Fanbase Press
Fanbase Press is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher and media outlet founded around 2010, serving comics enthusiasts, libraries, and independent creators through published titles, five podcasts, convention presence, and community-driven content initiatives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNorth Hollywood, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Fanbase Press does
Fanbase Press is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher and media outlet founded around 2010 and privately held, with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or acquisition history. The company publishes approximately twelve comic and graphic novel titles spanning LGBTQ+ YA (Four-Color Heroes), graphic medicine (Shrub), superhero fiction (Quince, Ripple Effects, The Gamma Gals), and genre works (Penguins vs. Possums, Something Animal), alongside books including A Geek's Guide to Cross-Stitch and Fearworms: Selected Poems. It operates a content platform producing reviews, interviews, editorials, and fifteen-plus featured series across comics, books, movies, TV, gaming, audiobooks, cosplay, and crafts.
The company's business model combines direct-to-consumer publishing sales through its website storefront and eCrater marketplace with media-driven revenue from five active podcasts (The Fanbase Weekly, Tread Perilously, The Arkham Sessions, PACCTS, QTWFT), convention field sales at SDCC, WonderCon, AnaCon, and the Latinx Comic Arts Festival, and library distribution via the California School Library Association conference network. Community-building initiatives — weekly virtual Comics & Coffee meetups running since March 2020 and the #CrowdfundingFridays creator-promotion series — drive ongoing creator and reader engagement. The company has earned a GLAAD Media Award plus Eisner and Harvey Award nominations, anchoring credibility in LGBTQ+ representation. No proprietary technology platform, app, or API exists; operations run on standard publishing, e-commerce, and podcasting infrastructure.
Fanbase Press serves a diversified customer base spanning comics and geek culture enthusiasts (primary), libraries and educational institutions seeking diverse graphic novels, independent comic creators seeking visibility and crowdfunding support, and geek families with children. There are no disclosed enterprise customers, no revenue figures, and no headcount data beyond two named executives (President Bryant Dillon, Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon). The 15th anniversary was celebrated in 2025, and a new flagship Shrub series plus SDCC 2026 participation indicate continued operational momentum.
Fanbase Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fanbase Press
- Legal name
- Fanbase Press
- Website
- https://fanbasepress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fanbase Press is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher and media outlet founded around 2010, serving comics enthusiasts, libraries, and independent creators through published titles, five podcasts, convention presence, and community-driven content initiatives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fanbase Press industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Comic Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Periodical Publishers (51312), Book Retailers and News Dealers (45921)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Western Comic Books Publishing (Superhero, Indie) (MPAJAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga Publishing (MPAJAFAH), Creator & Fan Communities (BPAMABAD), Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF)
Keywords
Where Fanbase Press is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Hollywood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Fanbase Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Publishing Sales: Sale of published comic books and graphic novels through the company's website store and eCrater storefront.
- Media Content: Production of podcasts including The Fanbase Weekly, Tread Perilously, The Arkham Sessions, Paul and Corey Cross the Streams, and QTWFT, potentially generating revenue through advertising and sponsorships.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Fanbase Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fanbase Press publishes original comic books and graphic novels (e.g., Four-Color Heroes, Ripple Effects, Quince, Shrub, The Arcs, The Gamma Gals, The Margins, The Sequels) and books (A Geek's Guide to Cross-Stitch, Fearworms: Selected Poems), sold directly through its website and eCrater storefront. The company also operates a media outlet producing five podcasts (The Fanbase Weekly, Tread Perilously, The Arkham Sessions, PACCTS, QTWFT) and editorial content covering comics, film, TV, gaming, and broader geek culture, with community engagement through weekly Comics & Coffee meetups and convention presence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Four-Color Heroes LGBTQ+ Upper YA graphic novel titled Four-Color Heroes by Richard Fairgray, sold to readers of independent comics and graphic novels.
- Shrub (Graphic Medicine Series) 8-issue graphic medicine comic series exploring grief and connection through a sentient shrub on a cross-country adventure, targeted at readers of inclusive and mental health-themed comics.
- Ripple Effects Comic graphic novel exploring life as a superhero with an invisible and incurable disease, sold in hardcover Deluxe Edition to comics readers.
- Quince Teenage superhero graphic novel published in a Definitive Bilingual Edition Hardcover, sold to comics readers and library collections.
- Identity Thief Independent comic book title published by Fanbase Press, sold through the website shop and eCrater storefront.
- Nuclear Power Independent comic book title published by Fanbase Press, sold through the website shop and eCrater storefront.
- Penguins vs. Possums Independent comic book title published by Fanbase Press, sold through the website shop and eCrater storefront.
- Something Animal Independent comic book title published by Fanbase Press, sold through the website shop and eCrater storefront.
- The Arcs Independent comic book title published by Fanbase Press, sold through the website shop and eCrater storefront.
- The Gamma Gals Independent comic book title published by Fanbase Press, sold through the website shop and eCrater storefront.
- The Margins Independent comic book title published by Fanbase Press, sold through the website shop and eCrater storefront.
- The Sequels Independent comic book title published by Fanbase Press, sold through the website shop and eCrater storefront.
- A Geek's Guide to Cross-Stitch Book published by Fanbase Press providing cross-stitch guidance tailored to geek culture themes, sold to crafters and geek culture enthusiasts.
- Fearworms: Selected Poems Poetry book published by Fanbase Press, sold to readers of geek-themed literary content.
- The Fanbase Weekly (Podcast) Flagship news and discussion podcast covering comics, pop culture, and geek entertainment, available to listeners and supported by advertising.
- Tread Perilously (Podcast) Podcast analyzing the worst TV episodes, produced for geek culture audiences and supported by advertising.
- The Arkham Sessions (Podcast) Podcast providing DC and animation analysis aimed at comics and superhero media fans, supported by advertising.
- PACCTS (Paul and Corey Cross the Streams) (Podcast) Podcast reviewing streaming content, produced for pop culture audiences and supported by advertising.
- QTWFT (Podcast) Podcast covering pop culture and geek culture topics for engaged listeners, supported by advertising.
Quantifiable outcome
- GLAAD Media Award recognition demonstrates impact in LGBTQ+ representation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Fanbase Press
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fanbase Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Fanbase Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Matt KindtminorFanbase Press became the second publisher to adopt Matt Kindt's '100% Human-Made' open-source certification for new releases, starting with the Shrub graphic medicine series. This certification signals commitment to human-created content without AI generation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fanbase Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Image Comics: Image Comics is the largest independent comics publisher in the U.S., releasing creator-owned titles at scale. It is the most direct comparable to Fanbase Press as an indie publisher, but with vastly greater distribution, marketing, and roster size.
- Dark Horse Comics: Dark Horse publishes comics, graphic novels, and manga across horror, sci-fi, and creator-owned lines. Overlaps with Fanbase Press in graphic novel publishing and convention retail strategy, though at a meaningfully larger scale.
- IDW Publishing: IDW publishes licensed and indie comics and graphic novels with strong library market penetration. Comparable to Fanbase Press on multi-genre indie publishing and library distribution, though with a broader portfolio.
- BOOM! Studios: BOOM! Studios publishes original and licensed comics and graphic novels with strong YA and middle-grade lines. Comparable to Fanbase Press on indie graphic novel publishing targeting younger and diverse audiences.
Direct peers
- Valiant Comics: Valiant publishes superhero and genre comics through its own distribution. Comparable to Fanbase Press as an independent comics publisher with a focused catalog and direct-to-consumer sales, though at greater scale.
- Source Point Press: Source Point Press publishes independent comics and graphic novels with a growing catalog. Comparable to Fanbase Press as a small indie publisher with convention-heavy distribution and direct sales.
- Top Shelf Productions: Top Shelf is an independent graphic novel publisher known for literary and diverse titles. Closely comparable to Fanbase Press on indie graphic novel publishing with an emphasis on diverse, award-eligible storytelling.
- Oni Press: Oni Press is an independent comics publisher known for creator-owned titles and graphic novels spanning all-ages to adult. Closely comparable to Fanbase Press in indie publishing model, graphic novel catalog, and convention presence.
- AfterShock Comics: AfterShock is an independent comics publisher producing creator-owned titles across genres. Closely resembles Fanbase Press in indie publishing model, periodical release cadence, and direct-to-consumer positioning.
Emerging players
- Webtoon Entertainment: Webtoon operates a digital comics platform for serialized creator-owned content. Partially comparable to Fanbase Press as an indie creator-friendly publishing channel, but distinguishes itself as a digital-first platform at massive scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fanbase Press social profiles
Digital presenceFanbase Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fanbase Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Fanbase Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fanbase Press M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fanbase Press
What does Fanbase Press do?
Fanbase Press publishes original comic books and graphic novels (e.g., Four-Color Heroes, Ripple Effects, Quince, Shrub, The Arcs, The Gamma Gals, The Margins, The Sequels) and books (A Geek's Guide to Cross-Stitch, Fearworms: Selected Poems), sold directly through its website and eCrater storefront. The company also operates a media outlet producing five podcasts (The Fanbase Weekly, Tread Perilously, The Arkham Sessions, PACCTS, QTWFT) and editorial content covering comics, film, TV, gaming, and broader geek culture, with community engagement through weekly Comics & Coffee meetups and convention presence.
Is Fanbase Press a public or private company?
Fanbase Press is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Fanbase Press founded?
Fanbase Press was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fanbase Press based?
Fanbase Press is headquartered in North Hollywood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fanbase Press make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Publishing Sales are the primary driver. The others are media Content.
Who are Fanbase Press's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing and BOOM! Studios. Direct peers are Valiant Comics, Source Point Press, Top Shelf Productions, Oni Press and AfterShock Comics. Webtoon Entertainment is listed as an emerging player.
Does Fanbase Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fanbase Press.
What industry is Fanbase Press in?
Fanbase Press's product category is Comic Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAGAB, Western Comic Books Publishing (Superhero, Indie), with a secondary code of MPAJAFAH, Children’s Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.