Dean Mullaney

Dean Mullaney was born on June 18, 1954, in the United States. He is best known as the editor, publisher, and designer behind Eclipse Enterprises, one of the earliest independent comic-book companies, which he founded in 1977. Eclipse helped pioneer the graphic-novel format in America and was among the first publishers to champion creators' rights. Mullaney's later imprint, The Library of American Comics, launched under IDW Publishing in the 2000s, specialized in high-quality hardcover collections of classic newspaper comic strips. His most credited work as a writer includes titles such as *Corto Maltese*, *Enola Holmes*, *Jérôme K. Jérôme Bloche*, *Eclipse, the Magazine*, *Aztec Ace*, and *Elf-Thing*, with credits spanning from 1981 to 2020. Over his career, Mullaney and his projects have received seven Eisner Awards, recognizing his contributions to the preservation and presentation of comic art. His legacy lies in his dual role as an early independent publisher who expanded the possibilities of the medium and as a curator who brought vintage comic strips to new audiences.