Paradox Press
| Company type | Imprint |
|---|---|
| Industry | Comics publishing |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Mark Nevelow (following departure from Piranha Press) |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Discontinued; most titles went out of print or were reissued under Vertigo label |
Key people | Andrew Helfer, Bronwyn Carlton, Jim Higgins, Heidi MacDonald |
| Products | Graphic novels, anthologies (e.g., A History of Violence, Road to Perdition, The Big Book Of series) |
| Parent | DC Comics |
Paradox Press was a subdivision of DC Comics founded in 1993 following editor Mark Nevelow's departure from Piranha Press. Under the leadership of editors Andrew Helfer and Bronwyn Carlton, the imprint was rebranded with a focus on graphic novels that diverged from the superhero genre. The imprint gained recognition primarily for A History of Violence and Road to Perdition, both of which were adapted into prominent feature films. After Helfer's tenure, Jim Higgins took over editorial duties, succeeded briefly by Heidi MacDonald in 2000 amid plans for concluding Big Books editions that ultimately never came to fruition.
History
Paradox Press specialized in graphic novels that excluded superheroes as well as the fantasy and science fiction elements commonly associated with DC's Vertigo Comics. Due to a generally limited audience for non-fantasy narratives, the imprint released only a small number of titles during its approximately ten-year existence. While receiving critical praise, commercial performance remained modest. However, titles such as A History of Violence and Road to Perdition attained wider success through their cinematic adaptations. Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, initially published by Kitchen Sink Press, is widely regarded as a foundational text on comic theory. The imprint’s anthology series, the Big Books, each centered around specific themes like conspiracies or urban myths, cultivated a dedicated but niche readership.
Declining sales eventually led to the discontinuation of Paradox Press, with most of its catalog falling out of print. Several works were later reissued under DC’s more commercially successful Vertigo label.
Books
Works released under Paradox Press include:
- The The Big Book Of anthology series:
- the '70s
- Bad
- Conspiracies
- Death
- Freaks
- Grimm
- Hoaxes
- Little Criminals
- Losers
- Martyrs
- Scandal!
- Thugs
- the Unexplained
- Urban Legends
- Vice
- the Weird Wild West
- Weirdos
- The Bogie Man
- Brooklyn Dreams
- Family Man
- The Gon series:
- Gon
- Gon on Safari
- Gon Swimming
- Gon Underground
- Gon Wild!
- Green Candles
- A Gregory Treasury
- A History of Violence
- Hunter's Heart
- La Pacifica
- The Project
- Reinventing Comics
- The Road to Perdition series:
- Road to Perdition
- Road to Perdition: On the Road (Volumes 1–3: Oasis, Sanctuary, Detour)
- Stuck Rubber Baby
- Understanding Comics
In addition, several issues of the magazine titled Weird featured reprints from these collections.
Unpublished work
In 2001, Paradox Press intended to publish The Big Book of Wild Women, narrated by the character "Susie the Floozie." This volume was set to highlight influential women who defied societal expectations and left their mark on American culture, including figures such as nightclub singer and comedian Rusty Warren, cult film actress Tura Satana, presidential hopeful Victoria Woodhull, 19th-century entertainer Lola Montes, Cleopatra, author Anaïs Nin, and pin-up legend Bettie Page. According to DC Comics, this project remained indefinitely in "pre-production" status.