{{Short description|American comic book publisher}} {{Infobox publisher | name = AfterShock Comics, LLC. | image = Aftershock Comics Logo.jpg | caption = Aftershock Comics logo | parent = | traded_as = | predecessor = | founded = April 2015<ref name="McMillan">{{cite web |last1=McMillan |first1=Graeme |title=Brian Cunningham and Chris Ryall join AfterShock Comics |url=https://aftershockcomics.com/blogs/news/brian-cunningham-and-chris-ryall-join-aftershock-comics |website=Aftershock Comics |access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref> | founder = Joe Pruett<br/>Mike Marts<br/>Lee Kramer<br/>Jon Kramer<br/>Michael Richter | successor = | country = United States | headquarters = Sherman Oaks, California | distribution = Diamond Book Distributors (books) | keypeople = | publications = Comic books, graphic novels | topics = | genre = | imprints = | revenue = | owner = | numemployees = | website = http://aftershockcomics.com }} '''AfterShock Comics''' is an American comic book publisher founded in April 2015.<ref name="McMillan"/>
==History== The company was co-founded by Joe Pruett, editor of the noted comic anthology ''Negative Burn'' and Mike Marts, the former executive editor in charge of Marvel Comics' X-Men franchise and DC Comics' Batman franchise.<ref name="johnston1">{{cite web|last1=Johnston|first1=Rich|title=Mike Marts And Joe Pruett Head Up New Comics Publisher, Aftershock Comics|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/04/13/mike-marts-and-joe-pruett-set-up-new-comics-publisher-aftershock-comics/|date=2014-04-13|website=Bleeding Cool|access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref> Other co-founders include Lee Kramer, Jon Kramer, and Michael Richter.<ref name="Busch 2018">{{Cite news |last=Busch |first=Anita |date=2015-04-13 |title=Marvel Exec Editor Mike Marts Quits To Join Upstart AfterShock |url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/marvel-exec-editor-mike-marts-new-comic-book-company-aftershock-1201409015/ |access-date=2018-03-28 |work=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Other senior executives include Jawad Qureshi and Steve Rotterdam.<ref name="Busch 2018"/>
AfterShock's published works are creator-owned and its portfolio includes comics by Cullen Bunn, Warren Ellis,<ref name="betancourt">{{cite news|last1=Betancourt|first1=David|title=Warren Ellis will bring the six-issue 'Shipwreck' to AfterShock Comics|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/07/07/warren-ellis-will-bring-the-six-issue-shipwreck-to-aftershock-comics/|access-date=2 January 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=7 July 2016}}</ref> Garth Ennis,<ref name="jasper">{{cite web |last1=Jasper |first1=Marykate |title=Garth Ennis Launches New AfterShock Series Titled Jimmy's Bastards|url=https://www.cbr.com/garth-ennis-launches-new-aftershock-series-titled-jimmys-bastards/ |website=Comic Book Resources |date=13 January 2017 |access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref> Marguerite Bennett,<ref name="helvie">{{cite web|last1=Helvie|first1=Forrest|title=DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS Writer Tells 'Adults Only' Talking Animal Tale with ANIMOSITY|url=https://www.newsarama.com/29689-dc-comics-bombshells-writer-unleashes-her-creator-owned-animosity.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613013608/http://www.newsarama.com/29689-dc-comics-bombshells-writer-unleashes-her-creator-owned-animosity.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2016|website=Newsarama|access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref> and Adam Glass,<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacNamee |first=Olly |date=2022-12-01 |title=Adam Glass' AfterShock Comics' Series 'The Normals' Gets Optioned For Television |url=https://www.comicon.com/2022/12/01/adam-glass-aftershock-comics-series-the-normals-gets-optioned-for-television/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=COMICON |language=en-US}}</ref> among others.
AfterShock Comics won the New Publisher of the Year Diamond Gem Award in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/597?articleID=206266|title=Diamond Announces 2017 Gem Award Winners|access-date=2018-03-28}}</ref>
The label attracted attention in 2016 when it published Paul Jenkins' comic ''Alters'', featuring the character Chalice, touted as the first transgender superhero.<ref name="barnett">{{cite news|last1=Barnett|first1=David|title=Creating the first transgender superhero|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jul/04/first-transgender-superhero-chalice-alters-aftershock|access-date=2 January 2018|work=The Guardian|date=4 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="gustines">{{cite news|last1=Gustines|first1=George Gene|title=In a New Comic, a Transgender Superhero Hides 2 Identities|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/arts/design/in-a-new-comic-a-transgender-superhero-hides-2-identities.html?_r=0|access-date=2 January 2018|work=The New York Times|date=23 June 2016}}</ref> In a column for ''The Mary Sue'', transgender activist Jes Grobman dismissed ''Alters'' as "cliche".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Grobman|first1=Jes|title=Babes in Tropeland: How Alters Shows We Need More Complex Trans Characters in Comics|url=https://www.themarysue.com/alters-complex-trans-characters/|website=The Mary Sue|date=20 September 2016 |access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref> Other critics were more positive; one noted that "[t]he visuals are beautiful and deserve attention, while the story looks to be addressing something avoided in American society."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Patrick |title=In Review: Alters #6 |url=http://www.scifipulse.net/in-review-alters-6/ |website=SciFiPulse.Net |access-date=2018-03-28 |date=2017-08-06}}</ref>
In December 2022, AfterShock Comics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy leaving many of their contributing artists unpaid for their work.<ref name="Cronin">{{Cite news |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=2022-12-20 |title=AfterShock Comics Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy |url=https://www.cbr.com/aftershock-comics-chapter-11-bankruptcy/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Joe |date=2022-12-16 |title=AfterShock Comics Issues Statement After Creators Claim They Aren't Getting Paid |url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/aftershock-comics-statement-creators-claim-no-payment/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2025, the publisher announced to finally emerge from bankruptcy protection restructured and fully prepared to meet its financial and contractual obligations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=First Comics News |first= |date=2025-05-15 |title=AFTERSHOCK COMICS EMERGES FROM CHAPTER 11 |url=https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/aftershock-comics-emerges-from-chapter-11/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=First Comics News |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Publications === * List of Aftershock Comics publications
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official|http://www.aftershockcomics.com}} * {{comicbookdb|type=publisher|id=2474|title=Aftershock Comics}}
{{Comic book publishers in North America}} {{Authority control}}
Category:AfterShock Comics Category:American companies established in 2015 Category:Comic book publishing companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Los Angeles Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2022 Category:Publishing companies based in California Category:Publishing companies established in 2015 Category:2015 establishments in California