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Publisher and producer Mike Richardson has been named CEO of Dark Horse Comics, the media company he created out of the comic book store.
In his place, Embracer, the video game holding company that bought Dark Horse in 2022, is appointing gaming executive Jay Comas as interim CEO.
“As part of our long-term vision to better align Dark Horse within a more connected and forward-looking group structure, we are implementing changes to modernize the business and strengthen collaboration across publishing, games, film, merchandise, and other key areas,” Embracer said in a statement sent to business partners and creators when announcing the one-shot push and upgrade. “Our goal is simple: to ensure Dark Horse is positioned for continued success while continuing to serve our creators, partners, and fans at the highest level.”
Richardon began his career as a comics retailer with his Oregon-based Pegasus Fantasy Books store, which was later renamed Things from Another World. In 1986, he began publishing comics, with a concerted effort to protect the rights of creators. Dark Horse became the home of Frank Miller, putting him out of business Sin City and 300and Mike Mignola, who created it all Hellboy universe since the character was first created in the early 1990s.
Emphasis has also been placed on uploaded licensed comics, with Dark Horse Publishing Alien and predator Cartoons. The two science fiction franchises were combined for the first time under his supervision Alien vs Predator comics, with the title eventually moving to the big screen in the early 2000s. Dark Horse has also been home to Star Wars comics for a long time, acquiring that license after Marvel Comics abandoned it around 1990.
Under Richardson’s leadership, Dark Horse was the first comic company to make a serious, concerted effort to take its comics to Hollywood and remain involved as producers. The mask and Timecop It was an early hit, Barbed wire It was a critical failure, and Hellboy, built on the strength of his relationship with producer Larry Gordon, remains one of Hollywood’s marquee franchises. He was most recently an executive producer on Umbrella AcademyNetflix’s adaptation of the Dark Horse comics created by Gerard Way.
Richardson sold the company to Embracer, a Sweden-based umbrella company that primarily owns several video game companies, in 2022, with him remaining as CEO.
It’s not clear what Embracer has in store for Dark Horse. It is unclear what its interests are in publishing, rather than the core business, nor is it clear what kind of commitment it will have to the screen business, although the company statement indicated that it wants to remain in the field of intellectual property management. However, Comas, who sources say has been campaigning for the position for months, has no direct Hollywood experience.
The company said that Comas “brings extensive global intellectual property experience across games, films and consumer products. Over the course of his career, he has held senior leadership positions at Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard and LucasArts, working with some of the world’s most iconic entertainment brands. His background in managing and expanding intellectual property across multiple categories will be beneficial as we build on Dark Horse’s legacy and strengthen its position in an increasingly connected entertainment landscape.”
