Slave Labor Graphics ( SLG ) is an American independent comic book publisher , well known for publishing darkly humorous, offbeat adult comics. Creators associated with SLG over the years include Evan Dorkin , Roman Dirge , Sarah Dyer , Woodrow Phoenix , Jhonen Vasquez , and Andi Watson .
11-402: Slave Labor Graphics was started in 1986 by Dan Vado , who remains the company's president and publisher. The first book Slave Labor Graphics published was ShadowStar #3, a female superhero character previously published independently by some of Vado's friends. The company's first wave of titles — Samurai Penguin , Barrabas , Lee Flea , and The Light — were all written by Vado, with art by
22-752: A more genre-oriented imprint called "Amaze Ink" intended to be for all audiences; the "stranger, more adult, and more difficult to categorize material" would still be published under the main "Slave Labor" imprint. In 2005, Slave Labor Graphics entered into a partnership with The Walt Disney Company to produce comic book series based on some of its properties: Haunted Mansion , Wonderland , Tron , and Gargoyles . Its own creations, such as Little Gloomy (1999–2005), Kid Gravity (2003–2007), and The Super Scary Monster Show: Featuring Little Gloomy (2005–2007), appeared regularly in Disney Adventures magazine. In September 2008, SLG remodeled its lobby to be
33-642: A smaller gallery/shop which opened as Boutiki in San Jose in December 2008. The gallery/shop is still operating (with name of Art Boutiki ) as of 2014 December. In late 2010, Slave Labor Graphics established an independent record label entitled Slab Yard Sound Company . In January 2012, editor-in-chief Jennifer de Guzman, who had been with the company since 2001, left to become the PR and Marketing Director at Image Comics . Dan Vado Dan Vado (born September 9, 1959)
44-435: A variety of creators. Other early titles, such as Hero Sandwich and It's Science With Dr. Radium , were all created by friends of Vado's from high school. Slave Labor Graphics's first major success was Samurai Penguin #1 by Vado and Mark Buck, which sold 58,000 copies in the summer of 1986. Other successes were Milk & Cheese , a comic about mean-spirited anthropomorphic dairy products by Evan Dorkin , and Johnny
55-433: Is an American comic book publisher and writer, and a fixture of the independent comics community. Vado is the owner, president, and publisher of Slave Labor Graphics , better known as SLG Publishing. Vado started Slave Labor (SLG) in 1986 and is still its lone owner. The books Vado initially chose to publish were done by his personal friends, many of them acquaintances from high school. Even after more than twenty years in
66-525: Is the father of two sons. Vado won an Inkpot Award in 2007. All About Jazz All About Jazz is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz . Ricci maintains a related site, Jazz Near You , about local concerts and events. The Jazz Journalists Association voted All About Jazz Best Website Covering Jazz for thirteen consecutive years between 2003 and 2015, when
77-569: The Alternative Press Expo , one of the first comics conventions dedicated to alternative comics and self-publishers. While it is presumed SLG Publishing has ceased operation, it has mainly just cut back and only publishes 2-3 books per year. Currently Dan runs The Art Boutiki Music Hall in San Jose, voted as one of the top 35 jazz clubs in the USA by All About Jazz , and also does consulting for prospective comics publishers and creators. During
88-498: The Covid lockdowns Vado began a book about fortune cookies which will also double as a memoir of sorts. The still untitled book will be released at the end of 2021. Vado is well known throughout the comics community for his opinionated, plain-spoken, and humorous nature. He is also an amateur cook with a predilection for " beer can chicken ." He lives in San Jose, California , is married, and
99-460: The Homicidal Maniac , a comic about the adventures of a serial killer by Jhonen Vasquez . In this time period, comic book speculation was rampant, so Slave Labor Graphics was able to sell its entire print run of many titles. However, at the end of the mid-1990s speculation bubble, some distributors went out of business without paying Slave Labor Graphics. In 1995, Slave Labor Graphics added
110-512: The business, Vado continues to publish books he "genuinely like[s]" rather than what he thinks the market is looking for. His writing credits include Barabbas ( Mirage Studios ), Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight ( DC Comics ), Bill The Clown (Slave Labor), Extreme Justice (DC), Haunted Mansion (Slave Labor), Hero Sandwich (Slave Labor), Justice League America (DC), and Universal Monsters: Dracula (Dark Horse Comics). He also founded
121-453: The category was retired. In 2015, Ricci said the site received a peak of 1.3 million readers per month in 2007. Another source said that the site has over 500,000 readers around the world. Ricci was born in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, United States. He heard classical and jazz from his father's music collection. He played trumpet and went to his first jazz concert when he was eight. With
SECTION 10
#1732891153566#565434