Almost year after Bongo Comics shut down, Matt Groening is back with Bapper Books! I’ve never been to the San Diego Comic Con and since it has become Hollywood’s bitch to peddle mostly mediocre IPs while bringing out the worst in humanity (try getting a spot at the Simpsons panel), but CBR.com claims Bapper will occupy the booth Bongo occupied for many years.
The first title to be released in the near future will be additional stories from Disenchantment. Makes sense, it’s the only thing Matt probably owns outright now that the Evil Mouse has The Simpsons and Futurama; the former they’ll market the hell out of and the latter they’ll let languish. Hopefully Bapper will take chances as Bongo did by printing original titles. It’s risky given the costs, e-media’s rise and today’s consumers believing everything should be free.
I for one am glad to see his return even if this publisher won’t feature new adventures involving Homer, Bender and the Treehouse of Horror. Personally, I think comics are undergoing a great run despite DC floundering under the oppressive and moronic thumb of AT&T and Marvel’s confusing numbering system. The Archie titles are more mature, intelligent; Image continues to be number one for Sci-Fi/Fantasy; Dark Horse is hanging in there with Aliens and Stranger Things; and smaller publishers do excellent work on licensed and original properties. I think Bapper will do just fine and I can’t wait to see more stories starring Princess Bean, Luci, Elfo and hopefully the secondary characters such as King Zog, those mysterious people behind Luci’s appearance, Sorcerio and Odval.