Pow Pow Press

Pow Pow Press (Éditions Pow Pow) is an independent comic book publisher based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 2010 by cartoonist and graphic designer Luc Bossé, the house emerged from the vibrant Quebecois alternative comics scene and has become one of the most distinctive voices in Canadian bande dessinée. The name derives from a fanzine Bossé created in 2009 called Ninja Pow Pow; he has said he liked the sound and simplicity of the name, finding it easy to remember. The publisher's first two titles appeared in November 2010, timed for the Salon du livre de Montréal: Apnée by Zviane and Yves, le roi de la cruise by Alexandre Simard and Luc Bossé. From the outset, Pow Pow's editorial line has been deliberately flexible. Bossé has stated that he never set out to define a precise editorial program, preferring to let the published books shape the identity of the house. The catalogue spans intimate autobiography, comedy, science fiction, documentary and experimental work, united by a strong graphic identity — a nearly uniform format, generous page counts, and a raw cardboard-cover aesthetic. While the initial mission was to publish francophone Quebecois comics, Pow Pow gradually widened its scope to include international creators. In January 2015, Bossé signed an agreement with the French publisher L'Association, allowing Pow Pow to publish Quebec editions of successful albums by Lewis Trondheim and Guy Delisle. That same year, a crowdfunding campaign led to the creation of Pow Pow Press, an English-language division dedicated to translating and exporting catalogue titles. Its first English releases — For as Long as It Rains, Vile and Miserable, Mile End and Vampire Cousins — all appeared in May 2015. English-language distribution is handled by the Literary Press Group of Canada and, since August 2023, Lunar Distribution for the United States. Since November 2016, Pow Pow titles have also been available in France, Belgium and Switzerland through Belles Lettres Diffusion Distribution. Pow Pow publishes between six and eight titles per year. Its books have won numerous awards, including the Grand prix de la ville de Québec des Bédéis Causa, the Prix Bédélys Québec, the Prix des libraires du Québec, the Doug Wright Award, and the Prix de la critique ACBD de la bande dessinée québécoise. Notable authors in the catalogue include Zviane, Guy Delisle, Lewis Trondheim, Julie Delporte, Michel Hellman, Samuel Cantin, Sophie Bédard, Boum, Catherine Ocelot, Axelle Lenoir, Francis Desharnais, Alexandre Fontaine Rousseau, Cathon, Richard Suicide, and many others. The publisher remains independently owned and operated, with its editorial identity closely tied to its founder's personal taste and commitment to artist-driven publishing.

Pow Pow was founded in Montreal in 2010 by Luc Bossé, a cartoonist and graphic designer who had spent years working in graphic design and art direction. The name came from a fanzine he created in 2009 called Ninja Pow Pow; he later explained, "J'aimais la sonorité et la simplicité du nom. Facile à retenir." In January 2010, having decided to start a publishing house, Bossé began looking for a distributor and chose Filosofia. He initially imagined releasing one or two books a year, perhaps fewer. The first two titles were released in November 2010, just in time for the Salon du livre de Montréal: Apnée by Zviane and Yves, le roi de la cruise by Alexandre Simard and Luc Bossé. In April 2011, Zviane won the Grand prix de la ville de Québec des Bédéis Causa for Apnée — the first award given to a Pow Pow book. In November 2011, the house published Mile End by Michel Hellman. Over the following years, Pow Pow built a catalogue that defied easy categorization. Bossé stated he never stopped to define a precise editorial line: "Je crois que ce sont les livres publiés qui forgent la ligne éditoriale […] je préfère ne pas me limiter à un cadre pré-défini." The publisher embraced intimate, biographical, science-fiction, humorous, documentary and experimental registers. While the initial mission was to publish francophone Quebecois comics, Pow Pow gradually opened its doors to foreign creators. The diversity of the catalogue did not prevent a certain graphic unity, recognizable "non pas [par] le style de dessin, mais grâce à un format quasiment toujours identique (du moins au début), une pagination assez longue, et un choix de maquette fort, s'appuyant sur l'aspect brut du carton de couverture." A major turning point came in January 2015, when Bossé signed an agreement with the French publisher L'Association, enabling Pow Pow to publish Quebec editions of successful albums by Lewis Trondheim and Guy Delisle. That same year, a crowdfunding campaign led to the creation of Pow Pow Press, an English-language division dedicated to translating and exporting catalogue titles. Its first English releases — For as Long as It Rains, Vile and Miserable, Mile End and Vampire Cousins — all appeared in May 2015. Distribution for this branch in English Canada and the United States was handled by the Literary Press Group of Canada and, since August 2023, by Lunar Distribution. Since November 2016, Pow Pow titles have also been available in France, Belgium and Switzerland, with European distribution assured by Belles Lettres Diffusion Distribution. The publisher releases between six and eight titles per year and continues to operate independently under Bossé's direction. Its books have received numerous awards, including the Grand prix de la ville de Québec des Bédéis Causa, the Prix Bédélys Québec, the Prix des libraires du Québec, the Doug Wright Award, and the Prix de la critique ACBD de la bande dessinée québécoise. Authors published include Zviane, Guy Delisle, Lewis Trondheim, Julie Delporte, Michel Hellman, Samuel Cantin, Sophie Bédard, Boum, Catherine Ocelot, Axelle Lenoir, Francis Desharnais, Alexandre Fontaine Rousseau, Cathon, Richard Suicide, and many others.

• Luc Bossé begins steps to found a publishing house and chooses Filosofia as distributor.

• First two titles released for the Salon du livre de Montréal: Apnée by Zviane and Yves, le roi de la cruise by Alexandre Simard and Luc Bossé.

• Zviane wins the Grand prix de la ville de Québec des Bédéis Causa for Apnée, the first award for a Pow Pow book.

• Publication of Mile End by Michel Hellman.

• Agreement signed with French publisher L'Association to publish Quebec editions of albums by Lewis Trondheim and Guy Delisle.

• English-language division Pow Pow Press launches with four titles: For as Long as It Rains, Vile and Miserable, Mile End and Vampire Cousins.

• Pow Pow titles become available in France, Belgium and Switzerland through Belles Lettres Diffusion Distribution.

• Lunar Distribution begins handling distribution of Pow Pow Press titles in the United States.

Independent, artist-driven publisher of diverse Quebecois and international comics, known for a strong graphic identity and a flexible editorial line.

• 2010

  Apnée

• 2010

  Yves, le roi de la cruise

• 2011

  Mile End

• 2015

  For as Long as It Rains

• 2015

  Vile and Miserable

• 2015

  Vampire Cousins

• La petite Russie

• Lonely Boys

• La méduse

• Passages secrets : trompe-l'oeil

• 2015Crowdfunding campaign for Pow Pow Press

1. 1Accueil - Éditions Pow Poweditionspowpow.com
2. 2À propos - Éditions Pow Poweditionspowpow.com
3. 3Pow Pow Press - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Pow Pow - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org