Starhead Comix was an alternative/undergroundcomicspublisher that operated from 1984–c. 1999.[1] Founded by Michael Dowers, Starhead was based in Seattle, Washington. Mostly known for limited-edition minicomics, Starhead also published standard-sized, black-and-white comics in the early 1990s.
Self-described "hippie"[2] Michael Dowers discovered minicomics in 1982[2] and was immediately enthralled by the form. He began writing, drawing, printing, copying, and distributing his own mini comics (under the name Nessie Productions), and by 1984 formed Starhead Comix to publish his work and that of fellow cartoonists, including Ronald Roach, Steve Willis and J. R. Williams.
In the late 1980s, Starhead experimented with standard format comics, and from 1991–1995 the company focused almost exclusively on this form, often publishing Pacific Northwest-based creators like Dennis P. Eichhorn, Forney, Gregory, Lasky, Colin Upton, and J. R. Williams.
The company's last few years were limited to publishing reprints and updates of the pornographicTijuana Bibles from the 1930s.
In 1999, publisher Dowers retired the Starhead Comix name and created Brownfield Press to sell remaining titles and occasionally publish new projects.[1]
In 2010, Fantagraphics Books published Newave!: The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s, a nearly 900-page collection of minicomics (many of which originally saw print via Starhead), edited by Dowers. This was followed in 2013 by Dowers' Treasury of Mini Comics — Volume One, also published by Fantagraphics (ISBN978-1606996577).
Titles (selected)Edit
MinicomicsEdit
3R Cosmix (8 issues, 1984–1986) — Ronald Roach
Skinboy Fights Back (1984) ---- J. R. Williams
Armageddonquest (1984–1986) — Ronald Roach; followed by a full-size comics series in 1994
Exquisite Corpse Comix (1985–1990) — anthology
Morty the Dog (2 issues, 1987) — Steve Willis
Outside In (7 issues, 1984–1985) — numbering continued from self-published Steve Willis title
Seattle Star (1985–1990) — newsprint tabloid-size
Starhead Presents (3 issues, 1987) — anthology
ComicsEdit
Amazing Adventures of Ace International (1 issue, 1993) — Dennis Eichhorn
Armageddonquest (3 issues, 1994) — Ronald Roach
Artistic Licentiousness (3 issues, 1991–1994) — Roberta Gregory
Chrislip, Bruce. "Starhead Comics: Art for Art's Sake," Subliminal Tattoos #4 (Spring 1995), pp. 25-28.
External linksEdit
Brownfield Press website
Brownfield Press website on Tripod
R. K. Sloane's Curse of the Baby Monster, from Starhead Presents #2
Starhead Comix at Open Library
October 20, 2023
starhead, comix, alternative, underground, comics, publisher, that, operated, from, 1984, 1999, founded, michael, dowers, starhead, based, seattle, washington, mostly, known, limited, edition, minicomics, starhead, also, published, standard, sized, black, whit. Starhead Comix was an alternative underground comics publisher that operated from 1984 c 1999 1 Founded by Michael Dowers Starhead was based in Seattle Washington Mostly known for limited edition minicomics Starhead also published standard sized black and white comics in the early 1990s Starhead ComixIndustryMinicomics comicsGenreAlternative undergroundFounded1984FounderMichael DowersDefunct1999HeadquartersSeattle Washington United StatesCreators associated with Starhead included Dennis Eichhorn Ellen Forney Roberta Gregory David Lasky Pat Moriarity Art Penn Ed Big Daddy Roth J R Williams Steve Willis and Dennis Worden Contents 1 History 2 Titles selected 2 1 Minicomics 2 2 Comics 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Sources consulted 4 External linksHistory EditSelf described hippie 2 Michael Dowers discovered minicomics in 1982 2 and was immediately enthralled by the form He began writing drawing printing copying and distributing his own mini comics under the name Nessie Productions and by 1984 formed Starhead Comix to publish his work and that of fellow cartoonists including Ronald Roach Steve Willis and J R Williams In the late 1980s Starhead experimented with standard format comics and from 1991 1995 the company focused almost exclusively on this form often publishing Pacific Northwest based creators like Dennis P Eichhorn Forney Gregory Lasky Colin Upton and J R Williams The company s last few years were limited to publishing reprints and updates of the pornographic Tijuana Bibles from the 1930s In 1999 publisher Dowers retired the Starhead Comix name and created Brownfield Press to sell remaining titles and occasionally publish new projects 1 In 2010 Fantagraphics Books published Newave The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s a nearly 900 page collection of minicomics many of which originally saw print via Starhead edited by Dowers This was followed in 2013 by Dowers Treasury of Mini Comics Volume One also published by Fantagraphics ISBN 978 1606996577 Titles selected EditMinicomics Edit 3R Cosmix 8 issues 1984 1986 Ronald Roach Skinboy Fights Back 1984 J R Williams Armageddonquest 1984 1986 Ronald Roach followed by a full size comics series in 1994 Exquisite Corpse Comix 1985 1990 anthology Morty the Dog 2 issues 1987 Steve Willis Outside In 7 issues 1984 1985 numbering continued from self published Steve Willis title Seattle Star 1985 1990 newsprint tabloid size Starhead Presents 3 issues 1987 anthologyComics Edit Amazing Adventures of Ace International 1 issue 1993 Dennis Eichhorn Armageddonquest 3 issues 1994 Ronald Roach Artistic Licentiousness 3 issues 1991 1994 Roberta Gregory Bezango Obscuro 1 issue 1994 Steve Willis Big Black Thing 1 issue 1994 Colin Upton Big Mouth 2 issues 1992 1993 Pat Moriarity Bumber Comix 2 issues 1985 1988 second issue published with a grant from the Bumbershoot Arts Festival Cruel and Unusual Punishment 2 issues 1993 1994 Fun House 1 issue 1993 J R Williams Hemp for Victory 1 issue 1995 The Mutant Book of the Dead 1 issue 1994 Mack White Northwest Cartoon Cookery 1 issue 1995 edited by Dennis Eichhorn Rat Fink Comix 1 issue 1987 Ed Big Daddy Roth Real Schmuck 1 issue 1993 Dennis Eichhorn Seattle Sketchbook 1 issue 1995 David Collier Stickboy 2 issues 1993 1995 Dennis Worden numbering continues from Fantagraphics Books Revolutionary Comics title The Tijuana Bible 9 issues 1994 1998 reprints of stories from the 1930s Tomato 2 issues 1994 1995 Ellen ForneyReferences EditNotes Edit a b Sandall Simon Michael Dowers p3 Reader s Voice Mar 1 2013 a b Dowers Michael Introduction Newave The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s edited by Michael Dowers Fantagraphics 2010 Sources consulted Edit Starhead Comix at the Grand Comics Database Starhead Comix at the Comic Book DB archived from the original Chrislip Bruce Starhead Comics Art for Art s Sake Subliminal Tattoos 4 Spring 1995 pp 25 28 External links EditBrownfield Press website Brownfield Press website on Tripod R K Sloane s Curse of the Baby Monster from Starhead Presents 2 Starhead Comix at Open Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Starhead Comix amp oldid 1131546140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
