We are: Carter Allen, Ian Bennett, Will Grant, Jeremy Smith, and John Ira Thomas.

"Deep in the heart of Iowa, the boys at Candle Light Press are rebuilding the American superhero graphic novel so that that the term "novel" won't be so arbitrary when applied to comic books."
--L J Douresseaux

Candle Light Press is five individuals who make comics collectively. By birth we're two Iowans, a North Dakotan, a Kansan and a Colorado-an. Go fish. We all ended up in the Iowa City/Coralville area at a time when we were all beginning to put our comics into the world. We met by finding each other's comics, zine-style stuff that the local comics stores were nice enough to consign for us. Carter's was 252Z, a comic-sized black and white comic about people changed forever by a sudden elemental event. They all happened to be together for one special moment and their destinies were as a result intertwined. Ian's was CUKA AND CHAMEAL (written by his sister Hanna), about a duo who undergo a special transformation to fight a status quo that wanted them to be the same as everybody else. Will's book was NIGHTCRAWLERS (written by Mike Ayers), about a group of very different people who band together to survive a harsh and brutal world. Mine and Jeremy's was NIGHT ANGEL, about a man who knew there was something else to the world other than brutality and black-and-white morality. No wonder we all thought that banding together was a good idea.

That's us: Candle Light Press. Together we make books that entertain, challenge and reveal. There are an awful lot of independent comics that are just more of what you can get from the big boys cheaper and more often. The thing that makes a graphic novel or comic independent isn't just who paid for the printing--it's the voice. An independent voice challenges; it offers a critique of the status quo by merely existing. That said, it's also a good thing if the book is good too. We work toward making each book unique unto itself; we have a strong belief in narrative. We're not what you're looking for; we're something you find.

Put these characters in a row:

--an indigent optimist who lives in a refrigerator box and wonders what the fuss about houses is. If only he could stay fed, then maybe the right life for a human is down on street level somewhere.

--an introverted teen who listens to his inner frog and involves himself in the world instead of remaining a passive observer.

--a woman alone at the edge of the universe who doesn't miss civilization as much as she thought.

--a priest who finds the power to act on his beliefs but realizes some things should stay as "what if".

--a psychopath who finds himself well-armed when nobody's in their right mind.

--a polar bear who learns to read and moves to Texas because all polar bears are not made the same.

--a grunt in a future war for Earth wondering what survival really means.

That's Candle Light Press. The stories?

--Alien race invades earth, finds trouble walking in the form of Agents Red and Black.

--A polar bear, a prairie dog/man, a talking chicken and a guy with a six foot tongue protect a trailer park.

--The Scrounge gets a job at Circus Freak Burger and starts to wonder if living in a box isn't better.

--Jake listens to his imaginary friend Wilbur the frog, goes out for basketball and chases girls.

--Someone with the power to tear out memories has chosen one person in the city he protects to bear the brunt of his rage, to be his whipping post.

--The universe has to end somewhere, and it's ending at Andee's place.

--Two friends who murder in the name of God and Justice are at odds when one realizes he serves neither and that the other doesn't care.

That's Candle Light Press. The moments?

--Superpencil goes on a rampage through the school! (LEAP YEARS)

--The FREE LADY stands up and takes a swing at Voyd terror! (DUB TRUB: Our World Is In Danger Now!)

--Mr. Way realizes the headache is coming from Samdy's belly. (MAN IS VOX: Paingels)

--The Scrounge becomes a dandelion! (THE SCROUNGE WUZ HERE!)

--Captain Cat has a catnip-fueled breakdown and reveals his secret identity. (ZOO FORCE: Bean and Nothingness)

--EARL delivers a final message to Andee. (AND THE SKY TURNED WHITE...)

--Det. Scanlon describes how he screwed up the get-together with the neighbors after recognizing someone from his days in Vice. (NUMBERS: A Tale of Shades and Angels)

--Ledford explains the Rapture to the Fearsome Shade. (MAN IS VOX: Barracudae)

--The Instectrons attack! (DUB TRUB 2: The Peacemakers)

--Det. Hobbes and the Fearsome Shade bump into each other in a parking lot. (THE FAIRER SEX v1: A Tale of Shades and Angels)

--Pythagoras explains the challenges of getting a library card for a polar bear. (ZOO FORCE: Dear Eniko)

That's Candle Light Press.