Dark Horse

Dark Horse started in 1986 as an offshoot of an Oregon comic book retail chain (Things From Another World) Dark Horse has grown into a multidimensional publishing and entertainment company. Mike Richardson, the owner of several comic book shops in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, began to publish with an anthology series called Dark Horse Presents, investing profits from his stores into Dark Horse Comics. The publisher is based in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Dark Horse Comics was settled to become the ideal environment for original authors. It has grown to become the largest independent American comic book publisher, and one of the four largest publishers in America. Dark Horse is internationally recognized for the quality and diversity of its comic line. By being the best, it attracts the best talent in comics. Dark Horse is ever changing with the industry as it grows its brand worldwide. In addition to its sister company Dark Horse Entertainment, Dark Horse has accumulated over 350 media properties (including comics, books, film, television, video games, and collectibles).

Dark Horse publishes many popular licensed comics. This list includes comics such as Star Wars, Aliens, Predator, Indiana Jones, The Terminator and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Dark Horse also publishes original and creator owned comics such as Frank Miller's Sin City and 300, Mike Mignola's Hellboy, Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira, Michael Chabon's The Escapist, and Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo. The comic arm of the company still sees plenty of growth despite not having their own universe where their superheroes can hang out (ala DC Universe or Marvel Universe). The film arm, Dark Horse Entertainment, produces TV shows and films based on Dark Horse Comics. In March of 2008, Dark Horse announced that they had agreed to a three-year first look deal with Universal Studios.