CrossGen Logo

Cross Generation Entertainment, or CrossGen, was an American comic book publisher. http://www. ... http://www. ... An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States containing a narrative in the comics form. ... About Comics AC Comics Adhouse Books AiT/Planet Lar Alias Enterprises Abacus Comics Cross Culture Entertainment (defunct) Alternative Comics Antarctic Press Ape Entertainment Arcana Studios Archaia Studios Press (ASP) Archie Comics (formerly MLJ) Mighty Comics (Defunct, also known as Radio Comics) Red Circle Comics (Defunct) Aardvark-Vanaheim (Cerebus the Aardvark...

Overview

CrossGen Comics, Inc. was founded In 1998, by Tampa, Florida-based entrepreneur Mark Alessi . The head creative team which consisted of Barbara Kesel, Mark Waid and Ron Marz. Mark Alessi and Gina M. Villa wrote a history of the CrossGen universe (the Sigilverse) before any comics were written. The company's publications covered a variety of genres with characters inhabiting a single shared universe. CrossGen was acquired by Disney in late 2004, for $1 Million. ^{[1] [2]} Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Nickname: Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida. ... For the sequel to the computer game Entrepreneur, which has no article of it own, see The Corporate Machine. ... Mark Alessi is a former technology company executive who later became founder and publisher of CrossGen comics, which subsequently liquidated in 2004. ... Barbara Randall Kesel is a writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, and Image Comics. ... Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. ... Ron Marz is an American comic book writer. ... The Sigilverse, also known as the CrossGen Universe, is a fictional shared universe which served as a setting for most titles published by CrossGen Comics. ... A shared universe is a literary technique in which several different authors create works of fiction that share aspects such as settings or characters and that are intended to be read as taking place in a single universe. ...

Debut

In January 2000 CrossGen Comics, Inc. debuted with CrossGenesis, a sneak-peak at the Sigilverse. It gave an outline of the universe, worlds and characters of CrossGen’s flagship titles that were released 6 months later. The titles were; Mystic, Sigil, Scion, Meridian and CrossGen Chronicles. The protagonists of the first wave of CrossGen comics were linked in commonality by the Sigil each character had received. It was a branding on their body, a marking that granted them unusual powers. The Sigil and the story of the Sigil-Bearers was a prominent aspect of the Sigilverse narrative. 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Events: January 1- Millennium celebrations take place throughout the world. ... Mystic has been used as the title of four comic-book series. ... Sigil was originally published by CrossGeneration Comics in July 2000 and lasted until December of 2003 at issue forty-two. ... Scion was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from July 2000 to April 2004. ... Meridian was a comic book series published by CrossGen Comics, and taking place on the planet Demetria, in CrossGens Sigilverse. ... CrossGen Chronicles was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from June, 2000 to July, 2002. ... The Sigil-Bearers are characters in Crossgen Comics fictional universe, the Sigilverse. ...

First Wave

The first wave of CrossGen titles included:

• Sigil a military science fiction space opera.
• Mystic a magical fantasy fiction.
• The folklore-esque Meridian.
• Scion a King Arthur type adventure series.
• CrossGen Chronicles a series detailing the untold history of the Sigilverse.

Sigil was originally published by CrossGeneration Comics in July 2000 and lasted until December of 2003 at issue forty-two. ... Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein is a well-known example of military science fiction. ... Classic pulp space opera cover, with the usual cliché elements. ... Mystic has been used as the title of four comic-book series. ... For other definitions of fantasy see fantasy (psychology). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Meridian was a comic book series published by CrossGen Comics, and taking place on the planet Demetria, in CrossGens Sigilverse. ... Scion was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from July 2000 to April 2004. ... A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15th century) by Peter Vischer, typical of later anachronistic depictions of Arthur. ... CrossGen Chronicles was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from June, 2000 to July, 2002. ...

Following Titles

Shortly after in November 2000 Homeric myth The First was released and steadily over the next three years CrossGen would release many more titles. Crux, based on the Atlantean Myth, Sojourn, a Tolkienesque fantasy, Ruse, Victorian detective fiction and a key title Negation was released in 2001. In the following year, the horror fiction, Route 666, wuxia comedy, Way of the Rat, and the samurai drama The Path would be released. The year 2003 saw the release of numerous titles that would expand the Sigilverse in the build up to the Negation War. The sword and sorcery epic Brath, Chimera, a limited series about a Sigil-bearer on the far reaches of the Universe, the pirate adventure El Cazador and two key titles that would address the growing issue of who created the Sigil-bearers, Solus and The Mark of Charon. 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December This is a timeline for events in November, 2000. ... For other uses, see Homer (disambiguation). ... The First are a group of fictional gods who appear in the various comic book series published by CrossGen, including a self-titled comic. ... Crux was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from May 2001 to February 2004. ... Sojourn was a CrossGen comic book title about the adventures of Arwyn and her friend Gareth as they traveled in a fantasy world with dragons, trolls, and magic. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1972, in his study at Merton Street (from by H. Carpenter) John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (January 3, 1892 – September 2, 1973) is best known as the author of The Hobbit and its sequel The Lord of the Rings. ... Ruse was a CrossGen comic book title. ... Charles Dickens is still one of the best known English writers of any era. ... Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes Detective fiction is a branch of crime fiction that centers upon the investigation of a crime, usually murder, by a detective, either professional or amateur. ... Negation was a comic published from CrossGen comics. ... Horror fiction is, broadly, fiction in any medium intended to scare, unsettle, or horrify the reader. ... Route 666 was CrossGens first horror comic venture. ... WÇ”xiá (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: , Mandarin IPA: , Cantonese Pinyin: mou5 hap6), literally meaning martial (arts) heroes, is a distinct quasi-fantasy sub-genre of the martial arts genre in literature, television and cinema. ... Comedy has a classical meaning (comical theatre) and a popular one (the use of humour with an intent to provoke[[ laughter in general). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Path is an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from March 2002 to April 2004. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about a fantasy sub-genre. ... Brath was an American comic book published by Crossgen Entertainment from February, 2003 to June, 2004. ... Chimera was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from March 2003 to July 2003. ... Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... El Cazador was a CrossGen comic book title. ... Solus was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from from April 2003 to December 2003. ...

Titles such as Negation and Crux blended genres. Although most CrossGen titles shared common elements, such as a Sigil, the presence of a Mentor and a member of the god-like First, the titles rarely crossed over with each other. There was one company -crossover event, the Negation War, but it was never concluded. Negation was a comic published from CrossGen comics. ... Crux was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from May 2001 to February 2004. ... Negation War was a comic book series published by CrossGen Comics, and serving as a culmination of the metaplots of nearly all of CrossGens other titles. ...

Company Structure

Unlike other comics companies such as DC Comics and Marvel Comics, which rely on freelance writers and artists, most CrossGen talent were salaried employees of the company and worked out of its headquarters in Tampa. DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... Marvel Comics is an American comic book line published by Marvel Publishing, Inc. ...

• Publisher & CEO – Mark Alessi
• Chief Operating Officer – Gina M. Villa
• Chief Financial Officer – Michael A. Beattie

Writers

Barbara Kesel, Ron Marz, Mark Waid, Chuck Dixon, Tony Bedard and Scott Beatty Barbara Randall Kesel is a writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, and Image Comics. ... Ron Marz is an American comic book writer. ... Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. ... Chuck Dixon is an American comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s. ... Tony Bedard is a writer and editor who has worked in the comic book industry. ... Scott Beatty is an American author who has worked extensively for the popular comic book publisher DC Comics since the mid 90s. ...

Pencillers

Scot Eaton, Brandon Peterson, Dale Eaglesham,Steve McNiven, Joshua Middleton,Greg Tocchini, Jim Cheung, Butch Guice, Bart Sears, Greg Land, Paul Pelletier, Steve Epting, Jeff Johnson and George Perez Dale Eaglesham is a veteran comic book illustrator who has been working in the industry since 1986. ... Cover to Marvel Knights 4 #2, featuring the Thing. ... Joshua Middleton is a comic book artist currently signed exclusive to DC Comics. ... Jim Cheung is a comic book artist. ... Jackson Guice (sometimes credited as Butch Guice) is an American comic book artist. ... Greg Land is an American comic book tracer best known for his plagarism on X-Men: Phoenix - Endsong and Ultimate Fantastic Four. ... Steve Epting is a comic book artist whose work includes Aquaman, The Avengers, X-Factor and several titles for the now defunct CrossGen, including El Cazador (with Chuck Dixon) and Crux. ... Johnsons cover for Wonder Man #9 (May 1992). ... George Pérez (born June 9, 1954 in The Bronx, New York) is a Puerto Rican-American illustrator and writer of comic books. ...

Inkers

Drew Geraci, Don Hillsman II, Rick Magyar, John Dell, Matt Ryan, Andy Smith and Mike Perkins Don Hillsman II is a professional penciller and inker. ... Matt Ryan (born on November 12, 1983 in Sharon, Ontario, Canada) is a National Hockey League centerman for the Los Angeles Kings. ... Andrew Smith or Andy Smith may refer to: Andrew Smith, English politician Andrew Hayden-Smith, English actor/TV presenter formerly known as Andrew Smith Andrew Smith (veterinary surgeon), Scottish vet, founder of the Ontario Veterinary College, Canada Andrew Smith (zoologist), Scottish zoologist Andrew Smith (author), author Andrew Smith (Doctor Who...

Colorists

Caesar Rodriguez, Morry Hollowell, Andrew Hennessy and Laura Martin Caesar Rodriguez is an artist who has worked as a colorist in the comics industry. ... Laura DePuy Martin is an artist who has worked as a colorist in the comics industry. ...

Letterers

Dave Lanphear and Troy Peteri with designers Randy Martin, Erin Flanagan and Ron Domingue.

Others

Later creators such as J.M. DeMatteis worked freelance, with CrossGen publishing finished properties. John Marc DeMatteis is an American writer of comic books. ...

CrossGen Entertainment, Inc. (CGE)

In 2003 CrossGen Comics, inc. changed their name to CrossGen Entertainment, Inc. (CGE) and formed 11 wholly owned subsidiary companies, which represented its broad-based entertainment products and offerings. These companies were to act independently of CGE, functioning as interior business units while all working towards CGE's overall goals. With this arrangement, all current and future projects would be managed and guided by Crossgen’s founding principals. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

They consisted of:

• CrossGen Intellectual Property, LLC: CGIP held all CGE content intellectual property (IP).
• CrossGen Technologies, LLC: CGT held all CGE technology IP and managed technology IP creation, development, production, and application.
• CrossGen Publishing, LLC: CGPub published all print projects, including CGE Ancillary, Code 6, CrossGen Universe, and foreign publishing.
• CrossGen Media, LLC: CGM is responsible for feature films, television programs, video games, websites, merchandise, and additional interactive products.
• CrossGen Productions, LLC: A subsidiary of CGM, CGP was to produce feature films and television programs.
• CrossGen Interactive, LLC: A subsidiary of CGM, CGI was responsible for interactive publishing, video games, and role-playing games.
• MegaCon, LLC: MGC managed the MegaCon convention.
• CrossGen Education, LLC: CGEd published educational materials.
• Comics On The Web, LLC: COW was responsible for internet publishing, including Comics On The Web(tm).
• Code 6 Comics, LLC: A subsidiary of CGPub, C6C published Code 6 publications.
• CrossGen Comics, LLC: A subsidiary of CGPub, CGC published CGU print publications.

Of the eleven, three of the subsidiaries would have an impact on the industry more obvious than most. They were; CrossGen Comics who would continue to publish the current Sigilverse titles; Code6 comics which would publish material created by others outside the Sigilverse and COW or Comics on the Web who would establish CrossGen as a front runner of internet comic book subscriptions. Megacon is a large convention that caters to the anime, sci-fi, comic, and fantasy community, occurring February 24 - February 26, 2005 at the Orange County Convention Center. ...

CrossGen Comics Entertainment, Inc. (CGE)

Crossgen Entertainment Logo

CrossGen Comics Entertainment, Inc. (CGE) was set up to take over the publishing of the current Sigilverse titles and any other non-Sigilverse title. Its logo would appear on anything that would come from CrossGen. It acted as a publisher for affiliated companies where the affiliated companies would retain full ownership and control of their property and would reap the benefits of joining with a larger company. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Code6

Code6 was another imprint of CrossGen Entertianment created to publish titles set outside of the Sigilverse, such as The Red Star, Demonwars and The Crossovers. All titles published with the Code6 logo would be owned by both the creator and CrossGen Entertainment, Inc. with the majority of ownership going to CrossGen Entertainment, Inc. CrossGen would pay an upfront page rate and then split all rights and revenues 75%-25%. Cover of The Red Star, Issue 1, German edition. ... The Crossovers is a comic-book series created in 2003 by Robert Rodi (writer), Mauricet (penciller) and Ernie Colon (inker), and published by CrossGen. ...

Code6 is the Florida Police signal code for an escaped prisoner. It was used to describe the attitude of the creators working at Code6.

Comics on the Web (COW)

One of Crossgen's innovations was the sale of comic subscriptions via the Internet. Subscribers could view all of Crossgen's titles through a web browser. The web comics reproduced the fine color of the original, but the lettering was sometimes not quite legible; hovering over the word or thought bubble caused it to enlarge to a readable size, a feature developed in Flash by Gabo Mendoza of Gabocorp Studios. The online library was estimated at 160 issues and 4,400 pages by the end of 2002. CrossGen was among the first comics companies to publish online. Hovering means that a machine can levitate over the ground using a force that operate opposite the gravity force. ...

Bankruptcy

In 2003, CrossGen found itself in a scandal over freelancer payments, exposing systemic financial problems. As this news reached comics fans, sales were affected and creative staff began abandoning the company (including co-founder Gina Villa, Brandon Peterson, and Ron Marz). The root cause for CrossGen's financial collapse has never been publicly disclosed, but some industry observers have noted its difficulties became apparent shortly after the Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstore chains discontinued stocking CrossGen's trade paperback collections and returned huge numbers of unsold books for credit/refund, more than wiping out the publisher's optimistically low reserves against returns. Borders Group (NYSE: BGP) is an international bookseller based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... A typical Barnes & Noble bookstore. ... A trade paperback can refer to any book that is bound with a heavy paper cover that is generally cheaper than the hardcover but more expensive than the regular paperback version. ...

CrossGen filed for bankruptcy in 2004 and ceased publishing, leaving titles such as Sojourn, Negation War, Brath and many others cancelled mid-story. Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, put into administration - see text) in the UK. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organizations to pay their...

One of the most detailed posts about the CrossGen bankruptcy was made by a moderator on the COMICON.com news forum. ^[3]

In July 2004, Disney Publishing had been interested in licensing CrossGen content, but upon discovering the bankruptcy began seeking to acquire its assets instead. On November 15, 2004, Disney announced it had purchased CrossGen's assets for $1 million with plans to publish four prose hardcover novels based on writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Ploog's Abadazad. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is one of the largest media and entertainment corporations in the world. ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Marc DeMatteis is an American writer of comic books. ... The Eisneresque Topaz: Splash panel, Werewolf by Night #13 (Jan. ... Abadazad started as an American comic book written by J.M.DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Ploog, with color by Nick Bell. ...

CGCreators.net was created to attempt to track the subsequent doings of various staff associated with the company. ^[4]

In 2006, Checker Books announced they had obtained the rights to publish trade collections of various CrossGen series, starting with Sojourn.

Titles

The majority of CrossGen's titles took place within a shared universe, informally dubbed the Sigilverse by CrossGen fans. CrossGen published the following titles in the Sigilverse. Most titles are listed in order of appearances. Miniseries and one-shots associated with an ongoing title are listed thereunder. A shared universe is a literary technique in which several different authors create works of fiction that share aspects such as settings or characters and that are intended to be read as taking place in a single universe. ... The Sigilverse, also known as the CrossGen Universe, is a fictional shared universe which served as a setting for most titles published by CrossGen Comics. ... A miniseries (sometimes mini-series), in a serial storytelling medium, is a production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. ...

CrossGen collected several of the above titles in trade paperback format. CrossGenesis was the first ever CrossGen comicbook. ... CrossGen Chronicles was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from June, 2000 to July, 2002. ... Mystic has been used as the title of four comic-book series. ... Sigil was originally published by CrossGeneration Comics in July 2000 and lasted until December of 2003 at issue forty-two. ... Scion was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from July 2000 to April 2004. ... Meridian was a comic book series published by CrossGen Comics, and taking place on the planet Demetria, in CrossGens Sigilverse. ... The First are a group of fictional gods who appear in the various comic book series published by CrossGen, including a self-titled comic. ... Crux was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from May 2001 to February 2004. ... Sojourn was a CrossGen comic book title about the adventures of Arwyn and her friend Gareth as they traveled in a fantasy world with dragons, trolls, and magic. ... Ruse was a CrossGen comic book title. ... Negation was a comic published from CrossGen comics. ... Negation War was a comic book series published by CrossGen Comics, and serving as a culmination of the metaplots of nearly all of CrossGens other titles. ... The Path is an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from March 2002 to April 2004. ... Route 666 was CrossGens first horror comic venture. ... Brath was an American comic book published by Crossgen Entertainment from February, 2003 to June, 2004. ... Chimera was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from March 2003 to July 2003. ... Solus was an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from from April 2003 to December 2003. ... El Cazador was a CrossGen comic book title. ...

Compendia

CrossGen published two monthly anthologies, referred to as compendia, that reprinted several titles from the main shared continuity. Each issue contained between 6 and 11 issues.

• Forge (13 issues, reprints of Crux, Meridian, Negation, Sojourn, The Path, Route 666,
• Edge/Vector (13 issues, reprints of The First, Mystic, Ruse, Scion, Sigil, Way of the Rat, and Solus)

After 12 issues, Edge was renamed to Vector due to a trademark concflict with another company. A third compendium called Caravan was never released.

Roughly halfway through the run of the compendia, their format changed from standard comic size to a half-page sized digest format, usually with a higher page count. CrossGen later used this compendium format to collect runs of single titles, such as Meridian and The Path, to reported success.

Promotional and related titles:

• CrossGen Sampler (a free promotional comic which included several pages from each of CrossGen's first five titles)
• CrossGen Primer (a promotional comic bundled with an issue of Wizard Magazine)
• Wizard CrossGen Special (a later promotional comic bundled with Wizard Magazine)
• CrossGen Illustrated (softcover book with art and information on several Sigilverse titles)
• Pre-release Reader review copies of the first issue of several series, some in black and white.

Additional Titles Wizard: The Comics Magazine is a magazine about comic books, published monthly in the United States. ...

In addition to its Sigilverse comics, CrossGen published a number of additional titles:

• Abadazad
• R.A. Salvatore's Demon Wars
• The Crossovers
• Lady Death: A Medieval Tale
• Lady Death: The Wild Hunt
• The Red Star
• Space Ace
• Dragon's Lair
• Masters of the Universe
• American Power (canceled, never released shortly after announcement due to controversy)

Abadazad started as an American comic book written by J.M.DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Ploog, with color by Nick Bell. ... Space Ace is a Laserdisc video game produced by Don Bluth Studios, Cinematronics, and RDI Video Systems. ... Dragons Lair was one of the first laserdisc video games, released in June 1983 by Cinematronics. ... Clash of the titans: He-Man and Skeletor face off on the cover of a vintage MOTU graphic novel. ...

References

External links

• Myth Conceptions – Crossgen
• Timeline of the CrossGen Universe
• Checker Book Publishing Group, who are reprinting some of the CrossGen material
• Memories of Crossgen Comics: Thoughts on the Classic Comic Universe, June 12, 2007
• CrossGen Comics: A New Kid on the Block, May 5, 2000
• CrossGen Continues Worldwide Expansion, July 26, 2002
• CROSSGEN CEO MARK ALESSI ADDRESSES COMPANY FINANCIAL ISSUES, August 20, 2003, at Comic Book Resources
• CROSSGEN LAYS OFF STAFFERS, REORGANIZES, September 25, 2003, at Comic Book Resources
• CrossGen Signs With Endeavor