NOW Comics was a comic book publisher founded by Tony C. Caputo in 1985 as a sole-proprietorship before
becoming a part of Caputo Publishing, Inc. During the following four years, CPI grew quickly from a
newsstand distribution deal with Warner, adoption of the Comics Code, and publishing licensed properties
like The Real Ghostbusters, The Green Hornet and Speed Racer.
NOW declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 1990 because of poor business management and impending lawsuits for non-payment of artists and writers. In 1991, NOW Comics relaunched as NOW Entertainment Corporation after being bought by General Learning. In 1994, Caputo was forced out of NOW and the company ceased publishing.
In 2003, Caputo started NOW Comics again as "NOW Comics 3.0" under NOW Media Group, Inc., with the intent to publish creator-owned trade paperbacks. Barry Peterson and Marc Hansen were given shares in the company. Four titles by Hansen were published including a 430-page volume reprinting the first 19 issues of Ralph Snart Adventures. Hansen ended his association with the company in 2005.
In February of 2006, the corporation dissolved completely due to the poor sales of Caputo's book Vespers.
NOW's history was peppered with controversy. Allegations were made of non-payment of artists and writers, as well as theft of the rights of creations from creators. Two rounds of artist's backlashes were published in The Comics Journal and Hero Illustrated and cited numerous battles by creators fighting for their payments. NOW developed a reputation for exploiting young talent, which dogged the company throughout its life.
Tony C. Caputo's contribution to comics is easy. Simply study the irony of his book "How to Self-Publish Your Own Comic Book". The book covers it all from top to bottom giving sound advice along the way. The book has helped many new comic book publishers get started in the business. And all of this from someone who has tried to be a successful comic book publisher and failed three times (and is still trying).
The links and references below give both sides of the sordid story.
Tony Caputo hype about Marc Hansen
Tony Caputo's Comic Book Whitepaper
NOW Comics website
Tony Caputo interview at ComicbookResouces.com
Tony Caputo on Comicon.com forum
Tom Richmond blog on NOW and doing Married...With Children
Ron Fortier web page on NOW
Tony Caputo interview at Popthought.com
Chicago Tribune article by Robert K. Elder ($)
Comics Journal articles on NOW Comics
#123, Jul 1988, page 14, "Chicago's Now Comics Get Newsstand Distribution."
#125, Oct 1988, page 16, "Now Cover Art Missing."
#127, Feb 1989, page 13, "Schiller's Story."
#127, Feb 1989, pages 5-15, "Creators Accuse Now of Non-Payment."
#127, Feb 1989, page 9, "Editorial Direction Lacking at Now."
#128, Apr 1989, pages 3-4, "Courage Before Freelancers, Cowardice Before Censorship."
#128, Apr 1989, pages 6, "Corrections." (for #127 NOW story)
#129, May 1989, page 33, "I Almost Puked."
#129, May 1989, page 33, "Now Again."
#139, Dec 1990, pages 7-8, "Now Suspends Publishing, Seeks Buyer."
#140, Feb 1991, pages 11-12, "It's So Long For Now."
#142, Jun 1991, pages 9-10, "Comics Companies Reborn in Chicago."
NOW declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 1990 because of poor business management and impending lawsuits for non-payment of artists and writers. In 1991, NOW Comics relaunched as NOW Entertainment Corporation after being bought by General Learning. In 1994, Caputo was forced out of NOW and the company ceased publishing.
In 2003, Caputo started NOW Comics again as "NOW Comics 3.0" under NOW Media Group, Inc., with the intent to publish creator-owned trade paperbacks. Barry Peterson and Marc Hansen were given shares in the company. Four titles by Hansen were published including a 430-page volume reprinting the first 19 issues of Ralph Snart Adventures. Hansen ended his association with the company in 2005.
In February of 2006, the corporation dissolved completely due to the poor sales of Caputo's book Vespers.
NOW's history was peppered with controversy. Allegations were made of non-payment of artists and writers, as well as theft of the rights of creations from creators. Two rounds of artist's backlashes were published in The Comics Journal and Hero Illustrated and cited numerous battles by creators fighting for their payments. NOW developed a reputation for exploiting young talent, which dogged the company throughout its life.
Tony C. Caputo's contribution to comics is easy. Simply study the irony of his book "How to Self-Publish Your Own Comic Book". The book covers it all from top to bottom giving sound advice along the way. The book has helped many new comic book publishers get started in the business. And all of this from someone who has tried to be a successful comic book publisher and failed three times (and is still trying).
The links and references below give both sides of the sordid story.
Tony Caputo hype about Marc Hansen
Tony Caputo's Comic Book Whitepaper
NOW Comics website
Tony Caputo interview at ComicbookResouces.com
Tony Caputo on Comicon.com forum
Tom Richmond blog on NOW and doing Married...With Children
Ron Fortier web page on NOW
Tony Caputo interview at Popthought.com
Chicago Tribune article by Robert K. Elder ($)
Comics Journal articles on NOW Comics
#123, Jul 1988, page 14, "Chicago's Now Comics Get Newsstand Distribution."
#125, Oct 1988, page 16, "Now Cover Art Missing."
#127, Feb 1989, page 13, "Schiller's Story."
#127, Feb 1989, pages 5-15, "Creators Accuse Now of Non-Payment."
#127, Feb 1989, page 9, "Editorial Direction Lacking at Now."
#128, Apr 1989, pages 3-4, "Courage Before Freelancers, Cowardice Before Censorship."
#128, Apr 1989, pages 6, "Corrections." (for #127 NOW story)
#129, May 1989, page 33, "I Almost Puked."
#129, May 1989, page 33, "Now Again."
#139, Dec 1990, pages 7-8, "Now Suspends Publishing, Seeks Buyer."
#140, Feb 1991, pages 11-12, "It's So Long For Now."
#142, Jun 1991, pages 9-10, "Comics Companies Reborn in Chicago."
Ralph Snart is a registered trademark. ©1986-2007 by Marc Hansen. All rights reserved.