Catalan Communications
American publisher
title: "Catalan Communications" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1983-establishments", "1991-disestablishments", "comic-book-publishing-companies-of-the-united-states", "defunct-comics-and-manga-publishing-companies"] description: "American publisher" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan_Communications" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American publisher ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox publisher"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Catalan Communications |
| founded | |
| founders | Bernd Metz, Herb Spiers, and Josep Toutain |
| defunct | |
| country | U.S. |
| headquarters | 43 East 19th Street |
| New York City | |
| keypeople | Bernd Metz |
| Tom Leighton | |
| Elizabeth Bell | |
| publications | Comics, trade paperbacks |
| imprints | ComCat |
| :: |
| name = Catalan Communications | logo = | type = | genre = | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | founded = | founders = Bernd Metz, Herb Spiers, and Josep Toutain | defunct = | country = U.S. | headquarters = 43 East 19th Street New York City | area_served = | keypeople = Bernd Metz Tom Leighton Elizabeth Bell | industry = | publications = Comics, trade paperbacks | services = | market cap = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | imprints = ComCat | subsid = | homepage = | footnotes = | intl = Catalan Communications was a New York City publishing company that existed from 1983 to 1991. Operated by Bernd Metz, Catalan Communications mainly focused on English-language translations of European graphic novels. These were presented as high-quality trade paperbacks, or comic albums — a European book format that American comic book readers were not yet accustomed to. Both the physical dimensions and the mature content were unfamiliar to U.S. audiences, who often referred to the format dismissively as "Euro-comics."
Metz became one of the first American publishers to introduce U.S. readership to European-style comics on a larger scale than the niche-market efforts undertaken by HM Communications – publisher of the groundbreaking Heavy Metal magazine – in the preceding decade.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/New_York_Miami.png" caption="Loustal]] and Philippe Paringaux, translated by Elizabeth Bell"] ::
The company was founded in April 1983 as a collaboration between Bernd Metz (1944–2012), Herb Spiers, and Josep Toutain (1930–1997) of the Spanish art agency Selecciones Ilustradas. It published from 1984 until 1992, operating out of a large loft located at 43 East 19th Street. Metz was the editor-in-chief, and the novelist Tom Leighton and later Elizabeth Bell provided English translations for the French and French-edition titles, including Max Cabanes' Colin-Maillard (Heartthrobs). Despite initial struggles, the company was able to quickly establish financial stability, in large part due to their printing being done in Europe, where it was more economical to produce small press runs.
On August 1, 1985, United States Customs Service officials seized copies of Massimo Mattioli's Squeak the Mouse on the grounds that the book was obscene. Since all of Catalan's publications were adult-only material, and at least as susceptible to seizure as Squeak the Mouse, Metz chose to fight the obscenity charge in court. Metz won the case, and distributors actually increased their orders for Squeak the Mouse following the seizure, despite a coinciding price increase on the book. After that, Catalan started an all-ages imprint and adopted rating systems for their various publications.
In 1990, Cabanes' Colin-Maillard graphic novel was the winner of the Grand Prix at France's Angoulême International Comics Festival. One of Bell's translated books for Catalan revealed errors in an earlier Heavy Metal translation of the same story. James Keller, the Germanic studies scholar, translated the German edition of Sacher-Masoch's Venus in Furs (Guido Crepax) in 1991, the year the company released its last titles. Tom Leighton was the IT arm of the firm, as well as the translator from French until 1989. Jeff Lisle translated from Italian and Spanish.
Other books published by Catalan included Jacques Loustal's Love Shots, Lorenzo Mattotti's Fires, and Barcelona artist Marti Riera's The Cabbie, with an introduction by Art Spiegelman. Published in five languages, Trip to Tulum by Federico Fellini and Milo Manara, with essays translated by Elizabeth Bell, was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best trade paperbacks of 1990.
In 1989–90, Catalan expanded its line with the "ComCat" line of comic albums aimed at an all-age readership, such as Blake and Mortimer, The Adventures of Yoko, Vic and Paul, Code XIII and Young Blueberry, the type of European comics traditionally referred to by its French-derived "bande dessinées" qualifier.
In 1991, attempting to stay afloat, the company offered returns on their books, but they closed down that same year.
Publications
Catalan titles
::data[format=table]
| Title | Art | Script | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abominations | Hermann | 1990 | ||
| Anarcoma | Nazario | 1984 | ||
| The Ape | Milo Manara | 1986 | ||
| Bell's Theorem #1: Bell's Theorem | Matthias Schultheiss | 1987 | ||
| Bell's Theorem #2: The Connections | Matthias Schultheiss | 1988 | ||
| Bell's Theorem #3: Contact | Matthias Schultheiss | 1989 | ||
| Billy Budd, KGB | François Boucq | Jérôme Charyn | 1991 | |
| Bodyssey | Richard Corben | Simon Revelstroke | 1986 | |
| Breakthrough | Various | 1990 | ||
| Burton & Cyb: 1 | José Ortiz | Antonio Segura | 1990 | |
| The Cabbie | Marti Riera | 1987 | ||
| Cases from the Files of Sam Pezzo P.I.: 1 | Vittorio Giardino | 1988 | ||
| Click! #1: A Woman Under the Influence | Milo Manara | 1985 (January and May printings with different ISBNs) |
| | Companions at Dusk #1: The Spell of the Misty Forest | François Bourgeon | | 1991 | | | Corben Collected Works #1: Underground 1 | Richard Corben | | 1985 | | | Corben Collected Works #2: Underground 2 | Richard Corben | | 1986 | | | Corben Collected Works #3: Rowlf – Underground 3 | Richard Corben | | 1987 | | | Dark Tales | Jordi Bernet | Enrique Sánchez Abulí | 1990 | | | Den: Neverwhere | Richard Corben | | 1984 | | | Dorm Girls | | ; | 1991 | | | Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde | Guido Crepax | | 1990 | | | Dulled Feelings | Igort | | 1990 | | | Edgar Allan Poe. The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales of Horror. | Richard Corben | | 1985 | | | Erma Jaguar #1: Erma Jaguar: 1 | Alex Varenne | | 1990 | | | Erma Jaguar #2: Erma Jaguar: 2 | Alex Varenne | | 1991 | | | Evaristo: Deep City | Francisco Solano López | Carlos Sampayo | 1987 | | | Exterminator 17 | Enki Bilal | Jean-Pierre Dionnet | 1986 | | | Fires | Lorenzo Mattotti | | 1987 | | | Ghita of Alizarr #1: Ghita of Alizarr 1 | Frank Thorne | | 1991 | | | Ghita of Alizarr #2: Ghita of Alizarr 2 | Frank Thorne | | 1985 | | | Good-Bye and Other Stories | Yoshihiro Tatsumi | | 1988 | | | Giuseppe Bergman #1: The Great Adventure | Milo Manara | | 1988 | | | Giuseppe Bergman #2: An Author in Search of Six Characters | Milo Manara | | 1989 | | | Giuseppe Bergman #3: Dies Irae | Milo Manara | | 1990 | | | Giuseppe Bergman #4: Perchance to dream | Milo Manara | | 1990 | | | H.R. Gigers Necronomicon 2 | H.R. Giger | | 1986 | | | Hearts of Sand | Loustal | | 1991 | | | Heartthrobs | Max Cabanes | | 1991 | | | Hidden Camera | Milo Manara | | 1990 | | | The Hunting Party | Enki Bilal | Pierre Christin | 1990 | | | Ice Age #1: Blind Mists | | | 1990 | | | Ice Age #2: Death Bird | Christian Gine | Didier Convard | 1991 | | | Indian Summer | Milo Manara | Hugo Pratt | 1989 | | | Jeremiah #13: Strike | Hermann | | 1990 | | | Joe's Bar | José Muñoz | Carlos Sampayo | 1987 | | | Justine | Guido Crepax | | 1991 | | | Killer Condom | Ralf König | | 1991 | | | Kogaratsu #1: The Bloody Lotus | Marc Michetz | | 1990 | | | Kogaratsu #2: Treasure of Eta | Marc Michetz | Bosse | 1991 | | | Kogaratsu #3: Spring of Betrayals | Marc Michetz | Bosse | 1991 | | | Light and Bold | Jordi Bernet | | 1990 | | | Little Ego | Vittorio Giardino | | 1989 | | | Love Machine | Horacio Altuna | | 1991 | | | Love Shots | Loustal | Philippe Paringaux | 1988 | | | Mark of the Dog | | | 1991 | | | A Matter of Time | Juan Gimenez | | 1985 | | | Max Friedman #1: Hungarian Rhapsody | Vittorio Giardino | | 1987 | | | Max Friedman #2: Orient Gateway | Vittorio Giardino | | 1987 | | | Morbus Gravis | Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri | | 1990 | | | Necron #1 | Magnus | | 1989 | | | Necron #2 | Magnus | | 1990 | | | Necron #3 | Magnus | | 1991 | | | New York/Miami | Loustal | Philippe Paringaux | 1990 | | | Nikopol #1: Gods in Chaos | Enki Bilal | | 1988 | | | Nikopol #2: Woman Trap | Enki Bilal | | 1988 | | | Outer States | Enki Bilal | | 1990 | | | Paper Man | Milo Manara | | 1986 | | | Peter Pank | Max | | 1991 | | | Pioneers of the Human Adventure | François Boucq | | 1989 | | | The Ranks of the Black Order | Enki Bilal | Pierre Christin | 1989 | | | RanXerox #1: RanXerox in New York | Tanino Liberatore | Stefano Tamburini | 1984 | | | RanXerox #2: Happy Birthday Lubna | Tanino Liberatore | Stefano Tamburini | 1985 | | | Realms | Paul Kirchner | | 1987 | | | Rebel | Pepe Moreno | | 1986 | | | Remember Jonathan | Cosey | | 1990 | | | Rocco Vargas, The Astral Adventures of #1: Triton | Daniel Torres | | 1986 | | | Rocco Vargas, The Astral Adventures of #2: The Whisperer Mystery | Daniel Torres | | 1990 | | | Rocco Vargas, The Astral Adventures of #3: Saxon | Daniel Torres | | 1990 | | | Romantic Flower | Silvio Cadelo | | 1990 | | | Shooting Stars | Rod Kierkegaard Jr. | | 1987 | | | Shorts | Milo Manara | | 1989 | | | Snowman | Milo Manara | Alfredo Castelli | 1990 | | | Squeak the Mouse | Massimo Mattioli | | 1989 | | | Stella Norris #1: Hurricane | Roberto Baldazzini | Lorena Canossa | 1991 | | | Superwest Comics | Massimo Mattioli | | 1987 | | | Tex Arcana #1: Tex Arcana | John Findley | | 1987 | | | Tex Arcana #2: Tex Arcana Meets the Toast of Europe/Part 1 | John Findley | | 1991 | | | The Last Voyage of Sindbad | Richard Corben | | 1988 | | | The Magician's Wife | François Boucq | Jérôme Charyn | 1987 | | | The Man from Harlem | Guido Crepax | | 1987 | | | The Specialist: Full Moon in Dendera | Magnus | | 1987 | | | The Survivor #1: The Survivor | Paul Gillon | | 1990 | | | The Survivor #2: The Heir | Paul Gillon | | 1991 | | | The Talking Head | | | 1990 | | | Torpedo 1936 #1 | Alex Toth, Jordi Bernet | Enrique Sánchez Abulí | 1984 | | | Torpedo 1936 #2 | Jordi Bernet | Enrique Sánchez Abulí | 1985 | | | Torpedo 1936 #3 | Jordi Bernet | Enrique Sánchez Abulí | 1986 | | | Torpedo 1936 #4 | Jordi Bernet | Enrique Sánchez Abulí | 1987 | | | Torpedo 1936 #5 | Jordi Bernet | Enrique Sánchez Abulí | 1988 | | | Torpedo 1936 #6 | Jordi Bernet | Enrique Sánchez Abulí | 1991 | | | Torpedo 1936 #7 | Jordi Bernet | Enrique Sánchez Abulí | 1991 | | | The Towers of Bois-Maury # 3 Germain | Hermann | | 1990 | | | The Town That Didn't Exist | Enki Bilal | Pierre Christin | 1989 | | | Trip to Tulum | Milo Manara | Federico Fellini | 1990 | | | Venus in Furs | Guido Crepax | | 1991 | | | Video Clips | Tanino Liberatore | Stefano Tamburini | 1985 | | | Werewolf | Richard Corben | | 1986 | | | Zeppelin | Pepe Moreno | | 1986 | | | Zora and the Hibernauts | Fernando Fernandez | | 1984 | | ::
ComCat titles
::data[format=table]
| Title | Art | Script | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blake and Mortimer #1: The Time Trap | Edgar P. Jacobs | Edgar P. Jacobs | 1989 | |
| Blake and Mortimer #2: Atlantis Mystery | Edgar P. Jacobs | Edgar P. Jacobs | 1990 | |
| Yoko Vic and Paul #1: Vulcans Forge | Roger Leloup | Roger Leloup | 1989 | |
| Yoko Vic and Paul #2: The Three Suns of Vina | Roger Leloup | Roger Leloup | 1989 | |
| Code XIII #1: Day of the Black Sun | William Vance | Jean van Hamme | 1989 | |
| Code XIII #2: Where the Indian Walks | William Vance | Jean van Hamme | 1989 | |
| Code XIII #3: All the Tears of Hell | William Vance | Jean van Hamme | 1990 | |
| Magic Crystal #1: Magic Crystal | Marc Bati | Moebius | 1989 | |
| Magic Crystal #2: Island of the Unicorn | Marc Bati | Moebius | 1990 | |
| Magic Crystal #3: Aurelys's Secret | Marc Bati | Moebius | 1990 | |
| Young Blueberry #1: Blueberry's Secret | Moebius | Jean-Michel Charlier | 1989 | |
| YoungBlueberry #2: A Yankee named Blueberry | Moebius | Jean-Michel Charlier | 1990 | |
| Young Blueberry #3: The Bluecoats | Moebius | Jean-Michel Charlier | 1990 | |
| Young Blueberry #4: Missouri Demons | Colin Wilson | Jean-Michel Charlier | 1991 | |
| Young Blueberry #5: Terror over Kansas | Colin Wilson | Jean-Michel Charlier | 1991 | |
| :: |
Notes
References
Sources
References
- Beaty, Bart. (Feb 1999). "Positive Signs: Ten Worthy Translation Projects". The Comics Journal.
- Sweeney, Bruce. (August 1986). "Bernd Metz". [[Fictioneer Books]].
- Smith, Kenneth. (May 1992). "Homage to Catalan: Burton & Cyb, Companions of the Dusk, Mark-of-the-Dog, Dark Tales, Heartthrobs, and Billy Budd KGB". The Comics Journal.
- (Jan 1986). "Catalan Starts Juvenile Imprint". The Comics Journal.
- (Nov 1986). "Catalan Adopts Ratings for Albums". The Comics Journal.
- Stewart, Bhob. (October 1984). "Screaming Metal". [[The Comics Journal]].
- ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'', 1990.
- (Apr 1991). "Catalan Offers Returns". The Comics Journal.
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