Magnetic Collection
Magnetic Press is an independent graphic novel and art book publisher curating European, Japanese, and English-language creators into premium English-language print editions, with a tabletop gaming imprint (Magnetic Press Play) serving retail consumers, comic shops, and book stores via Kickstarter, Diamond, and sister-company Oni Press.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBurbank, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Magnetic Collection does
Magnetic Press (a Magnetic Collection entity, operating as Magnetic Press, Inc.) is a private, independent graphic novel and art book publisher founded in 2013 by Mike Kennedy and headquartered in Chicago, with operations in Burbank. The company publishes a catalog of roughly 80+ titles spanning age tiers from All Ages through Mature (18+), with a focus on curating European, French (Label 619), Japanese (Osamu Tezuka via Tezucomi), and English-language creators into premium print formats. Magnetic Press operates through two units: a core publishing imprint and the 2021-launched Magnetic Press Play, a gaming and transmedia imprint producing tabletop RPGs (the Disney/20th Century Studios-licensed Planet of the Apes RPG, Carbon Grey RPG), card and dice games (Klaw: Were-Wars, The World of Cassyno), and racing games (Hugo Broyler).
The business model is one-time unit sales of graphic novels, art books, and tabletop games, distributed across Kickstarter and Backerkit crowdfunding pre-orders, a direct-to-consumer webstore (store.magnetic-press.com), Diamond Comics to comic shops, and, following the March 2025 strategic partnership, Oni Press's established direct-market and book store channels. Prices are unit-based with cover prices (e.g., $24.99 for The World of Cassyno boxed set), supplemented by Kickstarter exclusive tiers, slipcase and limited editions, and promotional discounting (30% Cyberweek sales). The customer base is broad-based across retail consumers, comic shops, and book stores; no large customer concentration is disclosed. The company is a subsidiary of holding company Polarity (previously under Lion Forge from 2016 to 2019) and reports strategic alignment with sister company Oni Press under President Hunter Gorinson. AI/ML is not a stated capability, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Magnetic Collection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Magnetic Collection
- Legal name
- Magnetic Press, Inc.
- Website
- https://magnetic-press.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Magnetic Press is an independent graphic novel and art book publisher curating European, Japanese, and English-language creators into premium English-language print editions, with a tabletop gaming imprint (Magnetic Press Play) serving retail consumers, comic shops, and book stores via Kickstarter, Diamond, and sister-company Oni Press.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Magnetic Collection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Graphic Novel Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Trade Book Print-on-Demand (Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.) (MPAJAAAN)
Keywords
Where Magnetic Collection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burbank
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Magnetic Collection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Graphic Novel and Art Book Sales: Direct sales of graphic novels, manga, and art books through the Magnetic Press webstore (store.magnetic-press.com) and through retail distribution via comic shops and book stores.
- Tabletop Games and RPGs: Sales of tabletop games including The Official Planet of the Apes RPG, Carbon Grey RPG, Klaw: Were-Wars card game, and The World of Cassyno card game.
- Crowdfunding Campaigns: Kickstarter and Backerkit crowdfunding campaigns serve as both pre-order mechanism and primary launch platform for new titles, with exclusive editions and limited-run products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The World of Cassyno game box set |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Cyberweek Sale 2024 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Magnetic Collection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Magnetic Collection (Magnetic Press) is an independent graphic novel and art book publisher that curates international creators—primarily European—for English-language audiences. The company operates through two imprints: core publishing for graphic novels and art books, and Magnetic Press Play for tabletop role-playing games and card games. Revenue comes from sales of physical books, tabletop games, and premium collectible editions distributed via direct-to-consumer webstore, crowdfunding platforms, and retail channels.
Product overview
Magnetic Press is an award-winning graphic novel and art book publisher with a diverse catalog spanning multiple genres and age groups. The company operates through two main divisions: core publishing (Magnetic Press) and gaming (Magnetic Press Play). Magnetic Press publishes graphic novels and art books including the award-winning Love wordless wildlife series, Eisner-nominated titles like The Monkey King and Aster of Pan, and classic adaptations like Dracula/Frankenstein. Magnetic Press Play is the gaming imprint focused on tabletop role-playing games including the Official Planet of the Apes RPG, Carbon Grey RPG, KLAW card/dice game, Hugo Broyler racing game, and The World of Cassyno card game. Recent partnerships include Label 619 for MFKZ, Frontier, Carbon & Silicon, and Shangri-La. Products are distributed through Kickstarter campaigns, Backerkit pre-orders, and retail channels including comic shops and bookstores.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Magnetic Press Play: An imprint of Magnetic Press focused on tabletop games and transmedia properties
- D6MV System
Products and services
- The Official Planet of the Apes RPG Official role-playing game developed in cooperation with Disney and 20th Century Studios, including the core rulebook and various supplements and expansion materials for tabletop RPG fans.
- Carbon Grey RPG Role-playing game based on the Image Comics series by Hoang Nguyen, offered as a standalone tabletop gaming product.
- KLAW: Were-Wars Card and dice game based on the hit comic series KLAW, distributed via Kickstarter campaign.
- Hugo Broyler Graphic novel/RPG-lite hybrid with complete rules for a tabletop racing game.
- The World of Cassyno Illustrated deck of poker cards featuring 52 original character designs by Bengal with rules for 8 unique card games set within a fantasy world. Priced at $24.99 cover price for a 64-page booklet with 56-card deck. For 2-10 players, ages 8+.
- Love Series Wordless wildlife graphic novel series including Love: The Tiger, Love: The Fox, Love: The Lion, Love: The Dinosaur, and Love: The Mastiff. Won Gold Medal at the 2015 Independent Publisher Awards for Love: The Fox.
- The Monkey King Complete graphic novel saga by Chaiko. Won 2024 Eisner nominations for Best Adaptation from Another Medium and Best Painter/Multimedia Artist.
- TEZUCOMI Two-volume celebration of Osamu Tezuka's characters by European comic artists, including 18+ new stories featuring Astro Boy, Black Jack, Dororo, Metropolis, Princess Knight, and more.
- Dracula/Frankenstein by Georges Bess Classic horror graphic novels by Georges Bess, including a third volume The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Won the 2024 Eisner Award for Best Publication Design.
- The Ogre Gods Saga Three-volume series (Petit, Half-blood, The Great Man) by Hubert and Gatignol.
- MFKZ Dystopian Los Angeles graphic novel series from Label 619. Originated as an animated short in 2003, expanded to a 5-volume series and 2018 feature film co-produced by Studio 4c.
- Magnetic Press Play Gaming and new media imprint of Magnetic Press focused on tabletop games and transmedia properties. Led by entertainment veteran Mike Kennedy.
Companies that use Magnetic Collection
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Magnetic Collection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Magnetic Collection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Label 619coreExclusive first-look partnership with renowned French design studio Label 619, known for manga-inspired character designs and titles such as Frontier, Carbon & Silicon, and Shangri-La. First project under partnership is complete collection of MFKZ. Label 619 has produced over 60 titles since 2008.
- Oni PresscoreStrategic partnership with sister company Oni Press (both owned by parent company Polarity). Gives Magnetic Press access to Oni Press distribution partners for comic shops and book stores, deeper marketing, sales, and manufacturing support. Mike Kennedy to continue as Magnetic Press Publisher while reporting to Oni Press President Hunter Gorinson.
- Horrible FutureminorCollaboration with Horrible Future on Black Box Chronicles sci-fi anthology series.
- Rue de SevresminorOne of the leading graphic novel publishing houses in France, manages Label 619.
- AutodeskminorAutodesk Media & Entertainment outreach partnership for events and showcases at their Portland office. Chris Northrop presented Magnetic Press projects at Autodesk Gaming Showcase.
- WacomminorBlack Box Chronicles creator events at Wacom Experience Center in Portland, Oregon.
- Things From Another WorldminorFree event partnership at comic shop location in Beaverton, Oregon for Black Box Chronicles promotion.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Magnetic Collection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Image Comics: Largest independent comics publisher and direct comparable for creator-owned and genre-spanning graphic novels. Sets the competitive benchmark for independent graphic novel publishing that Magnetic Press operates in.
- BOOM! Studios: Major independent comic and graphic novel publisher with a strong licensed-IP slate (Disney, Warner Bros.). Directly comparable to Magnetic Press as another non-Marvel/DC publisher competing for shelf space, creator talent, and licensed IP partnerships.
- IDW Publishing: Independent comics publisher with deep licensed-IP catalog and a graphic novel program. Competes with Magnetic Press in bookstore and comic-shop channels, particularly for premium-format graphic novels.
- Dark Horse Comics: Established publisher of graphic novels, manga, and licensed-IP comics. Operates as a broad incumbent in the same space Magnetic Press competes in, with a much larger catalog and retail footprint, including creator-owned and international titles.
- Free League Publishing: Swedish tabletop RPG publisher behind licensed-IP games (Avatar, Alien, The One Ring). Closest broad incumbent peer to Magnetic Press Play's licensed-IP tabletop RPG strategy, particularly the Planet of the Apes RPG.
Direct peers
- Oni Press: Sister company under Polarity and direct peer in graphic novel and licensed-IP comics publishing. Magnetic Press's 2025 strategic distribution partnership formalizes operational overlap, making Oni Press its closest comparable for catalog, retail, and creator relations.
- Tokyopop: Independent publisher of manga and original graphic novels. A long-standing direct peer in English-language manga/graphic novel publishing, with overlapping distributor and bookstore relationships.
- Fantagraphics Books: Long-standing independent publisher of graphic novels, art books, and curated international comics. Directly comparable to Magnetic Press on premium production quality, international creator curation, and art-book catalog scope.
- Lion Forge Comics: Independent graphic novel publisher and former acquirer of Magnetic Press (2016). Operates an analogous indie graphic novel catalog with diverse creator curation, making it a close structural peer even post-divestiture.
Emerging players
- Ablaze Publishing: Independent publisher specializing in manga and international graphic novels translated for English audiences. Closely overlaps Magnetic Press's international creator curation strategy in a smaller, focused footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Magnetic Collection social profiles
Digital presenceMagnetic Collection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Magnetic Collection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Magnetic Collection subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Magnetic Collection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Magnetic Collection 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 Magnetic Collection
What does Magnetic Collection do?
Magnetic Collection (Magnetic Press) is an independent graphic novel and art book publisher that curates international creators—primarily European—for English-language audiences. The company operates through two imprints: core publishing for graphic novels and art books, and Magnetic Press Play for tabletop role-playing games and card games. Revenue comes from sales of physical books, tabletop games, and premium collectible editions distributed via direct-to-consumer webstore, crowdfunding platforms, and retail channels.
Is Magnetic Collection a public or private company?
Magnetic Collection is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Magnetic Collection founded?
Magnetic Collection was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Magnetic Collection based?
Magnetic Collection is headquartered in Burbank, United States, in the North America region.
How does Magnetic Collection make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Graphic Novel and Art Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are tabletop Games and RPGs and crowdfunding Campaigns.
Who are Magnetic Collection's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, IDW Publishing, Dark Horse Comics and Free League Publishing. Direct peers are Oni Press, Tokyopop, Fantagraphics Books and Lion Forge Comics. Ablaze Publishing is listed as an emerging player.
Does Magnetic Collection have an API?
No public API is recorded for Magnetic Collection.
What industry is Magnetic Collection in?
Magnetic Collection's product category is Graphic Novel Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJANAA, Trade Book Print-on-Demand (Fiction & Nonfiction), with a secondary code of MPAJAAAN, Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.