SelfMadeHero Celebrates 20 Years, From Manga Shakespeare to Global Graphic Novels

UK publisher SelfMadeHero celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades since its pioneering Manga Shakespeare series. This ambitious launch set the tone for a publisher now renowned for embracing international voices and championing the unique power of print. It’s a significant milestone for a company that has helped define the UK’s graphic novel landscape.

The anniversary was a key talking point at the recent ARC Contemporary Comics Festival panel on international print publishing. Panelists offered fascinating insights into navigating a global market where physical books still command surprising influence. Andrew Alexander of US-based Cram Books emphasized print’s "much longer half-life" than digital, noting how physical comics travel and find unexpected audiences worldwide. Swedish publisher Peow2, represented by Olle Forsslöf, found global readership through platforms like Tumblr by simply publishing work they loved.

The discussion highlighted how niche communities drive success. Jordan Taylor from PageMasters, a UK printing service, explained their focus on "niche nerds" and the vibrant DIY network essential for distribution. He even shared how expanding a single ghost comic into a "dictionary of ghosts" found its dedicated audience. PageMasters also champions print's archival power, planning to republish books banned under Section 28 with new historical context.