View source for Paramount Comics

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{{Infobox publisher
| image        =
| parent       = [[Marvel Comics]]
| status       = Defunct
| founded      = 1996
| founder      =
| defunct      = 1998
| successor    =
| country      =
| headquarters =
| distribution =
| keypeople    = [[Len Wein]] (editor-in-chief)<br />Art Young (editor)<br />Bob Foster (editor)<br />Cris Palomino (editor)<br />David Seidman
| publications = [[Comic book]]s
| topics       =
| genre        = Comics
| imprints     = Vista Comics (planned)<br />Touchmark Comics (announced; never published)
| revenue      =
| numemployees =
| nasdaq       =
| url          =
}}

'''Paramount Comics''' was a [[comic book]] [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]] of [[Marvel Comics]] that was active for about two years beginning in 1996, the banner was named in honor of the namesake studio [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_18785_6-comic-book-crossovers-you-wont-believe-actually-happened.html|title=6 Comic Book Crossovers You Won't Believe Actually Happened|work=Cracked.com|access-date=2018-02-14}}</ref>

== History ==

The imprint was the result of a deal between Marvel and Paramount to produce licensed comic book series based upon the entertainment company's franchises: ''[[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)#Print|Mission: Impossible]]''{{refn|name=M:I|group=N|In particular the soon-to-be-launched [[Mission: Impossible (film series)|film series]].}} and ''[[Star Trek (comics)#Return to Marvel|Star Trek]]''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} The agreement resulted in [[DC Comics]] and [[Malibu Comics]] abruptly losing the rights to publish their own ''Star Trek'' comic series.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

=== Notable series and titles ===

The first title published under the Paramount Comics banner was a [[prequel]] to the [[Mission: Impossible (film)|first ''Mission: Impossible'' film]]{{refn|name=M:I1|group=N|The first ''M:I'' comic since [[Dell Comics]] ended their series in the early 1970s.}}. This was followed soon after by a [[Star Trek/X-Men|one-shot crossover]] between the [[Star Trek: The Original Series|original ''Star Trek'' series]] and Marvel's superhero team, the [[X-Men]]. After that, Marvel launched comic series respectively based upon all four ''Trek'' series produced to that time, including ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', a title Malibu had been scheduled to produce but was unable due to the change of license.

Marvel also launched an original series, ''[[Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (comics)|Star Trek: Starfleet Academy]]'', as well as ''[[Star Trek: Early Voyages]]'' which featured the adventures of [[Christopher Pike (Star Trek)|Captain Christopher Pike]] and his crew.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-trek-accidentally-created-marvel-925904|title=How 'Star Trek' Accidentally Created the Marvel Model 20 Years Earlier|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-02-14|language=en}}</ref>

The agreement between Paramount and Marvel hit some major snags after about a year,{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} resulting in Paramount withdrawing support for non-series based characters and storylines. As a result, both ''Early Voyages'' and ''Starfleet Academy'' were abruptly cancelled in the midst of their respective [[story arcs]]. Marvel phased out the Paramount Comics banner and their remaining ''Star Trek'' titles lasted for about another year before ending in 1998. The ''Star Trek'' license was subsequently picked up by DC's [[WildStorm Productions]] imprint. The Paramount Comics logo continued to be used in WildStorm's ''Trek'' comics, although it was only featured on the interior title page, not on the cover as it was with Marvel.

Besides ''Trek'', ''Mission: Impossible'' and a one-shot starring [[Snake Plissken]]{{refn|name=Snake|group=N|Itself a tie-in to the 1996 film ''[[Escape from L.A.]]''.}}, Paramount also published a one-shot based on the [[Terrytoons]] animated series ''[[The Mighty Heroes]]''. An ongoing ''Mission: Impossible'' series had been announced,{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} but only the one-shot was ever published.

=== Aftermath ===

Years after the demise of Paramount Comics, Marvel again made a deal with the studio; this time, Paramount would be the distributor for a number of [[List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films|feature films]] in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] produced by Marvel's film production unit, [[Marvel Studios]], until [[The Walt Disney Company]] took over distribution from Paramount, following the [[Marvel Entertainment#Disney subsidiary (2009–2023)|acquisition of Marvel by Disney]].

== Publications ==

* ''Mission: Impossible'' #1 (May 1996)
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine#Comics|Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' #1–15 (November 1996–March 1998)
* ''[[Star Trek: Early Voyages]]'' #1–17 (February 1997–June 1998)
* ''Star Trek: First Contact'' #1 (November 1996) 
* ''[[Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (comics)|Star Trek: Starfleet Academy]]'' #1–19 (December 1996–June 1998)
* ''Star Trek: Untold Voyages'' #1–5 (March–July 1998) 
* ''Star Trek: Voyager'' #1–15	(November 1996–March 1998)
* ''Star Trek Unlimited'' #1–10	(November 1996–July 1998)
* ''[[Star Trek/X-Men]]'' #1 (December 1996) 
* ''Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men: Second Contact'' #1 (May 1998)
* ''[[Snake Plissken#The Adventures of Snake Plissken|The Adventures of Snake Plissken]]'' #1 (January 1997)
* ''[[The Mighty Heroes#Comic books|The Mighty Heroes]]'' #1 (January 1998)

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=N}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.paramountcomics.com Paramount Comics] on [[Wayback Machine]]

{{Marvel Comics}}
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{{Marvel Multiverse}}

[[Category:Marvel Comics imprints]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 1998]]

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