{{Short description|British publishing company}} {{for|the American Golden Age comic book publisher formed in 1939|Quality Comics}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox publisher | name = Quality Communications | founded = 1982 | status = defunct, {{circa}} 2008 | founder = Dez Skinn | image =Quality_Communications_logotype.png | headquarters = 3 Lewisham Way<br />London | country = United Kingdom | keypeople = | parent = | divisions = | publications = Comic magazines, Magazines | topics = | genre = Superheroes, Science fiction, Horror | imprints = | url = }} '''Quality Communications''' was a British publishing company founded by Dez Skinn that operated from 1982 to {{circa}} 2008. The company's most notable publications were the monthly comics anthology ''Warrior'', which featured early work by writer Alan Moore; and the comics trade magazine ''Comics International'', which Skinn published and edited for 16 years. Quality was involved with comics in both the UK and the U.S., mainly with reprint material from ''Warrior'' and repackaging ''2000 AD'' material for the U.S. market.
== History == Quality was initially formed to publish ''Warrior'', which featured the Alan Moore stories ''V for Vendetta'' and ''Marvelman''. ''Warrior'' won 17 Eagle Awards during its short run (including nine Eagles in 1983 alone).<ref>Green, Steve. [http://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Birmingham_Science_Fiction_Group_Newsletter/Birmingham_Science_Fiction_Group_Newsletter147.pdf "This Month,"] ''The Birmingham Science Fiction Group'' #147 (Nov. 1983), p. 2.</ref> Quality was also involved in the U.S. completion of ''Marvelman'' and ''V for Vendetta''.
Quality's main period as a comics publisher was from 1982 to 1988. ''2000 AD'' content repackaged for the U.S. market included the titles ''2000 A.D. Presents'', ''Spellbinders'', and ''Scavengers''. During this period, Quality also published 7 issues of ''Halls of Horror'', a title Skinn had originated earlier with Thorpe & Porter (the British publishing division of Warner Communications).
In 1990, Quality shifted focus to magazines, launched the comics trade journal ''Comics International'', which Skinn published and edited for the following 16 years. His "Sez Dez" column was a regular feature in issues #100–#200. With issue #200, in 2006, Skinn sold the magazine to Cosmic Publications.<ref name="Johnston">Johnston, Rich. [http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/showthread.php?17877-Comics-International-Closes-Shop "Comics International Closes Shop,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028134853/http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/showthread.php?17877-Comics-International-Closes-Shop |date=2010-10-28 }} Bleeding Cool (May 27, 2010).</ref> (''Comics International'' struggled along for another couple of years before folding in 2010.)<ref>Freeman, John. [http://downthetubescomics.blogspot.com/2010/05/comics-international-publisher-company.html "Comics International publisher company dissolved,"] DownTheTubes (May 21, 2010).</ref>
Quality published a few sporadic titles in the 2000s, including ''Toy Max'' (2003), a one-off magazine for toy collectors,<ref name=PressGazette>[https://pressgazette.co.uk/magazine-offers-toys-for-grown-ups/ "Magazine offers toys for grown-ups,"] ''Press Gazette'' (May 1, 2003).</ref> and Skinn's hardcover book ''Comix: The Underground Revolution'' (2004). In 2005, Quality published ''Ace Comics'', an anthology of ten comic strips by City College Brighton & Hove students of Skinn's; it was distributed for free in East Sussex.
In 2008, Quality Communications published the 15th-anniversary issue (numbered #15) of ''Jack Kirby Quarterly''.<ref name=Freeman>Freeman, John. [https://downthetubes.net/?p=3293 "Jack Kirby Quarterly Returns]," DownTheTubes.net (JULY 12, 2008).</ref>
== Titles published == === Comics === * ''2000 A.D. Presents'' (20 issues, Aug. 1986–May 1988) — reprinting classic stories from ''2000 AD'' (license acquired from Eagle Comics; later continued by Fleetway Publications) * ''Ace Comics'' (1 issue, July 2005) * ''Fighting Figurines'' (1 issue, 1996) — by Paul Honeyford and Dave Heaven, collecting the story originally anthologized in ''Revolver'' * ''Halls of Horror Dracula Comics Special'' (1 issue, Apr. 1984) * ''Marvelman Special'' (1 issue, 1984) * ''Scavengers'' (14 issues, Dec. 1987–Jan. 1989) — reprinting dinosaur-themed stories from ''2000 AD'' * ''Spellbinders'' (12 issues, Dec. 1986–Dec. 1987) — reprinting stories with a magic/horror twist: ** Sláine and Nemesis the Warlock from ''2000 AD'' ** Cursitor Doom/Amadeus Wolf from ''Smash!'' ** "Library of Death" stories from ''Scream!'' * ''Steel Claw'' (4-issue limited series, Dec. 1986– Mar. 1987) — by Kenneth Bulmer, Garry Leach, and Jesús Blasco; colourized reprints of ''Steel Claw'' stories from the IPC Magazines title ''Valiant'' * ''Storm: The Deep World'' (1 issue, 1982) — by Saul Dunn and Don Lawrence; reprinting ''De diepe wereld'' (originally serialized in ''Eppo'' magazine, Oberon, 1977) * ''Warrior'' (26 issues, Mar. 1982–Feb. 1985) ** ''Warrior Summer Special'' (1 issue, 1983)
=== Magazines === * ''Comics International'' (200 issues, 1990–2006) * ''Halls of Horror'' (7 issues, 1982–1984) — acquired from G.B.D. Ltd./Top Sellers Ltd (imprints of Thorpe & Porter) (Warner Communications) with issue #24; previously known as ''House of Hammer'', ''Hammer's House of Horror'', and ''Hammer's Halls of Horror'' * ''Jack Kirby Quarterly'' #15 (1 issue, 2008) — 15th-anniversary issue * ''Toy Max'' (1 issue, June 2003) — edited by pop culture expert Tim Pilcher<ref name=PressGazette />
=== Books === * ''Comix: The Underground Revolution'' (2004) — by Dez Skinn
== References == === Notes === {{reflist}}
=== Sources === *{{gcdb publisher|id=449|title=Quality Communications}} *{{comicbookdb|type=imprint|id=1766|title=Quality Communications}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130626122003/http://dezskinn.com/quality-comms/ Quality Communications entry], DezSkinn.com
Category:Comic book publishing companies of the United Kingdom Category:Companies established in 1982 Category:1982 establishments in the United Kingdom