What Mad Cave Studios does

Mad Cave Studios is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 2014 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, operating as the parent company to three wholly-owned imprints: Maverick (young adult), Papercutz (all-ages and middle grade, acquired in August 2022), and Nakama Press (manga and anime-inspired titles). The company publishes across science fiction, crime/noir, horror, fantasy, and licensed-adaptation genres, with a catalog that blends cult-classic licensed IP — Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Speed Racer, Gatchaman, The Last Starfighter, and Escape from New York — with original and creator-owned series such as Honor and Curse: Eternal, Babylon Cove, Blüdwire, 51, Revolution 9, and Temporal.

The business model is consumer-facing publishing revenue: print and digital single issues priced at $4.99, trade paperbacks at $11.99-$17.99, deluxe hardcover bundles at $34.99, and hybrid physical+digital "read-it-as-it-drops" series bundles at $24.99. Distribution spans a proprietary direct e-commerce storefront with an integrated Mad Cave Digital Reader, dual wholesale through Lunar Distribution (comic shops) and Simon & Schuster (bookstores, libraries, educational and mass market), plus digital marketplaces including Comixology, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and GlobalComix. Marketing leverages a retailer-exclusive variant cover program, convention presence (ALA Annual, GalaxyCon, Free Comic Book Day), an ambassador community (Mad Cave Hub), and PR-driven industry coverage; the company received four 2026 Eisner Award nominations including Best New Series for Temporal. Geographic reach is currently limited to the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding and is led by Publisher Chris Fernandez and Director of Marketing Cara O'Neil (formerly VP of Marketing at Dark Horse Comics), supported by a team of 11-50 employees spanning editorial, design, production, and finance functions.

Name

Mad Cave Studios

Legal name

Mad Cave Studios

Website

https://madcavestudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mad Cave Studios is a Miami-based independent comic book and graphic novel publisher (founded 2014) operating three imprints (Maverick, Papercutz, Nakama Press) that publishes licensed cult-classic IP (Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Speed Racer) alongside original and creator-owned series, distributing through comic shops, bookstores, libraries, and digital platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Comic Book and Graphic Novel Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Licensed & Franchise Comics Publishing (Film/TV/Game Tie-ins) (MPAJAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Art/Alternative/Underground Comics Publishing (MPAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Comic book publishing
• Graphic novel publishing
• Licensed comic series
• Creator owned comics
• Digital comics platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Comic Book and Graphic Novel Sales: Revenue is generated through the sale of individual comic issues (print and digital), trade paperbacks, deluxe hardcover editions, and series bundles. Pricing for individual issues is $4.99; trade paperbacks range from $11.99 to $17.99; deluxe hardcover bundles are $34.99; and series bundles (physical trade paperback + digital issues) are priced at $24.99. Free first issues are offered as customer acquisition tools through Mad Cave Digital.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mad Cave Studios is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher that publishes licensed, original, and creator-owned titles across genres including crime/noir, science fiction, horror, fantasy, and superhero, alongside three sub-imprints (Maverick, Papercutz, Nakama Press). The company sells print and digital comics, trade paperbacks, deluxe hardcovers, and hybrid physical-plus-digital series bundles directly through its own storefront and via comic shops, bookstores, digital platforms, and libraries.

Product overview

Mad Cave Studios is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher established in 2014, operating a multi-platform publishing model. The core product is their comic publication line featuring both licensed properties (Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Gatchaman, Speed Racer, The Last Starfighter) and original series (Honor and Curse: Eternal, 51, Babylon Cove, Blüdwire, Revolution 9, Temporal). The company distributes through multiple channels including a proprietary Mad Cave Digital Reader platform and the Series Bundle Service for combined digital+physical delivery. Mad Cave extends its reach through three sub-brands: Maverick (young adult titles), Papercutz (all-ages content), and Nakama Press (manga/anime-inspired content). Comics are distributed to comic shops through Lunar Distribution and to booksellers/libraries through Simon & Schuster.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maverick: Young adult comic book and graphic novel imprint
• Nakama Press
• Papercutz

Products and services

• Dick Tracy Licensed ongoing comic series featuring the iconic detective in a noir-infused modern take, written by Alex Segura and Michael Moreci with art by Geraldo Borges, sold as single issues, trade paperbacks, and deluxe editions.
• The Phantom Licensed ongoing comic series featuring Lee Falk's legendary superhero 'The Ghost Who Walks' in new storylines, including spinoffs such as The Phantom vs. The Singh Brotherhood.
• Flash Gordon Licensed ongoing comic series featuring the classic space hero Flash Gordon, Dale, and Doctor Zarkov in new adventures against Ming the Merciless.
• Gatchaman Licensed ongoing comic series featuring the iconic Japanese animated franchise of a five-member, bird-themed superhero team, with spinoff series including Gatchaman: Red Impulse and Gatchaman: Galactor.
• Speed Racer Licensed ongoing comic series based on Tatsunoko Production's legendary racing icon, sold as single issues, deluxe hardcover collections, and a Tales from the Road spinoff.
• The Last Starfighter Licensed comic series sequel to the 1984 sci-fi cult classic film, continuing the story of Alex Rogan and the Star League forty years after the original movie.
• Escape from New York: Escape from Chicago Licensed comic series expanding John Carpenter's 1981 cult-classic film world, written by Kyle Higgins, featuring Snake Plissken in a new continuation series.
• Honor and Curse: Eternal Original ongoing comic series featuring Genshi Sakagura, a ninja cursed with immortality for 600 years, now living in modern-day New York fighting terrorists and ancient enemies.
• 51 Original sci-fi comic series involving secret formulas, Area 51, and post-human operatives.
• Babylon Cove Original horror-comedy comic series following Heather Hutchens returning to her hometown to confront demons and ex-boyfriends.
• Blüdwire Original dystopian action comic series about sex bots Ace and Zora seeking liberation and love, combining tender romance with violent action.
• Revolution 9 Original dark fantasy/horror comic series featuring Revolution Velveteen 9 battling the Order's brutal teachings.
• Temporal Mind-bending sci-fi comic series exploring time travel, identity, and generational trauma by Stephanie Williams and Asiah Fulmore, nominated for Best New Series at Eisner 2026 Awards.
• Nikola Tesla Graphic Novel Graphic novel published through the Comixology Originals line by writer Sergio Rossi and artist Giovanni Scarduelli, presenting a witty and unexpectedly human take on Nikola Tesla.
• Sunder Fantasy sci-fi comic series by Pierre-Alexandre Comtois about an orphan trapped within a remote monastery who discovers a mysterious book.
• The Phantom vs. The Singh Brotherhood 40-page one-shot comic bringing Lee Falk's legendary hero The Phantom into direct conflict with a criminal force, the Singh Brotherhood.
• Maverick (YA Imprint) Young adult comic book and graphic novel imprint publishing titles including Tiger Girls, Navigating with You, and The Last Session, targeting YA readers.
• Papercutz (All-Ages Imprint) All-ages and middle grade comic imprint publishing family-friendly titles such as Herobear and the Kid!, Three Thieves, The Smurfs adaptations, and Flash Gordon Adventures.
• Nakama Press (Manga/Anime Imprint) Manga and anime-inspired comic imprint publishing titles including Hokis Focus!, Infini-T Force, Casshan, and Diablomachia.
• Series Bundle Service Series Bundle service delivering all digital issues on release dates plus collected trade paperbacks shipped to the customer's doorstep, branded as 'Read It As It Drops. Own It Forever.'

Quantifiable outcome

• Four Eisner Award nominations in 2026 across multiple categories including Best New Series for Temporal

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Tatsunoko ProductioncoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMad Cave Studios collaborates with Tatsunoko Production to publish Speed Racer comic series and deluxe editions, bringing Tatsuo Yoshida's legendary Mach GoGoGo to new audiences in definitive collectible volumes.
• King Features SyndicatecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMad Cave Studios, in partnership with King Features Syndicate, publishes The Phantom comic series and spin-offs including The Phantom vs. The Singh Brotherhood, bringing Lee Falk's legendary Ghost Who Walks into new storylines.
• John CarpentercoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMad Cave Studios brings Snake Plissken back to comics with Escape from New York: Escape from Chicago, a new continuation series expanding the world of John Carpenter's beloved 1981 cult-classic film, written by Kyle Higgins.
• Jonathan Betuel and Paul Davidson (Filmmakers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Last Starfighter comic series is produced in collaboration with original filmmakers Jonathan Betuel and Paul Davidson, continuing the beloved 1984 cult-classic film's legacy forty years after the original.
• Simon & SchustercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMad Cave books are distributed to booksellers, educational and library buyers, and mass market retailers through Simon & Schuster distribution network.
• Lunar DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMad Cave comics are distributed to comic shops and specialty retailers through Lunar Distribution.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oni Press: Independent publisher spanning middle-grade through adult titles, including licensed and original work. Closely comparable to Mad Cave on imprint-style audience segmentation.
• BOOM! Studios: Independent publisher combining original creator-owned work with high-profile licensed IP across original and YA lines. Similar imprint-based structure and target demographic span.
• IDW Publishing: Independent comic publisher with a deep licensed-IP catalog and original titles, distributed through the bookstore and direct-market channels. Comparable in catalog breadth and indie positioning.
• Image Comics: Largest creator-owned comic publisher; competes directly for top creator talent and retailer shelf space. Relevant benchmark on original-IP share of catalog and direct-market relationships.
• Archie Comics: Long-running independent publisher built around a single legacy franchise that has expanded into horror and YA imprints (analogous to Mad Cave's licensed-IP-plus-imprint approach).
• Dark Horse Comics: Independent comic book and graphic novel publisher with a similar licensed-IP-plus-originals model and multi-imprint catalog. Cara O'Neil, Mad Cave's Director of Marketing, was previously VP of Marketing at Dark Horse, evidencing deep operational overlap.
• Titan Comics: Independent publisher of licensed film/TV/tie-in comics (Doctor Who, Blade Runner, etc.). Highly comparable on the licensed-cult-IP strategy that anchors Mad Cave's catalog.
• Dynamite Entertainment: Independent publisher built heavily on licensed cult-classic IP (similar in approach to Mad Cave's Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, Phantom and Escape from New York strategy). Closest comparable on the licensed-IP-led indie model.

Broad incumbents

• Viz Media: Largest English-language manga publisher. Directly comparable to Mad Cave's Nakama Press imprint, which targets the same manga/anime fan segment, though Viz operates at substantially greater scale.
• Marvel Comics: Dominant direct-market publisher with vast IP portfolio. Sets retailer ordering norms and consumer expectations against which all independent comic publishers, including Mad Cave, compete for shelf space and reader attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MadCaveStudios
• Facebookfacebook.com/MadCaveStudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madcave

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Mad Cave Studios