AWA Studios

What AWA Studios does

AWA Studios (Artists Writers & Artisans, Inc.) is a New York-based creator-owned graphic fiction publisher with an integrated film and television adaptation pipeline. Founded by former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso, Bill Jemas, and Jon Miller, the company develops original intellectual property with high-profile creators, athletes, and entertainers — including Ronda Rousey, Marshawn Lynch, Charlamagne Tha God, J. Michael Straczynski, and Larry King — and packages that IP for screen adaptation through partnerships with tier-1 studios. The publishing catalog spans ~30+ titles across genres (sci-fi, horror, crime, action, speculative fiction) and is organized around three structured franchises: The Resistance shared universe, the Future of Fear horror line with Vertigo Entertainment, and the Protopias Collection with Futurific Studios.

AWA's product architecture centers on a creator-first production framework preserving creative control, a shared cinematic universe structure enabling cross-title narrative continuity, and a publishing-to-screen pipeline that converts graphic novels into film/TV co-productions. Distribution spans print (Shopify-powered AWA Shop, Amazon, Kickstarter exclusive editions), digital (GlobalComix with free Issue #1 previews), illustrated journalism partnerships (NBC News THINK for Covid Chronicles and Climate Crisis Chronicles), and licensing/screen adaptation (Apple Studios for Liminal/Telepaths, Fremantle/RTL Group for Devil's Highway, Vertigo Entertainment for Future of Fear).

The business generates revenue through per-issue comic sales (pay-as-you-go unit pricing), premium Kickstarter editions, digital distribution on GlobalComix, and film/TV licensing and co-production with backend participation. Strategic investors include Fremantle (RTL Group), Lupa Systems (the Murdoch family vehicle, with Diya Sagar transitioning from investor to CFO), Sister, and Lightspeed. The company won an Eisner Award for Not All Robots (2022) and has been recognized by ScreenRant as one of the most exciting publishers in the comics industry within four years of operation.

Name

AWA Studios

Legal name

Artists Writers & Artisans, Inc.

Website

https://awastudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AWA Studios is a New York-based creator-owned graphic novel publisher and film/TV adaptation studio that partners with high-profile creators (Ronda Rousey, Marshawn Lynch, Charlamagne Tha God) to develop original IP, sell comics through its Shopify storefront, Amazon, GlobalComix, and Kickstarter, and license adaptations to Apple Studios, Fremantle, and Vertigo Entertainment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Comic Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Western Comic Books Publishing (Superhero, Indie) (MPAJAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Anthologies & Serialized Comics Magazines Publishing (MPAJAGAL), Children’s Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga Publishing (MPAJAFAH), Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF)

Keywords

• Comic book publishing
• Graphic novel publishing
• Creator-owned comics
• Film tv adaptations
• Intellectual property licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Comic Book Sales (Print): Per-issue and collected edition print comic book sales through direct storefront (shop.awastudios.com), Amazon, Kickstarter exclusives, and comic book retailers.
2. Digital Comic Distribution: Digital comics distributed via GlobalComix platform with free Issue #1 previews for many titles to drive funnel engagement.
3. Film and TV Licensing & Co-Production: Licensing of original IP for film/TV adaptation through partnerships with studios such as Fremantle (Devil's Highway), Apple Studios (Telepaths/Liminal), and Vertigo Entertainment (Future of Fear line). Revenue from option fees, producer credits, and backend participation.
4. Kickstarter Crowdfunding: Direct-to-fan Kickstarter campaigns for premium editions and exclusive covers, exemplified by the Ultimate OZ Universe Kickstarter volumes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AWA Studios publishes creator-owned original graphic novels and limited comic series across genres including sci-fi, horror, action, crime, and protopian speculative fiction, sold via print editions through its Shopify-powered online shop, Amazon, and Kickstarter, plus digital previews on GlobalComix. The company also operates an integrated film/TV adaptation pipeline that licenses and co-produces its original IP with major studios, including Apple Studios (Telepaths → Liminal), Fremantle/RTL Group (Devil's Highway), and Vertigo Entertainment (Future of Fear horror franchise).

Product overview

AWA Studios (Artists Writers & Artisans, Inc.) operates a creator-owned graphic fiction publishing business plus an integrated film/TV adaptation pipeline, organized as a portfolio of named comic series and graphic novels that share underlying IP, creative teams, and distribution. The product catalog spans flagship titles like ILLuminati (Charlamagne Tha God-presented limited series), Not All Robots (Eisner Award-winning satire), Ultimate OZ Universe (with Elton John foreword), Beast Mode 510 (Marshawn Lynch graphic novel), Expecting the Unexpected (Ronda Rousey debut), and Telepaths (basis for Apple sci-fi thriller 'Liminal'); the shared-universe 'The Resistance' cluster (The Resistance, Reborns, Uprising, E-Ratic, Moths, Knighted, The Joneses); the horror 'Future of Fear' franchise with Vertigo Entertainment (Kill or Be Killed, Look Out); and the 'Protopias Collection' speculative-fiction line with Futurific Studios (AGGIE, Gaya, Polis, Black Moon Ritual). Print editions are sold via the Shopify-powered AWA Shop, Amazon, and Kickstarter exclusives; digital previews are hosted on GlobalComix; documentary anthologies (Covid Chronicles, Climate Crisis Chronicles) are distributed on NBC News THINK; and IP is adapted for film/TV with Fremantle (Devil's Highway TV deal), Apple Studios (Liminal from Telepaths), and Viggle (interactive fan experience for Expecting the Unexpected).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ILLuminati Comic Series Five-issue limited series presented by Charlamagne Tha God, written by Bryan Edward Hill with art by Denys Cowan and inks by Bill Sienkiewicz, following Lilly as she investigates her pop-star sister's death and uncovers a centuries-old music industry conspiracy.
• Beast Mode 510 Graphic Novel Original graphic novel inspired by NFL legend Marshawn Lynch's Beast Mode persona: an R-rated Oakland-set crime-fighter saga blending action, satire, and West Coast culture. Writer: Sheldon Allen; Penciller: Denys Cowan; Inker: Dexter Vines.
• Ultimate OZ Universe A modern, canon-faithful continuation of L. Frank Baum's OZ novels developed with ShaggyMan Productions and Alchemation. Vol. 1 'The Lost Lands' features a foreword by Sir Elton John. Writers: Larry King, Fred Van Lente, Cullen Bunn; Artist: Mike Deodato Jr.
• Expecting the Unexpected Ronda Rousey's debut graphic novel: a comedic action thriller about a pregnant hit-woman fighting assassins while falling for a fellow target. Cover artist: Rahzzah; secondary cover by Mike Deodato Jr.
• Kill or Be Killed (Future of Fear) One-shot horror thriller kickstarting AWA's Future of Fear line with Roy Lee's Vertigo Entertainment, about a 'Friendship Killer' forcing victims to livestream murders to save their loved ones. Writer: Peter Tieryas; Artist/Cover: Mike Choi.
• Devil's Highway Two-volume murder-mystery thriller about a young woman hunting the serial killer who murdered her father across America's long-haul trucking underworld. Writer: Benjamin Percy; Artist: Brent Schoonover. First project under AWA-Fremantle TV development deal.
• The Resistance (Shared Universe) AWA's foundational shared-universe series and spinoffs (The Resistance: Reborns, The Resistance: Uprising, E-Ratic, Moths, Knighted, The Joneses). Set after 'The Great Death' pandemic gives thousands superhuman powers, allowing interlocking storylines across multiple titles. Writer: J. Michael Straczynski; Artist: Mike Deodato Jr.
• Telepaths AWA graphic novel by Eisner Award winner J. Michael Straczynski, Steve Epting, and Brian Reber, serving as source material for Apple's sci-fi action-thriller 'Liminal.' Set in a world where 10% of the population gains telepathic powers from electromagnetic disturbance.
• Not All Robots Eisner Award-winning satirical comic about a future where AI and robots have made human labor obsolete. Writer: Mark Russell; Artist: Mike Deodato Jr.
• AGGIE (Protopias Collection) Protopias Collection one-shot about an 'Aggregated Human Experience Database' technology that gains sentience and matches users with people progress left behind. Writer: Mark Russell; Artist/Cover: ACO.
• Protopias Collection AWA's speculative-fiction anthology line developed with Futurific Studios (founded by Kathryn Murdoch and Ari Wallach), producing graphic novels, film, and TV projects spotlighting hopeful 'protopian' futures. Titles include AGGIE, Gaya, Polis, and Black Moon Ritual.
• Future of Fear Franchise AWA's horror comics-to-film/TV franchise developed with Roy Lee's Vertigo Entertainment. Titles include Look Out and Kill or Be Killed, with film and TV adaptations co-produced by Vertigo Entertainment and AWA Studios.
• Covid Chronicles New York Press Club Best Internet Commentary Award-winning web anthology of ten personal stories from the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak, originally distributed via NBC News THINK.
• Climate Crisis Chronicles Award-winning anthology of ten illustrated journalistic stories on the human impact of the climate crisis, originally distributed via NBC News THINK. Writer: Ethan Sacks; Artist: Dalibor Talajić.
• AWA Shop Shopify-powered online store selling AWA graphic novels, bundles, variant covers, and merchandise, organized by collections (Top Sellers, Action, Crime, Horror, Female Leads, Non-Fiction, Pre-Orders).
• AWA Film & TV Adaptation Pipeline Strategic arm that adapts AWA-owned IP into film and TV, working with Fremantle (Devil's Highway, Devil's Highway TV development deal), Apple Studios (Liminal from Telepaths), and Vertigo Entertainment (Future of Fear horror slate).

Quantifiable outcome

• Eisner Award win for Not All Robots
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Apple Studios (Apple Original Films)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Apple greenlit 'Liminal,' a sci-fi action-thriller directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Vanessa Kirby and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, based on AWA's graphic novel Telepaths. Zach Studin produces for AWA Studios alongside Kevin Walsh for The Walsh Company. Cast expanded in April 2026 with Tom Pelphry, Franka Potente, and Tracy Letts.
• Marshawn LynchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Beast Mode 510, a graphic novel inspired by NFL legend Marshawn Lynch's Beast Mode persona, with story by Axel Alonso and art by Denys Cowan. Lynch maintained creative control throughout the project, releasing October 6.
• ViggleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 October 2025Viggle and AWA Studios partnered to create an interactive fan experience for Ronda Rousey's graphic novel Expecting the Unexpected.
• Vertigo Entertainment (Roy Lee)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2024AWA and Roy Lee's Vertigo Entertainment launched the Future of Fear franchise, a new slate of horror comics whose film and TV adaptations will be co-produced by Vertigo Entertainment and AWA Studios. Titles include Look Out and Kill or Be Killed.
• Fremantle (RTL Group)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2023Fremantle made a strategic minority investment in AWA in February 2023 to deepen their partnership. The investment includes collaboration on the development of a slate of TV projects, starting with the thriller Devil's Highway based on an AWA comic series. The collaboration leverages Fremantle's global distribution and production capabilities to innovate within graphic fiction.
• Ronda RouseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFC and WWE champion Ronda Rousey co-created her debut graphic novel 'Expecting the Unexpected' with AWA, in collaboration with artist Mike Deodato Jr. (cover artist Rahzzah). AWA, Viggle, and Ronda Rousey created an interactive fan experience for the title in October 2025.
• Charlamagne Tha GodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharlamagne Tha God presents ILLuminati, a thriller at the intersection of hip-hop and comics. Co-created with Bryan Edward Hill, Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Sanford Greene.
• Larry King & Kevin McCollum (ShaggyMan Productions & Alchemation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partnership for the Ultimate OZ Universe graphic novels, a modern, canon-faithful continuation of L. Frank Baum's OZ novels, in collaboration with ShaggyMan Productions and Alchemation alongside leading OZ historians. Volume 1: The Lost Lands released with foreword by Elton John.
• Elton JohnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSir Elton John penned the foreword for Ultimate OZ Universe: The Lost Lands, the first volume of AWA's OZ graphic novel series.
• John Legend / Kaleidoscope / iHeart MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFor John Legend's podcast Afghan Star (with Kaleidoscope and iHeart Media), AWA produced unique, original artwork for each episode and sold works to fund education programs.
• Kathryn Murdoch & Ari Wallach (Futurific Studios)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuturific Studios partners with AWA Studios to create 'Protopian' storytelling through The Protopias Collection — a line of graphic novels, film, and TV projects that spotlight hopeful futures. Titles include AGGIE, Polis, Black Moon Ritual, Gaya, and more.
• NBC News THINKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNBC News THINK hosts the exclusive distribution of AWA's Covid Chronicles and Climate Crisis Chronicles illustrated web series.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Skybound Entertainment: Robert Kirkman's creator-led comics-to-screen company (The Walking Dead, Invincible). Competes for creator-owned IP and operates an integrated publishing + adaptation model similar to AWA.
• Dark Horse Comics: Long-standing independent publisher with a deep catalog of creator-owned and licensed IP and a track record of screen adaptations (The Mask, Hellboy). Comparable in scope and creator-first positioning.
• Image Comics: Largest creator-owned comics publisher (Spawn, The Walking Dead, Saga). Directly competes with AWA for creator-owned talent and indie shelf space, and shares the original-IP focus.
• BOOM! Studios: Independent comics publisher with an integrated film/TV adaptation pipeline (e.g., Something Is Killing the Children, Irredeemable). Closest structural analog to AWA's creator-owned publishing + studio co-production model.
• IDW Publishing: Independent publisher with both creator-owned and licensed titles plus film/TV adaptation experience. Operates in the same indie publishing and screen-adjacent space as AWA.

Broad incumbents

• Marvel Entertainment: Dominant comics publisher and Disney-owned IP machine. Sets the industry bar for superhero universe economics and competes broadly for creator and consumer attention across all comics categories.
• Webtoon Entertainment: Digital-first comics platform with a large creator community and growing adaptation pipeline. Adjacent competitor for creator attention, audience reach, and digital distribution leverage versus AWA's GlobalComix-based digital strategy.
• DC Comics: Legacy superhero comics publisher owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The other half of the Marvel/DC duopoly and a major competitor for retail shelf space, screen adaptation economics, and creator talent.

Emerging players

• Vault Comics: Smaller-scale independent publisher focused on creator-owned original horror, sci-fi, and fantasy comics. Comparable genre focus and indie creator-first ethos, but at an earlier stage and without AWA's studio partnerships.
• TKO Studios: Boutique indie comics publisher of creator-owned graphic novels (The Banks, Sara). Competes for the same creator-owned, original-IP niche as AWA but with a much smaller catalog and footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AWA_Studios
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AWAStudios
• Facebookfacebook.com/awastudiosofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/awastudiosofficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AWA Studios