British independent publisher BHP Comics, publishers of titles such as Gary Chudleigh and Lorna King‘s Storm Hunter, Dave Cook and Craig Paton‘s Killtopia, David Lumsden‘s Boat, Warren Pleece‘s graphic novel, Freedom Bound, and the powerful anthology, We Shall Fight Until We Win, has announced the winding down of the indie comics publishing house.
The company be making one final live event appearance, at Edinburgh Comic Art Fair on Saturday 19th November in the city’s Drill Hall
Set up in 2011 as an underground comics collective Black Hearted Press, the Scottish publisher had grown by 2015 into a limited company rebranded as BHP Comics. It was shortlisted for publisher of the year multiple times and was a consistent presence on the List Hot 100. Breaking barriers with its Full Colour and Bold comics diversity projects, its women in politics anthology We Shall Fight Until We Win, co-published with 404 Ink, its books can be found in every secondary school in Scotland.
In mid-2019, BHP successfully expanded into the US market. However, the company says, the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit significantly impacted the business. Shrinking profit margins and escalating costs, exacerbated by the complexities of Brexit, rendered international publishing less economically feasible for the company.
“I’ve loved working with everyone at BHP Comics and I’m really proud of all we’ve achieved,” commented Publisher Sha Nazir. “It’s been a tough decision to wind the company down but we feel it’s the right one.
“Over the course of the next few months we’ll be selling off all remaining BHP stock. If you’ve got a gap in your collection, now’s the time to grab it.
“BHP has been instrumental in opening numerous doors, and I take immense pride in its profound impact on both Scottish and UK comics publishing,” he added. “We broke many barriers, getting wider acceptance of comics in UK publishing, increasing representation and being the only person of colour publisher in Scotland for far too long.
“BHP’s legacy lives on through the many lives it has touched. It will be around for the next few years in schools because of Freedom Bound and our titles will live on in the shelves of our readers and no doubt pop up in charity shops for years to come.”
The company will return all creators’ rights, effective 1st January 2024. Over the following months, it will responsibly tie up its administration commitments before the financial year-end.
Sha Nazir will not be stepping away entirely from the world of comics. He will continue his freelance publishing consultancy role for the Terry Pratchett estate, which recently achieved record-breaking success with the Kickstarter for the Good Omens Graphic Novel. His live events company, ACME Comic Con, continues to thrive and grow at the SEC national stage. And, along with Gary Chudleigh and Jack Lothian, he’ll continue working on development projects in comics, film and TV under their new collective partnership.
“As a small press indie publisher, BHP reached the ceiling of how big it could grow,” a company statement notes. “It turns the page on this final chapter proud of its contribution and leaves the door open for everything that follows.”
• Check out available books to buy here on the BHP Comics web site
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
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This is sad news. Covid and Brexit have certainly made things difficult, but the worst aspect of selling books in the UK and the US is the culture of heavy discounting. Perhaps if BHP had managed to expand into the French market, where it is illegal to sell a book for less than its RRP, they would still have a bright future to look forward to!