Editing Oni Press

{{Short description|American comic book and graphic novel publisher}}
{{Infobox publisher
| image        = Onipress.jpg
| owner        = [[Polarity (company)|Polarity]]
| status       =
| founded      = {{start date and age|1997}}
| founder      = Bob Schreck and Joe Nozemack
| successor    =
| country      = United States
| headquarters = [[Portland, Oregon]]<ref name=GregRuckaBio>{{cite web|url=http://www.gregrucka.com/wp/about-greg-rucka/|title=About Greg Rucka|year=2012|publisher=Greg Rucka|access-date=January 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630022200/http://www.gregrucka.com/wp/about-greg-rucka/|archive-date=June 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
| distribution = {{Plain list|
*[[Lunar Distribution]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alverson |first1=Brigid |title=Oni-Lion Forge Adds Lunar for Distro |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49914/oni-lion-forge-adds-lunar-distro |website=[[ICv2]] |access-date=7 March 2023 |language=en |date=6 December 2021}}</ref>
* [[Diamond Comic Distributors]]
* [[Simon & Schuster]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://about.simonandschuster.biz/news/oni-press/|title = Simon & Schuster and Oni Press Announce Sales and Distribution Agreement|date = 2 October 2017}}</ref>
}}
| keypeople    =
| publications = {{Plain list|
* [[Comics]]
* [[Graphic novels]]
}}
| topics       =
| genre        =
| imprints     = Limerence Press
| revenue      =
| numemployees =
| nasdaq       =
| url          = {{URL|onipress.com}}
}}
'''Oni Press''' is an American independent [[comic book]] and [[graphic novel]] publisher based in [[Portland, Oregon]], best known for publishing such series as ''[[Scott Pilgrim]]'' and ''[[Rick and Morty (comics)|Rick and Morty]]''.<ref name=GregRuckaBio/> In 2019, it became an [[Imprint (trade name)|imprint]] label following the company's [[Corporate merger|merger]] with [[Lion Forge Comics]]. The merged company, Oni–Lion Forge Publishing Group (OLFPG), is owned by [[Polarity (company)|Polarity]].<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Calvin |date=June 17, 2022 |title=Oni-Lion Forge Pushes Past the Pandemic |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/89664-oni-lion-forge-pushes-past-the-pandemic.html |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |language=en}}</ref> Oni Press has remained the "predominant name used for publishing comics" by OLFPG.<ref name=":15" />

==Overview==
The company name derives from ''[[oni]]'', the word for the ogre demons popular in [[Japanese folklore]].<ref name="faq">{{cite web |title=FAQ |url=http://onipress.tumblr.com/FAQ |website=Onipress.com}}</ref> 

Oni Press used the term "real mainstream," coined by [[Stephen L. Holland]] of the UK comic shop Page 45,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ninthart.com/display.php?article=571 |title=Guest Editorial: The Real Mainstream |last=Holland |first=Stephen |date=June 6, 2003 |work=Ninth Art |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113050018/http://www.ninthart.com/display.php?article=571 |archive-date=January 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 14, 2007 }}</ref> to suggest that the subject matter it publishes is more in line with the popular genres of other media, such as [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]]s, [[Romance novel|romance]]s and realistic [[drama]]. For the most part, Oni Press avoids publishing [[superhero]] titles, unless interesting creators approach these concepts from an unusual angle. However, at one point, [[Rich Johnston]] of [[Comics Bulletin#Former column: All The Rage|''All The Rage'']] reported that Oni Press and [[Marvel Comics]] were creating a publishing deal for Oni creators to work on Marvel superhero characters, but the deal fell apart.<ref>[http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/101393496211709.htm "All The Rage: You Could Put Your Eye Out With That - Update"]. Silver Bullet Comic Books.  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327023031/http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/101393496211709.htm |date=March 27, 2007 }}</ref>

Oni Press publishes few comic books on an ongoing monthly basis - [[Marc Guggenheim]]'s ''Resurrection'', [[Antony Johnston]] and Christopher Mitten's ''[[Wasteland (comic)|Wasteland]]'' and Brian Hurrt and [[Cullen Bunn]]'s ''Sixth Gun''. [[Greg Rucka]]'s ''[[Queen & Country]]'' was published monthly from 2001 to 2007. Most of its titles are either irregular recurring miniseries, often published in four to six monthly installments, or [[graphic novel|original graphic novels]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

Oni Press material initially released as comic books is usually later collected into [[trade paperback (comics)|trade paperbacks]]. They have published well over 100 titles,<ref>{{cite web|title=List of titles by Oni Press|work=Comic Book DB|url=http://www.comicbookdb.com/publisher.php?ID=34 | access-date=February 11, 2007}}</ref> with multiple books undergoing reprints due to sustained popularity. {{Citation needed|date=August 2007}} Several of their books have won the [[Eisner Award]] including: [[Bryan Lee O'Malley]]'s ''[[Scott Pilgrim]]'', [[Rick Spear]] and [[Chuck BB]]'s ''Black Metal'', [[Hope Larson]]'s ''Grey Horses'', and [[Greg Rucka]]'s ''[[Whiteout: Melt]]'' and ''Queen & Country'', with many more receiving nominations.

==History==
[[File:Oni Press booth at WonderCon 2010.JPG|thumb|right|Oni Press booth, [[WonderCon]] 2010]]
It was founded in 1997 by [[Bob Schreck]] and Joe Nozemack with the goal of publishing comics and graphic novels they would want to read. Unsatisfied with the material that was dominating the industry, they believed firmly that [[sequential art]] could be used to tell virtually any story. Schreck left the company in 1999, leaving Oni Press owned by Nozemack and Jamie S. Rich. In 2004, Rich left the company; Oni Press was then owned by Nozemack, James Lucas Jones, and Charlie Chu.<ref name=":2" />

Oni Press had a film and television production unit, Closed on Mondays, headed by Eric Gitter and located in [[Los Angeles, California]]. However, in 2015, because of creative differences originating from the geographical distance between offices, Oni and Gitter parted ways, and Oni established a new film and production arm, Oni Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/oni-press-restructures-movie-tv-837809|date=November 9, 2015|author=Kit, Borys|title=Oni Press Restructures Movie, TV Division (Exclusive)}}</ref>

In 2016, the publisher launched Limerence Press, an [[Imprint (trade name)|imprint]] for erotic and sex-education comics, "focused on positive, diverse, and approachable stories that reflect a wide variety of emotional and intimate experiences".<ref>{{cite web|title=Oni Press Announces New Imprint, Limerence Press, an Adult Line of Erotic and Sex Education Comics|url=http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c9770bcc66f3467639f48ae4c&id=3681030e5f|access-date=9 May 2016}}</ref>

Oni Press underwent a reorganization in January 2018,<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Oni Reorganizes |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/39319/oni-reorganizes |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref> with Nozemack acting as founder and [[chief financial officer]], Jones as publisher, Chu as vice president of creative & business development.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2018-01-11 |title=Oni Press celebrates 20 years with a big reorganization |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/oni-press-celebrates-20-years-with-a-big-reorganization/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> and other staff also promoted.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":14" /> In January 2019, Sarah Gaydos was promoted to editor in chief.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=January 4, 2019 |title=Sarah Gaydos promoted to Editor in Chief at Oni Press |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/sarah-gaydos-promoted-to-editor-in-chief-at-oni-press/ |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=2019-01-03 |title=Oni Press Names Sarah Gaydos New Editor-in-Chief |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sarah-gaydos-named-oni-press-name-editor-chief-1172788/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In March 2019, Oni was the 9th or 10th ranked publisher on Diamond's Direct Market market share chart, by unit share or dollar share.<ref name=":0" />

===Merger===
In May 2019, Oni Press merged with [[Lion Forge Comics]], becoming Oni–Lion Forge Publishing Group (OLFPG), a [[subsidiary]] of [[Polarity (company)|Polarity]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Gustines |first=George Gene |date=2019-05-08 |title=As Comic Book Industry Grows, Smaller Publishers Learn to Adapt |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/08/business/lion-forge-oni-merger.html |access-date=2022-07-14 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Marston |first1=George |date=May 8, 2019 |title=ONI PRESS and LION FORGE to Merge |url=https://www.newsarama.com/45089-oni-press-and-lion-forge-to-merge.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508155448/https://www.newsarama.com/45089-oni-press-and-lion-forge-to-merge.html |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=May 9, 2019 |website=Newsarama |language=en}}</ref> Nozemack stepped down as president in an advisory role.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Arrant |first=Chris |date=May 9, 2019 |title=ONI-PRESS Co-Founder Steps Down as President |url=https://www.newsarama.com/45100-oni-press-co-founder-steps-down-as-president.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511194924/https://www.newsarama.com/45100-oni-press-co-founder-steps-down-as-president.html |archive-date=May 11, 2019 |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=Newsarama}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-05-09 |title=More Details Emerge Regarding Lion Forge & Oni Press Merger and Layoffs (Updated) |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/more-details-lion-forge-oni-press-merger/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> Jones remained as publisher and president, and Chu remained as vice president of creative & business development.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> Multiple [[Layoff|layoffs]] due to the merger were also reported.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Terror |first=Jude |date=2019-05-09 |title=Layoffs Follow Lion Forge/Oni Press Merger, As Does Backlash |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/layoffs-follow-lion-forge-oni-press-merger-as-does-backlash/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref> The company began emphasizing the Oni brand, with the Lion Forge name becoming "largely dormant".<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=Oni-Lion Forge is being sued for obscenity related to Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer. This is their response. |url=https://www.thepopverse.com/oni-lion-forge-is-being-sued-for-obscenity-related-to-maia-kobabes-gender-queer-this-is-their-response |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=Popverse |publisher=[[ReedPop]] |language=en}}</ref> In June 2021, Gaydos stepped down as editor-in-chief.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=June 11, 2021 |title=Sarah Gaydos steps down as Oni-Lion Forge Editor-in-Chief |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/sarah-gaydos-oni-press-lion-forge-departure/ |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> Jones became interim editor-in-chief.<ref name=":1" /> In June 2022, Jones stated that "OLFPG has a staff of roughly 30 and expects to add more" and that it "plans to publish 40 original graphic novels in 2022 (60, counting books delayed by supply chain issues), in addition to an extensive list of periodical comics," with [[Simon & Schuster]] as their book distributor.<ref name=":1" />

Following the merger with Lion Forge, which had published the memoir ''[[Gender Queer]]'' by [[Maia Kobabe]], the company became involved in controversy and legal actions involving the book. In June 2022, Virginian politicians Tim Anderson and Tommy Altman sued Kobabe and OLFPG over ''Gender Queer'' under state law, alleging that the graphic novel was "obscene for unrestricted viewing by minors".<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2022 |title=What's Next in 'Gender Queer' Case |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/51541/whats-next-gender-queer-case |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-06-29 |title=Oni Press & Maia Kobabe Sued For Obscenity By Virginian Politicians |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/oni-press-maia-kobabe-sued-for-obscenity-by-republican-politicians/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-07-04 |title=Maia Kobabe's Legal Response To Gender Queer Obscenity Lawsuit |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/maia-kobabes-legal-response-to-gender-queer-obscenity-lawsuit/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref> OLFPG filed a "[[Demurrer]] and [[Motion to dismiss|Motion to Dismiss]]" which arguing the plaintiffs misrepresent the nature of the book and further lacks standing to sue.<ref name=":15" />

In June 2022, Jones and Chu were fired by Polarity,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-06-29 |title=Major Changes At Oni Press - James Lucas Jones & Charlie Chu Out? |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/big-changes-at-oni-press-and-lion-forge-happening-right-now/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=June 29, 2022 |title=James Lucas Jones and Charlie Chu out at Oni Press |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/james-lucas-jones-and-charlie-chu-out-at-oni-press/ |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-07-02 |title=What's Going On At Oni Press & Lion Forge Right Now? |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/whats-going-on-at-oni-press-lion-forge-right-now/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref> followed by publicity director Tara Lehmann leaving the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-07-01 |title=Noelle Webster Leaves Penguin Random House, Tara Lehmann Leaves Oni |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/noelle-webster-leaves-penguin-random-house-tara-lehmann-leaves-oni/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alverson |first=Brigid |date=July 15, 2022 |title=People on the Move: Tara Lehmann to TKO |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/51647/people-move-tara-lehmann-tko |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref> In July, the company laid off senior VP of sales and marketing Alex Segura, sales manager Henry Barajas, senior editor Amanda Meadows, and editor Jasmine Amiri.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2022 |title=Four More Gone from Oni Press |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/51640/four-more-gone-oni-press |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2022-07-14 |title=Segura, Barajas, Amiri and Meadows laid off at Oni; SDCC panels cancelled |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/segura-barajas-amiri-and-meadows-laid-off-at-oni-sdcc-panels-cancelled/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> Senior vice president of games and operations Steve Ellis and associate publisher Michelle Nguyen remained with the company.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2022 |title=Oni Press lays off four top staffers in what's being described as management restructuring |url=https://www.thepopverse.com/oni-press-lays-off-three-top-staffers-in-whats-being-described-as-management-restructuring |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715004959/https://www.thepopverse.com/oni-press-lays-off-three-top-staffers-in-whats-being-described-as-management-restructuring |archive-date=July 15, 2022 |access-date=July 14, 2022 |website=Popverse |publisher=[[ReedPop]] |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, Oni Press cancelled both their floor space<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-07-12 |title=Good Smile Company Replace Oni Press on San Diego Comic-Con Show Floor |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/good-smile-company-replace-oni-press-on-san-diego-comic-con-show-floor/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Rose-Lyon |first=Haley |date=2022-07-15 |title=Oni Press' Future Unclear Amid Senior Staff Layoffs, SDCC Withdrawal |url=https://www.cbr.com/oni-press-future-unclear-layoffs-sdcc-cancellation-comics/ |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref> and their panels at the upcoming [[San Diego Comic-Con]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Also in July 2022, [[Steenz|Christina "Steenz" Stewart]] – an Oni freelancer and former Lion Forge editor – alleged on social media that Oni Press wasn't paying creators their royalties,<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-07-01 |title=Oni Press Challenged Over Nonpayment Allegations |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/oni-press-challenged-over-nonpayment-allegations/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2022-07-01 |title=What is going on with: Oni Press, Comixology, Substack??? |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/what-is-going-on-with-oni-press-comixology-substack/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":13" /> with several Oni creators responding with similar complaints.<ref name=":11" />

In December 2022, Hunter Gorinson was appointed publisher and president of OLFPG.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Calvin |date=December 5, 2022 |title=Gorinson Named to Head Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/91068-gorinson-named-to-head-oni-lion-forge-publishing-group.html |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |author-link=Heidi MacDonald |date=December 1, 2022 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Hunter Gorinson joins Oni Lion Forge as Publisher and President |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/hunter-gorinson-joins-oni-lion-forge-as-publisher-and-president/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> Sierra Hahn was then named the company's new editor-in-chief in February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Sierra Hahn to Lead Editorial at Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sierra-hahn-oni-lion-forge-publishing-group-1235330787/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alverson |first=Brigid |date=February 21, 2023 |title=People on the Move: Sierra Hahn Takes Over as Oni-Lion Forge Editor in Chief |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/53377/people-move-sierra-hahn-takes-over-oni-lion-forge-editor-chief |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref>

==List of titles==
{{Main article|List of Oni Press publications}}

==In other media==
{{Main article|List of television series and films based on Oni Press publications}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Oregon|Companies|Comics}}
* {{official website|https://onipress.com/}}
* [http://www.bookslut.com/features/2005_07_005951.php Article at Bookslut]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929132857/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9254 2004 Oni Press State of the Union interview], [[Newsarama]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070416092524/http://www.newsarama.com/Oni/2006/OniStateofUnion.htm 2006 Oni Press State of the Union Interview], [[Newsarama]]

{{Comic book publishers in North America}}
{{Oni Press}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Oni Press| ]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Book publishing companies based in Oregon]]
[[Category:Comic book publishing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Mass media in Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Privately held companies based in Oregon]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1997]]