MU Press
Encyclopedia
MU Press was an independent comic book
publisher based in Seattle, Washington
, which operated from 1990–c. 2006. MU Press was one of the industry's most prolific "furry" comic publishers, while its mid-90s imprint Aeon Publications specialized in alternative
fare. MU Press was founded by writer/editor Edd Vick. Notable creators associated with MU/Aeon included Donna Barr
, Ed Brubaker
, Matt Howarth
, Milton Knight
, David Lasky
, Colin Upton
, and Taral Wayne
.
's Desert Peach and Dwight R. Decker & Teri S. Wood's Rhudiprrt, Prince of Fur. Cathy Hill's Mad Raccoons debuted in 1991, running until 1997. In 1992, MU published the first issue of the erotic furry anthology
Wild Kingdom (which later changed its title to Wild!). MU published 31 total issues of Wild Kingdom/Wild! from 1992–2005.
MU's Aeon Publications imprint operated from 1994–1998, publishing a wide variety of alternative
titles. Aeon acquired Matt Howarth
's Those Annoying Post Bros. from Rip Off Press
in 1994, publishing that title until 1998. Other notable Aeon series included David Lasky
's Boom Boom and Ed Brubaker
's Lowlife
.
The monthly all-genre anthology ZU
ran 19 issues from 1995–1996; Colin Upton
's limited series Buddha on the Road ran from 1996–1998.
In August of 1997, publisher Vick announced that both MU Press and Aeon were suspending publishing. It turned out only Aeon wound down; MU continued publishing sporadically for nearly ten more years.
In September 2005, MU Press announced on a furry fandom
message board that it was canceling Wild! due to low sales; they continued publishing trade paperback collections of some of their previous titles. They also completed the runs of Matt Howarth's two series Bugtown
and Keif Llama: Xeno-Tech.
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...
publisher based in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, which operated from 1990–c. 2006. MU Press was one of the industry's most prolific "furry" comic publishers, while its mid-90s imprint Aeon Publications specialized in alternative
Alternative comics
Alternative comics defines a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to "mainstream" superhero comics which in the past have dominated the US comic book industry...
fare. MU Press was founded by writer/editor Edd Vick. Notable creators associated with MU/Aeon included Donna Barr
Donna Barr
Donna Barr is an American comic book author and cartoonist.She was born in Everett, Washington, the second child in a family of six siblings....
, Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and cartoonist. Brubaker first early comics work was primarily in the crime fiction genre with works such as Lowlife, The Fall, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives and Scene of the Crime...
, Matt Howarth
Matt Howarth
Matt Howarth is an American comic book writer/artist known for such series as Those Annoying Post Bros, Savage Henry, Star Crossed, and Bugtown....
, Milton Knight
Milton Knight
Milton Knight is a cartoonist/animator, comic book artist and writer, painter, and storyboard/layout artist known for his Golden Age cartooning style.-Biography:...
, David Lasky
David Lasky
David Lasky is an alternative cartoonist based in Seattle, Washington.After spending the bulk of his life in Virginia, and graduating from the College of William & Mary, Lasky moved to Seattle in 1992...
, Colin Upton
Colin Upton
Colin Upton is a Canadian cartoonist and artist who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. Many of his comics are self-published in the minicomic format, although he has also had his work issued by commercial publishers such as Fantagraphics Books and included...
, and Taral Wayne
Taral Wayne
Taral Wayne, , is one of Canada's best known science fiction fan artists, and has been nominated for the field's most prestigious award, the Hugo, ten times...
.
History
MU's early series included Donna BarrDonna Barr
Donna Barr is an American comic book author and cartoonist.She was born in Everett, Washington, the second child in a family of six siblings....
's Desert Peach and Dwight R. Decker & Teri S. Wood's Rhudiprrt, Prince of Fur. Cathy Hill's Mad Raccoons debuted in 1991, running until 1997. In 1992, MU published the first issue of the erotic furry anthology
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
Wild Kingdom (which later changed its title to Wild!). MU published 31 total issues of Wild Kingdom/Wild! from 1992–2005.
MU's Aeon Publications imprint operated from 1994–1998, publishing a wide variety of alternative
Alternative comics
Alternative comics defines a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to "mainstream" superhero comics which in the past have dominated the US comic book industry...
titles. Aeon acquired Matt Howarth
Matt Howarth
Matt Howarth is an American comic book writer/artist known for such series as Those Annoying Post Bros, Savage Henry, Star Crossed, and Bugtown....
's Those Annoying Post Bros. from Rip Off Press
Rip Off Press
Rip Off Press, Inc. is a seminal publishing company that specializes in adult-themed literature and graphic novels, mostly in a specific comic book format known as underground comix.-Overview:...
in 1994, publishing that title until 1998. Other notable Aeon series included David Lasky
David Lasky
David Lasky is an alternative cartoonist based in Seattle, Washington.After spending the bulk of his life in Virginia, and graduating from the College of William & Mary, Lasky moved to Seattle in 1992...
's Boom Boom and Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and cartoonist. Brubaker first early comics work was primarily in the crime fiction genre with works such as Lowlife, The Fall, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives and Scene of the Crime...
's Lowlife
Lowlife (comics)
Lowlife is a semi-autobiographical comic book series written and drawn by Ed Brubaker, published by Slave Labor Graphics and later Caliber Comics...
.
The monthly all-genre anthology ZU
Zu
-Fiction:* Zu, a mountain featured in the film Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain* ZU, a "furry" anthology published by MU Press* En Zu, a character from the manga series Stray Little Devil* Zu, a large birdlike monster from the Final Fantasy series...
ran 19 issues from 1995–1996; Colin Upton
Colin Upton
Colin Upton is a Canadian cartoonist and artist who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. Many of his comics are self-published in the minicomic format, although he has also had his work issued by commercial publishers such as Fantagraphics Books and included...
's limited series Buddha on the Road ran from 1996–1998.
In August of 1997, publisher Vick announced that both MU Press and Aeon were suspending publishing. It turned out only Aeon wound down; MU continued publishing sporadically for nearly ten more years.
In September 2005, MU Press announced on a furry fandom
Furry fandom
Furry fandom is a fandom for fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, the ability to speak, walk on two legs, and wear clothes...
message board that it was canceling Wild! due to low sales; they continued publishing trade paperback collections of some of their previous titles. They also completed the runs of Matt Howarth's two series Bugtown
Bugtown
Bugtown is a fictional city that is the setting of several comic books and novels written by Matt Howarth.Bugtown is a blighted cityscape with no government or laws. Violence is constant from individual fights to interdimensional invasions....
and Keif Llama: Xeno-Tech.
Titles published (selected)
- Buddha on the Road (6 issues, 1996–1998)
- BugtownBugtownBugtown is a fictional city that is the setting of several comic books and novels written by Matt Howarth.Bugtown is a blighted cityscape with no government or laws. Violence is constant from individual fights to interdimensional invasions....
(6 issues, 2004–2005) - Desert Peach (22 issues and numerous one-shots, 1990–1996)
- Keif Llama: Xeno-Tech (6 issues, 2005–2006)
- LowlifeLowlife (comics)Lowlife is a semi-autobiographical comic book series written and drawn by Ed Brubaker, published by Slave Labor Graphics and later Caliber Comics...
(3 issues, 1994–1995) - Mad Raccoons (7 issues, 1991–1997)
- Rhudiprrt, Prince of Fur (12 issues, 1990–1997)
- Those Annoying Post Bros. (25 issues, 1994–1998)—acquired from Rip Off PressRip Off PressRip Off Press, Inc. is a seminal publishing company that specializes in adult-themed literature and graphic novels, mostly in a specific comic book format known as underground comix.-Overview:...
- Wild Kingdom / Wild! (31 total issues, 1992–2005)
- ZU (19 issues, 1995–1996