FPG

What FPG does

FPG (FPG, LLC) is a privately held publisher of fantasy, science fiction, and pop-culture art products, incorporated in 1992 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company curates and monetizes an extensive catalog of original paintings by legendary illustrators including Joe Jusko, Bernie Wrightson, Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson, Ken Kelly, Brom, and dozens more, releasing them across multiple formats: standard and oversized (Colossal) trading card series, all-metallic trading cards, collectible card games (notably GUARDIANS, with English/Dutch/French/German editions and multiple expansions, and DarkAge: Feudal Lords), and large-format retrospective art books. FPG holds licensing arrangements with rights-holders including Marvel Comics, Lucasfilm, Wizards of the Coast, Dynamite, and the Edgar Rice Burroughs Estate, enabling officially licensed product lines for properties such as Marvel Masterpieces, Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, Everway, Vampirella, and Tarzan/John Carter of Mars.

The company operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model centered on its owned e-commerce storefront (fpguniverse.com) and, since 2024, Kickstarter campaigns used to fund deluxe art books and licensed projects. Distribution is global via the website, with many legacy products described as out of print and remaining inventory sold through product archives. Revenue is generated through one-time purchases — packs, boxes, and limited/signed editions of cards and books — rather than subscriptions or recurring contracts, and many products carry explicit scarcity mechanics (numbered limited editions of 175 or 195 copies) to drive collector demand.

FPG's business model is fundamentally a catalog curation and licensing enterprise: its competitive position rests on decades-long artist and estate relationships, an irreplaceable library of original fantasy/sci-fi paintings, and trademark-recognized brand equity from the 1992 Marvel Masterpieces run (350,000 boxes sold). The company's sub-brand FPG Fine Arts extends into fine art prints and reproductions, while recent activity (2024) reflects a strategic pivot toward artist retrospective art books and high-profile licensed partnerships, particularly with Marvel Comics.

Name

FPG

Legal name

FPG, LLC

Website

https://fpguniverse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

FPG is a Pittsburgh-based, privately held publisher of fantasy and science fiction art since 1992, producing trading cards, oversized Colossal Cards, collectible card games, and retrospective art books featuring legendary illustrators for a global collector market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collectible Trading Cards and Art Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Art, Photography & Illustrated Books Publishing (MPAJAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Western Comic Books Publishing (Superhero, Indie) (MPAJAGAB), Collectibles, Trading Cards & Blind Box Toys Retail (CRALAFAI)

Keywords

• Fantasy art trading cards
• Collectible card games
• Limited edition art books
• Non-sport trading cards
• Licensed fantasy illustrations

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Trading Cards: FPG produces and sells fantasy art trading card series across multiple formats: standard trading cards (90-card series, 60-card series, 30-card series), Metallic series, and Colossal oversized cards. Revenue is generated through one-time pack/box sales to collectors. Many series are now out of print.
2. Art Books: FPG publishes deluxe art books (hardcover and softcover) celebrating the careers of fantasy and science fiction illustrators. Titles include Joe Jusko's Art of the 1992 Marvel Masterpieces, Bernie Wrightson: The FPG Years, The Art of Enric, The Art of Ploog (Volumes One and Two), and more. Books are sold in standard and limited/signed editions.
3. Collectible Card Games: FPG published the GUARDIANS collectible card game (310-card base set with multiple expansions: Dagger Isle, Drifter's Nexus, Necropolis Park) and DarkAge: Feudal Lords (233-card series). Revenue generated through starter decks, booster packs, and display boxes sold to hobbyist retailers and directly to consumers.
4. Calendars and Promotional Products: FPG produced and sold calendars (e.g., Jeffrey Jones 1998 Edgar Rice Burroughs Calendar) and promotional trading card packs (e.g., Tarzan 10-Card Promotional Pack). One-time product revenue.
5. Trading Card Binders and Accessories: FPG sold high-quality nickel-plated 3-ring binders with full-color graphics and Ultra-Pro card sleeves, bundled with exclusive bonus cards. Released in 1994, now out of print.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

FPG publishes and sells premium fantasy and science fiction art products, including trading card series (standard, oversized Colossal Cards, and metallic editions), collectible card games (GUARDIANS, DarkAge: Feudal Lords), and deluxe hardcover art books celebrating the careers of renowned illustrators. The company operates as a direct-to-consumer publisher, releasing officially licensed projects for properties such as Marvel Comics, Edgar Rice Burroughs characters, and Dungeons & Dragons.

Product overview

FPG (FPG, LLC) is a publisher of fantasy and science fiction art products, operating as a portfolio of distinct product lines rather than a unified platform. The core offerings include: (1) Trading Card Series - oversized Colossal Cards and standard trading cards featuring individual fantasy artists (Bernie Wrightson, Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson, Brom, and 40+ others); (2) Collectible Card Games - including GUARDIANS (with multiple expansions in English, Dutch, French, and German) and DarkAge: Feudal Lords; (3) Art Books - comprehensive retrospective volumes (300+ pages) dedicated to single artists like Brom, Keith Parkinson, and Dave Dorman, plus new releases covering Enric Torres-Prat, Mike Ploog, and Joe Jusko's Marvel Masterpieces; and (4) Other Products - calendars, promotional packs, and trading card accessories. The company specializes in officially licensed properties including Marvel, Star Wars, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Dungeons & Dragons, and Warren Publishing (Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella). Recent product launches (2024) include multiple art book retrospectives published via Kickstarter and direct-to-consumer channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FPG Fine Arts: A division of FPG specializing in fine art prints and reproductions, with its own website at fpgfineart.com

Products and services

• Fantasy Art Trading Card Series A portfolio of trading card series (90-card, 60-card, and 30-card configurations) featuring original fantasy and science fiction paintings by renowned illustrators including Joe Jusko, Bernie Wrightson, Brom, Larry Elmore, Ken Kelly, Keith Parkinson, Chris Achilleos, John Berkey, and over 40 others. Sold as sealed packs and display boxes to collectors.
• Colossal Cards Oversized trading cards (larger than standard trading cards) featuring fantasy art by artists including Chris Achilleos, Larry Elmore, Ken Kelly, Keith Parkinson, Roger Dean, Joe Jusko, Tim White, Clyde Caldwell, and TSR artists. Sold in 50-card sets with biographical card backs.
• GUARDIANS Collectible Card Game Original collectible card game combining chess strategy with fast-paced card play. 310-card base set with multiple expansions (Dagger Isle, Drifter's Nexus, Necropolis Park). Art by Brom, Keith Parkinson, Mike Ploog, and others. Available in English, Dutch, French, and German editions, plus Limited and Revised editions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1992 Marvel Masterpieces sold 350,000 boxes, setting a record in the non-sport trading card industry
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marvel ComicscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2024FPG is working with Marvel Comics on officially licensed Marvel projects, beginning with the Joe Jusko's Art of the 1992 Marvel Masterpieces art book published via Kickstarter. This is described as FPG's 'first-of-many officially licensed Marvel projects.' Joe Jusko's 104 paintings for the 1992 Marvel Masterpieces series set the standard for all subsequent Marvel Masterpieces series.
• Wizards of the CoastcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFPG produced the Everway Companion Collector Cards for Wizards of the Coast's role-playing game Everway. The cards are 'designed to supercharge your existing Everway Vision Cards by adding new dimensions and excitement via FPG's incredible line-up of artists.' Released in 1995, 90 cards, 10 cards per pack, 36 packs per display box.
• DynamiteminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDynamite holds the trademark for Vampirella, which is referenced in FPG's The Art of Enric publication. The book notes: 'Vampirella is ® and © 2024 Dynamite. All rights reserved.'
• Edgar Rice Burroughs EstatecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFPG has produced multiple products based on Edgar Rice Burroughs characters and settings, including Joe Jusko's Edgar Rice Burroughs Collection trading cards (120 cards across two series), Joe Jusko's Edgar Rice Burroughs Colossal Cards, Jeffrey Jones' 1998 Edgar Rice Burroughs Calendar, and Tarzan promotional cards. These products draw on Burroughs' literary works (Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, Pellucidar, Venus).
• Lucasfilm Ltd.minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLarry Elmore worked with Lucasfilm Ltd. among his many clients. FPG's products featuring Elmore's work implicitly draw on properties Lucasfilm has been associated with in the fantasy art space. Additionally, artist Jim Steranko worked with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas on Raiders of the Lost Ark, and John Berkey's work appeared on Star Wars-related materials.
• Joe JuskocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoe Jusko is FPG's most prominent artist partner, having produced the landmark 104-painting 1992 Marvel Masterpieces series and subsequently multiple Edgar Rice Burroughs collections, Colossal Cards, and art books. FPG describes working 'alongside the good folks at Marvel Comics' and has a long-term relationship with Jusko spanning decades.
• Bernie Wrightson EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernie Wrightson created 150 paintings over two years exclusively for FPG's trading card series. His estate is credited on FPG's Bernie Wrightson: The FPG Years art book: 'Images © 2024 The Estate of Bernie Wrightson. All rights reserved.' FPG is working with the estate to publish his body of work in book form for the first time.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Topps: Topps is the dominant global trading card company producing sports and non-sport cards (Star Wars, Marvel, Garbage Pail Kids, WWE). Comparable in trading card format and licensed IP focus but at vastly larger scale and broader distribution.
• Upper Deck: Upper Deck is a major sports and non-sport trading card publisher (Marvel, Star Wars, Disney). Comparable product category (licensed trading cards) but operates at much greater scale and broader retail distribution than FPG's niche.
• Wizards of the Coast: Wizards of the Coast is the dominant tabletop gaming publisher (Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons) and an existing FPG partner (Everway Companion Cards). Comparable in CCG publishing, fantasy artist roster overlap, and licensed-IP monetization at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• IDW Publishing: IDW Publishing produces comics, art books, and collector editions across licensed IPs (Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek). Comparable to FPG's mix of licensed illustrated publishing, art books, and collector-focused distribution.
• Cryptozoic Entertainment: Cryptozoic publishes non-sport trading cards, collectible card games, and hobby games across licensed IPs (DC, Rick and Morty, Halo, Legend of the Five Rings). Directly comparable to FPG's combination of trading cards and CCG publishing with a similar licensed-IP go-to-market.
• Insight Editions: Insight Editions is a publisher of premium illustrated, collectible, and pop-culture books featuring licensed IPs (Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, Disney). Directly comparable to FPG's growing art book business on format, licensing strategy, and collector audience.
• Dark Horse Comics: Dark Horse publishes comics, graphic novels, and art books across licensed and creator-owned IPs (Hellboy, Star Wars, Conan). Comparable to FPG as a publisher of premium illustrated/collector-oriented content with overlapping licensed IP relationships.
• Paizo: Paizo publishes Pathfinder and Starfinder tabletop RPGs and card game products, with strong fantasy art collections featuring many of the same illustrators FPG works with. Comparable in fantasy hobbyist audience, artist roster overlap, and collectible product format.
• Rittenhouse Archives: Rittenhouse Archives is a specialty publisher of premium non-sport trading cards featuring licensed IPs (Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings). Closely comparable to FPG in product format, target collector audience, and reliance on licensed properties and fantasy/sci-fi illustration.
• Dynamite Entertainment: Dynamite is a comic book publisher and IP licensor of characters like Vampirella, which FPG has produced products around. Comparable as a niche comics/entertainment publisher targeting collector audiences with fantasy and horror properties.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 FPG