Random House Publishing Group To Acquire Boom! Studios
The Random House Publishing Group, a division of the world’s largest trade publisher, Penguin Random House, has entered into an agreement to acquire comic book, graphic novel and licensed storytelling publisher and studio, Boom! Studios.
The Boom! Studios publishing program will now join the Random House Worlds portfolio of imprints alongside Del Rey, Inklore and the RH Worlds licensing program. The company will retain its editorial and publishing independence, reporting to Random House Worlds President, Scott Shannon. Keith Clayton, VP Publisher, Random House Worlds, and Bill Takes, EVP of Business Strategy, Random House Publishing Group, will work alongside Shannon and the BOOM! Studios team to help manage and integrate the new imprint.
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There are no plans to relocate BOOM! Studios from its L.A. office, which President, Development Stephen Christy will continue to lead, and the company will continue to distribute through both Diamond Comic Distributors and Simon & Schuster. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close this summer.
Stated Boom! Studios’ Founder and Chairman Ross Richie, “It’s every entrepreneur’s dream to launch a company, build it, and sell it to the best. I’m excited to hand the reins of BOOM! over to the best and largest publisher in the world. Their focus on readers and retail partnerships will build upon our work and help our creators achieve even more success. Personally, it’s time for me to take some much-needed time off with my family and explore what’s next.”
Added Shannon, “Over the past several years Random House Worlds has partnered with BOOM! Studios on various projects and had the benefit of seeing first-hand their best-in-class comic publishing. Ross and his team have built a dynamic, imaginative home for a diverse and talented roster of creators. We are thrilled to welcome BOOM! Studios to our house, and now work side-by-side with this imaginative team.”
Shannon called the Boom! Studios acquisition “a major step in Penguin Random House’s expansion of support to the direct comics market and a key part of our commitment to being the best publisher for creators across all categories,” adding, “We are excited to continue that tradition with BOOM! as part of the Random House Publishing Group.”
Founded in 2005, Boom! Studios publishes under four distinct lines — Boom! Studios, Boom! Box, KaBoom!, and Archaia. To date, the company has made a name for itself as the producer of bestselling, award-winning original work, including Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR, Something is Killing the Children, and Lumberjanes, while also breaking new ground with established licenses such as Power Rangers, Dune, The Expanse, Garfield, Firefly, Labyrinth, and Dark Crystal.
Boom! Studios has also produced numerous films and television series, including 2 Guns, The Empty Man, Just Beyond, and Mech Cadets. Currently, the company is in production on Butterfly, a live-action series for Prime Video starring Daniel Dae Kim and Reina Hardesty.
Boasting a first-look deal with Netflix, Boom! Studios is also currently developing a live-action BRZRKR film produced by and starring Keanu Reeves, as well as a series adaptation of its hit comic series Something Is Killing the Children, from creator-showrunners Baran Bo Adar and Jantje Friese (Dark).
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