Brand New Shared Universe Prepares to Compete With Marvel and DC

In 1940, MLJ Comics (the comic book company that would later be known as Archie Comics) changed comic book history forever by having two of its superheroes, the Shield and the Wizard, team-up for a crossover event. This was the first time that two superheroes existed in a "shared universe." The concept was soon adopted by other comic book companies, as well, but it wasn't until Marvel Comics in the 1960s that the shared universe became a central focus of a company's identity. Since then, shared universes have been a common concept, from Valiant Comics to Dark Horse's Comics Greatest World to Image Comics' current Massive-Verse.

Now, a brand-new independent comic book company, Summit Comics, will also be joining the list of superhero shared universes next year. The comic book company is made up of an all-star list of independent comic book creators who have raised, between them, over half a million dollars in crowdfunding for their various projects over the years, and now they will all be working together as part of the Summit Universe.

Who is part of Summit Comics?

Travis Gibb (Upheaval, Cthulhu Invades) will be Summit's Publisher, Devin Arscott (Noir, Magni the Mighty) will be Summit's Editor-in-Chief, and Adam Barnhardt (SH*TSHOW, Moonspawn) will be Summit's Chief Creative Officer.

The other creators who will be part of Summit's initial launch will be: CJ Hudson (Granite, Interstellar Dust), Marcus Jimenez (Techoknights, Knight From Hell), Eric Palicki (Guardians of Infinity, Black’s Myth), Brayden Viloria (Haven), J. Michael Miller (Kid Crustaceous), Nate Schachter (The CloakRoom), Cam Kerkau (Gilgamesh), Daniel Kalban (American Dreams, Knightwrath), Brian Wolf (Upheaval), Benjamin Morse (We Are Scarlet Twilight), and letterer Jerome Gagnon.

How will you be able to read Summit Comics?

The main comic that will launch the Summit Universe is Summit: Pinnacle, an annual anthology that will feature different creators telling stories in different parts of the shared universe. Those stories will continue in the bi-monthly comic book series, Summit Jump, which is inspired by the weekly shōnen manga titles. Select characters will then receive their own solo limited series. Gibb’s Upheaval, and CJ Hudson’s Granite are two solo titles that are already planned.

What do the creators of Summit Comics have to say about the project?

Summit Publisher Travis Gibb noted in a press release that the company sent out that, “Over the years, countless creators have approached me about joining their publishing companies. Many have dreams of becoming the next Image Comics. But it wasn’t until I met the team behind SUMMIT that I truly felt compelled to jump on board. SUMMIT is built on a love of superheroes, with the goal of creating a connected universe filled with stories that truly matter. This group of creators want to build something that lasts and tells stories in unique ways that can create the next generation of heroes.”

Editor-in-Chief Devon Arscott added, “Comics are a special medium, one of celebration for the arts that combine written word and visual narrative driven art together. SUMMIT is built on the love of that medium, utilizing superheroes as the vehicle for that love. Our team has come together to show everyone that you can build something special that lasts forever with talent from across the industry to tell amazing stories with a diverse cast of characters. Join us at the SUMMIT on our journey to the pinnacle of storytelling."

Finally, Chief Creative Officer Adam Barnhardt summed things up by stating,“There's a delicate balance to what we're doing with SUMMIT, one that was the reader at the forefront of our creative process. We don't want to get to a point where someone has to read through decades' worth of back issues to understand what's going on. Instead, we've crafted a tale that allows us to tell this story in year-long chunks without the need for reboots, renumbering, or revamping.”

You can join the Summit Comics newsletter if you want to find out more about the characters in the Summit Universe, and when in 2026 Summit: Pinnacle will be released.