IC Comics
Native name | புலனாய்வாளர் காமிக்ஸ் |
|---|---|
| Industry | Comic book publishing |
| Genre | |
| Founded | 1934 as Allied Princess Publications |
| Founder | Maitrayei Nathiya |
| Headquarters | Hampi , |
Key people |
|
Number of employees | ~300 |
IC Comics, Inc. (or simply IC) is a Tennaiite comic book publisher and the flagship unit of IC Entertainment, a subsisdiary of Maximum Entertainment.
IC Comics is one of the largest and oldest Tennaiite comic book companies, with their first comic under the IC banner being published in 1935. The majority of its publications take place within the fictional IC Universe and feature numerous culturally iconic characters, such as Powerwoman, Nightwatch, and Balam. It is widely known for some of the most famous and recognizable teams including the League of Truth, Truth Society of Tennai, and the Young Devas. The universe also features a large number of well-known supervillians such as Reveler, Latangi Lolla, and Vas. The company has also published non-IC Universe material including Guardians, Vengeance Squared, and Legends and many other under their alternative imprint Delirium.
Firebird House Publisher Services distributes, IC Comics' books to the bookstore market, while Lapis Comic Distributors supplies the comic shop direct market. IC Comics and its longtime major competitor Amazing Comics shared approximately 70% of the Tennaiite comic book market in 2016, though the number may give a distorted view since graphic novels are excluded. With the sales of all books included, IC is the second biggest publisher , after Visionary Media, and Amazing is third.
History
Foundation Era
Entrepeneur Squadron Leader Maitrayei Nathiya founded Allied Princess Publications in January of 1934 intended as a Tennaiite comic book publishing company. The first publishing of the company debuted with the tabloid-sized New Adventure: The Big Comic Magazine #1 (the first of a comic series later called More Adventure Comics) with cover date of May 1935. An anthology title essential for containing original stories not reprinted from newspaper strips unlike many comic book series before. While superhero comics are what IC Comics is known for througought modern times, the genres in the anthology titles consisted of funnies, historical fiction, and adventure-related stories starting out. The character Professor Magic, created by Jeyanthana Sithura and Juvethiga Srijana in the November 1935 within the issue No. 5 of New Adventure Comics is considered as the earliest recurring superhero created by IC that is still used. The company created a second recurring title called New Comics No. 1 released in December 1935 which would be the start of the long-running Explore Comics series featuring many anthology titles as well.
Following the outbreak of the Siduri War in April 1934, Maitrayei Nathiya enlisted in the Royal Tennaiite Air Force in January of 1935. Prior to Nathiya departing for military service she left the operation of Allied Princess Publications with her sister Keshana (who was unable enlist or be drafted into military service because of a prior injury) and her husband Roshan. During the course of the war, Nathiya's publications continued to print and included many stories involving the conflict in some form or another. Stories involving various heroes combating the "evil" Inner Sphere were commonplace. The stories of this period are also known for their higlhy stereotyped and frequently racist depictions of both Syarans and Shirvaniyans. The Siduri War had large impact on Maitrayei Nathiya and following her return to Allied Princess she launched her final title, Investigator Comics which premiered in July 1938. The themed anthology that revolved originally on fictional detective stories became in modern times the longest-running ongoing comic series. A notable debut in the first issue was Punch Bachu (Bijli Bachu) created in contribution by Mullai Pasumarti, Joti Setu, and Jhoomer Sanam. In 1938 Nathiya began displaying syptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder related to her time of service in the Siduri War. It was because of the state of her mental health at this time that she made Keshana and Roshan co-owners and managers of her business in order to help with the publication of Investigator Comics No. 1. Investigator Comics, Inc. (which would help inspire the IC abbreviation) was formed, with Maitrayei and Keshana as owners. Squadron Leader Maitrayei Nathiya remained for a year, but her mental health continued to decline, and she resigned as the owner of both her companies. Shortly afterwards, Investigator Comics, Inc. purchased the remains of Allied Princess, also known as Nathiya Publishing.
Meanwhile, Madhurbaen Sera Ghera, formed the sister company Absolutely Tennaiite Publications around 1938. Investigator Comics, Inc. soon launched a new anthology title, entitled Dash Comics. Issue#1, cover dated June 1938 first featured characters such as Powerwoman by Sithura and Srijana, Zalala by Gajanika Gourangi, and Thangam Thamayanthi by Kamya Gadiyaram and Bhairavi Bandhura. It is considered the first comic book to feature the new character archetype—soon known as "superheroes" and was a sales hit bringing to life a new age of comic books with the credit going to the first appearance of Powerwoman both being featured on the cover and within the issue. It is now one of the most valuable and expensive comic book issues of all time. The issue's first featured tale which starred Powerwoman was the first to feature an origin story of heroes with the reveal of an unnamed planet later known as Montol that she is said to be from. The issue also containe the first essential supporting character in comics with Laheerthya Larsha as Powerwoman's first depicted romantic interest. The Vermillion Wasp-inspired character known as the Red Vindicator by Jekana Bramila was featured in Investigator Comics No. 20 (October 1939). The character makes the distintion of being the first masked vigilante published by IC. An unnamed "office girl" retonned as Jaaprada Nanda's first appearance was revealed in Dash Comics #6's (November 1938) Powerwoman story by Sithura and Srijana.
Starting 1939, Sithura and Srijana's Powerwoman would be the first comic derived character to appear outside of comic magazines and later appear in newspaper strips starring herself which first introduced Powerwoman's biological parents, Jai-Lal and Laka. Absolutely Tennaiite Publications' first comic series called Absolutely Tennaiite Comics was first published in April 1939. The series of Investigator Comics would make successful history as first featuring Nightwatch by Bakya Kavishaya and Bobitha Gangi in issue#27 (March 1939) with the request of more superhero titles. Nightwatch was depicted as masked vigilante depicted wearing a suit known as as the Nightsuit along with riding a car that would later be referred to as the Nightcar. Also within the Nightwatch story was the supporting character Janana Amogha, Police commissioner of what later would be Gothal City Police Department.
Platinum Era
Golden Era
Silver Era
Bronze Era
Modern Era
2000s
2010s
2020s
IC Entertainment
Logo
Imprints
IC Universe Max
IC Universe Max is a video on demand service operated by IC Entertainment. It was announced in July 2015 with the title and service formally starting operations in April of 2016. IC Universe Max also includes IC Universe Unlimited, a comic-centric platform, comparable to Amazing Endless, offering IC's entire back catalog of comics, as well as new titles six months after their on-sale date.