Eclipse Comics records
Scope and Contents
The first items of the Eclipse Collection were deposited in the MSU Special Collections in 1986. Materials were deposited by Dean Mullaney, Cat Yronwode, and Scott Demming until 2003. The materials in the Eclipse Collection offer a unique look into the comic industry and show the interaction between artist and the publisher. Files may include original artwork, financial records, printing proofs, layouts, correspondence, photographs, run sheets and other media.
Dates
- Creation: 198--
Creator
- Eclipse Comics (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Access
The material is stored offsite in Remote Storage. Please contact Special Collections 3 working days in advance if you wish to use it.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright is retained by the authors of the items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. For photocopy and duplication requests, please contact the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections, Michigan State University Libraries.
Biographical / Historical
Eclipse was formed in 1977 by brothers Jan and Dean Mullaney. As one of the new wave of independent comic book publishers during the 1980's, Eclipse focused on not only traditional comic books, but also branched out into graphic novels and trading cards. The Eclipse Monthly gained popularity throughout the 1980's by collecting Eclipse comics in one volume. These monthly anthologies helped grow the brand and led readers to the comic series published under Eclipse. Cat Yronwode, wife of Dean Mullaney, served as editor in chief and helped expand the company, as well as being an important influence on the direction and catalogue the company would take during her time there. In 1986 the Eclipse warehouse was flooded and many of the back-issue stock were lost. Eclipse officially ceased to operate in 1994.
Extent
80 Linear Feet (81 boxes) : portfolia :ill. ; Box 7: 12x10x5 Box 67: 15x10x5 Box 79: 25x19x2.75 All else: 15x12x10.5
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following series: Series I, Administration: Boxes 1-9, correspondence, invoices, run Sheets, contracts, ephemera, publisher packets, legal notices, press releases, freelance vouchers, and other material relating to the operations of Eclipse Enterprises. Includes materials created or edited by employees of Eclipse, but not published by Eclipse. Series II, Production Materials of Published Works: Boxes 10-70, Correspondence, Artwork, Inks, Pencils, Published Issues, Proposals, Plots, Scripts, Ephemera, Transparencies, Layouts, Run sheets, and other material relating to published works by Eclipse. Series III, Production Materials of Unpublished Works: Boxes 70-77, Correspondence, Artwork, Pencils, Proposals, Plots, Scripts, Layouts, Run and other material relating to published works by Eclipse, and other material relating to unpublished works proposed to or by Eclipse. Series IV, Mixed Media and Oversized Items: Boxes 78-79, Mixed Media - Audio/Video items, Oversized material
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired between 1983-2003 in donations by Dean Mullaney, Cat Yronwode, and Scott Demming.
Alternate Title
Eclipse Comics deadfiles (Eclipse Archives)
Processing Information
Processed by Jeremy Rudlaff in the Summer 2013.
Subject
- Eclipse Comics (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Eclipse Comics records
- Status
- 4 Published And Cataloged
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Jeremy Rudlaff.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections Repository