The world of comics is a massive place where Marvel and DC reign supreme.

Many colloquially call these two publishers “the Big Two” largely because of their longevity and publishing power. On top of that, many of their properties are some of the most recognizable in entertainment.

There is, however, an entire realm outside of these two publishers.

It can feel overwhelming to break down all the different places to read comics so we created this guide to help you understand some of the other major publishers outside of Marvel and DC.

We should state that this is not intended to be a comprehensive or exhaustive guide. Rather, it is meant to give you an overview of what else is out there if you’re looking to read outside of the Big Two.

Image Comics

Notable Comics: Invincible, Saga, Spawn, Kick-Ass, The Walking Dead

Image Comics is the third largest publisher in the U.S. and its achieved that status in just over three decades time. Several high-profile creators at the time broke off from major publishers to create Image.

What sets Image apart from many other publishers is the focus on creator-owned properties, meaning the creator retains full rights to the property rather than the publisher. This makes Image a place for a little bit of everything.

The company originally started with superhero comics but has since branched out to all genres including horror, science-fiction, comedy, and fantasy. The early days of Image saw somewhat of a shared universe though the publisher has largely shied away from that.

Image Comics has a wide array of properties and someone is sure to find something that appeals to them. Series can be easier to digest as many don’t tend to run for long stretches of time and don’t require other reading to understand.

Dark Horse Comics

Notable Comics: Hellboy, The Umbrella Academy, 300, Sin City, Black Hammer

For nearly 40 years, Dark Horse Comics has dabbled in a bit of everything in the comic world.

Dark Horse embraces many licensed titles, playing host to many Star Wars comics prior to Marvel’s acquisition in 2015. It also offers many creator-owned titles that run the gamut in terms of genre.

One area that makes Dark Horse unique is its focus on limited and mini series. This allows for a lot of flexibility and less tie-in to other series from the publisher since there is no larger shared universe.

That said, Dark Horse does have several major prosperities that have inspired spinoffs with Hellboy being the largest.

Another area that makes Dark Horse unique is it publishes many art books, including those for video games. Examples of this include Hyrule Historia, The Art of Horizon Forbidden West, and many others.

Dark Horse Comics is another buffet that offers a little bit of everything. This publisher, however, is a great place to go for licensed comics as well as some creative stories.

IDW Publishing

Notable Comics: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Locke and Key, Transformers, Godzilla, G.I. Joe

IDW Publishing serves as an in-between, bridging the top four publishers to the smaller ones. IDW is best known for its licensed comics.

This publisher began in 1999 and played a role in the resurgence of horror comics with its 30 Days of Night in 2002. Since that time, IDW has made more of a name for itself with licensed properties, particularly the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

TV shows tend to be the focus for IDW as it has adapted numerous projects including Star Trek, The Shield, 24, and others. Its also dabbled in video game adaptions including Castlevania, Silent Hill, and Metal Gear Solid.

Hasbro and IDW have a long-running relationship as many toys have made their way into comic series such as G.I. Joe and Transformers.

While the company focuses heavily on licensed products, it has put out originals in recent years. Its also built up original characters within licensed comics.

IDW Publishing is the place to go if you want licensed content. Its wide array of licensed comics help deepen beloved universes and keep those worlds familiar.

Valiant Entertainment

Notable Comics: X-O Manowar, Harbinger, The Valiant, Bloodshot, Faith

Valiant Entertainment is the comic book publisher for those who want a shared universe but on a simpler level.

Valiant began in 1989 when former Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter formed Voyager Communication. Five years later, Acclaim Entertainment purchased the company, making several video games based on Valiant properties such as Turok and Shadowman.

During the ’90s, Valiant published numerous superhero stories but by 2002, the company ceased publishing and Acclaim went bankrupt in 2004. Then Valiant made a return in 2012, revamping its entire line and established the Valiant Universe that runs to this day.

What makes Valiant simpler is crossovers are not as involved and readers can pick up any series at the first issue and begin reading. Furthermore, the characters are more modern.

Valiant is a creative universe as it ranges from action-packed series to laugh-at-loud comedies. The Marvel and DC influences are obvious but Valiant does enough to distance itself and stand on its own.

Boom! Studios

Notable Comics: Something is Killing the Children, Power Rangers, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, Irredeemable, BRZRKR

Boom! Studios is a relatively new publisher to the game as it closes in on 20 years. It offers a mix of originals and licensed comics breaking down into one of four imprints.

The main imprint focuses more on action-oriented titles rather than superhero comics. That said, there are several original superhero comics from Boom!

The publisher also delves into the licensed market, offering adaptations of popular movies and TV shows. Most notably, Boom! publishes Power Rangers and Planet of the Apes along with less action-oriented licensed properties such as Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

Because of the nature of Boom! Studios’ comic lineup, there is no shared universe. That said, the focus of the publisher has been to offer comics for all ages. As such, there is something for everyone here, especially those fans of licensed properties.

Dynamite Entertainment

Notable Comics: The Boys, Red Sonja, Vampirella, James Bond, The Shadow

Dynamite Entertainment has comics from all over. It began by publishing licensed comics shortly after its 2004 founding. It’s also unique for taking on public domain characters such as Red Sonja, Zorro, and Dracula.

This approach has led to a resurgence in many classic characters lost to time. This includes characters like Vampirella, The Green Hornet, The Phantom, and Flash Gordon.

This has led Dynamite to having a few shared universes under its umbrella though each one features a section of the publisher’s lineup and is not overarching.

Dynamite also offers a few creator-owned titles with titles from authors such as Garth Ennis, Alex Ross, and Frank Miller.

Dynamite Entertainment only has 20 years under its belt but its growth is strong. Its lineup is great for classic comic fans as well as those of the fantasy and horror genres.

Archie Comic Publications

Notable Comics: Archie, Josie and the Pussycats, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Betty and Veronica, Sonic the Hedgehog

Archie Comic Publications may not have the size of Marvel and DC, but it ranks up there in terms of longevity. Archie Comics began in 1939 as MLJ Magazine with the eponymous Archie series beginning in 1941 and has been the figurehead of the company since.

Archie Comics largely operates within a shared universe centered on teenager Archie Andrews and his group of friends. Many series center on Archie’s friends such as Sabrina Spellman as well as Josie and the Pussycats.

While Archie and company are the main focus on this publisher, it does have some comics from its original lineup that are more traditional superheroes and still live in various imprints. These include Adventures of the Fly, Pep Comics, and The Black Hood.

Archie Comics is also home to a long-running Sonic the Hedgehog series that began in 1993 and ran for over 20 years.

Archie Comics is clearly focused on a specific dynamic but does have some wiggle room. It’s superhero lineup that dates back to the Golden Age as well as a historic Sonic series make it a unique place to comic fans to check out.

In Conclusion

The world of comics is vast and it would require a lot of effort to compile an exhaustive list of all the offerings outside of Marvel and DC.

We hope this list helps you venture outside of the Big Two and find other fantastic stories that live both in and out of the superhero realm.

Now that you know the different publishers, the next step is to take the dive into them. There are a variety of ways to experience these comics so choose the method that works best for you.

Do you have a favorite comic series outside of Marvel or DC? What publisher is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: Travel + Leisure

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