Dark Horse Comics, LLC

Dark Horse Comics launched in 1986 from the profits of Mike Richardson's Portland-area comic shop chain, Pegasus Books. The first issue of Dark Horse Presents sold 50,000 copies, five times the break-even point, and Richardson gave all profits to the creators. That founding gesture set the company's identity: a publisher built on artist rights and ownership, long before that became an industry talking point.

Based in Milwaukie, Oregon, Dark Horse grew into the fourth-largest comic publisher in the U.S. by betting on properties that mainstream superhero houses ignored. Its library includes Hellboy, Sin City, 300, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Minecraft, and The Legend of Zelda. The company also became a major manga publisher in the West, releasing Berserk, GANTZ, and Hellsing.

In March 2022, Swedish holding company Embracer Group acquired Dark Horse Media for an undisclosed sum. The company now operates under a three-pillar leadership structure after founder Mike Richardson stepped down as CEO in late 2024. Interim CEO Jay Komas leads alongside Tim Wiesch (publishing), Vanessa Todd-Holmes (operations), and Melissa Teeman (finance). Dark Horse continues to release new titles, including a partnership with Pokémon for a book due August 2026. [edit]