Legacy Rising Publications-new comic publisher based in Ohio
Sept 13, 2016 0:00:53 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 0:00:53 GMT -5
Columbus Dispatch Article
company website
I've met the owner of that shop in the Columbus Convention Center on several occasions and he is a good guy, I've also met Victor Dandridge several times at local shows and shops and he is a good dude. I hadn't heard about this until the article was linked to my wife on her facebook page, so I need to check it out further, but what little I have seen looks interesting.
-M
Having grown up reading comic books in the 1970s, Doug Simms had long desired to own a store.
He accomplished that mission with Phil Miller when, in 2010, he opened Heroes and Games in the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Five years later, though, Simms was ready to take the next step in the industry he has loved since Atlas Publications got him hooked as a child.
He had an idea for a comic about two detectives, Knight and Daye, with personalities like — well, you know.
He needed just an illustrator and a writer. Fortunately, he had plenty of relationships based on his travels through the years to comics conventions.
What began as an idea for a single series soon blossomed into a publishing company with five titles and 18 creators.
“Over time, we just grew to be friends and kind of just decided to launch this publishing company together,” said Simms, 53.
Legacy Rising Publications, which Simms co-owns with brother Darin, was launched in July at Wizard World Comic Con at the convention center. There, his team — 12 of them from central Ohio — sold 550 copies of the first issues.
In the months since, he has sold uncounted others, at $3.99 each, at his store and in the form of online digital copies www.legacyrising.com.
“We had tremendous response at Wizard World Columbus, where we were blown away by how well they were received,” he said.
The subjects run the gamut — from a crime-solving mystery series and an adventure fantasy featuring a sword-wielding warrior to tales of superheroes, with each one for all ages.
The second issues of the bimonthly titles are set for release this month, said Simms, who hopes to start five additional titles next year, so fans have something new to read every month.
For most of the writers, the endeavor represents a side job to full-time work.
Yet few, including CCAD graduate Michael Watson, needed much convincing to take part.
When the venture was pitched, “All I heard is ‘Mike, draw comics for me,’” said Watson, the 35-year-old creator and illustrator of “Hot Shot,” about a student at a Columbus art school who is learning to navigate his newfound superpowers of flight and strength.
The character is also found in “Heroes International,” which follows a government-run group of 10 superheroes — not unlike DC’s Justice League or Marvel’s the Avengers — who fight crime throughout Columbus.
The first issue was written by Luke Herr and illustrated by Clint McGowan.
Another member of the squad also appears in “Vigilance,” about an alien of unknown origin (a la Superman) who travels to Earth.
The title marks the first foray into comic books for Micah Cox, who has written a few novels.
“I’m a huge video gamer, and I was playing a game one day, and I was like ‘I could write a better story than this,’” the 35-year-old said.
The title is illustrated by Valdeci Nogueira of the Philippines.
Rounding out the series are the fantasy “The Legend of Azure,” written and illustrated by Mason Easley; and “Knight & Daye,” drawn by Jacob Newell and written by Victor Dandridge, who has since left to move into independent publishing.
Legacy Rising represents the first full-fledged comic-book publisher in central Ohio, Simms said; considered a small press, it is dwarfed by industry giants such as DC and Marvel.
Still, as the creative team continues to visit conventions and sell books, it hopes to see the publisher gain recognition.
“It’s a good way to get started in the industry, and then we hope to get noticed by the bigger guys,” Simms said.
Legacy Rising has unlimited printing rights, he said, but the creators own their characters — a notable contrast to the standard with big publishers.
Most of his team members have issue-by-issue contracts.
“It gives them the freedom to create: ‘Let’s put out a good story; let’s have some fun with this,’” Simms said.
“It produces the best creative work.”
elagatta@dispatch.com
@ericlagatta
He accomplished that mission with Phil Miller when, in 2010, he opened Heroes and Games in the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Five years later, though, Simms was ready to take the next step in the industry he has loved since Atlas Publications got him hooked as a child.
He had an idea for a comic about two detectives, Knight and Daye, with personalities like — well, you know.
He needed just an illustrator and a writer. Fortunately, he had plenty of relationships based on his travels through the years to comics conventions.
What began as an idea for a single series soon blossomed into a publishing company with five titles and 18 creators.
“Over time, we just grew to be friends and kind of just decided to launch this publishing company together,” said Simms, 53.
Legacy Rising Publications, which Simms co-owns with brother Darin, was launched in July at Wizard World Comic Con at the convention center. There, his team — 12 of them from central Ohio — sold 550 copies of the first issues.
In the months since, he has sold uncounted others, at $3.99 each, at his store and in the form of online digital copies www.legacyrising.com.
“We had tremendous response at Wizard World Columbus, where we were blown away by how well they were received,” he said.
The subjects run the gamut — from a crime-solving mystery series and an adventure fantasy featuring a sword-wielding warrior to tales of superheroes, with each one for all ages.
The second issues of the bimonthly titles are set for release this month, said Simms, who hopes to start five additional titles next year, so fans have something new to read every month.
For most of the writers, the endeavor represents a side job to full-time work.
Yet few, including CCAD graduate Michael Watson, needed much convincing to take part.
When the venture was pitched, “All I heard is ‘Mike, draw comics for me,’” said Watson, the 35-year-old creator and illustrator of “Hot Shot,” about a student at a Columbus art school who is learning to navigate his newfound superpowers of flight and strength.
The character is also found in “Heroes International,” which follows a government-run group of 10 superheroes — not unlike DC’s Justice League or Marvel’s the Avengers — who fight crime throughout Columbus.
The first issue was written by Luke Herr and illustrated by Clint McGowan.
Another member of the squad also appears in “Vigilance,” about an alien of unknown origin (a la Superman) who travels to Earth.
The title marks the first foray into comic books for Micah Cox, who has written a few novels.
“I’m a huge video gamer, and I was playing a game one day, and I was like ‘I could write a better story than this,’” the 35-year-old said.
The title is illustrated by Valdeci Nogueira of the Philippines.
Rounding out the series are the fantasy “The Legend of Azure,” written and illustrated by Mason Easley; and “Knight & Daye,” drawn by Jacob Newell and written by Victor Dandridge, who has since left to move into independent publishing.
Legacy Rising represents the first full-fledged comic-book publisher in central Ohio, Simms said; considered a small press, it is dwarfed by industry giants such as DC and Marvel.
Still, as the creative team continues to visit conventions and sell books, it hopes to see the publisher gain recognition.
“It’s a good way to get started in the industry, and then we hope to get noticed by the bigger guys,” Simms said.
Legacy Rising has unlimited printing rights, he said, but the creators own their characters — a notable contrast to the standard with big publishers.
Most of his team members have issue-by-issue contracts.
“It gives them the freedom to create: ‘Let’s put out a good story; let’s have some fun with this,’” Simms said.
“It produces the best creative work.”
elagatta@dispatch.com
@ericlagatta
company website
I've met the owner of that shop in the Columbus Convention Center on several occasions and he is a good guy, I've also met Victor Dandridge several times at local shows and shops and he is a good dude. I hadn't heard about this until the article was linked to my wife on her facebook page, so I need to check it out further, but what little I have seen looks interesting.
-M
