A little more consolidation as the year wraps up: Ablaze Publishing has announced they have acquired NBM Publishing in an asset purchase. Ablaze will acquire NBM’s full publishing catalog, all active contracts with creators and licensors, and the transfer of editorial operations into Ablaze’s infrastructure, with NBM co-founder Terry Nantier taking on a consultant role as packager with several titles on their way for 2026. Bill Schanes negotiated the deal.
NBM will continue to operate as an imprint under the Ablaze brand, while moving to Ablaze’s marketing and distribution through Simon & Schuster, Lunar, Universal and Diamond UK.
Founded by Terry Nantier and the long forgotten Beall and Minoustchine in 1976, (hence the NBM part, although the company was first known as Flying Buttress), NBM has been one of the quiet veterans of graphic novel publishing, surviving uproars, recessions and everything else the comics industry could throw at it. They established themselves as one of the earliest homes for translated French comics in the US, later adding some manga titles, and a successful kids line, Papercutz, which was sold to Mad Cave in 2022. As noted in the PR, NBM was also a pioneer of the graphic novel format itself in the US:
NBM publishing also pioneered the sale of graphic novels in traditional US bookstores and has long held a distinguished place in comics and graphic-novel history, publishing translated European classics, adult graphic fiction, and literary comics. The authors in their history include: Hugo Pratt, P. Craig Russell, Will Eisner, Jon Muth, Dave McKean, Milo Manara, Lewis Trondheim, Etienne Davodeau, Cyril Pedrosa and helped launch the careers of Rick Geary, Brooklyn Adams, Brandon Graham, and Jesse Lonergan among others. Ablaze Publishing’s acquisition of NBM brings together NBM’s rich catalog and legacy with Ablaze’s dynamic growth and global outreach.
Ablaze, founded in 2019 by Rich Young, has had a similar interest in translated comics, focusing on lesser known works from non-Japanese Asian publishers, (although they also published some manga), originals, and pick-ups from places like Comixology Originals. Fairly recently they started picking up more Franco-Belgian comic, so the move makes sense given that interest, with plans to expand into international markets, boost its back-list program, and launch more creator-owned collaborations.
“We are thrilled to welcome the entire NBM Publishing team, catalog, and legacy into the Ablaze family. NBM’s unique position as one of North America’s earliest graphic-novel houses, its strong European-comics list and reputation for editorial excellence make it the perfect complement to Ablaze’s global comics vision,” said Ablaze founder Rich Young in a statement.
Nantier added, “I appreciate the diversity of Ablaze´s catalog which NBM will become a part of. I’m looking forward to joining the Ablaze team and for NBM to begin its next chapter crossing the threshold of fifty years pioneering and championing the graphic novel form. It has been a true labor of love to build NBM into a home for translated European graphic novels and literary comics. Joining forces with Ablaze ensures that our founders’ mission lives on and our catalog reaches even more readers worldwide.”
Nantier was a 19-year-old college student when he co-founded NBM in 1976, and with 50 years of publishing behind him, he’s allowed to step away to enjoy more free time. Hopefully he will get his due as one of the longest lasting indie comics publishers in history.
