Paragon Publications ran from 1969 through 1982. These copies were sold one at a time through the mail to individuals who ordered from ads I placed in other magazines. Soon I had Paragon Illustratedparagon Illustrated, Macabre Western, Paragon Super Heroes, Captain Paragon, and the like.ġ st: What was the circulation on that first issue?īill: Paragon Illustrated #1, by the end of its first year, had sold 365 copies… one a day. Whereas other fanzine publishers stuck with one title, I opted to create a line of titles. I also became employed as an illustrator for an Orlando based film production company. When I left the Army in 1969 I was hired as a freelance artist by Editor Bill Parente at Warren Publications drawing horror stories for Creepy and Eerie magazines. Benefiting from that, I created the first issues of Paragon Publications and continued to send submissions to publishers. There I first observed that my life seemed to be channeled by some “strange luck” and I went with the flow.Īs a GI Illustrator, I had access to drawing board and supplies and was allowed to draw comics in my off duty hours. After graduating in 1966, I was drafted into the Army at the height of the Viet Nam war in April 1967. In school I was always experimenting… trying new things… actually having adventures that took place outside of my room. As it turned out, being at the university was far more exciting than drawing comics, which provides a solitary existence. It’s fortunate that I was not successful because quitting school would have been a big mistake. What was the business plan for Paragon, originally? Were you intending to start your own publishing company?īill: I first submitted artwork to publishers in 1965 while I was still a student at Florida State University. I remain a lone wolf, off in the corner doing my own thing… and not interacting with the comic book industry.ġ st: You were a working comic professional at Warren when you launched Paragon Illustrated #1. I just wanted to make a living doing what I love to do. I am a small publisher and part of my longevity is due to my staying small. Over the years I have seen the missteps of other publishers and endeavor not to make the same mistakes. How has your company endured the highs and lows of the comic market all these years?īill Black: By having a solid fan base who have stuck with us over four decades. Bill Black stopped by First Comics News to chat about his company that has defied all odds and is now one of the elder statesmen among comic publishers.įirst Comics News: Bill, at 40 years old AC is one of the oldest publishers in the industry today. AC Comics started out as Paragon Publications in 1969, and 2009 marks the 40th anniversary for the independent publisher.
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