Photo by Jerry Frissen
Eisner award-winning author Mark Waid has been announced as the new publisher for the LA-based publishing house Humanoids! In case you aren’t familiar, Humanoids is a publisher that specializes in science fiction and fantasy graphic novels, especially European titles that may not get the attention they deserve in the stateside market. Humanoids made their mark on the industry by bringing works by Jodorowsky, Mœbius, Gimenez, and Manara to American readers, and company CEO Fabrice Giger hopes to continue this legacy while pushing new creative initiatives.
Enter Mark Waid, an acclaimed author with credits spanning such legacy titles as Daredevil, The Flash, Superman, Star Wars, and many more. Since partnering with Humanoids as the Director of Creative Development in 2018, Waid has helped the brand develop a number of new publishing initiatives including Life Drawn (a more literary and personal imprint) and BIG (an all ages imprint). From CEO Fabrice Giger: “With his passion for publishing, respect for the medium’s past, attention to today’s political and cultural landscapes, and keen eye for spotting talent, Mark Waid is perfectly suited to lead the Humanoids publishing team as the new Publisher of Humanoids English-language efforts. We are thrilled with the work that Mark has done and it was time to expand his responsibilities. It’s a significant passing of the baton.”
This announcement comes just in time for the publisher to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Incal by Alejandro Jodorowsky and artist Mœbius, for which they will be releasing a special anniversary edition of the book April 29th in comic book stores and in other outlets in early June. Humanoids has also detailed its major releases for the rest of the year, including:
We Are Humanoids Featuring the Incal, An All-New Free Comic Book Day Issue by writer Mark Waid and artist Stéphane Roux (May 2)– what better way to get acquainted with the series than with its first story in over a decade, and one which was written with new readers in mind.
The Seven Lives of Alejandro Jodorowsky compiled and curated by Vincent Bernière & Nicolas Tellop (May 12)– a coffee table book which provides insight into Jodorowsky’s many creative endeavors from film to comics and even Tarot.
The First-Ever Trade Paperback of Barbarella by Jean-Claude Forest Adapted by bestselling writer KellySue DeConnick (June 17)– “Barbarella is iconic,” said BITCH PLANET writer and co-creator KellySue DeConnick. “But more people know the film than the comic, and The Wrath of the Minute Eater is virtually unknown here in the States. I feel lucky to have played a role in making it available to English audiences. I love it. It’s dark, and somehow even more insane than the original.”
Metal Hurlant: Selected Works (March 17)– While the original Metal Hurlant was created in Paris in 1974, Humanoids published a new anthology series in 2002. This book will compile highlights from the Humanoids anthology series, including stories from Geoff Johns, Kurt Busiek, Guy Davis, Jerome Opena, and more.
And that’s not including originals and other planned releases throughout the year– keep an eye on Humanoids here to keep up to date on new releases.
