Alias Enterprises

Infobox Company
company_name = Alias Enterprises
company_
company_type = Private
genre = Comics
foundation = 2005
founder = Brett Burner and Mike S. Miller
location_city = San Diego, California
location_country = USA
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homepage = [http://www.aliasenterprises.com www.aliasenterprises.com]
dissolved =
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Alias Enterprises is a US publishing company. Their main divisions are Alias Comics (all-ages comic books) and Cross Culture (Christian comic books). Based in San Diego, California, it was founded in January 2005 by Brett Burner and Mike S. Miller. They publish comics such as "Lullaby", "The 10th Muse", "The Legend of Isis", and "Sixgun Samurai".

History

Alias was founded by artist Mike S. Miller and publisher Brett Burner (also owner of Lamp Post Publications [http://www.lamppostpubs.com/] ). In January 2005, they launched their first productions through Image Comics filling a virtually untapped market with three all-ages titles: "Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker", "Lions, Tigers and Bears", and "The Imaginaries". All three were successful projects in the independent marketplace, particularly "Lullaby", which has seen continuing success since its initial release. In 2005, Alias expanded into a self-publishing company, with plans to launch 12 titles in April of that year with cover prices of 75 cents. The titles all shipped late and were released irregularly afterwards, but landed them a spot with Diamond Comic Distributors as a Top 20 Publisher.

Alias Comics offered 25 cent preview issues, 75 cent introductory issues, and 50 thousand copies of free (to retailer) preview books called 'the Comic Book Digest' as marketing efforts, but continued to have problems with shipping. In mid 2005, Alias chose to move its comic printing stateside, but due to the accumulation of problems at the Domestic printer, decided to go back to its original partner in South Korea. The subsequent lapse in shipping, going from a domestic printer to a South Korean printer resulted in a two to three month lapse in delivery of Alias comic books to comic stores. Being gone from the shelves for so long created several problems for the fledgling company, causing a loss of retailer and consumer confidence.

Nearly a year after opening their doors, several Alias comic book creators began to leave the publisher, citing various concerns. In 2005, studios Monkey Pharmacy, Runemaster Studios, and Dabel Brothers Productions stopped producing books for publication by Alias.

In November 2005, Alias underwent a restructuring plan [http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/news/113155875863035.htm (PR)] . Its publisher, Brett Burner, purchased majority shares of the company in order to take control of the company's financial records.

In March 2006, Alias announced a new policy toward its creators requiring work to be completed and in-hand before being solicited for publication, citing an effort to maintain a more exact release schedule [http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=62913 (PR)] .

In 2006, Alias signed an agreement [http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Kidz/Kidz+ZGraphic+Novels.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan] with Christian publisher Zondervan to produce twenty-four manga or graphic novels to be released over the next few years through its Cross Culture division, consisting of three eight-book series. These titles include: "Hand of the Morningstar", "Kingdoms", and "The Manga Bible".

Also in 2006, Alias' Christian division 'Cross Culture Entertainment' began publication of "Bubblemag", a Christian pop culture magazine http://www.bubblemag.com

In Fall 2006, Alias executives announced his intention to rebrand Alias Comics as a Christian comic company. Within a few weeks, Abacus Comics opened for business. Abacus Comics is owned solely by Miller, and was opened for the express purpose of publishing several of his "creator-owned" titles which were initially run through Alias Comics.

In 2007, Lamp Post Inc. obtained full rights to all of Alias and Cross Culture properties, placing them under its label.

Publications

In alphabetical order:

* "" (2005-2006) by Ben Avery and Sherwin Schwartzrock
* "Atomik Mike" (2006+) by Stephan Nilson
* "The Blackbeard Legacy" (2006+)
* "Chrono Mechanics" (2006+) by Art Thibert and Richard Birdsall
* "" (2005) by Royden Lepp
* "David's Mighty Men" (2005) by Javier Saltares
* "Deal with the Devil" (2005) by Mike S. Miller and Sherwin Schwartzrock [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3if1d4beff617a2bbe9117770f1cd95234 Lionsgate picks up 'Devil'] , "Hollywood Reporter", May 9, 2008]
* "The Devil's Keeper" (2005+) by Mike S. Miller/Sean Jordan and Carlos Paul
* "The Dreamland Chronicles" (2005+) by Scott Christian Sava
* "The Hammer Kid" (2006) by Kevin Grevioux
* "Hyper-Actives" volume 1 (2005-2006) by Darin Wagner & Clint Hilinski
* "Judo Girl" (2005+) by Darren G. Davis, Terrance Griep, Nadir Balan
* "Killer Stunts, Inc." (2005) by Scott Kinney
* "Legacy Manga Digest" (2005) by Carmen Trifilleti and Edu Francisco
* "The Legend of Isis" (2005) by Ryan Scott Ottney, Darren G. Davis, et al.
* "Lethal Instinct" (2005+) [http://www.lethalinstinct.com/]
* "Lullaby" volume 2 (2005+) by Mike S. Miller & Hector Sevilla
* "Monkey in a Wagon vs. Lemur on a Big Wheel" (2005) by Ken Lillie-Paetz and Chris Moreno
* "Opposite Forces" volume 2 (2005) by Tom Bancroft
* "Orion the Hunter" (2006)
* "OZF5" (2005) by Ramon Madrigal and Ryan Ottley
* "Pakkins' Land" volume 2 (2005+) by Gary Shipman
* "Psi-Kix" (2005+)
* "Revere" (2006+) by Ed Lavallee and Grant Bond (cartoonist)
* "Sixgun Samurai" (2005+) by Mike S. Miller, Sean Jordan and Harold Edge
* "Super Teen*topia" (2006+) by Kirk Kushin
* "" (2005) by Jim Keplinger & Ryan Ottley
* "Tenth Muse" volume 2 (2005+) by Darren G. Davis and various
* "Twin Blades" (2006+) by Adrian Todd and Ryan Odagawa
* "Valkyries" (2006+) by Kevin Grevioux
* "Victoria's Secret Service" (2005) by Darren G. Davis & Nadir Balan
* "Yenny" volume 2 (2005+) by David Alvarez

Comics that went to other venues after publication at Alias:

* "Elsinore" (went to Devil's Due Publishing)
* "Lions, Tigers and Bears" (went to Image Comics)
* "XIII" (uncensored TPBs by Dabel Brothers Productions)

Comics that came to Alias after initial publication at another venue:

* "Chrono Mechanics" (came from Image Comics)

Cancelled Alias comics:

* "The Gimoles"

Circulation

According to the sales estimates from industry resource site ICv2 [http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html] , Alias' top-selling monthly comics for their first year were:

* (2005.05) 4,945 copies (rank 188) for "10th Muse Volume 2 #1" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7058.html]
* (2005.06) 7,836 copies (rank 214) for "Lethal Instinct #1" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7257.html]
* (2005.07) 4,005 copies (rank 203) for "Legend of Isis #2" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7375.html]
* (2005.08) 3,546 copies (rank 242) for "Legend of Isis #3" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7534.html]
* (2005.09) 3,286 copies (rank 222) for "XIII #2" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7710.html]
* (2005.10) 3,352 copies (rank 243) for "Legend of Isis #4" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7812.html]
* (2005.11) 7,432 copies (rank 195) for "Lullaby #1" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7956.html]
* (2005.12) 3,038 copies (rank 251) for "Legend of Isis #7" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/8067.html]
* (2006.01) 3,886 copies (rank 208) for "Lullaby #2" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/8247.html]
* (2006.02) -- no issue shipped, only a TPB [http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/8384.html]
* (2006.03) 3,909 copies (rank 261) for "Victoria's Secret Service #1" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/8516.html]
* (2006.04) 4,701 copies (rank 210) for "Lullaby #3" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/8714.html]
* (2006.05) 2,959 copies (rank 291) for "Blackbeard Legacy #1" [http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/8855.html]

(Those are only initial pre-order sales via Diamond U.S. and do not include possible reorders or sales through other channels.)

Notes

References

* [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6298175.html "The Class of 2005: A Tough Year for Comics Start-Ups"] - January 2006 look at Alias' and Speakeasy's problems (by Heidi MacDonald at Publishers Weekly)
* [http://www.newsarama.com/images/interviews/2006/alias/AliasSoU.htm "State of the Union 2006: Alias"] - February 2006 short interview with Mike S. Miller about 2005 and 2006 for Alias and Cross Culture (by Rik Offenberger at Newsarama).
* [http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/113211991654130.htm "Night of Fire: Stop The Presses & Alter Ego"] - November 2005 items (6th and 7th) about the Lamp Post controversy, and the Mike S. Miller homophobia controversy (by Blair Marnell's All The Rage at SBC)

External links

* [http://www.aliasenterprises.com Alias Enterprises.com] - Official website