott Roberts ; 1997–2005)
Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer
Pirate Club #1–10 (by
Derek Hunter &
Elias Pate , 2004–2006)
Pirate Corp$ (by
Evan Dorkin , 1989–1993)
The Price
Private Beach #1–7? (2002?)
Punk Rock & Trailer Parks (2008)
The Replacement God #1–8 (by
Zander Cannon , June 1995
[10] –1997)
Rex Libris #1–13 (by
James Turner , 2005–2008)
Rogue Satellite Comics #1–3 (Reilly & Atkinson, 1996–1997)
The Royal Historian of Oz
Samurai Jam #3–4 (by
Andi Watson , 1993, previously Samurai Funnies , published by Solson Publications)
Samurai Penguin #1–8 (1986–1988)
Samurai Penguin: Food Chain Follies #1
Sanctuary
Screenplay #1
Screwtooth #1-? (2006)
Serenity Rose #1–5 (by
Aaron Alexovich , 2003–2004)
Seth Throb, Underground Artist
Shadoweyes (by
Sophie Campbell , 2010)
ShadowStar #3 (1986; #1–2 published by Savage Graphics)
[1]
Sidney Mellon's Thunderskull!
The Sister's Luck (by Shari Chankhamma, 2010)
Skaggy The Lost #1–4, trade paperback
Skeleton Girl Comics #1–3
Skeleton Key #1–30 (by
Andi Watson , July 1995 – Jan. 1998 )
Sky Ape #1–4
Slacker Comics #1–18 (by
Doug Slack , Aug. 1994 – Oct. 1998)
Slow News Day (by
Andi Watson , 2001)
Street Angel #1–5 (by Jim Rugg, 2004–2005)
Space Bunny #1–30
Sparks
Spot the Dog #1–5 (by Brian Villaverde, 2007)
Squee #1–4 (by Jhonen Vasquez, 1997–1998)
Strongman by
Charles Soule
Sugar Buzz #1–9 (by
Ian Carney and
Woodrow Phoenix , Jan. 1998 – May 2002)
Swerve #1–2 (by "Downer" creator Kyle S. Hunter)
T+ #1–16
The Jam #2–6, 1989–1990 (by
Bernie Mireault ; came from
Matrix Graphics , moved to
Dark Horse Comics )
The Super Scary Monster Show: Featuring Little Gloomy
Tales from the Heart #3–11, 1988 – May 1994 (by
Cindy Goff ,
Rafael Nieves and
Seitu Hayden ; came from
Entropy Enterprises )
Tron: The Ghost in the Machine (2006–2008; miniseries following up the film and
the video game TRON 2.0 )
The Trouble With Igor #1 (2006)
True Swamp #4–5 (by
Jon Lewis , Oct. 1994
[11] – Feb. 1995); first 3 issues published by
Peristaltic Press
Truth Serum
Ubu Bubu #1–4 (2008–2009)
Ursa Minors #1-? (2006)
Vaistron #1–5 (2005)
The Vesha Valentine Story (by
Des Taylor , 2011)
The Waiting Place 18 issues (by
Sean McKeever ,
Mike Norton , and
David Yurkovich ; Apr. – Sept. 1997; Nov. 1999 – Feb. 2002)
Weird Science (1986)
Where's It At, Sugar Kat? #1–3 (by
Woodrow Phoenix and
Ian Carney , Sept. 2000 – Mar. 2001)
Whistles (by
Andrew Hussie , 2007)
Wonderland
Zombies Calling (by
Faith Erin Hicks , 2007)
Notes
^
a
b
c
d
e "Newspeak: Slave Labor in California," Speakeasy #65 (Aug. 1986), p. 4.
^ "Newswatch: Slave Labor Announces New Format," The Comics Journal #177 (May 1995), p. 33.
^
"Dan Vado on SLG's Disney Deal" .
Newsarama . Archived from
the original on 2005-08-27.
^
NYCC: Slave Labor Graphics' Dan Vado Talks Disney Licensed Comics
Archived 2007-03-10 at the
Wayback Machine . February 26, 2007
^
SLG Office Beutification Adventure Part Two uploaded on September 2, 2008 by Dan Vado. Retrieved 2014 December 21.
^
Boutiki Opening a Success! blog posted December 12, 2008 by Jennifer de Guzman. Retrieved 2014 December 21.
^
The Art Boutiki website. Retrieved 2014 December 21.
^
SLG Publishing Gets Into the Music Biz . November 22, 2010
^
Jennifer de Guzman to handle PR and marketing at Image January 17, 2012
^ "Newswatch: Slave Labor Announces New Title, Imprint," The Comics Journal #175 (Mar. 1995), p. 30.
^ "Newswatch: True Swamp Joins Slave Labor Line-Up," The Comics Journal #172 (Nov. 1994), p. 38.
References
External links