Gemstone Publishing

American publishing company in the comics field

Gemstone Publishing

Parent company| Geppi Family Enterprises
Status| Defunct in November 2008 as comic book publisher; continues to publish the comic book price guide Overstreet
Founded| 1994
Founder| Steve Geppi
Country of origin| United States
Headquarters location| Timonium, Maryland
Distribution| Diamond Book Distributors (books)[1]
Publication types| Annuals
Official website| www.gemstonepub.com/en/

Gemstone Publishing is an American company that publishes comic book price guides. The company was formed by Diamond Comic Distributors President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Geppi in 1994 when he bought Overstreet.[2]

Gemstone published licensed Disney comic books from June 2003 until November 2008. The company has also reprinted EC Comics of the 1950s.

BOOM! Kids acquired all comic publishing licenses regarding Disney characters in the second half of 2009.

## Disney comics

[edit]

Gemstone's flagship publications were comic books featuring Disney characters; particularly the Donald Duck/Uncle Scrooge comics of such Duck artists as Carl Barks and Don Rosa, and the Mickey Mouse comics of Floyd Gottfredson, César Ferioli, and Romano Scarpa, among others.

While popularly known as a reprint house, Gemstone's comics were actually dominated by stories that were new to United States audiences. Vintage material, though popular with readers, was not the majority of the content.

Name | Number of pages | Format | Status | Stories featuring

|
|
|
|

Walt Disney's Comics and Stories | 64 (68 w/covers) | Prestige | Ended | Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Big Bad Wolf, Brer Rabbit, Bucky Bug, Fethry Duck, Grandma Duck, Jr. Woodchucks, Scamp
Uncle Scrooge | 64 (68 w/covers) | Prestige | Ended | Scrooge McDuck, Gyro Gearloose, Beagle Boys, Launchpad McQuack, Magica De Spell, Fethry Duck, Donald Duck
The Barks/Rosa Collection | 72 (76 w/covers) | Prestige | Ended | Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck
Donald Duck Adventures | 128 (132 w/covers) | Digest | Ended | Donald Duck, Scrooge McDuck, Mickey Mouse, Duck Avenger
Mickey Mouse Adventures | 128 (132 w/covers) | Digest | Ended | Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Ellsworth
Donald Duck and Friends | 32 (36 w/covers) | Standard | Ended | Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Goofy
Mickey Mouse and Friends | 32 (36 w/covers) | Standard | Ended | Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto

Gemstone issued annual editions of Christmas Parade, Vacation Parade, and Spring Fever; a giveaway for Free Comic Book Day; and occasional special editions (including comic adaptations of Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers and Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas).

Gemstone's first large-size book collection, Mickey And The Gang: Classic Stories In Verse, was issued in November 2005. It was a compilation, edited by David Gerstein, of Disney cartoon story pages published from 1934 to 1944 in Good Housekeeping magazine. Gerstein later edited two Gemstone softcover books that were official tie-ins to the Walt Disney Treasures DVD collections: Disney Comics: 75 Years of Innovation (2006) and Uncle Scrooge: A Little Something Special (2008).

## Russ Cochran and EC Comics reprints

[edit]

Gemstone has also published reprints of EC Comics. Gemstone's Comic Book Marketplace-editor Russ Cochran had previously published (in 1973) a dozen reprints of EC titles including Crypt of Terror, Weird Science, The Haunt of Fear, The Vault of Horror, etc., before moving to Gladstone Publishing and then to Gemstone, which has been the home of Cochran's EC reprints for over 15 years.

Reprinting the Cochran/Gladstone-reprints of The Haunt of Fear, The Vault of Horror and Weird Science (all 1992), Gemstone also republished (in single issue and 'annual' – four issues per 'annual' – format):

* Crime SuspenStories, Shock SuspenStories, Two-Fisted Tales, Weird Fantasy and Weird Science-Fantasy in 1992;
* Incredible Science Fiction (1994)
* Frontline Combat (1995)
* Panic (1997)
* Piracy and Valor (1998)
* Aces High, Impact, M.D. and Psychoanalysis (1999), and
* Crime Patrol and Extra! in 2000.

Oversize, hardback, slip-cased collections of these comics had been previously published in black & white by Cochran during the 1980s as "The Complete EC Library". This Library was then added to by Cochran/Gemstone with 2005's Picto-Fiction collection, comprising the EC comics: Confessions Illustrated, Crime Illustrated, Shock Illustrated and Terror Illustrated, along with "18 previously unseen stories, never published before".[3]

## Full-color hardbacks

[edit]

Main article: EC Archives

In 2006, Cochran and Gemstone began publication of a series of full-color EC Archives editions. Promising that "[e]ach EC Archive volume will reprint six complete issues (24 stories)",[4] the first volumes of Weird Science and Shock Suspenstories both saw print in December, 2006, with forewords from (respectively) EC fans George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Ostensibly beginning to publish two volumes every two months, the schedule changed to one-per-month and recently one every couple of months.

In addition, "Deluxe" versions of Weird Science Vol.s 1 & 2 (both signed by artist Al Feldstein), Shock Suspenstories Vol. 1 and Tales From the Crypt Vol. 1 have been published.

## Reduction

[edit]

In early 2009, the future of Gemstone Publishing was unclear, after reports of unpaid printing bills, particularly for the EC Archives.[5] In April, Geppi responded to the uncertainty, noting that while there had been "a reduction in staff at Gemstone", such moves did "not [signal] the end of Gemstone Publishing".[6] Seven months after Geppi's optimistic statements, the last batch of Gemstone's Disney comics appeared in November 2008, complete with previews for next month's issues that Gemstone was to fail publishing. BOOM! Kids acquired all comic publishing licenses regarding Disney characters, and started publishing comic titles previously owned by Gemstone in the second half of 2009. In 2013, Dark Horse comics began to reprint E.C. comics picking up where Gemstone left off, in the same full color hardback format.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Our Publishers". Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
2. ^ "Gemstone Publishing, Inc. – Price Guides & Reference Books". Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
3. ^ The Book Palace's "Complete EC Library" pages Archived 2009-06-14 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 12 March 2008
4. ^ EC Comics Online, home of Gemstone's EC pages Archived 2008-03-17 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 12 March 2008
5. ^ Heidi MacDonald, "Steve Geppi’s debt woes growing" in The Beat, February 18, 2009. Accessed March 5, 2009
6. ^ "Rumors about Gemstone Publishing?" in Scoop, April 18, 2009. Accessed April 19, 2009

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Gemstone Publishing's Official Disney Comics site
* Gemstone Publishing at Inducks
* Interview with editor John Clark on the launch of Gemstone's Disney comics line

* v
* t
* e

Disney comics

Comic titles|

| North
America|

* Darkwing Duck
* Donald Duck
* Donald Duck Adventures
* DuckTales
* Goofy Adventures
* Mickey Mouse
* Mickey Mouse Adventures
* Mickey Mouse Magazine
* Scamp
* Uncle Scrooge
* Uncle Scrooge Adventures
* Walt Disney Comics Digest
* Walt Disney's Comics and Stories
* Walt Disney Giant

|

Europe|

* Aku Ankka
* Donald Duck
* Donald Duck and Other Adventures
* European Disney paperbacks
* Gazetka Miki
* Kalle Anka & C:o
* Le Journal de Mickey
* Micky Maus
* Mickey Mouse Weekly
* Miky Maous
* MM Mickey Mouse Mystery Magazine
* Picsou Magazine
* PKNA
* Topolino
* W.I.T.C.H.
* Wizards of Mickey

Comic strips|

* Disney Christmas Story
* Donald Duck
* Gummi Bears
* Mickey Mouse
* Scamp
* Silly Symphony
* Uncle Remus and His Tales of Br'er Rabbit
* Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales
* Winnie the Pooh

Collections|

* The Barks/Rosa Collection
* The Carl Barks Library
* The Carl Barks Library in Color
* The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library
* Disney Masters
* Donald Duck: The Complete Daily Newspaper Comics
* Donald Duck: The Complete Sunday Comics
* The Don Rosa Library
* Mickey Mouse in Color
* Silly Symphonies: The Complete Disney Classics
* Timeless Tales
* Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse
* Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies
* Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales

Artists|

* Carl Barks
* Don Rosa
* Floyd Gottfredson
* Romano Scarpa
* Paul Murry
* Vicar
* Giorgio Cavazzano
* Marco Rota
* Al Taliaferro
* Luciano Bottaro
* Giuseppe Perego
* Daan Jippes
* Freddy Milton
* William Van Horn
* Carson Van Osten
* Pete Alvarado
* Tony Strobl
* Jack Bradbury
* Cèsar Ferioli
* José Massaroli
* Mau Heymans
* Daniel Branca
* Giovan Battista Carpi
* Noel Van Horn
* Arild Midthun
* Flemming Andersen
* Manuel Gonzales
* Silvia Ziche
* Kari Korhonen
* Bob Gregory
* Phil DeLara
* Carl Fallberg
* Earl Duvall
* Corrado Mastantuono

Writers|

* Carl Barks
* Don Rosa
* Floyd Gottfredson
* Bill Walsh
* Merrill De Maris
* Ted Osborne
* Floyd Norman
* Romano Scarpa
* Guido Martina
* Carlo Chendi
* Homer Brightman
* Bob Karp
* Carl Fallberg
* John Lustig
* Byron Erickson
* Gary Leach
* Stefan Printz-Påhlson
* Noel Van Horn
* Evert Geradts

Other people|

* Byron Erickson
* David Gerstein
* Susan Daigle-Leach

Publishers|

* Boom! Studios
* Disney Comics
* Egmont Group
* Fantagraphics
* Marvel Comics
* Panini Comics
* Yoe Books

| Former
publishers|

* Another Rainbow Publishing
* Dell Comics
* Editora Abril
* Gemstone Publishing
* Gladstone Publishing
* Gold Key Comics
* IDW Publishing
* The Library of American Comics

|

Related|

* Donald Duck in comics
* Donaldism
* How to Read Donald Duck
* INDUCKS
* The Uncensored Mouse

Disney Publishing Worldwide

* v
* t
* e

Comic book publishers in North America

Active|

* Aardvark-Vanaheim
* Abrams ComicArts
* AC Comics
* Action Lab Comics
* Ahoy Comics
* AiT/Planet Lar
* Alias Enterprises
* Alien Books
* Alternative Comics
* Antarctic Press
* Arcana Studio
* Archaia Entertainment
* Archie Comics
* Aspen MLT
* Avatar Press
* AWA Studios
* Beyond Comics
* Black Eye Productions
* Black Mask Studios
* Black Sands Entertainment
* Boom! Studios
* Caliber Comics
* Class Comics
* Comic House
* Conundrum Press
* Creative Impulse Entertainment
* Cross Infinite World
* Darby Pop Publishing
* Dark Horse Comics
* DC Comics
* Milestone Media
* Vertigo Comics
* Denpa
* Devil's Due Publishing
* Drawn & Quarterly
* DSTLRY
* Dynamite Entertainment
* Eureka Productions
* Fantagraphics
* First Second Books
* HarperCollins
* Hermes Press
* Humanoids Publishing
* Hyperwerks
* IDW Publishing
* Sunday Press Books
* Image Comics
* Skybound Entertainment
* Iron Circus Comics
* J-Novel Club
* Kaiten Books
* Kodansha USA
* Vertical
* Koyama Press
* La Pastèque
* Last Gasp
* Legendary Comics
* Lev Gleason Publications
* Les 400 coups
* The Library of American Comics
* Mad Cave Studios
* Papercutz
* Marvel Comics
* Moonstone Books
* MyFutprint Entertainment
* NBM Publishing
* Northwest Press
* Oni Press
* Panini Comics
* Platinum Studios
* Radical Comics
* Radio Comix
* Red 5 Comics
* Rip Off Press
* Seven Seas Entertainment
* Shadowline
* Slave Labor Graphics
* Sumerian Comics
* TidalWave Productions
* Titan Comics
* TKO Studios
* Tokyopop
* Top Cow Productions
* Udon Entertainment
* Valiant Comics
* Vault Comics
* Viz Media
* Vortex Comics
* WaRP Graphics
* WildStorm
* Yen Press
* Zenescope Entertainment
* Z2 Comics

Former|

* Aircel Comics
* All-American Publications
* AfterShock Comics
* Amalgam Comics
* American Comics Group
* Anglo-American Publishing
* Another Rainbow Publishing
* Ape Entertainment
* Apple Comics
* Arcade Comics
* Atlas Comics
* Atlas/Seaboard Comics
* Awesome Comics
* Azteca Productions
* Bell Features
* Blackthorne Publishing
* Bongo Comics
* Broadway Comics
* Cat-Head Comics
* Catalan Communications
* Centaur Publications
* Chaos! Comics
* Charlton Comics
* Columbia Comics
* Harry "A" Chesler
* Comico
* ComicsOne
* ComiXology Originals
* Continuity Comics
* Continüm Comics
* Crestwood Publications
* CrossGen
* Dabel Brothers Productions
* David McKay Publications
* Defiant Comics
* Dell Comics
* Del Rey Manga
* Disney Comics
* Double Take Comics
* Dragon Lady Press
* Dreamwave Productions
* Eastern Color Printing
* EC Comics
* Eclipse Comics
* Eternity Comics
* FantaCo Enterprises
* Fawcett Comics
* Fiction House
* First Comics
* Fox Feature Syndicate
* Future Comics
* Gemstone Publishing
* Gilberton
* Gladstone Publishing
* Gold Key Comics
* Harris Comics
* Harvey Comics
* Highwater Books
* Hillborough Studios
* Hillman Periodicals
* Holyoke Publishing
* Innovation Publishing
* Kitchen Sink Press
* Lion Forge Comics
* Magazine Enterprises
* Mainline Publications
* Malibu Comics
* Maple Leaf Publishing
* Millennium Publications
* Mirage Studios
* National Comics Publications
* Nedor Publishing
* New Reliable Press
* NOW Comics
* Pacific Comics
* Pendulum Press
* Print Mint
* Quality Comics
* Renegade Press
* Revolutionary Comics
* Semic Comics
* Sirius Comics
* Sirius Entertainment
* Skywald Publications
* Sparkplug Comics
* Standard Comics
* Strawberry Jam Comics
* Street & Smith
* Tekno Comix
* Timely Comics
* Topps Comics
* Tundra Publishing
* Viper Comics
* Warren Publishing

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