For almost four years, independent publisher Viper Comics has been releasing a line of comics and graphic novels that have achieved a rather impressive feat: pleasing the Hollywood and library crowds at the same time. With a number of titles in development to become feature films, and several titles recommended by the American Library Association, Viper is an up-and-coming small press.
Viper began as the vision of CEO Jessie Garza. While working to establish an online collectible store, he realized the difficulties inherent in the business model. "So I came up with the idea to publish comic books and graphic novels and develop intellectual properties," Garza said, with the hope that they could translate into other mediums.
In a stroke of good fortune, one of Viper's first titles, Dead at 17 by Josh Howard, was selected by Wizard Magazine as a Top 10 Hot Comic, and the first printing quickly sold out. Encouraged by its first success, Viper began publishing a wide-ranging line of titles.
The first Viper title to catch the eye of Hollywood was The Expendable One, written by Jason M. Burns. The clever story is about an average Joe who decides to become a superhero after he discovers his body can recover after any kind of injury. Burns, now an assistant publisher at Viper, originally envisioned the story as a film, but found that he couldn't get anyone to look at it as a screenplay.
"Here was this property that I couldn't get made into a movie, so I turned it into a comic book," Burns explained. As soon as it came out in comic form, two companies made offers to option the story, with Intrepid Pictures eventually acquiring the rights: "It was my first lesson in never giving up."
Intrepid Pictures has signed writers and the film is currently in pre-production. Currently, Viper has eight projects in various stages of development with different production companies in Hollywood.
To date, Viper has published more than 80 comic books and 18 graphic novels, and many have been singled out for acclaim.
Oddly Normal, a coming-of-age story by Otis Frampton, was the first Viper title to garner praise. The American Library Association named the Oddly Normal Volume 1 trade paperback as one of the Top Novels for Youth.
The Middleman, created and written by former Lost writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, and Emily Edison by David Hopkins were both recommended as Great Graphic Novels for Teens in 2007 by the Young Adult Library Services Association, the fastest-growing division of the ALA.
"I can't thank enough all the librarians that have supported us with our all-ages books," said Garza. As a result of all the positive feedback from the libraries, "I see us growing and expanding our line of all-ages books."
With a diverse product line, increasing sales from bookstores as well as comic shops and a number of projects on the horizon (one with rapper Ice-T is being discussed), Viper is well situated for even more publishing success. "We're right on the cusp," Garza said.
