Private company

Epic Comics

Imprint of Marvel Comics

Epic Comics (also known as the Epic Comics Group) was an imprint of American publishing company Marvel Comics, active from 1982 to 1996. A spin-off of the publisher's Epic Illustrated magazine, it published creator-owned work unconnected to Marvel's superhero universe, and without the restrictions of the Comics Code. The name was revived by Marvel in the mid-2000s for a short-lived program inviting new writers to pitch series proposals to the publisher.2 It is headquartered in New York City.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 20, 2026.

Overview

1982Founded1
  • Industrypublishing1
  • HeadquartersNew York City1

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Epic Comics (also known as the Epic Comics Group) was an imprint of American publishing company Marvel Comics, active from 1982 to 1996. A spin-off of the publisher's Epic Illustrated magazine, it published creator-owned work unconnected to Marvel's superhero universe, and without the restrictions of the Comics Code. The name was revived by Marvel in the mid-2000s for a short-lived program inviting new writers to pitch series proposals to the publisher.2

Corporate structure

Epic Comics is part of a group headed by The Walt Disney Company. 359 entities, 33 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 of annual reports filed with the SEC; subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Origins

Launched by editor-in-chief Jim Shooter as a spin-off of the successful Epic Illustrated magazine, the Epic imprint allowed creators to retain control and ownership of their properties. Co-edited by Al Milgrom and Archie Goodwin, the imprint also allowed Marvel to publish more objectionable content (sometimes explicit) without needing to comply with the stringent Comics Code Authority. Epic titles were printed on higher quality paper than typical Marvel comics, and were only available via the direct market. The first title to be published in this line was Dreadstar by Jim Starlin, which continued the Metamorphosis Odyssey storyline from Epic Illustrated.

From Wikipedia’s article on Epic Comics, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Leadership

Who has led Epic Comics, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • Epic Illustrated

Listed on Wikidata.1

Alien Legion by writers Carl Potts and Alan Zelenetz and artist Frank Cirocco

Atomic Age by writer Frank Lovece, penciler Mike Okamoto and inker Al Williamson

The Black Dragon by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Bolton

The Bozz Chronicles by writer David Michelinie and artists Bret Blevins and John Ridgway, moved to Dover Publications in 2015

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Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (colorized version) by writer-artist Mark Schultz

Captain Confederacy (second series) by writer Will Shetterly and artist Vince Stone

Coyote by writer Steve Englehart and artist Marshall Rogers, moved to Image Comics in 2005

Crash Ryan by writer-artist Ron Harris

Dreadstar by writer-artist Jim Starlin

Dreadlands by Andy Lanning, Steve White, and Phil Gascoine

Clive Barker's Hellraiser by various writers and artists, moved to Boom! Studios in 2011

Clive Barker's Nightbreed by writers Alan Grant and John Wagner and artist Jim Baikie

Clive Barker's The Harrowers by writers McNally Sagal, Malcolm Smith, Anna Miller and Fred Vicarel and artist Gene Colan

Elektra Lives Again by writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley

Elfquest by writer-artists Wendy and Richard Pini

Feud by writer Mike Baron and artist Mark A. Nelson

Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by writer Howard Chaykin and artist Mike Mignola, moved to Dark Horse Comics in 2007

The Groo Chronicles by writer-artist Sergio Aragonés and writer Mark Evanier

Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown by writers Walt and Louise Simonson and artists Kent Williams and Jon J. Muth

Interface by writer James D. Hudnall and various artists

Iron Man: Crash by writer-artist Mike Saenz

Lawdog by writer Chuck Dixon and artists Flint Henry,

The Light and Darkness War by writer Tom Veitch and artist Cam Kennedy, moved to Titan Books in 2015

Marshal Law by writer Pat Mills and artist Kevin O'Neill, moved to DC Comics in 2013

Metropol by writer-artist Ted McKeever

Midnight Men by writer-artist Howard Chaykin

Moonshadow by writer J. M. DeMatteis and artists Jon J. Muth, Kent Williams and George Pratt, moved to Dark Horse Comics in 2019

The One by writer-artist Rick Veitch, moved to King Hell Press in 2003

Pinhead by writers D. G. Chichester and Erik Saltzgaber and artists Dario Corrasco and Phil Gascoine

Psychonauts by writers Alan Grant and Tony Luke and artist Motofumi Kobayashi

Sachs and Violens by writer Peter David and writer-artist George Pérez, moved to DC Comics in 2006

Shadowline by creator Archie Goodwin

Sisterhood of Steel by writer Christie Marx and artist Mike Vosburg

Six From Sirius by writer by Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy

The Sleeze Brothers by writer John Carnell and artist Andy Lanning

Spyke by writer Mike Baron and artist Bill Reinhold

Stray Toasters by writer-artist Bill Sienkiewicz

Steelgrip Starkey by writer-artist Alan Weiss

Swords of the Swashbucklers by writer Bill Mantlo and artists Jackson Guice, Geof Isherwood and Colleen Doran

Timespirits by writer Stephen Perry and artist Thomas Yeates

Void Indigo by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik

Wild Cards by various writers and artists

Source:

From Wikipedia’s article on Epic Comics, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

Owners

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1996Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1982Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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