The Bookseller – News – Random House Worlds takes over Keanu Reeves’ comic publishing company BOOM! Studios

Random House Worlds has agreed to acquire Los Angeles-based comic book and graphic novel publisher BOOM! Studios, the publisher behind actor Keanu Reeves’ book “The Matrix.” BRZRKR comic series. BOOM! Studios will retain editorial and publishing independence. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the transaction is expected to close this summer.

Ross Richie, founder and chairman of BOOM!, reports to Scott Shannon, president of Random House Worlds. BOOM! Studios titles will continue to be distributed directly by Diamond Comic Distributors and through Simon & Schuster in bookstores.

BOOM! Studios was founded in 2005 by Richie and publishes under four different brands – BOOM! Studios, BOOM! Box, KaBOOM! and Archaia. It has the BRZRKR Series, created and written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt and drawn by Ron Garney, as well as Power Rangers, Dune, The Expanse, Garfield, Firefly, LabyrinthAnd The DArk Crystal.

Random House Worlds is a portfolio of imprints within the Random House Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, which also includes Del Rey and Inklore.

Richie said: “It’s every entrepreneur’s dream to start a business, build it and sell it to the best. I’m excited to hand over the reins of BOOM! to the best and biggest publisher in the world. Their focus on readers and retail partnerships will build on our work and help our creators become even more successful. For me personally, it’s time to take some much-needed time off with my family and explore what’s next.”

Shannon said: “The acquisition of BOOM! Studios is an important step for Penguin Random House to expand its support of the direct-to-consumer comics market and an important part of our commitment to be the best publisher for authors of all categories. We are excited to continue that tradition with BOOM! as part of the Random House Publishing Group.”