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Exploring the Early Stages of Self-Published Comics: Nexus, Badger, and Whisper

Independent Comics Pioneering Era: Nexus, Badger, and Whisper in 1981, spearheaded by Capital City Distribution, a comic book distribution company based in Wisconsin.

Exploring the Genesis of Standalone Comics: Nexus, Badger, and Whisper
Exploring the Genesis of Standalone Comics: Nexus, Badger, and Whisper

Exploring the Early Stages of Self-Published Comics: Nexus, Badger, and Whisper

In the heart of Wisconsin, in the early 1980s, a new comic book publisher named Capital Comics was established. The company, headquartered in Madison, published three comic book titles: Nexus, Badger, and Whisper.

Capital Comics ceased operations in 1984, but not before attracting the interest of another publisher named First Comics. The negotiations for the acquisition of Capital Comics titles were taking place in Rich's office in Madison, overlooking the Wisconsin State Capitol building.

Mike Gold, the editorial director and co-founder of First Comics, considered the Capital Comics titles to be some of the best at the time. He was particularly keen on acquiring Nexus, a sci-fi superhero comic set 500 years in the future, created by Mike Baron and Steve Rude. Badger, created by Mike Baron and Jeffrey Butler, centered on a superhero/vigilante suffering from multiple personality disorder. Whisper was a comic about an American Ninja named Alexis Devlin.

The discussions focused on the acquisition of Nexus and Badger, with Mike Baron representing the creators' interests. However, the negotiations proved tense, with Capital Comics owners Milton Griepp and John Davis, Rich Bruning, Mike Gold, and another unnamed speaker holding firm in their positions.

Griepp was reluctant to include Whisper in the deal, but the speaker argued for its inclusion from a promotional point of view and to avoid orphaning the property. After a tense negotiation, First Comics acquired the comic series Nexus, Badger, and Whisper from Capital Comics.

Following the final negotiations and purchase, John and Milton took the team on a tour of their distribution catacombs, and lunch was involved. The acquisition marked a significant expansion for First Comics, as they capitalized on the growing popularity of these titles.

In the years that followed, Nexus moved to Dark Horse and had a significant success in crowdfunding. Badger had multiple incarnations. Whisper, initially a lesser-known title, was revived. The acquisition of Capital Comics titles by First Comics proved to be a turning point in the comic book industry, opening up new opportunities and paving the way for future collaborations.

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