Dark Horse Comics, oh, you sweet summer child of the comics industry. Known for *cough* “classics” like Hellboy (the movie that proves even the devil has bad days 😈), The Umbrella Academy (because dysfunctional families and superpowers are SO original), and, of course, The Mask (Jim Carrey’s career peak, let’s be honest). They strut around like they invented creator-owned comics, when really, they were just marginally less exploitative than Marvel and DC. 🙄 Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
But hey, behind every mediocre empire is a master of puppets, or in this case, Mike Richardson. He’s the co-founder, the visionary, the guy who probably still thinks fax machines are cool. 😎 So, we cornered him at Lucca 2025 (because why not?) to grill him about his “contributions” to the comic book world. Strap in, folks, it’s gonna be a wild ride of self-congratulatory anecdotes and vague insights. 🎢
Interviewer: So, Mike, you seem to be obsessed with Lucca. What’s the deal? Is it the pasta? The art? Or do you just like dodging those pesky driving tickets? 🤷♀️
Mike Richardson: Well, Italy, you see, it all started with Cannes! 🎬 *Flashback sequence with dramatic music* I took The Mask there. Yes, THE Mask. Then came Barb Wire. And you wouldn’t believe the circus that was taking Pam Anderson to Cannes. A book about it, you say? Maybe… 🤔
Oh, Italy… What an original choice. It’s not like thousands of other people haven’t “discovered” Italy already.🙄 But wait, there’s more! He got *two* tickets because he can’t read road signs. 😂 The “walled city” and a restaurant he likes because it’s on the wall and a hidden wine cellar under the whole city?! Mind. Blown. 🤯
Interviewer: Speaking of anniversaries, your 40th is coming up. Planning a big party? Maybe a comic book burning? 🔥
Mike Richardson: Yeah, they said I can come back next year. Free trip to Italy? Don’t mind if I do! 😎 We might set up a tent, maybe even give away some free stuff to lure people in. Something “awesome,” of course, because that’s how we roll.™️
Interviewer: Let’s talk comics. Are they dying? Thriving? Evolving into sentient beings? What’s your take? 🤔
Mike Richardson: Oh, they’re just “evolving,” you see. Like that time Black September wiped out half the industry! Good times, good times. 💀 And let’s talk about those pesky computers! I mean, who needed those things? 🙄 A fax machine was enough to get by!
We were *so* ahead of the curve. We had a website, you know! With animation! The Mask was running around saying “Smokin’!” Pure genius, I tell you. 💡 Then people started leaving after, like, five seconds. Bummer. 😭
And don’t even get me started on color! It was TERRIBLE! I had to yell at someone! 😡 So we brought it in-house. Revolutionary! ✊ And then we had a digital site, too! We were so cutting-edge! 🔪 Until we shut it down because, well, who needs to compete with actual competent companies? 🤷♀️
Interviewer: Any titles that really stand out? Besides the ones that made you rich, of course. 🤑
Mike Richardson: Oh, The Mask, definitely. People still ask about it! And Aliens vs. Predator. Frank Miller’s Sin City! Oh, and Hellboy. Mike Mignola owns it, which is why it’s been so consistent. I mean, he’s contractually obligated to us! 🤝
And then there’s Geoff Darrow. I love Big Guy and Rusty. It’s not like that was 30 years ago… Then there’s Frank Miller, who broke down the door for creators to come to Dark Horse. And then Todd McFarlane and Jim Lee noticed and ran off to start Image Comics. So, you know, we can take partial credit for that. 🏆
Creator rights are standard now. Thanks, Dark Horse. You’re welcome. 👍 Even Frank Miller comes back to us. It’s not because he’s contractually obligated or anything… And most of our business is bookstores now. Because comic shops are dying. So sad. 😢 I blame the internet. And the economy. And those darn kids with their video games! 🎮
Interviewer: Any advice for young artists? Besides “get a lawyer”? 👨⚖️
Mike Richardson: GET A LAWYER! Seriously, always have a lawyer. And try to get everything you want. Good luck with that! 🍀 We deal with every creator individually. It’s a nightmare for our accounting department, but hey, we’re “creator-friendly”! 😇
If you’re talented, you can stand your ground. Or just go work for Marvel or DC. Whatever. It’s a tough time to start a new company. Especially now, with so many new companies. Contradictory, I know. 🤷♂️ Still, comics will be around. Maybe. Unless they all cost $50. 💸
Interviewer: Well, that’s all the time we have. Thanks for the… insight. I guess. 👋
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
