NOW Comics

NOW Comics

Company type	Private
Industry	Comic book publishing
Founded	1985
Founder	Tony C. Caputo
Defunct	2006
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois , United States
Area served	United States, international (12 countries)
Key people	Tony C. Caputo
Products	Comic books, graphic novels, licensed properties

NOW Comics was established as a comic book publisher in late 1985 by Tony C. Caputo, initially operating as a sole proprietorship. Within a span of four years, the company evolved from a single-person venture into an international entity distributing nearly 1,000 comic book issues across 12 countries.

Based in the Chicago Loop district of Chicago, Illinois, NOW Comics focused on licensed properties from prominent collaborators including Columbia (Sony) Pictures, Broadway Video, and CBS Entertainment, Inc., among others. Key titles published by the company were Vector, Mr. T & The T-Force, Speed Racer, The Original Astro Boy, Alias, Terminator: The Burning Earth, and The Real Ghostbusters.

History

Starting operations in 1985, NOW Comics released its initial publications by May 1986 and formally incorporated as Caputo Publishing, Inc. in 1987.

During the subsequent four years, CPI expanded its annual revenue from $110,000 to several million dollars, employing nearly 100 staff and freelance contributors. The company attained the third-largest share of the comic book market, trailing only Marvel and DC. Strategic marketing partnerships included promotional tie-ins such as The Real Ghostbusters cereal with Ralston Purina and Slimer's Ecto-Cooler beverage in collaboration with Coca-Cola Foods.

By 1989, internal difficulties caused a downturn in performance. In 1990, NOW filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy amid legal disputes involving Quebecor Printing and General Learning Corporation. Following acquisition by General Learning, the company was reestablished in 1991 as NOW Entertainment Corporation, supported by capital exceeding $2 million. This revival propelled NOW back to fifth place in market share rankings and garnered a nomination for best new publisher that year.

In 1993, NOW partnered with Malibu/Eternity to produce the crossover series Ninja High School featuring Speed Racer.

After Caputo left in 1994, NOW halted publishing activities following its January 1995 issues.

In 2003, Caputo brought back the brand under NOW Media Group, Inc., shifting focus toward graphic novels using a creator-partnership approach. Releases included Caputo’s own Vespers, the multimedia graphic novel Vinny, the Bug Man, and collected editions of Marc Hansen’s works such as Ralph Snart. Projects like Mirrorwalker and Syphons were either postponed indefinitely or published through other outlets. Despite this new direction, the company ceased operations in 2005 and was officially dissolved by February 2006.

NOW Video

In 1988, CPI secured distribution rights for the original Speed Racer anime series on home video formats, issuing 22 VHS volumes under the "NOW Video" label. Two special edition gift sets were released: the 1989 Speed Racer Collector's Edition, which included a 90-minute VHS tape featuring "The Most Dangerous Race" along with collectible items; and the 1992 Speed Racer Silver Anniversary Edition, containing a 55-minute VHS titled "Challenge of the Masked Racer" plus collectible comics. Additionally, in 1989 City Video Productions collaborated with NOW Comics to produce The What NOW Caper, a comedic documentary about comic production starring Jim Vincent.

Creators linked to NOW Comics

NOW Comics drew in seasoned professionals from the industry, including Harlan Ellison, Neal Adams, Jim Steranko, Bill Sienkiewicz, Mike Baron, Jeff Butler, Dave Dorman, and Chuck Dixon. A significant milestone for Alex Ross was beginning his professional comic book career with NOW through Terminator: The Burning Earth. Additionally, writer Clint McElroy made contributions during the early 1990s. The company also partnered with notable personalities such as Mr. T, Van Williams, and Terry Gilliam, boosting its presence in the market via these celebrity collaborations.

Titles

• The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989), issues #1–4
• 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994), issue #1
• Alias (1990), issues #1–5
• Dai Kamikaze! (1987–1988), issues #1–12
• Doctor Gorpon (2004), black-and-white edition compiling Doctor Gorpon (1991), issues #1–3 originally from Eternity Comics
• Eb'nn (1986–1987), issues #3–6 [earlier issues published by Crowquill Comics]
• FanGraphiX (1984–1986), issues #1–4 [published as Tony Caputo Publishing]
• Freejack (1992), issues #1–3
• Fright Night Part II (1988), trade paperback adaptation of the movie
• Fright Night
  • Volume 1 (1988–1990), issues #1–22
  • Various 3-D specials and annual editions (1992–1993)
• Ghostbusters II (1989), issues #1–3
• The Green Hornet
  • Volume 1 (1989–1990), issues #1–14; Volume 2 (1991–1995), issues #1–40; along with several limited series and special editions
• Kato
  • Volume 1 (1991), issues #1–4; Volume 2 (1992), issues #1–2
• Little Monsters (1990), issues #1–4
• Married... with Children
  • Multiple editions and specials spanning 1991 to 1995, including collector’s editions and annual releases
• MirrorWalker (1990), issue #1
• Mr. Lizard
  • Color and 3-D special editions (1993)
• Mr. T & The T-Force (1993–1994), issues #1–10
• NOW What?! (1989), issues #1–13, company newsletter magazine
• The Original Astro Boy (1987–1989)
• Racer X
  • Volume 1 (1988–1989), issues #1–11; Volume 2 (1989–1990), issues #1–10
• Ralph Snart Adventures
  • Several volumes released between 1986 and 1993; collected editions published in 2003 and 2004
• The Real Ghostbusters
  • Volume 1 (1988–1990), issues #1–27; Volume 2 (1991–1992), issues #1–4; plus various specials and annuals through 1993
• Rust
  • Volume 1 (1987–1988), issues #1–13; Volume 2 (1989), issues #1–7
• Silverwing (1987), issue #1, backup story from Eb'nn
• Slimer!
  • Volume 1 (1989-1990), issues #1–19; collected editions available
• Speed Racer
  • Volume 1 (1987–1990), issues #1–38; numerous special editions and reprints; co-published series with Malibu/Eternity Comics in the early 1990s; a new series launched in 1993-94
• Supercops (1990–1991), issues #1–4
• Syphons
  • Three volumes published from 1986 to 1995; later compiled by Image Comics in 2004
• The Terminator
  • Main series along with spin-offs released between 1988 and 1990; collected editions under Caputo Publishing/NOW Library imprint
• The Twilight Zone
  • Multiple volumes and special editions produced from 1990 through 1993
• Universal Soldier (1992), issues #1–3
• Additional titles include: Valor Thunderstar and His Fireflies, Vector, Vespers, Vinny, the Bug Man, as well as complete collections such as the full runs of Weird Melvin.

References

• NOW Comics featured on the Big Comic Book DataBase