KISS
KISS is a licensed comics and entertainment property based on the American rock band KISS.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KISS comics are a licensed entertainment property built around the stage identities, imagery, and mythology of the American rock band KISS. The property combines the band's recognizable personas—including the Demon, Starchild, Catman, and Spaceman—with superhero, science-fiction, horror, fantasy, and adventure narratives. It is part of the wider KISS merchandising and licensing business rather than a standalone comic-book company. The property entered comics in 1977, when the group appeared in Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck issues 12 and 13. Marvel subsequently published A Marvel Comics Super Special!: Kiss, a full-color magazine-format comic portraying the musicians as superheroes, followed by a second Super Special issue in 1978. The launch was notable for its highly theatrical publicity: blood was drawn from the band members and added to the printing ink used for the first Marvel special. Marvel later revisited the material through KISS Klassics, KISSnation, and other collected or related publications. After the Marvel period, KISS comics were licensed to a succession of publishers. Revolutionary Comics produced unauthorized biographical and rock-themed comics in the early 1990s, while Image Comics published the officially licensed Kiss: Psycho Circus series from 1997 to 2000. Psycho Circus expanded the band's concert-era imagery into a supernatural comic-book setting and ran for 31 issues, later receiving collected editions and related magazines. Dark Horse Comics followed with a 13-issue Kiss series from 2002 to 2004. In 2007, the KISS Comics Group partnered with Platinum Studios for Kiss 4K, a project that included print issues, digital installments, webcomics, special editions, and art merchandise. Later collaborations included Archie Meets Kiss, an Archie Comics crossover announced in 2011, and several IDW Publishing projects beginning in 2012. IDW's output included a continuing KISS series, solo titles centered on the four principal personas, the child-oriented Kiss Kids, crossover material, and collected editions. Dynamite Entertainment acquired the comics rights in 2016 and published a new flagship series beginning in October of that year. Its principal series reimagined four young characters in a controlled post-apocalyptic city, while related projects focused on the Demon, Vampirella, and other genre concepts. Dynamite also published Phantom Obsession in 2021. The comics property is distinguished by repeated reinterpretation rather than one continuous canon. Different publishers have treated KISS as superheroes, fictionalized musicians, post-apocalyptic figures, children, horror protagonists, or crossover characters. This flexibility has allowed the brand to move between direct fan merchandise and conventional genre publishing. The wider KISS licensing program has extended into thousands of products, with comics serving as one of the brand's most durable media categories. The available reference material does not identify a separate corporate headquarters, current rights owner, or dedicated public website for the comics property.
History
The KISS comics property began in 1977, when the rock group made a guest appearance in Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck. The band appeared in issue 12, published in May, and issue 13, published in June. Marvel then produced A Marvel Comics Super Special!: Kiss, a magazine-format full-color comic that presented the musicians as larger-than-life superheroes. The publicity surrounding the first issue emphasized the group's theatrical identity: blood was drawn from each member and incorporated into the ink used for printing. Marvel issued a second KISS Super Special in 1978. Marvel returned to the material in later years. KISS Klassics collected the two Super Special issues in 1995, and KISSnation accompanied the band's reunion period and Alive/Worldwide Tour in 1996. The property also appeared in unauthorized publications. Revolutionary Comics released rock biographies and fictionalized KISS stories, including Rock 'N' Roll Comics #9, Hard Rock Comics #5, and the Kiss Pre-History series. These publications were not sanctioned by KISS, although Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley participated in interviews or otherwise expressed support for some of the creators and projects. Image Comics published the first major officially licensed non-Marvel series, Kiss: Psycho Circus, beginning in 1997. Written around the band's Psycho Circus tour-era concept, the series ran for 31 issues before concluding in 2000. It was collected in four trade paperbacks and supported by magazines and promotional publications. Dark Horse Comics then released a separate 13-issue Kiss series from 2002 through 2004, later collected in four volumes: Rediscovery, Return of the Phantom, Men and Monsters, and Unholy War. In 2007, the KISS Comics Group joined with Platinum Studios for Kiss 4K. The project used a larger science-fiction mythology, issued six print installments and four digital installments, and added webcomics, special editions, variant covers, and a lithograph box set. The project illustrated the property's growing importance as a collector-oriented licensing platform as well as a narrative comic. Archie Comics announced Archie Meets Kiss in 2011. The four-issue crossover paired KISS with the Archie cast and was later collected in paperback and hardcover formats. IDW Publishing became another significant licensee beginning in 2012. Its work included a principal KISS series, Greatest Hits collections, a Mars Attacks one-shot, individual books for the Demon, Starchild, Catman, and Spaceman, and the four-issue Kiss Kids series, which reimagined the characters as children. Dynamite Entertainment obtained the comics rights in 2016. Its flagship series, launched in October 2016, recast four teenagers as residents of an isolated post-apocalyptic city. The series ended after ten issues in 2017. Dynamite also published Kiss: The Demon, a Vampirella crossover, and Phantom Obsession, which appeared in 2021. The Kiss Kompendium, released in 2009 by Harper Design, consolidated significant Marvel, Image, and Dark Horse material and added commentary and photographs. Across its publishing history, KISS comics have functioned as a flexible extension of the band's licensing system. The characters and visual trademarks remain recognizable, while the settings and genres change substantially from one publisher or period to another. The available information does not establish a single continuous storyline, a separate operating corporation, or a current publisher for all KISS comics.
- 2016
Dynamite became a comics licensee
[1]Dynamite Entertainment obtained the rights to publish KISS comics and began a new series later that year.
- 2009
Kiss Kompendium released
[1]Harper Design published a hardcover collection covering important KISS comics from Marvel, Image, and Dark Horse.
- 2007
Kiss 4K launched
[1]The KISS Comics Group and Platinum Studios introduced a multimedia comic project with print, digital, and web components.
- 2002
Dark Horse series began
[1]Dark Horse started a new 13-issue KISS series.
- 1997
Kiss: Psycho Circus began
[1]Image Comics launched the officially licensed Psycho Circus series, which ultimately ran for 31 issues.
- 1978
Second Marvel Super Special
[1]Marvel released a second KISS Super Special issue.
- 1977
First comic appearances
[1]KISS appeared in Marvel's Howard the Duck #12 and #13, marking the property's first identified comic-book appearances.
- 1977
Marvel Super Special launched
[1]Marvel published a full-color magazine-format KISS superhero comic as the first issue of its Super Special line.
Products and positioning
A highly visual, collectible rock-entertainment comics property that translates KISS's theatrical personas into superhero, horror, science-fiction, fantasy, and crossover stories.
Licensed comic books · 1977
Marvel KISS comics
The original licensed KISS comics were published by Marvel, beginning with appearances in Howard the Duck and continuing through two magazine-format Super Special issues. Later Marvel-related publications included KISS Klassics and KISSnation. These stories established the basic model of converting the band's stage personas into heroic fictional characters.
Licensed comic series · 1997
Kiss: Psycho Circus
Image Comics' Psycho Circus series translated the band's tour-era visual concept into a supernatural and fantastical comic setting. The series ran for 31 issues from 1997 to 2000 and was subsequently collected in four trade paperbacks, with related magazines and promotional publications supporting the line.
Multimedia comic project · 2007
Kiss 4K
Kiss 4K was developed by the KISS Comics Group and Platinum Studios. It combined a print storyline with digital issues, webcomics about earlier holders of the KISS powers, special editions, variant covers, and a later lithograph collection. The project emphasized both narrative expansion and premium collectible publishing.
Crossover comic · 2011
Archie Meets Kiss
This four-issue Archie Comics crossover placed the KISS characters in the Archie universe. It was issued with variant covers and later collected in trade paperback and hardcover editions, extending the property into a mainstream character crossover format.
Licensed comic books · 2012
IDW KISS comics
IDW's KISS publishing program included a principal series, Greatest Hits archival collections, a Mars Attacks one-shot, solo stories for the four principal stage personas, and Kiss Kids. The line explored several tones, from conventional adventure to character-focused and child-oriented reinterpretations.
Licensed comic books · 2016
Dynamite KISS comics
Dynamite's licensed line began with a post-apocalyptic flagship series about four teenagers questioning the society in which they live. Related publications included Kiss: The Demon, Kiss/Vampirella, and Phantom Obsession, demonstrating the publisher's use of horror, science fiction, and crossover formats.
Brand decisions
2016
Transfer comics publishing to Dynamite EntertainmentStrategyBackground
Dynamite Entertainment obtained the rights to create KISS comics after earlier publishing periods involving Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Platinum Studios, Archie, and IDW.
Action taken
Dynamite launched a new monthly KISS series and followed it with character spin-offs and crossover projects.
Aftermath
The flagship series concluded after ten issues in 2017, while additional Dynamite titles appeared in subsequent years.
2007
Expand KISS comics into digital and web formatsStrategyBackground
The KISS Comics Group and Platinum Studios developed a project intended to combine conventional comic publishing with collector products and online storytelling.
Action taken
Kiss 4K was released through print issues, digital issues, webcomics, special editions, and related art merchandise.
Aftermath
The project broadened the property's publishing format, although the referenced material does not provide financial or audience results.
1997
Move beyond Marvel with Image ComicsStrategyBackground
After the early Marvel publications and later unauthorized projects, KISS pursued a new officially licensed comic series with Image Comics.
Action taken
Image launched Kiss: Psycho Circus, using the group's tour-era concept as the foundation for a new fictional universe.
Aftermath
The series ran for 31 issues and received multiple collected editions and companion publications.
Recent events
KISS announces new licensing partnerships[2]
Reported:
KISS announced new licensing agreements and partnerships across product categories and territories, including deals with Dead Sled Coffee, Robert Graham, Lauren Moshi, Brands For Fans, Metal Departments, Fexpro, Konnekt and Eastpak. Some associated products were scheduled to launch later in 2021.
- Unconfirmed
KFC sponsors the KISSTORY Festival[3]
KFC sponsored the 2021 KISSTORY Festival, with the partnership offering pre-festival giveaways, event upgrades and VIP access.
KISS partners with SknVue for charity auction campaign[4]
Reported:
SknVue announced a partnership with KISS to auction KISS fan packages on the Charitybuzz platform as part of its Valentine's Day campaign, with proceeds intended to support efforts to combat skin cancer.
- Unconfirmed
KISS and TikTok partner for a livestream[5]
KISS and TikTok partnered on a special livestream show to be hosted on TikTok, featuring KISS presenters and artists alongside TikTok creators.
KISS partners with Merge4 on sock collection[6]
Reported:
KISS and Merge4 partnered on a collection of five KISS-themed sock designs.
Sources6 sources
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