Bao Publishing
Bao Publishing is an independent Milan-based comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 2009, releasing ~45 titles per year across a 921-title catalog of Italian originals, manga, international adaptations, and children's titles for the Italian retail and digital market.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersMilano, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Bao Publishing does
Bao Publishing s.r.l. is an independent Italian comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 2009 and headquartered in Milan. The company operates a curated catalog of 921 titles and publishes approximately 45 new titles per year, organized across several imprints: original Italian graphic novels (anchored by author Zerocalcare, whose 'La profezia dell'armadillo' has sold over 300,000 copies, and LRNZ), the Aiken manga line (Tokyo Tarareba Girls, La Taverna di Mezzanotte), international comic adaptations (La Fortezza from Dargaud, Saga, Nimona, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), and the BaBAO children's imprint covering preschool through young adult readers. A 12-person full-time team supports operations.
Bao Publishing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bao Publishing
- Legal name
- BAO Publishing s.r.l.
- Website
- https://baopublishing.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bao Publishing is an independent Milan-based comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 2009, releasing ~45 titles per year across a 921-title catalog of Italian originals, manga, international adaptations, and children's titles for the Italian retail and digital market.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bao Publishing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Comic Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adult/Seinen/Josei Comics Publishing (MPAJAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA), Children’s Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga Publishing (MPAJAFAH)
Keywords
Where Bao Publishing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milano
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bao Publishing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Physical Book Sales: Sale of physical comic books and graphic novels through their e-commerce website, bookstore chains, and independent retailers. Prices range from pocketbook editions (around €3.30-9.90) to deluxe/hardcover editions (€20-27).
- Digital Book Sales: Digital versions of comics and graphic novels sold through major e-book platforms including Apple Books, Google Play, Kindle, and Kobo.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Pocketbook editions (I Chihuahua collection) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard softcover editions |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Deluxe/Hardcover editions |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Artist Edition / Variant editions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bao Publishing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bao Publishing is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher that acquires, translates, edits, designs, prints, and distributes approximately 45 new titles per year. Its 921-title catalog covers original Italian works, translated manga, international graphic novels, and children's comics, sold in physical editions (pocketbook, softcover, deluxe/hardcover) and digital editions through its own e-commerce site, bookstore chains, online retailers, and digital reading platforms.
Product overview
Bao Publishing is an Italian comic book publisher founded in 2009, publishing approximately 45 titles per year. The company operates primarily as a catalog-based publishing business with multiple product lines: (1) Original Italian graphic novels featuring prominent authors like Zerocalcare and LRNZ, (2) A manga line under the Aiken imprint including Tokyo Tarareba Girls and La Taverna di Mezzanotte, (3) International comic adaptations from publishers like Dargaud and Image Comics including Saga, Nimona, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, (4) A children's line called BaBAO with age-specific categories, and (5) Digital distribution through Apple Books, Google Play, Kindle, and Kobo platforms. Additional services include a project submission system for aspiring authors, international Foreign Rights licensing, and content marketing through the Fortezza Fumetto podcast and Cliffhanger magazine.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BaBAO: A sub-imprint dedicated to children's and young adult comics. Age groups: Pre-school (early readers), 6-11 years (adventure, action, friendship stories), and Young Adult.
- Aiken - Manga
- Autori italiani
- I Chihuahua
Quantifiable outcome
- La profezia dell'armadillo has sold over 300,000 copies in Italy
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Bao Publishing
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bao Publishing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bao Publishing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Momo EdizioniminorCollaboration on 'Nel nido dei serpenti', a volume by Zerocalcare about the Hungarian trial involving Ilaria Salis, published jointly by BAO Publishing and Momo Edizioni. Part of proceeds donated to legal defense fund.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bao Publishing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tunué: Tunué is an independent Italian graphic novel and comics publisher of similar size and editorial sensibility to BAO, focusing on quality adult graphic novels, international authors, and translated works — the closest direct comparable in the Italian indie graphic novel space.
- Coconino Press: Coconino Press is an Italian graphic novel publisher (part of Fandango) with a similar author-driven, quality-focused catalog and comparable position in Italian general bookstores; both target adult readers with internationally curated and original Italian works.
- Star Comics: Star Comics is one of Italy's leading manga publishers and a direct peer on BAO's Aiken manga line, competing for the same Japanese licensing relationships and Italian manga readership.
- Shockdom: Shockdom is an Italian independent comic and graphic novel publisher with a comparable catalog of Italian original IPs and translated works, targeting overlapping retail channels and readership segments.
- Edizioni BD: Edizioni BD is an Italian graphic novel publisher (originally a J-Pop Manga imprint) with a comparable mix of Italian originals and translated manga/US/European graphic novels, competing in the same bookstore and comic shop channels.
Broad incumbents
- Panini Comics: Panini is a much larger Italian comics publisher (Disney, Marvel, manga) with deeper capital, broader retail reach, and similar distribution through newsstands and bookstores — a broad incumbent rather than a niche peer.
- Sergio Bonelli Editore: Sergio Bonelli Editore is Italy's most established comic book publisher (Dylan Dog, Tex) with vastly greater scale and direct market dominance; comparable category but operates as a broad incumbent rather than a graphic novel peer.
- Mondadori Libri: Mondadori is Italy's largest publisher and a key retail partner of BAO; it publishes its own graphic novel and book catalogs, making it both a customer and a broad incumbent with overlapping editorial and distribution capabilities.
Others
- Feltrinelli: Feltrinelli is primarily a major Italian bookstore chain and BAO's largest retail partner, but it also publishes its own line (including Zerocalcare titles), making it a hybrid customer/competitor rather than a pure peer.
Emerging players
- Humanoids: Humanoids is an international graphic novel publisher (originally French, now US-based) with a similar author-driven catalog and focus on premium, narrative-driven graphic novels; an emerging global peer with comparable editorial DNA but different geographic scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Customer concentration
Bao Publishing social profiles
Digital presenceBao Publishing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bao Publishing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bao Publishing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bao Publishing 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 Bao Publishing
What does Bao Publishing do?
Bao Publishing is an independent comic book and graphic novel publisher that acquires, translates, edits, designs, prints, and distributes approximately 45 new titles per year. Its 921-title catalog covers original Italian works, translated manga, international graphic novels, and children's comics, sold in physical editions (pocketbook, softcover, deluxe/hardcover) and digital editions through its own e-commerce site, bookstore chains, online retailers, and digital reading platforms.
Is Bao Publishing a public or private company?
Bao Publishing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bao Publishing founded?
Bao Publishing was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bao Publishing based?
Bao Publishing is headquartered in Milano, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Bao Publishing make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Physical Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are digital Book Sales.
Who are Bao Publishing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tunué, Coconino Press, Star Comics, Shockdom and Edizioni BD. Broad incumbents are Panini Comics, Sergio Bonelli Editore and Mondadori Libri. Feltrinelli is listed as an others. Humanoids is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bao Publishing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bao Publishing.
What industry is Bao Publishing in?
Bao Publishing's product category is Comic Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAGAJ, Adult/Seinen/Josei Comics Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAGAA, Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.