Aircel Comics

Aircel Comics (a.k.a. Aircel Publishing) started as a Canadian publisher of comic books. Aircel Comics evolved from Aircel Insulation when the government pulled its contract with Aircel Insulation. Fact|date=May 2007 Aircel started with Barry Blair, Dave Cooper, Patrick McEown, and Guang Yap. 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.

Notable comics and events

In the beginning (1983), Ottawa-based 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 cover illustrations with black-and white-images on newsprint for the interior of the comic book. "Samurai," "Dragonring," and "Elford" were the first publications receiving international attention, featuring line-art manga-styled illustrations. Around 1985, 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 & 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 such as Arthur's & Comico. Aircel's future, like the strong Canadian arts and music industry of the 1980s, was very promising.

Between 1989 & 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. 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. It was first published by Aircel and became a franchise that includes the cartoon "", and the movies "Men In Black" and "Men in Black II".

Financial problems caused Blair to strike a deal with Scott Rosenberg (of Malibu Comics) whereby Malibu would be "lent" Aircel to publish a number of titles, in return for a financial assist. Eventually Aircel's debts were paid off, Blair quit Aircel, handing Aircel over to Malibu. . cite news
url=http://members.aol.com/podium1/blair.html
publisher=The Podium
title=The Podium Interview With Barry Blair
date=December 10, 1995]

Titles (1983-1994)

* "Adventurers"
* "Arthur Sex"
* "Blood N Guts"
* "Body Count"
* "Body Guard"
* "Born To Kill"
* "Carmilla, Casanova"
* "Cat & Mouse"
* "Chaser Platoon"
* "Climaxxx"
* "Cyberlus"
* "Darkewood"
* "Dead Walkers"
* "Debbie Does Dallas"
* "Demon Hunter"
* "Dirty Pictures"
* "Dragonforce"
* "Dragonforce Chronicles"
* "Dragonring"
* "Dragonring" vol. 2
* "Dragons In The Moon"
* "Elflord"
* "Elflord" vol. 2
* "Elflord Chronicles"
* "Erotic Tales"
* "Erotique"
* "Experience"
* "Final Taboo"
* "Fire Team"
* "Flesh Gordon"
* "Full Throttle"
* "Galaxina"
* "Gauntlet"
* "Greenhaven"
* "Greenlock"
* "Gun Fury"
* "Gun Fury Returns"
* "Hardball"
* "Hardkorr"
* "Icarus"
* "Jake Thrash"
* "Jungle Love"
* "Kiku-Sanu"
* "Leather & Lace"
* "Leather & Lace Blood Sex & Tears"
* "Leather & Lace Summer Special"
* "Lizard Lady"
* "Maelstrom"
* "Mara"
* "Mummy's Curse"
* "Mutant Zone"
* "Nocturne"
* "Pendragon"
* "Power"
* "Rated X"
* "Ripper"
* "Samurai"
* "Samurai" vol. 2
* "Samurai" vol. 3
* "Sapphire"
* "Scum Of The Earth"
* "Silver Storm"
* "Southern Squadron"
* "Stark Future"
* "Starstone"
* "Torment"
* "2000 Maniacs"
* "Vampyre Kiss"
* "Vampyre Kiss" vol. 2
* "Vampyre Kiss" vol. 3
* "Warlock 5"
* "Warlock 5" vol. 2
* "Warlocks"

Notes

References

*gcdb publisher|id=1237|title=Aircel Comics
*comicbookdb|type=publisher|id=189|title=Aircel Comics