Man Of Action Entertainment

What Man Of Action Entertainment does

Man of Action Entertainment is a privately held, bi-coastal US entertainment company founded in 2000, operating as a four-person writers' collective of comic book writers Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, and Steven T. Seagle, with a total of 13 employees. The collective creates original intellectual property and develops it across multiple media — comics, animated television, feature films, and video games — for major studios and publishers including Cartoon Network, Disney/Marvel, Netflix, Image Comics, DC/Vertigo, and Dark Horse Comics. Its best-known original properties are the Ben 10 franchise (a $4.5+ billion boys-action franchise spanning animation, toys, and merchandise), Generator Rex (an Emmy Award-winning animated series), and Big Hero 6 (the only comic book IP to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature).

The company's core technology is creative storytelling and IP development, with no proprietary software, platform, or automation layer — it is a people-and-IP business. Business model is built on licensing royalties and one-time licensing/publishing fees across four revenue streams: (1) comic book publishing through its Man of Action imprint at Image Comics plus DC/Vertigo and Dark Horse, (2) animation and TV production with networks and streaming platforms, (3) film development including live-action adaptations of graphic novels, and (4) IP licensing of original character franchises to studios and merchandise partners. The collective also writes for licensed franchises on work-for-hire basis, including Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man, Marvel's Avengers Assemble, and Mega Man: Fully Charged.

Go-to-market is dual-track: a creative pipeline that generates original IP at conventions and through comics, pitching properties to studios for animation and film adaptation, layered with a service business of writing for major franchises on work-for-hire commissions. Marketing is event-driven through major comic conventions (San Diego Comic-Con, NYCC, Dragon Con) and earned media rather than paid advertising. The company holds no patents, has no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding, and is owned entirely by its four founders.

Name

Man Of Action Entertainment

Legal name

Man of Action Entertainment

Website

https://manofaction.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Man of Action Entertainment is a four-person US writers' collective founded in 2000 that creates original IP and develops it across comics, animation, film, and games, serving major studios including Cartoon Network, Disney/Marvel, Netflix, and Image Comics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation and Comic Book IP Development

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Live-Action Kids & Family Production (MPADABAF)

Keywords

• Comic book creation
• Animated series production
• Intellectual property licensing
• Creator-owned comics
• Animation writing services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Comic Book Publishing: Publishing original comic books and graphic novels through their Man of Action imprint at Image Comics, as well as through DC Comics/Vertigo and Dark Horse Comics. Revenue from comic sales, trade paperbacks, and graphic novels.
2. Animation and TV Production: Writing, co-writing, and executive producing animated series for networks like Cartoon Network, Disney XD, and streaming platforms like Netflix. Creating original IP (Ben 10, Generator Rex, Big Hero 6, Mega Man) and adapting for animation.
3. Film Development: Developing and producing live-action films based on original comic properties (I Kill Giants, Officer Downe) and writing for video games (Darksiders III).
4. IP Licensing: Licensing original character franchises (Ben 10 - $4.5+ billion franchise) to studios and networks for merchandise, games, and additional media.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Man of Action Entertainment is a writers' collective that creates original intellectual property (comic books, animated series, and films) and provides writing, co-writing, and executive producing services for licensed animation and video game franchises. The company develops character franchises from comic concept through animated series, feature films, and merchandise licensing for major studios and networks.

Product overview

Man of Action Entertainment is a bi-coastal entertainment company founded in 2000, operating as a writers' collective that creates original intellectual property and works on licensed franchises. The company's portfolio includes original animated franchises Ben 10 and Generator Rex (both Emmy Award-winning, valued at $4.5+ billion combined), creator-owned comics published through their Man of Action imprint at Image Comics, and licensed animation work including Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man, Marvel's Avengers: Assemble, and Mega Man: Fully Charged for Cartoon Network. They also develop live-action film adaptations of their comic properties including I Kill Giants (Academy Award winner Big Hero 6 creators) and Officer Downe. Their creative team includes Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, and Steven T. Seagle who met while working on Marvel and DC's most prized franchises from Superman to X-Men.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ben 10 $4.5+ billion-dollar-earning, Emmy Award-winning animated franchise originally created in 2005 featuring a boy with the Omnitrix device that allows transformation into various alien heroes; aired on Cartoon Network worldwide and rebooted in 2017.
• Generator Rex Emmy Award-winning animated series created by Man of Action Entertainment, aired on Cartoon Network worldwide; features Rex Salazar, a teenager who can generate biotech creatures called EVOs.
• Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man Co-written and produced by Man of Action Entertainment for Marvel Animation Studios; the first animated show completely produced by Marvel, airing on Disney XD in the US.
• Marvel's Avengers: Assemble Executive produced and co-written by Man of Action Entertainment for Marvel Animation Studios; part of the most successful superhero franchise of all time, aired on Disney XD.
• Mega Man: Fully Charged Animated series created and executive produced by Man of Action Entertainment for Cartoon Network, in collaboration with Capcom (IP holder) and Dentsu Entertainment USA; produced by DHX Studios (now WildBrain).
• Big Hero 6 Characters and team created by Man of Action Entertainment (Steven T. Seagle and Duncan Rouleau), featured in Disney/Marvel's Academy Award-winning feature film; the only comic book IP to win an Academy Award.
• I Kill Giants Award-winning graphic novel by Joe Kelly and Ken Niimura, adapted into a feature film released March 2018 starring Zoe Saldana; won Gaiman Award, International Manga Award, and was named a top ten graphic novel for kids by YALSA.
• Zak Storm: Super Pirate Animated series created by Man of Action Entertainment (Joe Kelly) in collaboration with ZAG Studio; aired on Netflix internationally and available on mobile platforms (Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Kindle).
• Man of Action Comics (Image Comics Imprint) Man of Action Entertainment's creator-owned comic publishing imprint at Image Comics, producing numerous award-winning titles including it's a bird..., House of Secrets, Genius, Imperial, Kafka, The Crusades, The Great Unknown, Batula, Frankie Stein, The Bounce, New Lieutenants of Metal, and more.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.5+ billion in franchise revenue from Ben 10 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.

• DHX StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHX Studios (now known as WildBrain) partnered with Man of Action Entertainment to produce Mega Man: Fully Charged animated series. DHX Studios handled animation production while MOA provided creative direction as creators and executive producers.
• Dentsu Entertainment USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDentsu handpicked Man of Action to create/write/executive produce the all-new Mega Man animated series. Dentsu served as a key bridge between the Japanese IP holder (Capcom) and Western animation partners.
• CapcomcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCapcom, as the IP holder for Mega Man, partnered with Man of Action to develop the new Mega Man: Fully Charged series for Cartoon Network. MOA was selected to bring fresh creative vision to the iconic video game character.
• Cartoon NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership with Cartoon Network for original animated series including Ben 10 (billion-dollar franchise), Generator Rex, and Mega Man: Fully Charged. Cartoon Network airs MOA-created content worldwide.
• Disney/Marvel AnimationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMan of Action launched Disney XD's Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel's Avengers Assemble as executive producers/writers. Also created the original Big Hero 6 characters featured in Disney/Marvel's Academy Award-winning film.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZak Storm: Super Pirate, created by Man of Action Entertainment in partnership with ZAG Studio, streams on Netflix internationally. Netflix distributes MOA-created animated content to a global audience.
• ZAG StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAG Studio collaborated with Man of Action to create Zak Storm: Super Pirate. MOA provides creative development while ZAG handles production and global distribution including Netflix streaming and mobile app development.
• Image ComicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMan of Action has an imprint at Image Comics for publishing their creator-owned comic properties. Works include Butcher Baker the Righteous Maker, The Bounce, New Lieutenants of Metal, and more.
• Gunfire Games / THQ NordicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMan of Action Entertainment was announced as the writing collective for Darksiders III video game. Joe Kelly co-wrote the original Darksiders game, making this a return to the franchise.
• DC Comics/VertigosecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple MOA members have published works through DC Comics and its Vertigo imprint including It's a bird..., House of Secrets, Sandman Mystery Theatre, and more.
• Dark Horse ComicssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSteven T. Seagle's work on Grendel Tales published through Dark Horse Comics. Multiple MOA members have published creator-owned and work-for-hire projects with Dark Horse.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Frederator Studios: Independent animation studio specializing in creator-driven original IP and short-form series, often partnering with networks like Cartoon Network. Closely comparable to Man of Action as a small IP-creation studio developing original animated content for major distribution partners.
• WildBrain (formerly DHX Media): Children's entertainment company that produced Mega Man: Fully Charged in partnership with Man of Action. WildBrain's animation production arm and IP library (including Peanuts, Teletubbies) make it a direct production-services and IP-management peer.
• Skybound Entertainment: Creator-focused entertainment company (founded by Robert Kirkman) that develops original IP across comics, animation, and games (The Walking Dead, Invincible). Highly comparable to Man of Action as a creator-owned IP studio spanning multiple media formats.
• BOOM! Studios: Comic book publisher that has expanded aggressively into film and TV adaptations (e.g., Mouse Guard, Lumberjanes). Closely comparable to Man of Action's publisher-to-screen pipeline model, with similar creator-owned IP strategy.
• Atomic Cartoons: Independent animation studio producing original and service content for global platforms including Netflix, Cartoon Network, and others. Comparable to Man of Action in the boutique original-IP-for-streaming-and-cable model.
• Powerhouse Animation: Independent animation studio (Castlevania, Blood of Zeus) that creates original and adapted animated series for Netflix and other streaming platforms. Comparable to Man of Action as a similarly-sized independent producer working closely with major streaming/distribution partners.

Broad incumbents

• Cartoon Network Studios: The in-house animation studio of Cartoon Network, a key distribution partner for Man of Action. While it serves as a customer, it is also a direct competitor for original IP development and could in theory develop properties internally instead of sourcing from Man of Action.
• DreamWorks Animation: Major animation studio producing feature films and series for global distribution. Comparable to Man of Action in cross-media children's IP development but at vastly larger scale; competes for the same family/children's audience and distribution partners.
• Nickelodeon Animation Studio: In-house animation studio of Nickelodeon producing original children's content. Comparable as a buyer of original IP and as a scaled competitor; Man of Action's existing CN/Disney relationships indicate similar pitch dynamics would apply to Nickelodeon.

Emerging players

• Lion Forge Comics: Independent comic publisher focused on diverse creator-owned content with growing film/TV adaptation pipeline. Comparable to Man of Action's creator-owned publishing model and similar pursuit of cross-media adaptation opportunities at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/manofactionent
• Facebookfacebook.com/manofactionent
• Instagraminstagram.com/manofactionent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Man Of Action Entertainment