New Reliable Press

New Reliable Press was a Canadian independent comic-book and graphic-novel publishing company owned and operated by Ed Brisson. Its publishing list concentrated on creator-driven comics, anthology projects, and graphic novels associated with the independent comics scene. The press is most closely identified with You Ain't No Dancer, an anthology series that provided a platform for a broad group of emerging and established indie cartoonists. Contributors associated with the series included Jeffrey Brown, Lilli Carré, Nicholas Gurewitch, K. Thor Jensen, Jason Turner, Hope Larson, Mitch Clem, Liz Prince, Neil Babra, Jim Mahfood, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Dean Trippe, Kate Beaton, Lucy Knisley, and Jen Wang. The You Ain't No Dancer anthology appeared in three numbered volumes between 2005 and 2008. These books represented the press's role as a curator and promoter of short-form alternative comics, bringing together different artistic voices within a single publication rather than building its identity around one long-running character property. New Reliable Press also released individual graphic novels and collected works, including True Loves by Jason Turner and Manien Bothma, its second volume, Simon Roy's Jan's Atomic Heart, and KC Green's Horribleville Vol. 1. In 2010, the company published Acts of Violence: An Anthology of Crime in cooperation with Critical Hit Comics, Caper Away Productions, and Caruso Comics. This project reflected the press's willingness to work collaboratively on anthology publishing and broadened its subject matter beyond the more general alternative-comics focus associated with You Ain't No Dancer. New Reliable Press ceased operating as a comic publisher in 2010, but the available reference material describes this as a change of focus rather than a complete disappearance of the business. The company moved toward comic and publishing production for other organizations. Consequently, its historical identity has two parts: first, as a small Canadian publisher responsible for a recognizable body of independent comics; and later, as a production-oriented service provider. Publicly documented information about its later activities, current ownership arrangements, headquarters, website, and commercial scale is limited.

New Reliable Press emerged as a Canadian independent publishing company focused on comic books and graphic novels. The company was owned and operated by Ed Brisson, and its catalogue reflected the small-press and alternative-comics environment in which creator-owned anthologies and short graphic works were important channels for new cartoonists. The press became best known for You Ain't No Dancer, an anthology series issued in three volumes. The first volume appeared in September 2005, followed by a second volume in September 2006 and a third in October 2008. Rather than presenting a single continuous narrative or a house character, the series assembled work from numerous independent artists. Its contributor list included Jeffrey Brown, Lilli Carré, Nicholas Gurewitch, K. Thor Jensen, Jason Turner, Hope Larson, Mitch Clem, Liz Prince, Neil Babra, Jim Mahfood, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Dean Trippe, Kate Beaton, Lucy Knisley, and Jen Wang. The series therefore served both as an anthology product and as a snapshot of a significant group of independent comics creators. Alongside its anthology output, New Reliable Press published graphic novels and collected editions. True Loves, credited to Jason Turner and Manien Bothma, was released in April 2006. A second volume followed in June 2009. The company also published Simon Roy's Jan's Atomic Heart in June 2009 and KC Green's Horribleville Vol. 1 on February 16, 2010. These releases show a catalogue that extended beyond anthology compilation into author- and series-led graphic-novel publishing. In March 2010, New Reliable Press participated in the publication of Acts of Violence: An Anthology of Crime. The title was produced with Critical Hit Comics, Caper Away Productions, and Caruso Comics. This collaboration was among the company's final documented comic-publishing projects and demonstrated a multi-publisher approach to producing themed anthology material. New Reliable Press ceased operations as a comic publisher in 2010. The available account describes the organization as changing its focus to comic and publishing production for other organizations, so 2010 is best understood as a transition in business activity rather than a confirmed full corporate dissolution. The public record provides little detail about the later production-service work, including its clients, location, staffing, revenue, or current publishing schedule. Its documented legacy rests primarily on its anthology and graphic-novel catalogue, especially You Ain't No Dancer and the creators connected with that series.

• 2010

  Final documented comic-publishing period

  [1]New Reliable Pressen.wikipedia.org

  New Reliable Press participated in Acts of Violence: An Anthology of Crime and published Horribleville Vol. 1 before shifting away from comic publishing toward production work for other organizations.

• 2009

  Expansion of the graphic-novel catalogue

  [1]New Reliable Pressen.wikipedia.org

  The press released True Loves Vol. 2 and Jan's Atomic Heart.

• 2008

  Third You Ain't No Dancer volume

  [1]New Reliable Pressen.wikipedia.org

  You Ain't No Dancer Vol. 3 appeared in October, continuing the company's principal independent-comics anthology.

• 2006

  Second anthology volume and first documented graphic novel

  [1]New Reliable Pressen.wikipedia.org

  The press issued You Ain't No Dancer Vol. 2 in September and published True Loves by Jason Turner and Manien Bothma in April.

• 2005

  First You Ain't No Dancer volume

  [1]New Reliable Pressen.wikipedia.org

  New Reliable Press released You Ain't No Dancer Vol. 1, establishing the anthology series most strongly associated with the company.

An independent, creator-focused comics publisher associated with alternative and graphic-novel publishing, later repositioned toward production work for other organizations.

• Comic anthology · 2005

  You Ain't No Dancer Vol. 1

  The first volume of the anthology series that became New Reliable Press's best-known publishing property. It brought together work from independent comics artists and established the series' multi-contributor format.

• Comic anthology · 2006

  You Ain't No Dancer Vol. 2

  The second volume of the company's signature anthology series, released a year after the first and continuing its presentation of varied work from the independent comics community.

• Comic anthology · 2008

  You Ain't No Dancer Vol. 3

  The third numbered installment in the anthology series, extending New Reliable Press's curated showcase of independent cartoonists and their short-form comics.

• Graphic novel · 2006

  True Loves

  A graphic novel by Jason Turner and Manien Bothma, published by New Reliable Press in 2006. Its follow-up volume was issued several years later.

• Graphic novel · 2009

  True Loves Vol. 2

  The second documented volume of Jason Turner and Manien Bothma's True Loves, released as part of the press's later graphic-novel catalogue.

• Graphic novel · 2009

  Jan's Atomic Heart

  A graphic novel by Simon Roy, published in June 2009. It formed part of New Reliable Press's expansion beyond anthology publishing into individual creator-led books.

• Collected comic volume · 2010

  Horribleville Vol. 1

  The first volume of KC Green's Horribleville, released in February 2010 and among the last individually documented comic publications from the press.

• Themed comic anthology · 2010

  Acts of Violence: An Anthology of Crime

  A crime-themed anthology released through a co-production involving New Reliable Press, Critical Hit Comics, Caper Away Productions, and Caruso Comics.

• 2010

  Shift from comic publishing to production servicesStrategy

  Background

  After a period that included anthology and graphic-novel releases, New Reliable Press ceased operating as a comic publisher.

  Action taken

  The company redirected its focus toward comic and publishing production for other organizations.

  Aftermath

  The transition ended the company's documented run as a conventional comic publisher while leaving its later production activities insufficiently documented in the available sources.

  Source

1. 1New Reliable Pressen.wikipedia.org