AWA Studios

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AWA Studios
StatusActive
FoundedNovember 2018 (2018-11)
Founder
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationNew York City
DistributionSimon & Schuster (books)[1]
Key people
  • Axel Alonso (CCO)
  • Jonathan F. Miller (chair)
Publication typesComics Graphic Novels
Fiction genres
Imprints
  • AWA
Owner(s)
Official websiteOfficial website

Artists Writers & Artisans, Inc. or AWA Studios is an American independent comic book publisher founded in November 2018 by Axel Alonso, Bill Jemas and Jonathan F. Miller.[3]

History

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AWA Studios was founded in November 2018 by Axel Alonso and Bill Jemas from Marvel Comics, with the addition of Jonathan F. Miller from Fandom, with Jemas as Chief Executive Officer, Alonso as Chief Creative Officer, and Miller as a Senior Council member. The initials in the company's name stand for "Artists Writers & Artisans".[3] Initial funders included Lightspeed Venture Partners and James Murdoch's Lupa Systems. Elisabeth Murdoch's SISTER media investment firm also contributed funding in March 2020[4] and Fremantle contributed funding in February 2023.[5] Over time, a Creative Council was joined by J. Michael Straczynski, Reginald Hudlin, Garth Ennis, Gregg Hurwitz, Margaret Stohl and Frank Cho.[6]

American Ronin was presented as a potential book from AWA in June 2019.[7] In August 2019, Straczynski announced a new shared universe for AWA, debuting in 2020 with The Resistance.[8] During New York Comic Con 2019, AWA released Upshot Now No. 0.[9] AWA Studios premiered with four titles, released in March 2020 under its Upshot imprint.[10]

In June 2021, AWA announced the foundation of its own film/TV division, being helmed by Zach Studin as President.[11][12]

Since 2023, the Upshot Studios imprint was merged into AWA.[citation needed]

In June 2024, AWA announced an alliance with Vertigo Entertainment to create a new horror storytelling pipeline called FUTURE OF FEAR.[13]

Key people

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Leadership team

[edit]
  • Axel Alonso, co-founder & chief creative officer (2018–present)[3]
  • Jonathan F. Miller, co-founder & co-chairman of the board (2018–present)[3]
  • Zach Studin, president, AWA Studios (2021–present)[14]
  • Matthew Anderson, co-chairman of the board & chief executive officer (2022–present)[15]
  • Diya Sagar, chief financial officer (2023–present)[16]

Creative council

[edit]

Imprints

[edit]
Upshot imprint logo

Current

[edit]
  • AWA

Former

[edit]

List of works

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Series

[edit]
Overview of AWA Studios series
Title Issues Writer(s) Artist Colorist Start date Conclusion date Note(s)
The Resistance[8] #1–6 J. Michael Straczynski Mike Deodato Frank Martin March 18, 2020 September 30, 2020 Part of The Resistance universe.
Archangel 8[20] #1–5 Michael Moreci C. P. Smith Snakebite Cortez September 23, 2020 Standalone series.
Hotell[21] #1–4 John Lees Dalibor Talijic Lee Loughridge August 19, 2020 Part of the Hotell universe.
Red Border[22] Jason Starr Will Conrad Ivan Nunes August 26, 2020 Standalone series.
Year Zero[23] #1–5 Benjamin Percy Ramon Rosanas Lee Loughridge April 4, 2020 September 30, 2020 Part of the Year Zero universe.
Old Haunts[24] Ollie Masters
Rob Williams 		Laurence Campbell May 20, 2020 October 28, 2020 Standalone series.
Devil's Highway[23] Benjamin Percy Brent Schoonover Nick Filardi June 3, 2020 November 25, 2020 Part of the Devil's Highway universe.
Bad Mother[25] Christa Faust Mike Deodato Lee Loughridge August 5, 2020 December 30, 2020 Standalone series.
Grendel, Kentucky[26][27] #1–4 Jeff McComsey Tommy Lee Edwards September 2, 2020 December 23, 2020
American Ronin[7] #1–5 Peter Milligan ACO Dean White October 7, 2020 February 17, 2021
Year Zero Vol. 2[28] Benjamin Percy Juan Jose Ryp Frank Martin November 4, 2020 March 24, 2021 Part of the Year Zero universe.
E-Ratic[29] Karee Andrews Brian Reber December 2, 2020 April 28, 2021 Part of The Resistance universe.
Byte-Sized[30] #1–4 Cullen Bunn Nelson Blake II Snakebite Cortez December 9, 2020 March 31, 2021 Standalone series.
Mann's World[31] Victor Gischler Niko Walter January 13, 2021 April 21, 2021
Redemption[32] #1–5 Christa Faust Mike Deodato Lee Loughridge February 3, 2021 June 30, 2021
Casual Fling[32] Jason Starr Dalabor Talijic Marco Lesko February 10, 2021 May 27, 2021
Chariot[33] Bryan Edward Hill Priscilla Petraites March 3, 2021 July 28, 2021
The Resistance: Uprising[34] #1–6 J. Michael Straczynski C. P. Smith Snakebite Cortez April 7, 2021 September 29, 2021 Part of The Resistance universe.
Marjorie Finnigan, Temporal Criminal[35] #1–8 Garth Ennis Goran Sudžuka Miroslav Mrva May 5, 2021 December 29, 2021 Standalone series.
Moths[36][37] #1–6 J. Michael Straczynski Mike Choi June 2, 2021 November 24, 2021 Part of The Resistance universe.
Fight Girls[38] #1–5 Frank Cho Sabine Rich July 7, 2021 November 17, 2021 Standalone series.
Not All Robots[39] Mark Russell Mike Deodato Lee Loughridge August 4, 2021 December 29, 2021
Telepaths[40] #1–6 J. Michael Straczynski Steve Epting Brian Reber September 1, 2021 February 23, 2022
Out[41] #1–5 Rob Williams Will Conrad Marco Lesko October 6, 2021
Knighted[42] Gregg Hurwitz Mark Texeira Brian Reber November 8, 2021 March 30, 2022 Part of The Resistance universe.
Hotell Vol. 2[43] John Lees Dalabor Talijic Lee Loughridge December 1, 2021 April 27, 2022 Part of the Hotell universe.
Crimson Cage[44] Alex Cormack Ashley Cormack December 8, 2021 April 20, 2022 Standalone series.
The Fourth Man[45] #1–4 Jeff McComsey Mike Deodato Lee Loughridge January 5, 2022 April 27, 2022
Primos[46] Al Madrigal Felipe Flores Brian Reber February 2, 2022 May 25, 2022
Hit Me[47] #1–5 Christa Faust Priscilla Petraites Marco Lesko March 2, 2022 July 27, 2022
The Joneses[48] Michael Moreci Alessandro Vitti Ive Svorcina April 6, 2022 August 31, 2022 Part of The Resistance universe.
Devil's Highway Vol. 2[49] Benjamin Percy Brent Schoonover Nick Filardi May 4, 2022 September 28, 2022 Part of the Devil's Highway universe.
Newthink[50] Gregg Hurwitz Mike Deodato Lee Loughridge June 1, 2022 October 26, 2022 Standalone series.
Absolution Peter Milligan July 6, 2022 November 30, 2022
Sacrament Marcelo Frusin August 3, 2022 December 28, 2022
E-Ratic 2: Recharged[51] #1–4 Kaare Andrews Brian Reber September 7, 2022 December 21, 2022 Part of The Resistance universe.
Year Zero Vol. 0 #1–5 Daniel Kraus Goran Sudžuka Miroslav Mrva October 5, 2022 February 22, 2023 Part of the Year Zero universe.
Trojan #1–4 Daniel Kraus Vladmir "Laci" Krstic Marco Lesko January 4, 2023 April 26, 2023 Standalone series.
Black Tape Dan Panosian Dalibor Talijic Ive Svorcina February 1, 2023 May 24, 2023
Red Zone Cullen Bunn Mike Deodato Lee Loughridge March 1, 2023 June 21, 2023
Sins of the Salton Sea #1–5 Ed Brisson C. P. Smith June 7, 2023 October 4, 2023
The Ribbon Queen #1–8 Garth Ennis Jacen Burrows Dan Brown July 26, 2023 February 28, 2024
The Madness #1–6 J. Michael Straczynski ACO Marcelo Mariolo August 9, 2023 January 10, 2024
Rumpus Room[52] #1–5 Mark Russell Ramon Rosanas Ive Svorcina September 20, 2023 January 24, 2024
Red Light[53] #1–4 Sarah H. Cho Priscilla Petraites Miroslav Mrva November 1, 2023 February 14, 2023
Little Black Book #1–4 Jeff McComsey Chris Ferguson Marco Lesko March 13, 2024 June 12, 2024
U&I[54] #1–6 J. Michael Straczynski Mike Choi February 7, 2024 September 25, 2024 Part of The Resistance universe.

Announced series

[edit]
Overview of upcoming AWA Studios series
Title Issues Writer Artist Colorist
Lil' Freakin Maniacs[29] Kaare Andrews
YT Savior[55][56][57] Ales Kot Robert Sammelin

Graphic novels

[edit]
Overview of AWA Studios graphic novels
Title Writer Artist Colorist Release date
Gatsby Jeremy Holt Felipe Cunha Dearbhla Kelly May 10, 2023

One-shots

[edit]
Overview of AWA Studios one-shots
Title Writer(s) Artist(s) Colorist(s) Release date Note(s)
The Resistance: Reborns[31] J. Michael Straczynski C. P. Smith Snakebite Cortez January 6, 2021 Part of The Resistance universe.
ET-ER[58] Jeff McComsey
Dan Panosian 		Javier Pulido
Shawn Crystal 		Javier Pulido
Jean-Francois Beaulieu 		October 13, 2021 Part of the ET-ER universe.
ET-ER Vol. 2 John Lees
Michael Coast
Stuart Moore 		Vladimir Krstić-Laci
Mark Texeira
Nelson Blake II 		June 8, 2022

Magazines

[edit]
Overview of AWA Studios magazines
Title Issues Writer(s) Artist(s) Colorist(s) Start date Conclusion date Notes
Upshot Now[9] #0– Various October 3–6, 2019
(New York Comic Con) 		Present The official magazine of AWA's Upshot imprint, featuring previews of its comic books and graphic novels.

Film and TV adaptations

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References

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  1. ^ "Comic Publishers are flocking to Simon & Schuster for Distribution". March 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Goldbart, Max (February 14, 2023). "Fremantle Invests In Lis & James Murdoch-Backed AWA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Gustines, George Gene (March 20, 2019). "A Comic Book Publisher Creates Its Own Origin Story". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Lang, Brent (March 18, 2020). "Sister Invests in AWA Studios, New Comic Book Company From Marvel Vets (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  5. ^ Szalai, Georg (February 14, 2023). "Fremantle Takes Minority Stake in Artists, Writers & Artisans, Plans Adaptation of Comic 'Devil's Highway'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Marston, George (March 20, 2019). "ENNIS, JMS, HUDLIN, CHO, STOHL, More Join Bill Jemas' AWA". Newsarama. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Burlingame, Russ (June 5, 2019). "Peter Milligan Talks AWA's American Ronin". ComicBook.com.
  8. ^ a b Babos, John (August 9, 2019). "J. Michael Straczynski, Mike Deodato Jr. Team for 'The Resistance' Comic". Hollywood Reporter.
  9. ^ a b "AWA To Debut Sampler Magazine UPSHOT NOW at NYCC" (Press release). Artists Writers & Artisans. September 25, 2019. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019 – via Newsarama.
  10. ^ Arvedon, Jon (February 11, 2020). "AWA Studios Creators and Execs Preview Upshot Imprint Titles". CBR. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  11. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (June 10, 2021). "Zach Studin To Lead New Studio Division For Graphic Fiction Publisher AWA". Deadline. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Bill Jemas, AWA Launches Film and TV Studios Division". CBR. June 11, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Earl, William (June 10, 2024). "AWA, Vertigo Entertainment Announce Partnership to Create New Horror Storytelling Pipeline (EXCLUSIVE)".
  14. ^ "Our Team". AWA Studios. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  15. ^ "Our Team". AWA Studios. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  16. ^ "AWA Appoints Diya Sagar as Chief Financial Officer". icv2.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Jackie (November 21, 2022). "AWA Studios Enlists Top Creatives to Shepherd Content Derived From Graphic Novels". AWA: Artists Writers & Artisans. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  18. ^ Destito, Deanna (June 5, 2020). "AWA Studios launches new imprint iPOP! with BE WAWA". The Beat. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  19. ^ "The Borough of Brooklyn is the Setting for New Supernatural Comic Series, 'Lesser Evils'". BK Reader. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Destito, Deanna (March 10, 2020). "PREVIEW: Take a peek at AWA's ARCHANGEL 8 ahead of its debut". comicsbeat.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  21. ^ Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "John Lees and Dalibor Talajić Launch "Hotell" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
  22. ^ Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "Jason Starr and Will Conrad Launch "Red Border" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
  23. ^ a b Johnston, Rich (July 9, 2019). "Benjamin Percy Launches Two Comics From AWA – Year Zero and Devil's Highway". Bleeding Cool.
  24. ^ "Old Haunts".
  25. ^ "Bad Mother Comic Series By Christa Faust - AWA Studios".
  26. ^ "Grendel Kentucky Comic Series - AWA Studios".
  27. ^ Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Tommy Lee Edwards Draws Cannabis Horror Comic For AWA – "Grendel, Kentucky"". Bleeding Cool.
  28. ^ McMillan, Graeme (August 20, 2020). "Zombie Comic 'Year Zero' Getting Second Volume". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  29. ^ a b Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Kaare Andrews to Launch Two Comics, "E-Ratic" and "Lil' Freakin Maniacs" From AWA". Bleeding Cool.
  30. ^ Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Cullen Bunn and Nelson Blake II's "Byte Sized" Coming From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
  31. ^ a b "JMS and Mike Deodato's Resistance Returns – AWA January 2021 Solicits". Bleeding Cool. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  32. ^ a b Johnston, Rich (November 20, 2020). "AWA Has a Casual Fling – and Redemption – in February 2021 Solicits". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  33. ^ McMillan, Graeme (December 14, 2020). "Sci-Fi Comic 'Chariot' to Hit Stores in March". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  34. ^ McMillan, Graeme (January 15, 2021). "Pandemic Sci-Fi Comic 'The Resistance' Returns in New 'Uprising'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  35. ^ Tantimedh, Adi (January 25, 2021). "Marjorie Finnegan: AWA Teases Garth Ennis' Time Travel Caper Comedy". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  36. ^ Johnston, Rich (March 19, 2021). "J Michael Straczynski and Mike Choi Launch Moths #1 From AWA in June". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  37. ^ Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Babylon 5's Joe Michael Straczynski to Write Resistance Spinoff, "Moths", From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
  38. ^ Burdette, Chad (January 25, 2021). "Frank Cho returns to comics with Fight Girls from AWA Publishing". comic-watch.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  39. ^ Avila, Mike (May 13, 2021). "Mark Russell's 'Not All Robots' is a parable of toxic masculinity & AI supremacy in our capitalist hellscape". Syfy Wire. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  40. ^ Avila, Mike (June 11, 2021). "Imagine a world with millions of telepaths. J. Michael Straczynski did, and wrote a comic about it". Syfy Wire. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  41. ^ "AWA Studios announces Out from Rob Williams, Will Conrad and Marco Lesko". Graphic Policy. July 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  42. ^ Johnston, Rich (August 17, 2021). "Gregg Hurwitz & Mark Texeira's Knighted, Batman Of The AWA Universe". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  43. ^ Dyce, Andrew (September 16, 2021). "Horror Anthology HOTELL Returns For Volume 2 This December (Exclusive)". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  44. ^ Dyce, Andrew (September 7, 2021). "'Crimson Cage' is The Comic Wrestling Fans Have Been Waiting For (Exclusive)". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  45. ^ Johnston, Rich (October 24, 2021). "Jeff McComsey, Lee Loughridge, Mike Deodato's The Fourth Man from AWA". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  46. ^ Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "The Daily Show's Al Madrigal to Write New Comic, "Primos", For AWA". Bleeding Cool.
  47. ^ Mega, Al (December 28, 2021). "AWA announces Hit Me, a female driven crime thriller comic book series from creator Christa Faust and artist Priscilla Petraites". comiccrusaders.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  48. ^ King, Samantha (January 22, 2022). "Writer of Barbaric Pens New Fantastic Four-Style Superhero Comic". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  49. ^ Brooke, David (February 23, 2022). "Devil's Highway Vol. 2 sets to crank up the paranoia and speed". Adventures in Poor Taste. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  50. ^ MacNamee, Olly (March 17, 2022). "AWA Studios Announces New Sci-Fi Anthology 'Newthink'". comicon.com. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  51. ^ "AWA Studios' High School Superhero Returns in E-Ratic: Recharged Volume 2". Comics. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  52. ^ "AWA unveils Mark Russell and Ramon Rosanas's "Rumpus Room"". Multiversity Comics. June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  53. ^ Brooke, David (August 16, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE AWA Studios First Look: Red Light #1". Adventures in Poor Taste. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  54. ^ Chiu-Tabet, Christopher (November 16, 2023). "J. Michael Straczynski and Mike Choi to Weave a Superhero Romance in "U And I"". Multiversity Comics. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  55. ^ "AWA Studios - All of the comics fit to print". awastudios.net. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  56. ^ Johnston, Rich (July 8, 2019). "Ales Kot's "Savior" Gets a Name Change to "YT S@vior" for AWA". bleedingcool.
  57. ^ Whalen, Andrew (September 24, 2019). "UPCOMING COMIC 'SAVIOR' STARS CORPORATE FASCIST MEGACHURCH MESSIAH". newsweek.
  58. ^ Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). "Jeff McComsey and Javier Pulido's Universal Healthcare Comic, "ET ER" From AWA Comics". Bleeding Cool.
  59. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 12, 2021). "'Top Gun: Maverick' Helmer Joseph Kosinski To Direct 'Chariot,' Graphic Novel Adaptation Won By Warner Bros; Julian Meiojas Scripting, 21 Laps Producing". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  60. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 22, 2022). "Elle Callahan To Write And Direct Adaptation Of Graphic Novel 'Hotell' As AWA Studios Ramps Up Slate". Deadline. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  61. ^ Lang, Brent (July 11, 2023). "James Ashcroft Directing Feature Film Adaptation of 'Old Haunts' for AWA Studios (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  62. ^ Complex, Valerie (December 1, 2022). "AWA Studios Partners With LuckyChap Entertainment For Feature Film Adaptation Of Garth Ennis Graphic Novel 'Marjorie Finnegan, Temporal Criminal'". Deadline. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  63. ^ Johnston, Rich (September 23, 2019). ""Marjorie Finnegan, Temporal Criminal" by Garth Ennis, From AWA, to Be Announced at NYCC". Bleeding Cool.
  64. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (February 14, 2023). "Fremantle Takes Stake in Graphic Novel Publisher AWA, Sets Thriller 'Devil's Highway'". Variety. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
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