Fantagraphics was founded in 1976 by Gary Groth and Michael Catron in College Park, Maryland.
The first act of the new company was the takeover of an adzine named The Nostalgia Journal, which was quickly renamed The Comics Journal.

As comics journalist (and former Fantagraphics employee) Michael Dean writes, "the publisher has alternated between flourishing and nearly perishing over the years."
Kim Thompson joined the company in 1977, using his inheritance to keep the company afloat. (
He soon became a co-owner.)

The company moved from Maryland to Stamford, Connecticut.

Beginning in 1981 Fantagraphics (under its Redbeard imprint) published Amazing Heroes, a magazine which examined comics from a hobbyist's point of view.
The company decided to publish Amazing Heroes as another income stream to supplement The Comics Journal.
Amazing Heroes ran for 204 issues (plus a number of specials and annuals), folding with its July 1992 issue.
Fantagraphics was founded in 1976 by Gary Groth and Michael Catron in College Park, Maryland. The first act of the new company was the takeover of an adzine named The Nostalgia Journal, which was quickly renamed The Comics Journal.
As comics journalist (and former Fantagraphics employee) Michael Dean writes, "the publisher has alternated between flourishing and nearly perishing over the years." Kim Thompson joined the company in 1977, using his inheritance to keep the company afloat. (He soon became a co-owner.)
The company moved from Maryland to Stamford, Connecticut.
Beginning in 1981 Fantagraphics (under its Redbeard imprint) published Amazing Heroes, a magazine which examined comics from a hobbyist's point of view. The company decided to publish Amazing Heroes as another income stream to supplement The Comics Journal. Amazing Heroes ran for 204 issues (plus a number of specials and annuals), folding with its July 1992 issue.
Fantagraphics Books