A Devil of a Publishing House
This story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on August 8, 2006 Sign up now!
by Chris Arrant, PW Comics Week -- Publishers Weekly, 8/8/2006
Devil's Due Publishing isn't known for just one kind of comic book, and that's been the company’s game plan all along. Founded in 1999 as both a commercial art studio and small press comic book publisher, it didn't take long for the Chicago-based house to focus exclusively on comic books. The company's motto is "Pop Culture Is OUR Culture" and it employs an in-house staff of 11, along with a bevy of freelance talent from across the globe.
Distributed to the book trade through Diamond Book Distributes, Devil's Due's releases are an equal mixture of established licensed properties, such as Family Guy, Forgotten Realms and G.I. Joe, with in-house creations such as Hack/Slash, Black Harvest and The Lost Squad.
"In 2005 we saw the release of nine trade titles; in 2006 we will have produced over 15," says president and founder Joshua Blaylock. "We expect to release more than 20 in 2007. By the end of 2006, graphic novels will account for 50% of our sales, and will have achieved a 90% increase in the book market sector from the previous year." As the comic industry has shifted to focus on trade paperbacks and the book trade, Devil's Due has aggressively released its books as both traditional comic book serials as well as collected editions.
Susan Bishop, v-p of marketing, says the licensed series Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance and Family Guy are the company's most successful trade book releases. "The R.A. Salvatore and Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman adaptations are doing phenomenally for us, and Family Guy, well, it doesn't get any hotter than Family Guy right now."
This year Devil's Due began releasing a three-volume series of Family Guy slim graphic novels, each written by Family Guy TV writer Matt Fleckenstein with artwork by Benjamin Phillips. The third volume is scheduled for release this month. "By far, Family Guy is expected to be our number one title," says Blaylock. "It could possibly be the number one graphic novel in the entire country for the holiday season."
"We have more Family Guy lined up," says Bishop, "as well as our horror/comedy title, Hack/Slash, slated to be adapted as a major motion picture, and G.I. Joe: Declassified. The latter is the return of the original 1980s G.I. Joe writer, Larry Hama, who is chronicling the never-before-told origins of the original G.I. Joe team members." Devil's Due boasts a healthy backlist of G.I. Joe comic titles, with more than 12 trade paperbacks in print.
As for original titles, Hack/Slash by writer Tim Seeley has resulted in several trade paperbacks, a stage adaptation and an upcoming movie from Rogue Pictures. "The [Hack/Slash movie] script will be completed any day now, if it's not already," said Blaylock. "The studio is starting to discuss filming locations and all the details, but they're pretty mum. We're just keeping our fingers crossed."
Although Hollywood is beckoning, Devil's Due's focus remains on publishing and the publisher is intent on working with bookstores, libraries and book clubs to keep them up to date on its publishing program. "We target the book buyers themselves, and work closely with our distributors to keep their sales reps informed," says Blaylock. "We provide regular e-mail newsletters to a list of buyers, librarians and reps, available for sign-up on http://www.devilsdue.net/retailers. We're working with Fox to discuss a special promotion for Family Guy, but nothing is finalized at this time."
Unlike a number of other independent publishers, Devil's Due Publishing has managed to successfully balance publishing both licensed and original comic book titles aimed at more than just one type of reader. "The last five years have been wonderful, tough, amazing, stressful and a blur," says Blaylock. "It's hard to see the forest for the trees when you're in the middle of everything. But I'm proud simply to have survived all this time, in a highly competitive industry and looking very forward to the next five years. And 2007 looks to be a very big year for us--the year that puts us on the map permanently!"
