Slave Labor Goes Disney
This story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on February 21, 2006 Sign up now!
by Chris Arrant, PW Comics Week -- Publishers Weekly, 2/21/2006
Slave Labor Graphics, based in San Jose, Calif., has exhibited in New York City before, but the comics publisher's appearance at the inaugural New York Comic-Con gives it a chance to show off the fruits of a new copublishing venture with Disney Publishing.
An independent publishing house known both for fostering new talent and for its roster of edgy, comically gruesome titles, Slave Labor Graphics has expanded its list with several comics based on Disney characters. New Disney-generated titles like Haunted Mansion and Tron: The Ghost in the Machine join long-time Slave Labor books like Serena Valentino's Gloom Cookie, Evan Dorkin's Milk & Cheese and Roman Dirge's Lenore in an idiosyncratic blend guaranteed to please both comics mavens and new fans alike.
"The deal with the Disney comics is to do stories and comics in a style that appeals to an older audience than is normally associated with a Disney brand," says Dan Vado, publisher of Slave Labor. Indeed, Slave Labor is taking these Disney classics beyond the endings we all know and using its popular writers and artists to develop new adventures.
Several creators are at the Slave Labor Graphics booth (#525) to promote both their own books and their work on the Disney titles. The featured guests include Roman Dirge (Lenore; Tron), Landry Walker (The Super Crazy Monster Show; Tron), Evan Dorkin (Milk & Cheese; Dork) and others. In addition to being one-half of the creative team behind Tron, Dirge will also debut his third Lenorecollection. Dorkin will give fans a first look at new Milk & Cheese vinyl toys, which will be on sale this summer. Check out the artwork for the upcoming Gargoyles and Wonderland series, also part of the Disney deal.
Rounding out the events, Slave Labor Graphics will have a company panel on Sunday at 2 p.m., featuring a slideshow of upcoming releases and a Q&A with several of the creators.
