Moonstone Books
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Key people | Joe Gentile (Editor-in-chief) |
| Products | Comic books, graphic novels, prose fiction |
| Website | www |
Moonstone Books is an American publishing company located in Chicago, specializing in comic book, graphic novel, and prose fiction primarily within the pulp fiction genres, such as horror and westerns.
Established in 1995, Moonstone began by releasing creator-owned comic titles. From 2001 onward, the company expanded its portfolio to include licensed properties like Zorro, Doc Savage, The Avenger, Buckaroo Banzai, Bulldog Drummond, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Mr. Moto, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, The Phantom, Honey West, along with several series set in White Wolf's World of Darkness. This approach has enhanced Moonstone’s industry footprint and expanded its audience reach.
Participants
The editor-in-chief, Joe Gentile, plays a pivotal role in both management and creative writing. Moonstone collaborates with a wide array of distinguished writers and artists including Eric M. Esquivel, Mike Bullock, Chuck Dixon, Ben Raab, Rafael Nieves, Peter David, Graham Nolan, Nancy Holder, Tom Mandrake, Richard Dean Starr, Paul Storrie, Mike W. Barr, and Tom DeFalco. This talented team underpins Moonstone’s strong position within the competitive comic publishing sector.
The Phantom
Moonstone’s premier series is The Phantom, inspired by Lee Falk's legendary superhero comic strip. The company earned recognition as the first U.S. publisher to produce new Phantom comic book narratives since Marvel Comics concluded their Phantom 2040 run in 1995.
Beginning in 2002, Moonstone published Phantom graphic novels written by Tom DeFalco, Ben Raab, and Ron Goulart. The following year saw the launch of an ongoing Phantom comic series featuring writers such as Ben Raab, Rafael Nieves, and Chuck Dixon, alongside artists like Pat Quinn and Carlos Magno. From 2006, under Mike Bullock’s editorial guidance, the series maintained a more reliable release schedule.
Moonstone has introduced innovative elements to this franchise, including the 2006 origin revision titled "Legacy" and the adoption of a widescreen storytelling format with "Law of the Jungle." Additional projects encompass a Phantom Annual and collections of prose short stories. As Moonstone’s top-selling title, The Phantom plays a crucial role in driving the company's revenue and enhancing its market presence.
Moonstone Noir
In January 2002, Moonstone Books revealed plans to adapt the radio drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar into a quarterly graphic novel series within their Noir Fiction line. This project, led by former Marvel.com writer/editor David Gallaher alongside creator Eric Theriault, represented one of their most authentic portrayals of a classic noir figure. Despite this promising start, the series was not extended beyond its initial issue.
Moonstone Monsters
The license for producing adaptations based on White Wolf Games' "Classic World of Darkness" has since been transferred to Vault Comics.
Kolchak the Night Stalker
Moonstone produces new narratives inspired by the television series Kolchak: The Night Stalker, including multiple graphic novels alongside an ongoing comic book series. Plans are also underway for a "wide vision" graphic novel.
Buckaroo Banzai
Since 2006, Moonstone has released comic adaptations centered on Buckaroo Banzai, extending story arcs from the 1984 movie The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension that were not fully explored in the film.
Prose anthologies
After the commercial triumph of a Stoker Award-nominated Kolchak prose anthology, Moonstone followed up with new collections featuring The Phantom and The Spider. Additional anthologies have been announced for The Avenger, Doc Savage, and two volumes dedicated to Lone Ranger.
Comics
Moonstone's catalog comprises:
- Airboy
- Angeltown: The Nate Hollis Investigations
- Buckaroo Banzai
- Blackest Terror
- Bulldog Drummond
- Boston Blackie
- Captain Action
- The Cisco Kid
- C.L.A.S.H.
- The Domino Lady
- Evilman
- The Hat Squad
- Honey West
- Kolchak the Night Stalker
- Moonstone Monsters
- Mr. Keen
- Mr. Nightmare's Wonderful World
- Pat Novak for Hire
- The Phantom
- Psychotic Reaction'
- Rotten
- The Silencers
- Thor: Unkillable Thunder Christ
- WhiteWolf Gaming
- Wyatt Earp: Dodge City
- Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
Sources