New Comics Publisher Ablaze Debuts Charlie Adlard's 'Vampire State Building'

Ablaze, a new independent comics publisher cofounded by Rich Young, will launch its first publishing list with Vampire State Building, a new horror series drawn by Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard and written by Ange and Patrick Renault.

Vampire State Building is the story of Terry Fisher, a young soldier about to be deployed for active duty, who meets friends at the Empire State Building for a send-off party that’s viciously disrupted by a vampire attack on the skyscraper. Suddenly the 102-story landmark building becomes a vertical killing ground as Terry fights to save himself, his friends, and New York City from the grisly vampiric horde.

The first issue of the four-issue mini-series will be published in September.

Ablaze cofounder and v-p of creative/Business Development Rich Young is a veteran comics industry professional who has worked for Dynamite Entertainment, Devils Due and other publishers.

Ablaze is based in Portland, Oregon. Young is also an Ablaze principal and the new house is financed by a group of investors.  Charlie Adlard’s Vampire State Building is the house’s first publication, Young said.

Ablaze plans to release 10 titles in 2019 and as many as 50 titles in 2020. The house plans to publish a list of periodical comics, reprints, original graphic novels and art books. Young said the new firm will initially target direct market comics shops, but intends to market its titles to the book trade as well.

While Ablaze will be launched in the direct market, Young said “we will be releasing graphic novels and the book trade will play an important role and an announcement will be forthcoming.” Diamond Comics Distributors will distribute Ablaze comics to the direct market and the company will make announcements about book trade distribution in the future.

The company will also be exhibiting at New York Comic Con 2019 and Young said the house is “finalizing our 2020 plans which will include San Diego and New York Comic Cons, in addition to BookExpo, ALA Annual as well as international book fairs like Bologna and Frankfurt.”