Bongo Comics Group

Bongo Comics Group
Status Defunct, 2018
Founded 1993 (1993)
Founders Matt Groening, Steve Vance, Cindy Vance, Bill Morrison
Country of origin United States
Headquarters location Santa Monica, California
Distribution United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa
Key people Nathan Kane, creative director
Matt Groening, publisher
Publication types Comics
Fiction genres Comedy
Official website www.bongocomics.com

Bongo Comics Group is a comic book publishing company founded in 1993 by Matt Groening along with Steve & Cindy Vance and Bill Morrison.[1] It published comics related to the animated television series The Simpsons and Futurama, as well as the SpongeBob SquarePants comic; along with original material. It was named after Bongo, a rabbit character in Groening's comic strip Life in Hell.

Bongo has, at some time in its history, printed Simpsons Comics, Simpsons Comics and Stories, Futurama Comics, Krusty Comics, Lisa Comics, Bart Simpson, Bartman, Itchy & Scratchy Comics and Radioactive Man.

Zongo Comics, also created by Groening, was Bongo Comics' counterpart geared towards older audiences.

History

The original Bongo Comics logo.

Groening launched Bongo Comics Group in 1993, perceiving a lack of funny books in the comic book industry at the time: "I go into comic book stores and look at all the stuff, and, for the most part, it looks like fairly grim science-fiction and superhero stuff ... I guess I just thought there was room out there for funny comic books."[2] The company launched four titles, the bi-monthly Simpsons Comics and Radioactive Man Vol. 1, and the thrice-annually Itchy & Scratchy Comics and Bartman.[2] Groening hoped that the new company would revitalise the industry, and held discussions to publish cross-overs with characters from other publishing companies.[2] The comics use original story-lines rather than simply adapt episodes of the television series, although in 2011 editor Bill Morrison explained that the stories "fit in with the continuity of the shows."[3]

The company launched Futurama Comics, based on the cartoon series of the same name in 2000.[4]

2012 saw the company change their logo, and a new creative director was unveiled, with Nathan Kane promoted internally to replace the departing Bill Morrison.[5]

It was announced at San Diego Comic Con in July 2018 that all publishing would cease in October 2018. Simpsons Comics #245 was the final issue released by Bongo.[6]

All series

Single issue publications

  • Bongo Comics Group Spectacular (1993)
  • Simpsons Comics and Stories (1993)
  • The Official History of Bongo Comics (Fall 1993)
  • Bartman and Radioactive Man #1 (1994)
  • Lisa Comics (April 1995)
  • Bart Simpson's Joke Book (June 1995)
  • Futurama Comics #1 (July 2000) A 2000 San Diego Comic-Con variant of Futurama Comics #1.
  • Free Comic Book Day: Gimme! Gimme! Giveaway! (2005)
  • Radioactive Man #711 (July 2007) Promotional comic available only at 7-Eleven.
  • Futurama Returns (July 2007) A 2007 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive.
  • Delivery-Boy Man (July 2010) A 2010 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive.
  • The Simpsons Best Superhero Stories Ever! The Collector's Edition (July 2011) A San Diego Comic-Con exclusive.
  • Ralph Wiggum Comics (February 2012) First issue of the One-Shot Wonder series.
  • Bart Simpson's Pal, Milhouse (April 2012) Second issue of the One-Shot Wonder series.
  • Li'l Homer Comics (August 2012) Third issue of the One-Shot Wonder series.
  • Maggie (October 2012) Fourth issue of the One-Shot Wonder series.
  • Professor Frink's Fantastic Science Fictions (February 2013) Fifth issue of the One-Shot Wonder series.
  • The Malevolent Mr. Burns (June 2013) Sixth issue of the One-Shot Wonder series.
  • The Wonderful World of Lisa Simpson (December 2013) Seventh issue of the One-Shot Wonder series.
  • Duffman Adventures (April 2014) Eighth issue of the One-Shot Wonder series.
  • Two One-Shot Wonders in One (July 2013) A 2013 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive. It contains The Malevolent Mr. Burns and Professor Frink's Fantastic Science Fictions.
  • The Greatest Bartman Stories Ever Told! (July 2014) A 2014 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive containing an assortment of previously published Bartman stories.

References

  1. ↑ "The Legend of Bongo Comics". Bongo Comics. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Richmond, Ray (27 November 1993). "Groening Enjoying Being Eye Of Hurricane". Times-News. p. 20.
  3. ↑ Laird, Jonathan (6 November 2011). "Writers and Artists of The Simpsons Sign Autographs". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Groening launches 'Futurama Comics'". The Gazette. 19 November 2000.
  5. ↑ Armitage, Hugh (January 28, 2012). "Bongo Comics unveils new logo, creative director". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  6. ↑ Boothby, Ian (25 July 2018). "Just announced in San Diego". Twitter. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
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