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Bongo Comics

Bongo Comics Group was an publishing imprint founded in 1993 by , along with Steve Vance, Cindy Vance, and Bill Morrison, specializing in humor comics tied to Groening's animated properties. The company quickly became the official publisher for and comic series, launching flagship titles such as , Bartman: The Best of the Best, Radioactive Man, and Itchy & Scratchy Comics starting in late 1993, alongside annual specials and one-shots like Bongo Comics Free-For-All for events such as . Simpsons Comics stood out as one of the longest-running non-renumbered comic series, spanning 245 issues over 25 years and featuring contributions from a rotating roster of writers and artists including Groening himself, Bill Morrison, and guest talents like Ian Boothby and Jason Ho. In addition to core Simpsons and lines—which included 83 issues of exploring the sci-fi series' universe—Bongo expanded to licensed properties and originals, such as Simpsons Super Spectacular, Lisa Comics, and occasional crossovers, while maintaining a focus on satirical, family-friendly humor reflective of Groening's style. Bongo Comics announced its closure at in July 2018, with Simpsons Comics #245 serving as the final release in October of that year, ending new print publications after more than two decades of output; collected editions remain available through platforms like .

History

Founding

Bongo Comics Group was founded in November 1993 by , along with Steve Vance, Cindy Vance, and Bill Morrison. The company was named after , the one-eared character from Groening's long-running Life in Hell, which had debuted in 1977 and featured the anthropomorphic as a recurring figure in tales of existential humor and family life. The motivation for establishing Bongo stemmed from Groening's desire to regain creative control over comic publications after the conclusion of their run under Welsh Publishing Group, which had produced the initial Simpsons Illustrated magazine and a transitional one-shot, Simpsons Comics and Stories, earlier that year. Unlike the previous licensing arrangement, Bongo aimed to produce original, humorous stories directly inspired by the animated television series, emphasizing accessible, all-ages content in full color and monthly format to appeal to fans amid the evolving direct market distribution system. Distribution was secured through , enabling a professional launch independent of larger publishers. Prior to the official debut, Bongo released an ashcan edition titled The Official History of Bongo Comics #1 in fall 1993, a ten-page black-and-white mini-comic limited to 750 hand-numbered copies. This promotional item, distributed exclusively at the 1993 San Diego Comic-Con, provided an overview of the company's origins and teased upcoming titles, serving as a teaser for the launch. The first major release was Simpsons Comics #1, published on November 29, 1993, marking the start of Bongo's with stories featuring the in self-contained adventures. Accompanying this were additional promotional efforts, including one-shots like Bongo Comics Group Spectacular, which highlighted the new publisher's lineup and reinforced ties to universe.

Growth and Key Developments

Following its founding, Bongo Comics experienced rapid expansion in the early 1990s through the launch of multiple ongoing titles tied to universe. In late 1993 and early 1994, the company debuted Itchy & Scratchy Comics (1993–1994), Bartman (starting December 1993), and Radioactive Man Vol. 1 (January 1994), establishing a core lineup that built on the initial Simpsons Comics series and broadened its appeal to fans of the animated show. In 1995, Bongo diversified by creating the Zongo Comics imprint, an alternative line aimed at mature audiences and independent creators, spearheaded by to explore edgier, underground-style content separate from its mainstream Simpsons-related output. The company's licensing portfolio grew significantly in the 2000s, with launching in November 2000 under an agreement with 20th Century Fox to adapt Groening's animated sci-fi series. This was followed in 2011 by , distributed under a licensing deal with , marking Bongo's entry into non-Groening properties and expanding its market beyond The Simpsons and . Bongo enhanced its distribution and global reach via strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with beginning in the mid-1990s for trade paperback collected editions, such as Simpsons Comics Extravaganza (1994) and later Simpsons Comics Colossal Compendium volumes starting in 2013, which made its content more accessible in bookstores. Internationally, Bongo licensed its titles for publication across and , with deals enabling localized editions in countries like the , , and , thereby extending its influence beyond . Key operational milestones in the late and early included a redesign in , which modernized the company's branding to reflect its evolving portfolio. That same year, Nathan Kane, previously the , was appointed , overseeing editorial direction amid growing title output. Bongo's early success garnered industry recognition, including being named Best Publisher of the Year by in 1993 for its debut lineup. In 1994, it received an for Best Short Story for "The Amazing Colossal Homer" from Simpsons Comics #1, highlighting the quality of its creative contributions.

Closure

Bongo Comics' closure was announced by co-founder and longtime creative director Bill Morrison at on July 27, 2018. The decision stemmed from personal and professional reasons, including the end of key licensing arrangements such as the one with for comics, amid a broader media landscape shift that increasingly prioritized and television over print publications. The company's final publication was Simpsons Comics #245, released in October 2018, which served as a poignant farewell with a meta-narrative involving the one-eared bunny Bongo and reflections on the publisher's 25-year history, tying back to the inaugural issue's storyline. In the aftermath, Bongo ceased all new production but maintained ownership of its extensive back catalog, making titles available through collected editions and digital apps like FuturamaLand, with no new series or revivals announced as of 2025.

Publications

Simpsons Universe Series

The Simpsons Universe Series formed the core of Bongo Comics' output, drawing directly from the characters and world of the long-running animated television show . These titles emphasized humorous, self-contained stories that expanded on the show's satirical take on American family life, pop culture, and Springfield's eccentric residents, often blending everyday mishaps with exaggerated adventures. Launched alongside the publisher's debut in late 1993, the lineup began with flagship anthology series and spin-offs centered on specific characters, evolving over 25 years to include over 40 distinct titles and specials before Bongo's closure in 2018. Simpsons Comics, the publisher's longest-running title, consisted of 245 issues published from November 1993 to October 2018 in an format that typically featured multiple short stories centered on the . These narratives explored domestic chaos, workplace , and guest appearances by notables like or , frequently incorporating parodies of classic literature, films, and consumer trends to mirror the TV series' style. The final issue, #245, marked the end of Bongo's operations, with stories integrating seamlessly into the broader Simpsons canon for thematic consistency. Bartman, a , ran for 6 issues from December 1993 to October 1995, portraying as the masked vigilante Bartman fighting petty crime and absurd villains in . The series highlighted Bart's mischievous personality through high-energy action sequences and gadget-filled escapades, such as battling the bully-based "Racketeer" or navigating surreal dream worlds, while occasionally crossing over with other Simpsons characters for added humor. Although brief, it captured the show's irreverent tone by subverting tropes with juvenile antics. Radioactive Man delivered satirical superhero tales starring Claude Kane III, a mild-mannered reporter transformed into the irradiated hero Radioactive Man, across multiple volumes totaling approximately 720 pages from 1994 to 2005, followed by a 2015 miniseries. The stories parodied Golden and Silver Age comics through over-the-top battles against foes like the Larcenous Lass or the Amazing Galacta-Puss, blending 1950s-style aesthetics with Simpsons-style wit and fourth-wall breaks, such as fake issue numbering to mimic long-running series. This approach established it as Bongo's most meta title, appealing to comic enthusiasts within the Simpsons fanbase. Shorter spin-offs included Krusty Comics, a 3-issue series from January to April 1995 focusing on Krusty the Clown's chaotic showbiz life and failed schemes, such as building a disastrous theme park; Lisa Comics, limited to a single issue in December 1994 (marketed as a 1995 release) that delved into Lisa Simpson's intellectual pursuits and environmental activism through whimsical, Alice-in-Wonderland-inspired tales; and Itchy & Scratchy Comics, 4 issues from November 1993 to November 1994 translating the TV show's violent cartoon duo into globe-trotting adventures with hidden depths to their cat-and-mouse rivalry. These provided character-driven spotlights, each running under 5 issues to test niche appeal without long-term commitment. Bongo's Simpsons stories were extensively reprinted in over 90 trade paperbacks by HarperCollins starting in 1994, compiling select issues into themed volumes like Simpsons Comics Extravaganza (issues #1-4) or Simpsons Comics Colossal Compendium series, which aimed to integrate the comics into the official Simpsons canon by prioritizing continuity-friendly narratives over standalone gags. These collections, often 128-200 pages each, made the material accessible beyond single issues and sustained the franchise's print presence post-Bongo. Following Bongo's closure, many titles continue to be reprinted in collected editions by publishers like HarperCollins and Abrams (e.g., Simpsons Treehouse of Horror omnibus in 2024), with digital versions available via platforms like Comixology and the official Simpsons app as of November 2025.

Futurama Comics

Futurama Comics is a series published by Bongo Comics Group, based on the animated television series created by . The series launched with in November 2000, following the television show's premiere on in 1999, under a licensing agreement with 20th Century Fox. This debut issue introduced stories centered on the Planet Express delivery crew, capturing the show's blend of and satirical humor. The main series ran for 83 issues from 2000 to 2017, initially published bi-monthly before switching to a monthly schedule starting with issue #55 in 2013, and featured a mix of standalone tales and multi-issue story arcs that expanded on the futuristic universe of . These narratives often highlighted comedic adventures involving characters like , Leela, and , exploring themes of , alien encounters, and corporate absurdity in the 31st century. Holiday specials, such as and Halloween-themed issues, were incorporated into the run, alongside occasional crossovers with characters from , including the two-part event The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis II in 2005. A Futurama Comics Annual #1 was released in July 2018, providing additional stories in a larger format. Special editions supplemented the core series, with notable one-shots like , a promotional mini-comic exclusive to the 2007 , which teased the show's revival on through a bridging to the direct-to-video films. The series concluded with issue #83, titled "Bendocchio!", released digitally via the Futuramaland app in September 2017, as physical printing ceased for the final two issues. This end aligned with Bongo Comics Group's overall closure in October 2018, after 25 years of operation, prompted by the expiration of key licensing deals amid industry shifts.

Other Titles and Imprints

In addition to its core franchises, Bongo Comics distributed licensed titles under agreements with other media properties. The most prominent was SpongeBob Comics, published in association with United Plankton Pictures and , which debuted as a bimonthly series in February 2011 and transitioned to monthly publication in June 2012. The series concluded on after issue #85 in October 2018, coinciding with Bongo's overall closure. Bongo produced a variety of one-shots and special issues outside its ongoing series, often tied to events, holidays, or promotional opportunities. The inaugural Bongo Comics Group Spectacular appeared in 1993 as a promotional previewing early titles. San Diego Comic-Con exclusives became a staple, such as limited-edition variant covers and minicomics. The Simpsons' , an annual horror series starting in 1995, ran for 23 issues until 2017 and featured horror-parody stories illustrated by guest artists such as and . Other examples encompassed holiday-themed releases like the Itchy & Scratchy Comics: Holiday Hi-Jinx Special and crossover one-offs, contributing to a catalog of more than 20 such standalone publications that highlighted experimental or event-driven storytelling. Bongo also operated the Zongo Comics imprint, launched in 1995 to showcase mature and alternative works by underground artists, diverging from the publisher's primary humor-oriented output. Zongo focused on independent creators, releasing titles such as Gary Panter's (seven issues from 1995 to 1997) and Mary Fleener's (three issues from 1996 to 1998), along with other indie projects like Stephanie Gladden's Hopster's Tracks. The imprint ceased operations around 2000, having provided a platform for non-mainstream voices in comics.

Personnel

Founders and Leadership

Bongo Comics Group was founded in 1993 by , the creator of , along with Steve Vance, Cindy Vance, and Bill Morrison. Groening served as publisher, leveraging his ownership of the publishing rights to and to provide creative oversight and enable the company's focus on licensed comic adaptations of his properties. Steve Vance and Cindy Vance, as co-founders, managed editorial duties, scripting, and business operations in the company's early years, contributing to the development of titles like Simpsons Comics and Stories from its precursor magazine Simpsons Illustrated. Bill Morrison, also a co-founder, took on the role of and later , overseeing creative direction as an , , and for key series. In 2012, long-time art director Nathan Kane was promoted to creative director, succeeding Morrison and leading efforts to refresh the company's branding, including the introduction of a new logo and a retailer guide outlining future directions. Morrison continued in leadership until announcing the company's closure after 25 years at the 2018 International.

Notable Creators

Ian Boothby, an Eisner Award-winning writer, served as the primary scribe for Bongo Comics' Simpsons Comics and one of the lead writers for Comics, contributing over 100 stories across these titles, including notable crossovers like The Simpsons/ Crossover Crisis. Bill Morrison, a key creative force at Bongo, scripted multiple issues of the Radioactive Man series, blending superhero parody with Simpsons-adjacent humor. Among the artists, Jason Ho emerged as a mainstay, providing pencils, inks, and covers for numerous Simpsons Comics issues starting from his internship in the late 1990s, contributing to over 200 pages of artwork across the publisher's run. Phil Ortiz acted as a regular penciler on Simpsons Comics from 1993 onward, delivering consistent character designs and layouts that captured the animated style's essence. Mike Rote specialized in inking duties for Bongo's various series, enhancing the linework on titles like Simpsons Comics and Bart Simpson Comics to support the dynamic, satirical visuals. Under Bongo's Zongo imprint, alternative creators found a platform; produced the seven-issue series, showcasing his punk-infused underground style, while Mary Fleener contributed the three-issue Fleener anthology, highlighting her bold, autobiographical . The collaborative efforts of these creators earned multiple Eisner Award nominations and wins, including a 2000 win in the Best Humor Publication category for Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror and a 1999 nomination in the Best Comics Publication for a Younger Audience category for Simpsons Comics.

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