Silver Sprocket

What Silver Sprocket does

Silver Sprocket is a San Francisco-based independent publisher founded in 2012 that operates a 100% artist-owned publishing model for comic books, graphic novels, and zines. The company serves independent cartoonists by providing publishing services, distribution access, and marketing support while the artists retain full ownership of their work. Its catalog emphasizes socially conscious, queer-positive, experimental, and politically engaged work — content often underserved by mainstream publishers. Award-winning titles include the 2024 Eisner-winning PeePee PooPoo by Caroline Cash, the 2022 Ignatz Awards sweep, and works featured in NPR, the New York Times, and Publishers Weekly (starred review).

The business operates as a hybrid direct-to-consumer and wholesale publishing operation. Revenue streams include direct mail-order via store.silversprocket.net, wholesale distribution through Publishers Group West/Ingram (North America book-trade), Publishers Group Canada/Raincoast, Lunar Distribution (US comic direct market), Universal Distributors (Canada), and Turnaround UK (Europe), plus a direct wholesale portal for retailers and a network of 100+ indie bookstores. Pricing is unit-based with selective promotional discounting (e.g., Barnes & Noble 25% off co-promotions). Marketing is community-led, leveraging an active convention circuit (ALA Annual, SDCC, SPX, TCAF, VanCAF, CAKE), a 46,287-follower Instagram presence, and earned media coverage.

The company had ~6 employees and recently restructured: the physical San Francisco storefront at 1018 Valencia closed on March 23, 2026, due to unsustainable losses, with operations transitioning to mail-order and online-only publishing. The team has been reduced to managers Josh and Sol plus part-timers Parker and Chrissy, with founder/owner 'avi' having taken on personal debt to sustain the business. Post-restructuring, Silver Sprocket is pursuing growth via the library channel (ALA Annual 2026 participation), international licensing (Full Bleed Rights), and a continuing release cadence of titles such as Demon Faggots #1, The Confessional, and Fungirl Forever.

Name

Silver Sprocket

Legal name

Silver Sprocket LLC

Website

https://silversprocket.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Silver Sprocket is a San Francisco-based indie publisher (founded 2012) operating a 100% artist-owned model for socially conscious comic books, graphic novels, and zines, distributing via Ingram, Lunar Distribution, indie retailers, and direct mail-order.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Comic Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Book Retailers and News Dealers (4592)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Retail-Nonstore Retailers (5960)

akta.pro primary industry

General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB), Publisher-Owned Direct-to-Consumer Stores (MPAFACAK), Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF), Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.) (MPAJAAAN)

Keywords

• Indie comic publishing
• Graphic novel distribution
• Small press publisher
• Artist-owned publishing
• Comic book retail

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Direct sales of published comics, graphic novels, and zines through online store at store.silversprocket.net. Includes mini-comics, full-length graphic novels, art magazines, and tarot decks.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Revenue through wholesale distribution partners including Publishers Group West/Ingram (North America), Publishers Group Canada/Raincoast, and Lunar Distribution (comics direct market).
3. Retail Sales: Former physical storefront at 1018 Valencia, San Francisco. Now mail-order focused with daily shipping of books and merchandise.
4. Wholesale Accounts: Direct wholesale accounts for retailers to order Silver Sprocket products directly via store.silversprocket.net/wholesale.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Silver Sprocket is an independent publisher that produces and distributes comic books, graphic novels, zines, and related art publications under a 100% artist-owned model. The company provides publishing services to independent cartoonists—handling production, printing, marketing, and distribution—while artists retain full ownership and royalties of their work. Titles are sold directly via the company's online store and through wholesale distribution to bookstores, comic shops, and libraries in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Product overview

Silver Sprocket is a San Francisco-based independent publisher offering comic books, graphic novels, and zines. The core products consist of physically printed comics and digital free reading content. Physical products are distributed through the online store, book-trade distribution networks (PGW/Ingram, Publishers Group Canada), and comic direct market channels (Lunar Distribution). The company also offers merchandise including stickers and apparel. All works remain 100% artist owned with Silver Sprocket providing publishing services while supporting independent cartoonists. The company does not have a unified platform architecture but rather operates through distinct distribution channels and retail partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple award wins including Eisner Award (2024), Ignatz Awards sweep (2022), Doug Wright Award (2018)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• American Library AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Silver Sprocket exhibiting at ALA Annual 2026 in Chicago (booth 3229F) celebrating ALA's 150th anniversary. Includes artist signings, panels, free comics, and exclusive merch.
• Barnes & NoblemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Major retail partner offering 25% discount promotions on Silver Sprocket titles including Demon Faggots #1 and Fungirl Forever.
• Publishers Group West / Ingram Publisher ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American book-trade distribution partner. Create new accounts at ingramcontent.com or contact [email protected].
• Publishers Group Canada / Raincoast Distribution GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian book-trade distribution partner. Create accounts at services.raincoast.com or contact [email protected].
• Lunar DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS comic book direct market distribution partner for comic shops.
• Universal DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian comic book direct market distribution partner.
• Turnaround UKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK/European distribution partner.
• Radiator ComicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecific retailer carrying Silver Sprocket products.
• AK PressminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecific retailer/distributor carrying Silver Sprocket products.
• DisburstminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecific retailer carrying Silver Sprocket products.
• Full Bleed Rights (Amber Garza)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational licensing representative for media rights.
• WithFriendsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembership platform used by Silver Sprocket for community support. Contact: [email protected]

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dark Horse Comics: Established comics and graphic novel publisher with deep book-trade and direct-market distribution. Comparable distribution architecture to Silver Sprocket, but with a much larger catalog spanning licensed and creator-owned properties.
• Image Comics: The largest independent comics publisher in North America, distributing through the comic direct market and book trade. Shares Silver Sprocket's creator-owned philosophy but operates across a much broader catalog of titles and creators.
• BOOM! Studios: Larger comics publisher producing graphic novels across multiple imprints and genres for the book-trade and direct market. Overlaps with Silver Sprocket in graphic novel publishing and convention presence, but operates at significantly greater scale with broader genre coverage.

Direct peers

• Black Mask Studios: Independent comics publisher focused on politically engaged, genre, and creator-owned graphic novels. Directly comparable to Silver Sprocket's content positioning around weird, experimental, and political work.
• Oni Press: Independent comic book publisher with a broad catalog spanning all-ages, YA, and adult graphic novels. Comparable to Silver Sprocket in operating as an indie publisher serving both the book-trade and comic direct-market channels.
• Fantagraphics: Long-running independent comics and graphic novel publisher with a comparable catalog of literary, alternative, and underground cartoonists. Operates its own bookstore in Seattle and distributes through similar book-trade channels, mirroring Silver Sprocket's publisher-plus-retail hybrid model.
• Drawn & Quarterly: Montreal-based independent publisher of literary graphic novels, alternative comics, and translated works. Operates a flagship store in Montreal and shares Silver Sprocket's emphasis on artist-driven, non-mainstream graphic novels and book-trade distribution.
• Iron Circus Comics: Indie comics publisher specializing in anthologies, graphic novels, and creator-owned work. Comparable in scale, indie ethos, and reliance on crowdfunding, conventions, and direct-market distribution similar to Silver Sprocket.
• Top Shelf Productions: Independent graphic novel publisher historically known for literary, coming-of-age, and alternative titles (e.g., Blankets, March). Direct overlap with Silver Sprocket's trade graphic novel catalog and independent bookstore distribution footprint.

Emerging players

• Uncivilized Books: Small independent publisher focused on graphic novels and comics with a literary, alternative sensibility. Comparable to Silver Sprocket in scale, editorial positioning, and dependence on indie bookstore and library channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/silversprocket
• Instagraminstagram.com/silversprocket
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silver-sprocket-publisher

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 Silver Sprocket