AWA Studios

AWA Studios
StatusActive
FoundedNovember 2018 (2018-11)
Founder
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationNew York City
DistributionSimon & Schuster (books)[1]
Key people
  • Axel Alonso (CCO)
  • Matthew Anderson (CEO)
  • Zach Studin (President, AWA Studios)
  • Jonathan F. Miller (chair)
Publication typesComics Graphic Novels
Fiction genres
ImprintsAWA
Owners
Official websiteOfficial website

Artists Writers & Artisans, Inc. or AWA Studios is an American independent comic book publisher founded in November 2018 by Axel Alonso, Bill Jemas and Jonathan F. Miller.[3]

History

AWA Studios was founded in November 2018 by Axel Alonso and Bill Jemas from Marvel Comics, with the addition of Jonathan F. Miller from Fandom, with Jemas as chief executive officer, Alonso as Chief Creative Officer, and Miller as a Senior Council member. The initials in the company's name stand for "Artists Writers & Artisans".[3] Initial funders included Lightspeed Venture Partners and James Murdoch's Lupa Systems. Elisabeth Murdoch's SISTER media investment firm also contributed funding in March 2020[4] and Fremantle contributed funding in February 2023.[5] Over time, a Creative Council was joined by J. Michael Straczynski, Reginald Hudlin, Garth Ennis, Gregg Hurwitz, Margaret Stohl and Frank Cho.[6]

American Ronin was presented as a potential book from AWA in June 2019.[7] In August 2019, Straczynski announced a new shared universe for AWA, debuting in 2020 with The Resistance.[8] During New York Comic Con 2019, AWA released Upshot Now No. 0.[9] AWA Studios premiered with four titles, released in March 2020 under its Upshot imprint.[10]

In June 2021, AWA announced the foundation of its own film/TV division, being helmed by Zach Studin as president.[11][12] AWA is in production on the feature film Liminal, a sci-fi action thriller, directed by Louis Letterier, with actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Vanessa Kirby attached. Liminal is based on the AWA graphic novel Telepaths.[13]

Since 2023, the Upshot Studios imprint was merged into AWA.

In June 2024, AWA announced an alliance with Vertigo Entertainment to create a new horror storytelling pipeline called FUTURE OF FEAR.[14]

Key people

Leadership team

  • Axel Alonso, co-founder & chief creative officer (2018–present)[3]
  • Jonathan F. Miller, co-founder & co-chairman of the board (2018–present)[3]
  • Zach Studin, president, AWA Studios (2021–present)[15]
  • Matthew Anderson, co-chairman of the board & chief executive officer (2022–present)[15]
  • Diya Sagar, chief financial officer (2023–present)[16]

Creative council

Imprints

Upshot imprint logo

Current

  • AWA

Former

  • iPOP[18]
  • Lesser Evils[19]
  • Upshot Studios (merged into AWA)

List of works

References

  1. ↑ "Comic Publishers are flocking to Simon & Schuster for Distribution". March 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ Goldbart, Max (February 14, 2023). "Fremantle Invests In Lis & James Murdoch-Backed AWA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gustines, George Gene (March 20, 2019). "A Comic Book Publisher Creates Its Own Origin Story". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Lang, Brent (March 18, 2020). "Sister Invests in AWA Studios, New Comic Book Company From Marvel Vets (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  5. ↑ Szalai, Georg (February 14, 2023). "Fremantle Takes Minority Stake in Artists, Writers & Artisans, Plans Adaptation of Comic 'Devil's Highway'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Marston, George (March 20, 2019). "ENNIS, JMS, HUDLIN, CHO, STOHL, More Join Bill Jemas' AWA". Newsarama. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ Burlingame, Russ (June 5, 2019). "Peter Milligan Talks AWA's American Ronin". ComicBook.com.
  8. ↑ Babos, John (August 9, 2019). "J. Michael Straczynski, Mike Deodato Jr. Team for 'The Resistance' Comic". Hollywood Reporter.
  9. ↑ "AWA To Debut Sampler Magazine UPSHOT NOW at NYCC" (Press release). Artists Writers & Artisans. September 25, 2019. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019 – via Newsarama.
  10. ↑ Arvedon, Jon (February 11, 2020). "AWA Studios Creators and Execs Preview Upshot Imprint Titles". CBR. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  11. ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (June 10, 2021). "Zach Studin To Lead New Studio Division For Graphic Fiction Publisher AWA". Deadline. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Bill Jemas, AWA Launches Film and TV Studios Division". CBR. June 11, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  13. ↑ Grobar, Matt (March 26, 2026). "Vanessa Kirby & Yahya Abdul-Mateen II To Star In 'Liminal' (EXCLUSIVE)". Deadline. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  14. ↑ Earl, William (June 10, 2024). "AWA, Vertigo Entertainment Announce Partnership to Create New Horror Storytelling Pipeline (EXCLUSIVE)".
  15. 1 2 "Our Team". AWA Studios. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  16. ↑ "AWA Appoints Diya Sagar as Chief Financial Officer". icv2.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jackie (November 21, 2022). "AWA Studios Enlists Top Creatives to Shepherd Content Derived From Graphic Novels". AWA: Artists Writers & Artisans. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  18. ↑ Destito, Deanna (June 5, 2020). "AWA Studios launches new imprint iPOP! with BE WAWA". The Beat. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  19. ↑ "The Borough of Brooklyn is the Setting for New Supernatural Comic Series, 'Lesser Evils'". BK Reader. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
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