Silverline is a genre spanning independent comic book and graphic novel publisher.
WHO
BJ Mann: CEO
Roland Mann: EIC and Publisher
Barb Kaalberg: CFO
John Metych III: Continuity Editor
Kurtis Fujita: Creative Director/Editor
Tim T.K.: Associate Editor
Brad Thomte: Logo Design
Mike W. Belcher: Production Designer
Scott Wakefield: Associate Editor
Brett Mann: Online Streaming Tech
Jeff Whiting: I.T.
Dante Barry: Traffic Coordinator
Eric Sims: Administrative Intern
History
Silverline began way back in the late 80s at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. While trying to drum up support for his then girlfriend’s (now wife BJ) run for Homecoming Court, Roland Mann spotted a painting of a hero he’d never seen before. It was a painting of an original character created by Steven Butler. The two exchanged notes about their desire to break into the comic industry (and their stacks of rejection letters), and agreed to meet up later to talk comics.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were at the forefront of an independent comic revolution then, so Roland and Steven decided independent comics would be the route to take to “break in.” Roland had been working with long time friend Barry Gregory for years trying to figure out “making comics,” and Steven’s art fit the bill. One of Steven’s suite-mates was Mitch Byrd, and they went on to create Cat & Mouse, SilverStorm, and an anthology title would lead into a team book title Hero Task Force.
Initially, they went with the name Top Comics. Mitch designed a logo and solicitations were sent to all the distributors (there were more than just Diamond in those days). Orders for about 4,400 copies rolled in.
It was there that things got jammed. Roland and Steven didn’t have the money to actually print and ship the comics — they were still in college, after all. Additionally, none of the banks in Hattiesburg would loan them money to print the comics.
So, orders were cancelled and plan B was enacted. As fate would have it, a local comic shop owner knew someone who had just started a small press company and was looking for content. That company was EF Graphics run by John Drury. Roland and Steven signed with EFG; Cat & Mouse was the first title. It was to be followed by SilverStorm (written by Thomas Fortenberry); followed by an anthology title with stories by Barry Gregory…which would lead into a team book: The Hero Task Force.
But since they weren’t publishing, they couldn’t really use Top Comics as a name. This was before the idea of all the “studios” popped up later, but that’s kind of what they were. After some time, they settled on the name Silverline. The idea was that since they loved the SILVER AGE of comics, they wanted to do comics that had a modern sensibility with a silver age spirit. They’d be a “line” of comics from EFG…Therefore, they would be “the Silver Line.” That was shortened to one word…and that is how the name came about.
Brett gets a call from his ex-fiance who asks him to go to New Orleans to get her kid sister and bring her home. Not anxious to do it (she IS his ex, after all), he decides it is the right thing to do because he is studying to be a police officer.
So he heads to New Orleans and recruits the help of his friend and current police officer and they discover she is entangled in a human trafficking ring. Brett must find a way to get her un-entangled and get her home.
In the far distant future, mankind has seeded the entire universe and people are spread across millions of planets in every known solar system. The greatest achievement of this evolution is the Empire of Haven centered on the planet Nirvana and administered by the beloved personage of the All Mother. One night, while asleep, she is visited by the ghost of an ancient alien race who warns of an impending doom beyond anything ever conceived by the mind of man, a cloud of death reaching out from… beyond the stars.
Eleven year old Divinity Gray’s life changes forever after the suspicious death of her parents. Marine Sgt Zach Gray, the older brother she barely knows, becomes her guardian, but when he discovers Divinity’s mysterious healing powers, their lives take a dangerous turn. With the help of a few friends, Zach and Divinity must go on the run to keep Divinity–and her powers–out of the hands of an evil cabal.
In the 1960’s, astronaut Scott Anders blasted off into orbit as part of a secret government-sponsored space program. Its purpose was to investigate a phenomenon in deep space known as the Kayless Rift. Three days later, Scott’s ship disappeared. The mission was covered up and forgotten.
Today, Scott’s ship crash lands back to earth. He emerges from the wreckage, barely aged since he left… and he’s not the same man he used to be.
Where has Scott been? What does he plan to do now? And what did he find out there? As Scott navigates a new world now foreign to him, he will face off against elusive government agents, a secret society that has been awaiting his return, and the seemingly insurmountable challenge that drives him – to return to the rift in space. And how is it connected to a group of terrorists planning an attack on Los Angeles?
A towering wall bisects the city of Hallowed Heights. On one side of the wall live the upper and middle classes: the respectable elements of society. On the other side of the wall, in a decadent and depraved sector called The Blood Zone, dwell the poor, the homeless, the physically and mentally derelict, the disenfranchised. The hopeless and the helpless.
And the vampires.
By mutual agreement, the bloodsuckers are free to do as they please inside The Blood Zone. No hand is raised against them. Except that of a mysterious young man known only as —
After tangling with a couple of thugs in a burning building, Dan’s personal physician invites him to get away with him to New Orleans where he is opening a new clinic. Dan accepts, and the two go to New Orleans, only to have Dan trouble him. All this, and Ms Fury, too!
Teenager Blake Northrup rediscovers the formula to Vitamin 2x, the potion that allowed Dan Garret to become the original Blue Beetle, and he goes into action as Teen Beetle.
Clubs are trumps and have declared war on Diamonds in an effort to assert their authority and power on a world called The Deck.
The Queen of Diamonds lies ill as her city is under the constant bombardment from the Clubs army. The Spades have the run of Heart city, but the Jack of Hearts leads a small army to attack Spade City.
