View source for Aircel Comics

{{short description|Defunct Canadian comic book publisher}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Aircel Comics
| logo = Aircel-logo.png
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1985}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|1994}}
| founder = [[Barry Blair]]
| key_people = [[Dave Cooper]] <br> Patrick McEown <br> Guang Yap
| location = [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], Canada (1985–1988) <br> [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S. (1988–1994)
| industry = [[Comics]]
| products = ''[[The Men in Black (comics)|The Men in Black]]''
| parent = [[Malibu Comics]]
| owner = [[Marvel Comics]]
}}
'''Aircel Comics''' ('''Aircel Publishing''') was a [[comic book]] publisher founded by [[Barry Blair]], in [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]] in 1985. In 1988, it merged with American publisher [[Eternity Comics]], itself an imprint of [[Malibu Comics]], and in the late 1980s was taken over by Malibu before ceasing publication in 1994. It was best known as the original publisher of ''[[The Men in Black (comics)|The Men in Black]]'', a comic book which was later adapted into a [[Men in Black (franchise)|media franchise]].

Aircel blended historical and futuristic fantasy from different cultures as the underlying theme for most of its comic series. It featured high-quality colour covers with black-and white interiors. Canadian artists such as [[Dave Cooper]], [[Denis Beauvais]], and [[Dale Keown]] got their start at Aircel.<ref name="Munn" /> [[Charles de Lint]] also scripted several comic books for Aircel in the mid-1980s.

== Company history ==
Aircel was originally a manufacturer of foam insulation. When the government discontinued its contract with the company, employee Barry Blair convinced the owner to shift the company's focus to comic book publishing, which was experiencing a boom.<ref name="Munn">Munn, Bryan. [http://sequentialpulp.ca/barry-blair-1959-2010/ "Barry Blair, 1959-2010"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109162159/http://sequentialpulp.ca/barry-blair-1959-2010/|date=2015-01-09}} Sequential: Canadian Comix News & Culture (Jan. 5, 2010).</ref> Blair ran the publishing operations, and Aircel's initial talent line-up included him, Dave Cooper, Patrick McEown, and Guang Yap.

Aircel released its first books in 1985: ''Samurai'', ''Dragonring'' and ''Elflord'', all of which featured line art in a style borrowed from [[manga]], which was fairly new to the North American market.<ref name="Munn" /> In 1986, illustrator [[Denis Beauvais]] and writer Gordon Derry collaborated with Blair to create ''Warlock 5'', which featured realistic mixed-media and airbrushing techniques. The ''Maelstrom'' series was released shortly thereafter.

In the late 1980s, the independent comics market contracted, hurting niche publishers such as Aircel.<ref name="Munn" /> Blair struck a deal with [[Scott Mitchell Rosenberg]] of [[Malibu Comics]] in which the larger publisher would be "lent" Aircel to publish a number of titles, in return for financial assistance. This resulted in a de facto merger with the Malibu imprint [[Eternity Comics]].<ref>"Eternity Merges with Aircel", ''The Comics Journal'' #125 (November 1, 1988), p. 19.</ref> New illustrators assumed responsibility for continuing some of the existing series (e.g. ''Elford'' vol. 2, ''Warlock 5'' vol. 2), which led to ownership disputes over some of these titles.<ref>"Eternity/Aircel Adventure", ''The Comics Journal'' #138 (October 1990), p. 19.</ref> Ultimately, Aircel terminated most of its previous titles and pursued erotic-themed comics with Malibu.

In 1990, Aircel published the series ''[[The Men in Black (comics)|The Men in Black]]'', by [[Lowell Cunningham]] and [[Sandy Carruthers]]. In 1992 the series was optioned by producers [[Walter F. Parkes]] and [[Laurie MacDonald]], who developed the idea into the film ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men In Black]]'', which became the basis for a film and TV franchise.

In 1991, Aircel's debts were paid off, and Blair quit Aircel, formally handing the company over to Malibu.<ref>"Newswatch: Barry Blair Ends Malibu Contract, Starts Own Firm", ''The Comics Journal'' #144 (September 1991), p. 7.</ref> Aircel ceased publishing in 1994, when Malibu was purchased by [[Marvel Comics]].<ref>Reynolds, Eric. "The Rumors are True: Marvel Buys Malibu", ''The Comics Journal'' #173 (December 1994), pp. 29-33.</ref>

==Titles published==
{{col-start}}
{{col-break}}
* ''2000 Maniacs'' (1989), #1–3
* ''The Adventurers'' (1986), #1–2 [reprinted and continued as ''Adventurers'' #0–10 (1986–1987) from [[Malibu Comics#Publishers acquisitions and Genesis|Adventure Publications]]]
* ''Bloodlines'' (1987–1988), #1–7
* ''Blood 'N Guts'' (1990–1991), #1–3
* ''Body Count'' (1989–1990), #1–4
* ''Bodyguard'' (1990), #1–3
* ''Born To Kill'' (1990), #1–3
* ''Cat & Mouse'' (1990–1991), #1–18
* ''Chaser Platoon'' (1990), #1–6
* ''China Sea'' (1990), #1
* ''Darkewood'' (1987–1988), #1–5
* ''Dead Walkers'' (1991), #1–4
* ''Demon Hunter'' (1989), #1–4
* ''Dragonforce'' (1988–1990), #1–13
* ''Dragonforce Chronicles''
* ''Dragonring''
** v1 (1986), #1–6
** v2 (1986–1988), #1–15
* ''Dragons In The Moon'' (1990), #1–4
* ''Elflord''
** v1 (1986), #1–6 [collected in ''Elflord: The Black and White Chronicles'' (1987)]
** v2 (1986–1989), #1–31
** ''Elflord Chronicles'' (1990–1991), #1–8 [reprints ''Elflord'' material (1980–1981) from Nightwynd Productions]
* ''Fire Team'' (1990–1991), #1–6
* ''Full Throttle''
* ''Galaxina'' (1991–1992), #1–4
* ''Gauntlet'' (1992–1993), #1–8
* ''Greenhaven'' (1988), #1–3
* ''Greenlock'' (1991), #1
* ''Gun Fury'' (1988–1989), #1–10
* ''Gun Fury Returns'' (1990), #1–4
* ''Hardball'' (1991), #1–4
* ''Hardkorr'' (1991), #1–4
* ''Icarus'' (1986–1987), #1–6
* ''Inferno'' (1990–1991), #1–4
* ''Jake Thrash'' (1988), #1–2 [collected along with unpublished #3 in ''Jake Thrash: Book One'' (1989) from Malibu]
* ''Kiku San'' (1988–1989), #1–6
* ''Maelstrom'' (1988–1989), #1–11
* ''Mara of the Celts'' (1991), #1–4
* ''[[The Men in Black (comics)|The Men in Black]]''
** v1 (1990), #1–3
** v2 (1991), #1–3 (listed in indicia as ''Men in Black: Book II'')
* ''Mummy's Curse'' (1990), #1–4
* ''Mutant Zone'' (1991), #1–3
* ''Nocturne'' (1991), #1–3
* ''Pendragon'' (1991), #1–2
* ''Power'' (1991), #1–4
* ''Ripper'' (1989–1990), #1–6
* ''Scimidar Book VI: Slashdance'' (1992), #1–4 [from [[Eternity Comics|Eternity]]'s ''Scimidar Book V: Living Color'' (1991)]
* ''Samurai''
** v1 (1985–1987), #1–23
** v2 (1987–1988), #1–3
** v2 (1988–1989), #1–7
* ''Shadowalker'' (1988), #1
* ''Silverstorm'' (1990), # 1–3
* ''Southern Squadron'' (1990), #1–4 [from [[Cyclone!|Cyclone Comics]]' ''The Southern Squadron'' (1987–1989); continued in Eternity's ''The Southern Squadron: Freedom of Information Act'' (1992)]
* ''Stark: Future'' (1987–1989), #1–17
* ''Starstone'' (1987), #1–3
* ''The Tale of Mya Rom'' (1988), #1
* ''The Underground'' (1987), #1
* ''The Walking Dead''
** v1 (1989), #1–4 (
** ''The Walking Dead Zombie Special'' (1989), #1
* ''[[Warlock 5]]''
** v1 (1986–1989), #1–22
** v2 (1989), #1–7 ((cover titled ''Warlock 5: Book II'')
* ''Warlocks'' (1988), #1–12

=== Erotic titles ===
* ''Arthur Sex'' (1991), #1–8
* ''Carmilla'' (1991), #1–6
* ''Casanova'' (1991), #1–10
* ''Casanova in Venice'' (1991), #1
* ''Climaxxx'' (1991), #1–4
* ''CyberLust'' (1991), #1–3
* ''Debbie Does Comics'' (1992), #1–3
* ''[[Debbie Does Dallas]]'' (1991), #1–18
* ''Dirty Pictures'' (1991), #1–3
* ''Erotic Tales'' (1991), #1–3
* ''Erotique'' (1991), #1
* ''The Experience'' (1991), #1
* ''Final Taboo'' (1991), #1–2
* ''[[Flesh Gordon]]'' (1992), #1–4
* ''Hooters'' (1992), #1–6
* ''Jungle Love'' (1991), #1–3
* ''King Arthur Uncensored'' (1992), #1
* ''Leather & Lace''
** v1 (1989–1991), #1–25
** v2 ''Blood Sex & Tears'' (1991), #1–4
* ''Summer Special'' (1990), #1
* ''Lizard Lady'' (1991), #1–4
* ''Rated X''
** v1 (1991), #1–3
** ''Rated X Special'' (1991) #1
* ''Sapphire'' (1990), #1–9
* ''Scum Of The Earth'' (1991), #1–2
* ''Torment'' (1991), #1–3
* ''Triple-XXX'' (1992), #1–3
* ''Vampyre's Kiss''
** v1 ''Beware the Vampyre's Kiss'' (1990), #1–4
** v2 ''Bianca's Revenge'' (1990–1991), #1–4
** v2 ''The Dark Kiss of Night'' (1991), #1–4
* ''The Voyeur'' (1991), #1–4
{{col-end}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{gcdb publisher|id=1237}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=publisher|id=189}}
{{refend}}

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{{Canadian comics}}
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[[Category:Canadian companies established in 1985]]
[[Category:Canadian companies disestablished in 1994]]
[[Category:Comic book publishing companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Companies based in Ottawa]]
[[Category:Companies based in California]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics imprints]]
[[Category:Defunct comics and manga publishing companies]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1985]]
[[Category:Publishing companies disestablished in 1994]]
[[Category:Malibu Comics]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:1994 disestablishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:1988 mergers and acquisitions]]