523:
The
Williams line of publishers didn't turn a profit for Warner Communications, and before long the company decided to forego the periodical publishing business in Europe. In 1974 it began closing and selling off the various branches, completing the process by 1979. The flagship U.K. branch was
352:. Following suit, the Williams name took over the former Gilberton branches in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, with new Williams branches being founded in Finland, Italy, and shortly, in France. (On February 10, 1972, Kinney's entertainment assets were reincorporated as
244:. Comics titles were for the most part translations of American publications — many of them Warner properties — as well as some U.K. and European titles. Initiated in 1971, most of the Williams publishing divisions were closed or sold off in the period 1974–1979.
1460:
531:
Although many of the
Williams divisions — in France, Italy, and Norway — went defunct, a few continued publishing under new owners. In West Germany, the Williams branch was acquired by editor
270:
branch companies — in
Denmark (I.K. ), the Netherlands (Classics), Norway (Illustrerte Klassikere), Sweden (Illustrerade Klassiker), and West Germany (Internationale Klassiker) — to translate
1475:
315:) in 1966. That same year, Thorpe & Porter, after going bankrupt, was also bought by National; this sale included all the Gilberton World-Wide Productions European branches.
1490:
1445:
535:
in 1974, with his family keeping the
Williams name in various forms until 1991 (with the publisher itself lasting until 1995). In 1975, the Swedish branch was acquired by
1485:
1455:
543:
in the summer of 1976; Interpresse was the dominant comics publisher in
Denmark into the mid-1980s. The Dutch branch of Williams was acquired in 1979 by the publisher
511:. Many copies of those magazines were seized and forfeited in a series of British police raids in 1972 and again in 1975. In response, in 1976 Williams created the
1450:
697:
1218:
414:, an original British comic. There was some variation of titles in each country, depending on the tastes of the various European audiences.
976:
378:
The various
Williams divisions produced very little original comics, mostly focusing on translations of Warner/DC Comics properties like
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852:
816:
348:. At this point, in the summer of 1971, with Thorpe & Porter now part of Warner, the T & P U.K. brand was mostly replaced by
422:
292:
The first use of the
Williams name began in 1965, when Gilberton's Swedish branch, Illustrerade Klassiker, was reorganized into
918:
345:
308:
758:
1045:
691:
491:
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1465:
417:
The flagship U.K. branch of
Williams, however, had some creative energy in the period 1976–1978. Comics editor
1201:
Vol. 1: "SF Crime Horror
Westerns & Comics" (Wilts, UK: Zeon Publishing / Zardoz Books, 1993), pp. 16–29.
285:
shifted from
Gilberton's New York offices to Thorpe & Porter in London, with the founder/publisher's son,
539:, which was the dominant comics publisher in Sweden through the mid-1990s. The Danish branch was acquired by
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296:. (Bill Kanter was very involved with Gilberton World-Wide Productions, so one theory is that the name
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In West Germany, Internationale Klassiker became Bildschriftverlag (BSV). BSV was acquired by
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252:
Williams evolved from Gilberton World-Wide Publications, the European-language divisions of
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451:
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121:
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397:
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281:(T & P), ostensibly for the same purpose. In 1962, the production of new issues of
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Bill Kanter had become an editor at Gilberton in 1946. He was instrumental in getting
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The U.K. Williams also produced "saucy" books and posters, as well as a line of
229:
17:
1197:
Chibnall, Steve. "The Sign of the Tee Pee: The Story of Thorpe & Porter,"
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In 1971, Warner's international distribution operations merged with
547:, which continued a few titles, but which itself only lasted until
1002:
225:
322:
acquired National Comics Publications and its sister publisher,
1098:
Bildschriftenverlag / Williams Department (until Sept. 1973)
208:
in the 1970s. Headquartered at the Columbia-Warner House in
515:
imprint for its "mature" comics and adults-only magazines.
1082:
Former Williams employees in Sweden immediately formed
614:(Swedish girls' comic), Superman, Tarzan/Korak, Western
455:. Skinn's comics were mostly published under Williams’
1461:
Comic book publishing companies of the United Kingdom
1016:
Acquired by Klaus Recht; publisher lasted until 1995
160:
Williams Publishing and Distributing Co. Ltd. (U.K.)
151:
139:
131:
115:
105:
95:
83:
71:
53:
45:
37:
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1174:
277:In 1959, Gilberton acquired the British publisher
1341:, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 30, 2021.
1326:, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 30, 2021.
1314:, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021.
1286:, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021.
1274:, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
1262:, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
1183:, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021.
1110:Delta Williams Recht Verlag (July 1989–Nov. 1991)
266:'s popularity, Gilberton established a number of
1138:
1136:
1134:
1334:
1332:
1233:Dakin, John. "'Marvel Revolution' in England,"
698:Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
212:, Williams had European-language divisions in
1476:Defunct comics and manga publishing companies
896:Williams Publishing and Distributing Co. Ltd.
350:Williams Publishing and Distributing Co. Ltd.
8:
960:in 1977 and went defunct shortly thereafter
421:, who came to the company from UK publisher
262:. In the period 1956–1957, at the height of
32:
1491:Publishing companies disestablished in 1979
1039:distributed nationally in the U.S. through
289:, overseeing everything beginning in 1963.
1193:
1191:
1189:
558:
31:
1446:1971 establishments in the United Kingdom
1168:, 2d ed. (McFarland & Company, 2017).
1486:Publishing companies established in 1971
1456:British companies disestablished in 1979
1166:Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History
1160:
1158:
1156:
1154:
1152:
1104:Klaus Recht Verlag (Oct. 1974-June 1975)
513:General Books Distribution (G.B.D. Ltd.)
449:and launched the horror-themed magazine
362:became UK CEO of Williams Publishing in
336:in the spring of 1969, rebranding it as
1130:
1028:
27:European comics and magazines publisher
1146:DezSkinn.com. Retrieved Dec. 19, 2020.
1101:Williams Verlag (Oct. 1973–Sept. 1974)
833:, Superman, Tarzan/Korak, war, Western
1451:British companies established in 1971
1107:Williams Verlag (July 1975–June 1989)
772:(Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four),
7:
1095:Publisher names under Klaus Recht:
930:(featuring Motormouse and Autocat),
1382:Edizioni Williams Inteuropa (Italy)
1199:Paperback, Pulp and Comic Collector
1013:, Spider-Man, Tarzan/Korak, Western
366:1974, with his focus mostly on the
163:Edizioni Williams Inteuropa (Italy)
25:
936:, horror, romance, Tarzan/Korak,
568:Years of operation (as Williams)
554:
528:in 1977, going defunct by 1979.
1391:Kustannus Oy Williams (Finland)
1373:Classics/Williams (Netherlands)
1296:Classics/Williams (Netherlands)
441:Larry Harmon Laurel & Hardy
166:Kustannus Oy Williams (Finland)
594:I.K. (Illustrerede klassikere)
1:
1364:BSV - Williams (West Germany)
901:
881:, Superman, Tarzan/Korak, war
810:
794:
752:
748:
679:(European children's comic),
548:
363:
196:was the short-lived European
76:
1427:Williams Förlags AB (Sweden)
651:; became Kustannus Oy Semic
571:Original name (year founded)
346:Columbia-Warner Distributors
309:National Comics Publications
184:Williams Förlags AB (Sweden)
1043:, alongside magazines like
1005:, Fantastic Four), horror,
722:Edizioni Williams Inteuropa
555:Williams' European branches
471:magazines with titles like
59:; 53 years ago
1512:
1355:Williams Publishing (U.K.)
1209:. Retrieved Dec. 28, 2020.
1144:"Warner Bros. (Williams),"
780:, Superman, Tarzan/Korak,
764:Adventure comics, Batman,
1471:Companies based in London
1046:The Saturday Evening Post
692:Casper the Friendly Ghost
1418:Williams Forlag (Norway)
977:Internationale Klassiker
647:Acquired by the Swedish
287:William E. "Bill" Kanter
181:Williams Forlag (Norway)
1237:#45 (Mar. 1979), p. 14.
334:Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
320:Kinney National Company
318:In the summer of 1967,
204:publishing division of
175:Williams (West Germany)
1324:Illustrerade klassiker
1312:Illustrerte Klassikere
1219:"Kinney Changes Name,"
1164:Jones Jr., William B.
853:Illustrerade Klassiker
817:Illustrerte Klassikere
672:Autocat and Motormouse
621:in the summer of 1976
473:Sex International News
274:into their languages.
172:Williams (Netherlands)
1431:Grand Comics Database
1422:Grand Comics Database
1413:Grand Comics Database
1404:Grand Comics Database
1395:Grand Comics Database
1386:Grand Comics Database
1377:Grand Comics Database
1368:Grand Comics Database
1359:Grand Comics Database
1300:Grand Comics Database
958:W. H. Allen & Co.
914:Benjy and His Friends
630:Kustannus Oy Williams
526:W. H. Allen & Co.
519:Decline and sell-offs
354:Warner Communications
206:Warner Communications
146:Warner Communications
87:Columbia-Warner House
1224:(February 11, 1972).
1052:Ladies' Home Journal
1037:Classics Illustrated
987:Classics Illustrated
859:Classics Illustrated
823:Classics Illustrated
766:Classics Illustrated
687:Classics Illustrated
600:Classics Illustrated
469:softcore pornography
425:, took over editing
283:Classics Illustrated
272:Classics Illustrated
264:Classics Illustrated
259:Classics Illustrated
1181:Williams Förlags AB
1084:Atlantic Förlags AB
908:Thorpe & Porter
845:Williams Förlags AB
404:comics; as well as
332:). Kinney acquired
298:Williams Publishing
294:Williams Förlags AB
279:Thorpe & Porter
194:Williams Publishing
97:Number of locations
34:
33:Williams Publishing
1400:Williams (Denmark)
1235:The Comics Journal
1222:Des Moines Tribune
1041:Curtis Circulation
1007:Laurel & Hardy
867:Laurel & Hardy
831:Laurel & Hardy
774:Laurel & Hardy
703:Laurel & Hardy
604:Laurel & Hardy
411:Laurel & Hardy
324:E. C. Publications
169:Williams (Denmark)
1248:"The End of HoH,"
1020:
1019:
827:Junior Adventures
477:True Love Stories
342:Columbia Pictures
300:was derived from
268:Northern European
191:
190:
135:Comics, magazines
16:(Redirected from
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1327:
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1260:Atlantic Förlags
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1466:Comics industry
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989:, fairy tales,
933:House of Hammer
806:Williams Forlag
793:; lasted until
768:, fairy tales,
660:Williams France
557:
521:
465:
452:House of Hammer
376:
360:Roger Noel Cook
256:, publisher of
250:
187:
178:Williams France
122:Roger Noel Cook
118:
108:
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88:
63:
61:
58:
28:
23:
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18:Williams France
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991:Fantastic Four
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892:United Kingdom
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574:Popular comics
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368:men's magazine
326:(publisher of
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49:Fiction, Humor
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950:Hanna-Barbera
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839:
836:Went defunct
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742:
739:
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735:Went defunct
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713:Went defunct
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565:Williams name
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443:. He revived
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52:
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40:
36:
30:
19:
1496:Warner Bros.
1319:
1307:
1291:
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1267:
1255:
1246:Skinn, Dez.
1242:
1234:
1229:
1221:
1214:
1198:
1165:
1142:Skinn, Dez.
1091:
1078:
1068:
1064:The Atlantic
1062:
1056:
1050:
1044:
1036:
1031:
1010:
1006:
994:
986:
983:The Avengers
968:
965:West Germany
956:Acquired by
948:
941:
937:
931:
927:
924:Golden Hours
923:
919:Fox and Crow
917:
913:
895:
884:Acquired by
878:
874:
870:
866:
862:
858:
844:
830:
826:
822:
805:
789:Acquired by
781:
777:
773:
769:
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743:
721:
706:
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696:
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686:
680:
676:
670:
659:
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629:
617:Acquired by
611:
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524:acquired by
522:
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490:
486:
480:
476:
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466:
456:
450:
444:
440:
436:
432:
426:
416:
407:Larry Harmon
405:
396:comics, and
379:
377:
358:
349:
338:Warner Bros.
327:
317:
306:
301:
297:
293:
291:
282:
276:
271:
263:
257:
251:
242:West Germany
193:
192:
84:Headquarters
29:
952:'s Fun Time
945:and His Toy
886:Semic Press
740:Netherlands
649:Semic Group
642:Rin Tin Tin
619:Interpresse
610:, romance,
541:Interpresse
537:Semic Press
533:Klaus Recht
487:Cinema Blue
457:Top Sellers
446:Monster Mag
230:Netherlands
107:Area served
1440:Categories
1120:References
999:Spider-Man
995:Hit Comics
783:Tex Willer
770:HIP Comics
384:magazine,
370:division.
117:Key people
41:Publishing
1125:Citations
973:1971–1974
879:Pellefant
849:1965–1975
813:1971–1977
726:1971–1974
708:Pellefant
664:1973–1974
634:1971–1976
590:1971–1976
463:Magazines
459:imprint.
419:Dez Skinn
313:DC Comics
304:Kanter.)
254:Gilberton
202:magazines
153:Divisions
126:Dez Skinn
75:Defunct,
1272:Kontekst
1203:Archived
969:Williams
875:My Horse
791:Kontekst
759:Classics
744:Williams
732:Superman
682:Calimero
586:Williams
545:Kontekst
509:Sensuous
482:Cinema X
386:Superman
344:to form
132:Products
38:Industry
1429:at the
1420:at the
1411:at the
1402:at the
1393:at the
1384:at the
1375:at the
1366:at the
1357:at the
1349:Sources
1298:at the
1207:Box.com
1070:Esquire
1058:Holiday
938:Toytown
863:Starlet
626:Finland
612:Starlet
582:Denmark
562:Country
398:western
311:(i.e.,
302:William
248:History
218:Finland
214:Denmark
62: (
54:Founded
1067:, and
979:(1956)
928:Fun-In
910:(1946)
855:(1956)
841:Sweden
819:(1957)
802:Norway
761:(1956)
677:Benjie
656:France
596:(1956)
551:1984.
507:, and
492:Parade
439:, and
433:Tarzan
428:MAD UK
390:Tarzan
374:Comics
240:, and
238:Sweden
234:Norway
228:, the
222:France
210:London
198:comics
141:Parent
111:Europe
89:London
1284:I.K.
1023:Notes
1003:X-Men
900:1971–
797:1984
751:1971–
718:Italy
577:Fate
501:Blade
437:Korak
394:Korak
226:Italy
46:Genre
943:Yogi
904:1978
755:1979
497:Game
400:and
392:and
200:and
79:1979
72:Fate
64:1971
57:1971
1205:at
1011:Mad
871:Mad
778:Mad
608:Mad
505:Voi
423:IPC
409:'s
402:war
381:Mad
356:).
329:Mad
1442::
1331:^
1188:^
1173:^
1151:^
1133:^
1061:,
1055:,
1049:,
1009:,
1001:,
993:,
985:,
947:/
926:,
922:,
916:,
902:c.
877:,
873:,
869:,
865:,
861:,
829:,
825:,
811:c.
795:c.
776:,
753:c.
749:c.
705:,
701:,
695:,
689:,
685:,
675:,
606:,
602:,
549:c.
503:,
499:,
495:,
489:,
485:,
479:,
475:,
435:,
431:,
388:,
364:c.
236:,
232:,
224:,
220:,
216:,
124:,
77:c.
1302:.
1086:.
1073:.
997:(
729:—
667:—
637:—
101:9
66:)
20:)
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