Boom! Studios
Boom! Studios is an American comic-book and graphic-novel publisher known for creator-owned series, licensed entertainment properties, and all-ages comics.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Boom! Studios, stylized as BOOM! Studios, is an American publisher of comic books and graphic novels headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2005 by Ross Richie and Andrew Cosby, the company emerged from its founders’ work in film development and their involvement with the revival of Atomeka Press. Rather than concentrating primarily on conventional superhero publishing, Boom! initially positioned itself around creator-driven genre fiction, including horror, science fiction, crime, fantasy, and action. Its early publishing program combined original projects by established comics professionals with work by newer creators. The company’s first publication was Zombie Tales #1, released in June 2005 under both the Boom! and Atomeka Press identities. Hero Squared, by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, became the first comic sold solely under the Boom! name. During its formative years, the publisher developed a catalogue that included Hero Squared, Planetary Brigade, Cthulhu Tales, The Stardust Kid, Jenny Finn, The Black Plague, and The Savage Brothers. This period established Boom!’s interest in publishing material outside the dominant superhero model while retaining strong relationships with recognized writers and artists. Boom! expanded into licensed publishing in 2006 with Games Workshop properties, including Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy. It subsequently secured rights to entertainment franchises such as Planet of the Apes, Farscape, The Muppets, Pixar properties, RoboCop, 28 Days Later, Hellraiser, Big Trouble in Little China, Bill & Ted, and others. In 2015, the company acquired the license for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, producing a successful line of comics beginning in 2016. It later acquired publishing rights for Firefly and the Dune: House Atreides prequel novel adaptation. The company created several imprints to address different readerships. The all-ages imprint originally announced as Boom! Kids launched in 2009 and was renamed KaBOOM! in 2011. Archaia Studios Press was acquired in 2013 and retained as a distinct imprint, while Boom! Box developed a catalogue associated with younger and emerging audiences and distinctive creator-owned work. The core Boom! imprint generally publishes material aimed at teens and adults, while the wider group spans children’s comics, graphic novels, adaptations, and licensed franchises. Notable original properties include Mark Waid’s Irredeemable and Incorruptible, The Woods by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas, Day Men, Six Gun Gorilla, Hit, Sirens, Polarity, Evil Empire, Suicide Risk, and BRZRKR. BRZRKR, created and written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt with art by Ron Garney, became one of the company’s most prominent recent launches. Boom! has also pursued adaptation opportunities through agreements with film and television companies, including a first-look arrangement with 20th Century Fox in 2013 and one with Netflix in 2020. Ownership changed over time. 20th Century Fox acquired a minority stake in Boom! in 2017; that interest passed to The Walt Disney Company following Disney’s acquisition of much of 21st Century Fox’s assets in 2019. Penguin Random House agreed to acquire Boom! from Disney in 2024, and the transaction was completed on September 17, 2024. Boom! therefore operates as a subsidiary division within Penguin Random House while continuing to publish comics and graphic novels under its established brand and imprints.
History
Boom! Studios was formed in 2005 by Ross Richie and Andrew Cosby after the pair worked in Hollywood and participated in efforts connected with Atomeka Press. Their experience optioning comic properties for film helped shape a publishing strategy that treated comics as both creative works and potential cross-media properties. They were also dissatisfied with what they viewed as the mainstream market’s heavy emphasis on conventional superhero stories. Keith Giffen encouraged Richie to establish an independent publisher after meeting him at a Los Angeles comics and science-fiction event. The first Boom! publication was Zombie Tales #1, a horror anthology released in June 2005 with both Boom! and Atomeka Press branding. Hero Squared, written by Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, followed as the first title distributed solely under the Boom! identity. The early catalogue emphasized original genre projects and collaborations with established creators. Titles and contributors included Planetary Brigade, Jeremiah Harm, Cthulhu Tales, The Stardust Kid, Jenny Finn, The Black Plague, and The Savage Brothers. This publishing mix gave Boom! a profile distinct from the largest superhero companies. In 2006, Boom! entered licensed comics through Games Workshop properties, publishing stories set in the Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy universes. It broadened its licensing portfolio in subsequent years through film, television, literary, music, and game-related properties. The company’s licensed catalogue included Planet of the Apes, Farscape, The Muppets, Pixar characters, RoboCop, 28 Days Later, Hellraiser, Big Trouble in Little China, Bill & Ted, and other properties. These publications often expanded established fictional universes rather than simply reprinting screen material. Boom! also developed an all-ages operation. An imprint first announced as Zoom! launched in 2009 as Boom! Kids and was renamed KaBOOM! in 2011. Its output included Pixar, Disney, and Muppet comics, as well as original all-ages material such as Snarked! and Abigail and the Snowman. The company later maintained several imprints, including the core Boom! line, KaBOOM!, Archaia, and Boom! Box. Archaia became part of Boom! after its 2013 acquisition while retaining a distinct editorial identity. The publisher’s original work continued to be central to its identity. Mark Waid’s Irredeemable ran for 37 issues and was paired with the related series Incorruptible. Other original projects included The Woods, Day Men, Hit, Sirens, Six Gun Gorilla, Polarity, Evil Empire, Suicide Risk, and works by creators such as Clive Barker and Michael Moorcock. In 2020, Boom! published BRZRKR, created and written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt and illustrated by Ron Garney, reinforcing the company’s ability to launch creator-led properties with substantial media interest. Boom! pursued screen-development relationships throughout its growth. A 2013 first-look agreement with 20th Century Fox gave Fox an early opportunity to develop Boom! properties for film and television. Fox purchased a minority stake in the publisher in 2017. Disney inherited that interest when it acquired major 21st Century Fox assets in 2019. In 2020, Boom! entered another first-look arrangement with Netflix. In 2024, Penguin Random House agreed to buy Boom! Studios from The Walt Disney Company. The transaction was completed on September 17, 2024, making Boom! a subsidiary division of Penguin Random House. The brand remains focused on comic books and graphic novels, spanning creator-owned originals, licensed franchises, collected editions, and material for children, young adults, and adults.
- 2024
Penguin Random House acquisition completed
[1]Penguin Random House completes its purchase of Boom! from Disney on September 17.
- 2020
BRZRKR launches
[1]Boom! publishes the creator-led series BRZRKR, created by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt with art by Ron Garney.
- 2018
Firefly publishing rights acquired
[1]Boom! announces comic-book and graphic-novel rights to Firefly.
- 2017
Fox acquires minority stake
[1]20th Century Fox takes a minority interest in Boom! Studios.
- 2015
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers license begins
[1]Boom! secures the comic-book license and announces a monthly series that launches in 2016.
- 2013
Archaia is acquired
[1]Boom! acquires Archaia Studios Press and retains it as a separate imprint.
- 2009
Boom! Kids launches
[1]The company introduces an imprint for younger readers, later renamed KaBOOM!.
- 2006
Entry into licensed publishing
[1]Boom! begins publishing Games Workshop-related comics, including Warhammer 40,000 material.
- 2005
Boom! Studios is founded
[1]Ross Richie and Andrew Cosby establish Boom! Studios after working in Hollywood and around Atomeka Press.
- 2005
First publications appear
[1]Zombie Tales #1 becomes the first publication associated with the new company, followed by Hero Squared under the Boom! name.
Products and positioning
A creator-friendly, genre-focused comic and graphic-novel publisher combining original intellectual property with high-profile licensed franchises and all-ages publishing.
Original comic series · 2020
BRZRKR
A creator-led action series created and written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt and illustrated by Ron Garney. It follows an immortal warrior known as Berzerker across different historical periods and represents one of Boom!’s most prominent recent original launches.
Original comic series · 2009
Irredeemable
Mark Waid’s creator-owned superpowered drama about a former hero whose conduct becomes catastrophic. The 37-issue series was paired with the related title Incorruptible and became one of Boom!’s longest-running early original successes.
Licensed comic series · 2016
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
A comic-book line based on the Power Rangers property. Boom! acquired the license in 2015 and launched a monthly series in 2016, followed by related limited series including MMPR: Pink.
Licensed comic series · 2010
Planet of the Apes
A long-running line of comics expanding the Planet of the Apes mythology through original stories, adaptations, prequels, sequels, and continuity-spanning projects.
All-ages imprint · 2009
KaBOOM!
Boom!’s all-ages imprint, originally launched as Boom! Kids. It publishes children’s and family-oriented comics, including original works and licensed properties such as Pixar and Muppet characters.
Licensed literary adaptation · 2020
Dune: House Atreides
A planned comic adaptation of the 1999 prequel novel Dune: House Atreides, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson and announced by Boom! as a 12-issue project.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Push Comics Forward
United States · International comics market
A public-relations initiative intended to encourage discussion of inclusion and diversity in comic-book publishing.
Outcome. The initiative positioned Boom! as a participant in industry discussions about representation and publishing culture.
- 2013#WeAreBoom!
United States · International comics market
A brand campaign emphasizing that Boom! consisted not only of its staff and creators but also of readers and comic retailers.
Outcome. The campaign articulated Boom!’s community-oriented publishing identity.
Brand decisions
2024
Join Penguin Random HouseM&ABackground
Penguin Random House agreed to acquire Boom! Studios from The Walt Disney Company.
Action taken
The acquisition was completed on September 17, 2024.
Aftermath
Boom! became a subsidiary division of Penguin Random House while retaining its established publishing identity.
2015
Acquire the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers licenseOtherBackground
Boom! continued expanding its portfolio of recognizable licensed entertainment properties.
Action taken
The company obtained the comic-book license and announced a monthly series and later spin-offs.
Aftermath
The property became a prominent part of Boom!’s licensed publishing program.
2013
Acquire Archaia Studios PressM&ABackground
Boom! sought to broaden its publishing capabilities and catalogue through the acquisition of the graphic-novel publisher Archaia Studios Press.
Action taken
Boom! acquired Archaia and continued it as a standalone imprint.
Aftermath
Archaia became one of the company’s continuing imprints.
Recent events
- 2024
Penguin Random House completes acquisition of Boom! Studios[1]
M&A
Penguin Random House completed its acquisition of Boom! Studios from Disney on September 17, 2024.
- 2020
Boom! Studios establishes a first-look deal with Netflix[1]
Other
The agreement gave Netflix an early opportunity to consider Boom! properties for screen development.
- 2017
20th Century Fox takes a minority stake in Boom! Studios[1]
M&A
Fox acquired a minority investment reported at $10 million; the interest later passed to Disney after the Fox asset acquisition.
- 2015
Boom! Studios launches Push Comics Forward[1]
Campaign
The public-relations initiative encouraged discussion about inclusion and diversity in comic-book publishing.
- 2013
Boom! Studios launches the #WeAreBoom! campaign[1]
Campaign
The campaign presented the publisher as a community involving creators, employees, readers, and comic retailers.
- 2013
Boom! Studios acquires Archaia Studios Press[1]
M&A
Boom! acquired Archaia and continued operating it as a separate publishing imprint.
- 2013
Boom! Studios signs first-look deal with 20th Century Fox[1]
M&A · Other
Fox received a right of first refusal to develop Boom! comic properties for film or television.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/boom-studios · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled