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Artists, Writers & Artisans or AWA Studios is an American independent comic book publisher founded in November 2018 by Axel Alonso, Bill Jemas and Jonathan F Miller.

History

AWA Studios was founded in November 2018 by Axel Alonso and Bill Jemas from Marvel Comics, with the addition of Jonathan F Miller from Fandom. While Alonso and Jemas are Chief Creative Officers, Miller is a Senior Council member. The initials in the company's name stand for "Artists, Writers & Artisans". Initial funders included Lightspeed Venture Partners and James Murdoch's Lupa Systems. The SISTER media investment firm also contributed funding in March 2020. Over time, a Creative Council was joined by J. Michael Straczynski, Reginald Hudlin, Garth Ennis, Gregg Hurwitz, Margaret Stohl and Frank Cho. In September 2019, AWA announced a Retail Council to be assembled.

American Ronin was presented as a potential book from AWA in June 2019. In August 2019, Straczynski announced a new shared universe for AWA, debuting in 2020 with The Resistance. During New York Comic Con 2019, AWA released Upshot Now No. 0. AWA Studios premiered with four titles, released in March 2020 under its Upshot imprint.

In June 2021, AWA announced the foundation of its own film/TV division, being helmed by Zach Studin as President.

Since 2023, the Upshot Studios imprint was merged into AWA.

Key people

Leadership team

• Axel Alonso, chief creative officer (2018–present)
• Bill Jemas, chief executive officer and publisher (2018–2022)
• Jonathan F Miller, chairman of the board (2018–present)

Creative council

• J. Michael Straczynski (2018–present)
• Reginald Hudlin (2018–present)
• Garth Ennis (2018–2022)
• Gregg Hurwitz (2018–present)
• Margaret Stohl (2018–2022)
• Frank Cho (2018–2022)
• Laeta Kalogridis (2022–present)
• Joseph Kosinski (2022–present)
• Al Madrigal (2022–present)

Imprints

Current

• AWA

Former

• iPOP
• Lesser Evils
• Upshot Studios (merged into AWA)

List of works

Series

Announced series

Graphic novels

One-shots

Magazines

Film and TV adaptations

• Chariot
• Hotell
• Marjorie Finnigan, Temporal Criminal

References

1. "Comic Publishers are flocking to Simon & Schuster for Distribution". March 15, 2021.
2. Goldbart, Max (February 14, 2023). "Fremantle Invests In Lis & James Murdoch-Backed AWA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
3. ^ Gustines, George Gene (March 20, 2019). "A Comic Book Publisher Creates Its Own Origin Story". The New York Times.
4. Lang, Brent (March 18, 2020). "Sister Invests in AWA Studios, New Comic Book Company From Marvel Vets (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
5. ^ Marston, George (March 20, 2019). "ENNIS, JMS, HUDLIN, CHO, STOHL, More Join Bill Jemas' AWA". Newsarama.
6. Griepp, Milton (September 3, 2019). "AWA ASSEMBLING RETAIL COUNCIL". ICv2.
7. ^ Burlingame, Russ (June 5, 2019). "Peter Milligan Talks AWA's American Ronin". ComicBook.com.
8. ^ Babos, John (August 9, 2019). "J. Michael Straczynski, Mike Deodato Jr. Team for 'The Resistance' Comic". Hollywood Reporter.
9. ^ "AWA To Debut Sampler Magazine UPSHOT NOW at NYCC" (Press release). Artists Writers & Artisans. September 25, 2019 – via Newsarama.
10. Arvedon, Jon (February 11, 2020). "AWA Studios Creators and Execs Preview Upshot Imprint Titles". CBR. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
11. Goldsmith, Jill (June 10, 2021). "Zach Studin To Lead New Studio Division For Graphic Fiction Publisher AWA". Deadline. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
12. "Bill Jemas, AWA Launches Film and TV Studios Division". CBR. June 11, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
13. ^ Jackie (November 21, 2022). "AWA Studios Enlists Top Creatives to Shepherd Content Derived From Graphic Novels". AWA: Artists Writers & Artisans. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
14. Destito, Deanna (June 5, 2020). "AWA Studios launches new imprint iPOP! with BE WAWA". The Beat. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
15. "The Borough of Brooklyn is the Setting for New Supernatural Comic Series, 'Lesser Evils'". BK Reader. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
16. Destito, Deanna (March 10, 2020). "PREVIEW: Take a peek at AWA's ARCHANGEL 8 ahead of its debut". comicsbeat.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
17. Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "John Lees and Dalibor Talajić Launch "Hotell" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
18. Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "Jason Starr and Will Conrad Launch "Red Border" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
19. ^ Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "Benjamin Percy Launches Two Comics From AWA – Year Zero and Devil's Highway". Bleeding Cool.
20. "Old Haunts".
21. "Bad Mother".
22. "Grendel, Kentucky".
23. Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Tommy Lee Edwards Draws Cannabis Horror Comic For AWA – "Grendel, Kentucky"". Bleeding Cool.
24. McMillan, Graeme (August 20, 2020). "Zombie Comic 'Year Zero' Getting Second Volume". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
25. ^ Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Kaare Andrews to Launch Two Comics, "E-Ratic" and "Lil' Freakin Maniacs" From AWA". Bleeding Cool.
26. Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Cullen Bunn and Nelson Blake II's "Byte Sized" Coming From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
27. ^ "JMS and Mike Deodato's Resistance Returns – AWA January 2021 Solicits". Bleeding Cool. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
28. ^ Johnston, Rich (November 20, 2020). "AWA Has a Casual Fling – and Redemption – in February 2021 Solicits". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
29. McMillan, Graeme (December 14, 2020). "Sci-Fi Comic 'Chariot' to Hit Stores in March". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
30. McMillan, Graeme (January 15, 2021). "Pandemic Sci-Fi Comic 'The Resistance' Returns in New 'Uprising'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
31. Tantimedh, Adi (January 25, 2021). "Marjorie Finnegan: AWA Teases Garth Ennis' Time Travel Caper Comedy". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
32. Johnston, Rich (March 19, 2021). "J Michael Straczynski and Mike Choi Launch Moths #1 From AWA in June". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
33. Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Babylon 5's Joe Michael Straczynski to Write Resistance Spinoff, "Moths", From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
34. Burdette, Chad (January 25, 2021). "Frank Cho returns to comics with Fight Girls from AWA Publishing". comic-watch.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
35. Avila, Mike (May 13, 2021). "Mark Russell's 'Not All Robots' is a parable of toxic masculinity & AI supremacy in our capitalist hellscape". Syfy Wire. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
36. Avila, Mike (June 11, 2021). "Imagine a world with millions of telepaths. J. Michael Straczynski did, and wrote a comic about it". Syfy Wire. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
37. "AWA Studios announces Out from Rob Williams, Will Conrad and Marco Lesko". Graphic Policy. July 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
38. Johnston, Rich (August 17, 2021). "Gregg Hurwitz & Mark Texeira's Knighted, Batman Of The AWA Universe". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
39. Dyce, Andrew (September 16, 2021). "Horror Anthology HOTELL Returns For Volume 2 This December (Exclusive)". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
40. Dyce, Andrew (September 7, 2021). "'Crimson Cage' is The Comic Wrestling Fans Have Been Waiting For (Exclusive)". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
41. Johnston, Rich (October 24, 2021). "Jeff McComsey, Lee Loughridge, Mike Deodato's The Fourth Man from AWA". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
42. Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "The Daily Show's Al Madrigal to Write New Comic, "Primos", For AWA". Bleeding Cool.
43. Mega, Al (December 28, 2021). "AWA announces Hit Me, a female driven crime thriller comic book series from creator Christa Faust and artist Priscilla Petraites". comiccrusaders.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
44. King, Samantha (January 22, 2022). "Writer of Barbaric Pens New Fantastic Four-Style Superhero Comic". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
45. Brooke, David (February 23, 2022). "Devil's Highway Vol. 2 sets to crank up the paranoia and speed". Adventures in Poor Taste. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
46. MacNamee, Olly (March 17, 2022). "AWA Studios Announces New Sci-Fi Anthology 'Newthink'". comicon.com. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
47. "AWA Studios' High School Superhero Returns in E-Ratic: Recharged Volume 2". Comics. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
48. "AWA unveils Mark Russell and Ramon Rosanas's "Rumpus Room"". Multiversity Comics. June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
49. Brooke, David (August 16, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE AWA Studios First Look: Red Light #1". Adventures in Poor Taste. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
50. Chiu-Tabet, Christopher (November 16, 2023). "J. Michael Straczynski and Mike Choi to Weave a Superhero Romance in "U And I"". Multiversity Comics. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
51. Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Margaret Stohl's "The Amazing Ordinary", From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
52. Johnston, Rich (September 24, 2019). "AWA to Publish Mystery Giant Ape Comic, "The Cong – Gorilla Warfare"". Bleeding Cool.
53. "AWA Studios – YT Savior".
54. Johnston, Rich (July 8, 2019). "Ales Kot's "Savior" Gets a Name Change to "YT S@vior" for AWA". bleedingcool.
55. Whalen, Andrew (September 24, 2019). "UPCOMING COMIC 'SAVIOR' STARS CORPORATE FASCIST MEGACHURCH MESSIAH". newsweek.
56. Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Jeff McComsey and Javier Pulido's Universal Healthcare Comic, "ET ER" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
57. Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 12, 2021). "'Top Gun: Maverick' Helmer Joseph Kosinski To Direct 'Chariot,' Graphic Novel Adaptation Won By Warner Bros; Julian Meiojas Scripting, 21 Laps Producing". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
58. Kroll, Justin (June 22, 2022). "Elle Callahan To Write And Direct Adaptation Of Graphic Novel 'Hotell' As AWA Studios Ramps Up Slate". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
59. Complex, Valerie (December 1, 2022). "AWA Studios Partners With LuckyChap Entertainment For Feature Film Adaptation Of Garth Ennis Graphic Novel 'Marjorie Finnegan, Temporal Criminal'". Deadline. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
60. Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). ""Marjorie Finnegan, Temporal Criminal" by Garth Ennis, From AWA, to Be Announced at NYCC". Bleeding Cool.

External links

• Official website

• Comic book publishing companies of the United States