Publisher Spotlight: Self Made Hero

Self Made Hero are another London based independent comics publisher established in 2007. The thing that makes Self Made Hero stand out from other independent publishers in London is their central focus on bringing us the best graphic adaptations of the best literary work. They split their releases into themed series including Manga Shakespeare, Eye Classics, Crime Classics, and Graphic Biography. Their Eye Classics series has established comic artists such as Martin Rowson, and Andrzej Klimowski , as well as relative newcomer Catherine Anyango tackle Laurence Sterne Mikhail Bulgakov, and Joseph Conrad. These aren't just straightforward adaptations either, each artist is given license to add postmodern twists and even their own jokes.
Perhaps their most well received release however, was the Johnny Cash biography by Reinhard Kleist entitled I See A Darkness. This is a biography that will probably attract even those who aren't really the biggest fans of Cash's music. Visually it taps into the dark underbelly of Cash's life with it's noir style use of black and white and occasional surreal elements.
Also coming soon in this series is Gonzo: A Graphic Biography of Hunter S Thompson and Dance By The Light of The Moon by Judith Vanistendael, the first biography published by Self Made Hero about someone who isn't really famous. Dance By The Light of The Moon is a semi-autobiographical story inspired by the authors love affair with a political refugee from Togo, beautifully rendered in lush brush strokes reminiscent of Craig Thompson's Blankets.
Finally Self Made Hero have just started to branch out into gift books based on comic book charecters and will be releasing several Moomins inspired books including a Moomins cook book!
Self Made Hero's reputation is deservedly growing and hopeful with continue to do so, Anyango's adaptation of Heart of Darkness is the latest of their releases to be heaped with praise.
Check out their website here.