Broadway Comics
Encyclopedia
Broadway Comics was a short-lived comic book
publishing company started by Jim Shooter
in 1995, after his former company, Defiant Comics
, had folded. The company was a division of Broadway Video
Entertainment with Shooter as co-owner of the characters.
The Broadway continuity
, like Shooter's two previous attempts, took place in real time and the characters rarely wore superhero uniforms. One innovative thing at Broadway Comics was the comic-within-a comic called Blood S.C.R.E.A.M. as a part of the story in Shadow State. Blood S.C.R.E.A.M. parodied Rob Liefeld
of Image Comics
's works from the names to the artwork, down to the first story arc which was called, "Image Isn't Everything".
Before the company shut down, Shooter intended to integrate the concepts from Defiant Comics
into the Broadway Comics continuity. However, in 1996, Broadway Video Entertainment was sold to Golden Books, which then promptly went bankrupt. Broadway Comics didn't have the infrastructure or the means to continue.
published by short-lived Broadway Comics. The issues generally had two stories, one of which featured the character Fatale. It was written by Jim Shooter
. Only five issues were published before the abrupt demise of Broadway Comics, leaving the storyarc unfinished.
Created by former Marvel Comics
editor Jim Shooter
, Fatale follows the adventures of Desirée Hopewell, a woman who has the ability to leech memories and energy from people by kissing them, and her battles with an evil organization called The Brotherhood.
The series addressed the trend of super-muscular/voluptuous female heroes by featuring a lead character who was likewise large-breasted, and the series often poked fun at her physique and appearance; for several issues, Hopewell is shown with a bandaged, broken nose.
The series ran for six issues, published between January and October 1996 (with an "ashcan" preview issue published in September 1995). The title's end coincided with the demise of Shooter's Broadway Comics venture.
According to The Standard Catalog of Comic Books (Krause, 2002), the comic was promoted in a distributor's catalog with a "life-size" image of Fatale's clothed bust, which the book labelled "one of the biggest advertising missteps in recent memory."
with art work by J. G. Jones and many others. The only issue published was issue #1.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
publishing company started by Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
in 1995, after his former company, Defiant Comics
Defiant Comics
Defiant Comics was a comic book publishing imprint of Enlightened Entertainment Partners, LP. Defiant was established in 1993 by former Marvel Comics and Valiant Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.- Publication history :...
, had folded. The company was a division of Broadway Video
Broadway Video
Broadway Video is a media production and distribution company located within the Brill Building on Broadway, New York, United States. Founded in 1979 as a production house tasked with post-production work on Saturday Night Live, Broadway Video has since become one of the largest independent...
Entertainment with Shooter as co-owner of the characters.
History
Broadway Comics debuted with the preview comic Powers that Be, followed by the series Star Seed, Fatale, and Shadow State. Other series were to follow, though only Knights on Broadway was launched before the company abruptly closed, leaving unfinished story arcs in all series but Fatale.The Broadway continuity
Continuity (fiction)
In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer over some period of time...
, like Shooter's two previous attempts, took place in real time and the characters rarely wore superhero uniforms. One innovative thing at Broadway Comics was the comic-within-a comic called Blood S.C.R.E.A.M. as a part of the story in Shadow State. Blood S.C.R.E.A.M. parodied Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld is an American comic book writer, illustrator, and publisher. A prominent artist in the 1990s, he has since become a controversial figure in the medium....
of Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
's works from the names to the artwork, down to the first story arc which was called, "Image Isn't Everything".
Before the company shut down, Shooter intended to integrate the concepts from Defiant Comics
Defiant Comics
Defiant Comics was a comic book publishing imprint of Enlightened Entertainment Partners, LP. Defiant was established in 1993 by former Marvel Comics and Valiant Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.- Publication history :...
into the Broadway Comics continuity. However, in 1996, Broadway Video Entertainment was sold to Golden Books, which then promptly went bankrupt. Broadway Comics didn't have the infrastructure or the means to continue.
Shadow State
Shadow State was a comic bookComic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
published by short-lived Broadway Comics. The issues generally had two stories, one of which featured the character Fatale. It was written by Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
. Only five issues were published before the abrupt demise of Broadway Comics, leaving the storyarc unfinished.
Fatale
Fatale was published by Broadway Comics in 1996. It was a spin-off of Broadway's flagship series Powers That Be, in which the lead character had first appeared in 1995.Created by former Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
editor Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
, Fatale follows the adventures of Desirée Hopewell, a woman who has the ability to leech memories and energy from people by kissing them, and her battles with an evil organization called The Brotherhood.
The series addressed the trend of super-muscular/voluptuous female heroes by featuring a lead character who was likewise large-breasted, and the series often poked fun at her physique and appearance; for several issues, Hopewell is shown with a bandaged, broken nose.
The series ran for six issues, published between January and October 1996 (with an "ashcan" preview issue published in September 1995). The title's end coincided with the demise of Shooter's Broadway Comics venture.
According to The Standard Catalog of Comic Books (Krause, 2002), the comic was promoted in a distributor's catalog with a "life-size" image of Fatale's clothed bust, which the book labelled "one of the biggest advertising missteps in recent memory."
Babes of Broadway
Babes of Broadway was a pin ups book featuring Fatale and other female Broadway characters. It was written by Jim ShooterJim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
with art work by J. G. Jones and many others. The only issue published was issue #1.
Other titles
- Powers That Be (preview and multiple issues that would drop Fatale and eventually become Star Seed only)
- Knights on Broadway
- Star Seed