Lion Forge Comics

Lion Forge Comics was an American comic book publisher founded in 2011 by David Steward II and Carl Reed, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. One of the few Black-owned publishers in mainstream comics, the company operated under the motto 'Comics for Everyone' with a strong commitment to diverse creators and stories. Lion Forge began as a digital publisher before expanding into print, launching the superhero imprint Catalyst Prime in 2016 (overseen by editor Joe Illidge) and building multiple imprints including Roar (YA/teen), CubHouse (children's), Caracal (middle grade), Quillion (tabletop gaming), and Magnetic Collection (translated international titles). Notable publications include Upgrade Soul (2016 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics) and Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven. In May 2019, Lion Forge merged with Oni Press under parent company Polarity to form Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, with the Lion Forge name becoming largely dormant in comics publishing by 2022. Founder David Steward II subsequently launched Lion Forge Animation (2019) and Lion Forge Entertainment, which he describes as one of the only Black-owned animation studios in the world. Lion Forge Entertainment's Iyanu: Child of Wonder (based on Roye Okupe's YouNeek Studios comics) premiered as a series on Cartoon Network and Max in 2025.