Aircel Comics

Former type	Comic publisher
Founded	1985
Founder(s)	Barry Blair
Defunct	1994
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Key people	Dave Cooper, Patrick McEown, Guang Yap
Industry	Comics

Aircel Comics (a.k.a. Aircel Publishing) was a Canadian comic book publisher based in Ottawa active between 1985 and 1994. Early on, it merged with American publisher Eternity Comics, itself an imprint of Malibu Comics, and in the late 1980s was taken over by Malibu before ceasing publication.

In the beginning, Aircel focused upon storytelling techniques blending historical & futuristic fantasy from different cultures as the underlying theme for each comic series. The Aircel comic book "style" featured high-quality colour covers with black-and white interiors. Illustrators such as Denis Beauvais and creators such as Dale Keown got their start at Aircel. Charles de Lint also scripted several comic books for Aircel in the mid-1980s.

In the late 1980s Aircel terminated its previous comic book series and pursued sex-themed comics in a partnership with Malibu Comics. After 1990, Aircel achieved some commercial success with the Men in Black comic.

Contents 1 Company history 2 Titles (1985-1994) 2.1 Erotic titles 3 Notes 4 References

[edit] Company history

Aircel Comics evolved from Aircel Insulation when the government pulled its contract with the company.^{[citation needed]} Aircel started with Barry Blair, Dave Cooper, Patrick McEown, and Guang Yap.

Releasing their first books in 1985, Samurai, Dragonring, and Elflord, all of which featured line-art manga-styled illustrations, were the first Aircel publications to receive international attention. In 1985, Aircell merged with the American independent publisher Eternity Comics.^[1] This arrangement later led to disputes over copyright for some of the company's titles.^[2]

In 1986, illustrator Denis Beauvais collaborated with writer Barry Blair to create Warlock 5, highly regarded among international comic collectors at the time, featuring high-realism mixed-media and airbrushing techniques as a unique trademark style. The Maelstrom series was released shortly thereafter. The first editions and back issues of Aircel publications sold for up to $350 each in Ottawa comic-book stores. Aircel's future, like the strong Canadian arts and music industry of the 1980s, was very promising.

Between 1989 and 1990, staff changes at Aircel left their acclaimed comic series in uncertainty. New illustrators assumed responsibility for continuing some of the existing series (e.g. Elford vol. 2, Warlock vol. 2). At the same time, public interest in comic books waned, affecting Aircel's niche market.

Financial problems caused Blair to strike a deal with Scott Mitchell Rosenberg (associated with the American publisher Malibu Comics), whereby Malibu would be "lent" Aircel to publish a number of titles, in return for a financial assist. Aircel terminated its previous comic book series and pursued sex-themed comics in a partnership with Malibu.

After 1990, Aircel achieved some commercial success with the Men in Black comic. It was first published by Aircel and became a franchise that includes the cartoon Men in Black: The Series, and the movies Men In Black and Men in Black II.

Eventually Aircel's debts were paid off, and Blair quit Aircel, handing the company over to Malibu.^[3] Aircel ceased publishing in 1994, when Malibu was bought by Marvel Comics.

[edit] Titles (1985-1994)

Adventurers Bloodlines Blood N Guts Body Count Body Guard Born To Kill Chaser Platoon Cyberlus Darkewood Dead Walkers Demon Hunter Dragonforce Dragonforce Chronicles Dragonring Dragonring vol. 2 Dragons In The Moon Elflord Elflord vol. 2 Elflord Chronicles Fire Team Full Throttle Galaxina Gauntlet Greenhaven Greenlock Gun Fury Gun Fury Returns Hardball Icarus Kiku-Sanu Maelstrom Mara Mummy's Curse Mutant Zone Nocturne Pendragon Power Ripper Samurai Samurai vol. 2 Samurai vol. 3 Sapphire Silver Storm Southern Squadron Stark Future Starstone 2000 Maniacs Warlock 5 Warlock 5 vol. 2 Warlocks

[edit] Erotic titles Arthur Sex Carmilla, Casanova Cat & Mouse Climaxxx Debbie Does Dallas Dirty Pictures Erotic Tales Erotique Experience Final Taboo Flesh Gordon Hardkorr Jake Thrash Jungle Love Leather & Lace Leather & Lace Blood Sex & Tears Leather & Lace Summer Special Lizard Lady Rated X Scum Of The Earth Torment Vampyre Kiss Vampyre Kiss vol. 2 Vampyre Kiss vol. 3

[edit] Notes

[edit] References