Bliss Comics, a French publisher founded in 2013 by Christophe Brunet, releases French-language (VF) editions of titles from Boom! Studios, Image Comics, and Lion Forge. Their catalog spans over 200 volumes: Lumberjanes, Wicked + Divine, Saga, Power Rangers, Giant Days. Average print runs of 1,500–3,000 copies, with stable secondary market values.
When Christophe Brunet launched Bliss Comics in 2013 out of Toulouse, the French comics publishing landscape was essentially down to three players: Panini Comics (Marvel catalog since 1996), Urban Comics (DC catalog since 2012), and Delcourt (partial Image Comics catalog plus various licenses). Glénat Comics had been around since 2010 but remained confined to hybrid manga-comics licenses. A fourth independent publisher entering the space was far from a foregone conclusion — especially one targeting a niche: American independent comics from Boom! Studios and Lion Forge, titles that had never before been released in French. Thirteen years on, Bliss Comics has published more than 200 volumes and established a number of series as essential reads in France: Lumberjanes (Boom! Box), Wicked + Divine (Image), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Boom!), Giant Days (Boom!), Klaus (Boom!), and more recently Once & Future (Boom!) and Something Is Killing The Children (Boom!).
Bliss's business model differs radically from the two industry giants: smaller print runs (1,500 to 3,000 copies on average versus 5,000 to 20,000 at Panini and Urban), distribution primarily through independent bookstores and specialty comics shops, and community-focused outreach at festivals (Angoulême, Comic Con Paris, Lyon BD). This strategy let Bliss occupy a space the major publishers were ignoring — American independent comics with strong critical credentials but a more niche audience. For the French collector, these Bliss volumes represent an interesting investment opportunity today: the limited print runs mechanically create future scarcity, unlike Panini or Urban titles that get reprinted on a regular basis.
Origins of Bliss Comics: How an Independent Publisher Was Born in 2013
Bliss Comics officially launched in July 2013, founded by Christophe Brunet, a former specialty bookseller and lifelong fan of American independent comics. The business structure: a SARL (French private limited company) based in Toulouse, with an initial team of three — Brunet, a translator, and a graphic designer. The first title published was Hellboy in Hell by Mike Mignola in September 2013, with a print run of around 2,000 copies — a Dark Horse Comics license that Delcourt had passed on. That debut choice already telegraphed Bliss's positioning: pick up the orphaned or overlooked licenses that the established players had left on the table. In the months that followed came Lumberjanes (first volume, December 2014) and Saga vol. 1 (October 2014), the latter released in partnership directly with Image Comics.
The distribution deal with Boom! Studios was signed in late 2013. That California-based publisher, founded in 2005 by Ross Richie, had an active catalog of around 40 series at the time — none of which had found a French publisher. Bliss secured the exclusive French-language rights to Lumberjanes, Adventure Time, Bee and Puppycat, Steven Universe (Cartoon Network licenses), Power Rangers (Saban/Hasbro license), and the entire Boom! Box line. The contract was renewed in 2018 and again in 2023. For Lion Forge Comics (a St. Louis-based publisher founded in 2011 and acquired by Polarity in 2019), Bliss primarily published the Catalyst Prime line — a superhero universe launched in 2017 whose French sales remained modest (around 1,200 copies per volume according to industry estimates).
The Bliss editorial team has stayed lean: as of 2026, it consists of five full-time employees plus a network of eight freelance translators. The release pace runs at roughly 35 to 45 volumes per year — about ten times fewer than Panini or Urban. That smaller scale allows for close attention to production quality: standard 130 gsm offset paper, hardcover bindings on flagship series, and sewn-and-glued spines on the hardcover line. The price range runs from €12.90 (Lumberjanes softcover) to €39.90 (Klaus omnibus hardcover).
The Bliss Comics Catalog: Boom! Studios, Flagship Series, and Print Runs
The Bliss Comics catalog breaks down into four main collections. The Boom! Box collection gathers the young adult and feminist-oriented titles: Lumberjanes (24 volumes published in French between 2014 and 2024, translated by Mathieu Auverdin), Giant Days (14 volumes, 2016–2023), Goldie Vance (4 volumes), The Backstagers (3 volumes). Lumberjanes remains the publisher's best-selling title, with an estimated average print run of 3,500 copies per volume and multiple reprints of volumes 1 through 5. The series won the 2015 Eisner Award (Best Publication for Kids) and the 2015 Harvey Award, both of which boosted its critical visibility in France.
The main Boom! Studios collection covers SF, fantasy, and horror: Klaus by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora (4 volumes), Once & Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora (5 volumes published, series ongoing), Something Is Killing The Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera (8 volumes), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (18 volumes for the main series, 6 volumes for Power Rangers Unlimited). Print runs on these titles run between 2,000 and 2,800 copies according to distributor sources. Something Is Killing The Children was one of France's critical hits of 2022, with volume 1 going back to print twice and reaching approximately 4,500 cumulative copies. For understanding how print runs affect future value, these numbers are crucial.
The Bliss Image Comics collection is smaller in volume but strategically important. Bliss publishes Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples in French (12 volumes published, series ongoing on the American side), Wicked + Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (9 volumes, series concluded in 2019), the complete Phonogram trilogy (3 volumes, 2018), and Die by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans (4 volumes, series concluded in 2022). Saga vol. 1 (French release October 2014) has gone through five successive reprints and remains the top-selling title in the Image-Bliss lineup with over 18,000 cumulative copies. Wicked + Divine received deluxe hardcover editions in 2020 (print run: 1,500 copies, price: €49.90) — now out of print and selling for €80–110 on eBay and Leboncoin.
Editorial Quality: Translations, Paper, Binding, and Finishing
The production quality of Bliss editions is one of the things that sets the publisher apart from the larger operations. The paper used on softcovers is a white 130 gsm offset stock (versus 100–115 gsm at Panini on Marvel Deluxe editions), which holds up better over time and delivers richer color saturation. Softcover covers use 240 gsm card stock with gloss or matte lamination depending on the collection. Hardcovers use 150 gsm paper and a sewn-and-glued binding (rather than purely glued), ensuring greater long-term durability for the collector who catalogs their collection with the long game in mind.
Bliss's translations are handled by a small team where each translator follows a series from start to finish — a stark contrast to larger publishers who rotate translators in and out. Mathieu Auverdin has translated Lumberjanes since 2014, Edmond Tourriol has handled Saga and Wicked + Divine from the beginning, and Anne Capuron translates Giant Days and Power Rangers. That editorial continuity has been praised repeatedly by specialist critics (Comic Box, BDGest, ActuaBD) for the consistency of register and the way wordplay is handled. Edmond Tourriol's translation of Saga was notably shortlisted for the Konishi Translation Prize in 2017 (Foreign Comics category, final selection).
On the finishing side, certain Bliss editions are released as limited numbered collector's editions. The Klaus Year One Hardcover (published 2018, print run of 800 numbered copies, original price €45) now fetches €90–130 on the secondary market. The deluxe edition of Wicked + Divine vol. 1 (published 2017, 500 copies with Jamie McKelvie's signature, original price €65) sells for €200–280 in 2026. These limited print runs represent an interesting investment target on the French secondary market — provided they're kept in optimal condition (bagged and boarded, stored at 18–22°C, 45–55% humidity).
Bliss Comics Values: The Secondary Market and Most Sought-After Titles
Secondary market values for Bliss titles on the French market follow three broad patterns. The first and most sought-after category consists of out-of-print titles with no reprint planned (permanently discontinued). That includes Lumberjanes vol. 1 first edition 2014 (Shannon Watters variant cover, estimated print run of 1,500 copies), now valued at €45–70 in NM condition on eBay and Leboncoin based on 2024–2025 sales. The second category covers convention variant covers and limited editions: Power Rangers vol. 1 variant Comic Con Paris 2016 (print run of 300) valued at €80–120; Saga vol. 1 variant Lyon BD 2014 (250 copies signed by Fiona Staples at the show) valued at €350–500.
The third category covers standard editions that remain available new, but whose first printings are now sought after by completists. Wicked + Divine vol. 1 first printing (October 2014, print run of 2,000) goes for €25–35 used, versus €16.90 cover price on the current fourth printing. On BDGest, the average tracked value for out-of-print Bliss titles typically lands between 1.5x and 3x the original cover price — with the exception of very limited runs (variants, deluxe editions) that can reach 5x to 10x. For collectors looking to buy or resell these volumes, the main platforms are Leboncoin (for volume), eBay France (for rare variants), and the BDGest forum (for collector-to-collector trades).
CGC grading remains extremely rare for Bliss Comics, unlike for American comics. Several factors explain this: the French hardcover album format doesn't align with CGC's holder design, which is optimized for American floppies; the shipping cost to the United States (€60–80 per book) isn't offset by a proportionate value increase; and the French collecting market is overwhelmingly focused on ungraded volumes. A handful of Saga vol. 1 and Lumberjanes vol. 1 copies have been graded CGC 9.8 NM (valued at €200–350 in that condition), but these cases remain isolated curiosities on the French secondary market.
Bliss vs. Panini, Urban, and the French Comics Publishing Landscape
Comparing Bliss Comics to other French comics publishers requires distinguishing between different eras and different catalogs. Panini Comics France (a subsidiary of the Italian Panini Group, present in France since 1996 following the acquisition of Marvel France and Semic Comics) dominates the market with roughly 65% of volume share in the translated-comics segment, driven primarily by its exclusive Marvel catalog. Urban Comics (a subsidiary of Média-Participations since 2012) holds the DC Comics exclusivity and around 25% market share. Delcourt covers part of the Image Comics catalog (The Walking Dead, Spawn) for about 7%. Bliss and Glénat Comics split the remaining 3% across their respective independent niches.
On production quality, Bliss positions itself on par with Panini Deluxe and Urban Nemesis (the premium lines from the two major publishers) but at more accessible softcover prices (€16.90 versus €22–25 for Panini Deluxe). On hardcovers, Bliss prices (€35–40) stay close to market standards. The bigger distinction is in catalog strategy: Bliss publishes complete series in omnibus or 4-to-6-issue album form, whereas Panini and Urban sometimes break content into smaller volumes to multiply SKUs. That more reader-friendly editorial approach is appreciated by collectors who prefer compact bookshelves.
Historically, the French comics market has gone through several publishing waves that Bliss continues in its own way. The Lug editions (1969–1989, Marvel in French), Arédit-Artima (1955–1989, primarily DC in French), Semic (1985–1995, Marvel after Lug), and Comics USA (1990s) all established a French comics publishing tradition centered on the album format and careful translation. Bliss carries that tradition forward by championing modern author-driven series (Kieron Gillen, James Tynion IV, Grant Morrison, Brian K. Vaughan) — titles that competing publishers also release, but sometimes with less editorial care. That quality-niche signature has made Bliss a respected player in the field, if a commercially modest one.
Building a Bliss Collection: What to Look For and Keep in 2026
For the French collector who wants to build a coherent Bliss Comics collection in 2026, several strategies emerge. The first is targeting first printings of flagship series that are still available or have only recently gone out of print: Saga vols. 1–6 first printing, Lumberjanes vols. 1–5, Wicked + Divine vols. 1–4, Power Rangers vol. 1. First printings can be identified by the "première édition" notice in the colophon — often absent from reprints — and sometimes by a different ISBN. The budget to assemble this complete set (roughly 25 volumes in NM first printing condition) runs €450–650 depending on condition and where you source them.
The second strategy targets convention variant covers and limited editions: Power Rangers vol. 1 variant Paris Manga 2016, Saga vol. 1 variant Comic Con Paris 2015, Klaus variant Angoulême 2017 (500 copies signed by Dan Mora), Lumberjanes Coffret Collector 2018 (3 volumes + extras, print run of 800 copies, original price €49.90, now valued at €130–180). This variant-focused collection requires a higher budget (€1,500–3,000 depending on ambition) but carries greater long-term upside potential — these volumes are never reprinted. To preserve their value, bagging and boarding and upright storage away from light are non-negotiable.
The third strategy, more speculative, targets undervalued titles in 2026 that could appreciate over time: Catalyst Prime (the Lion Forge line that Bliss published through 2019 before it was discontinued), the Phonogram trilogy (out of print since 2020, valued at €25–40 per volume), and Die by Kieron Gillen (concluded in French in 2023, with low print runs on vols. 3 and 4). These titles offer an interesting profile for collectors comfortable with a 5–10 year investment horizon. The free valuation tool at Mycomicscollection lets you assess the current value of a Bliss collection before deciding what to sell or hold. For collectors just getting started, browsing the full referenced comics catalog makes it easy to compare values and availability across publishers.
FAQ — Bliss Comics: French Publisher
When was Bliss Comics founded, and by whom?
Bliss Comics was founded in July 2013 in Toulouse by Christophe Brunet, a former specialty bookseller and passionate fan of American independent comics. The company launched as a SARL with a three-person team. The first title published was Hellboy in Hell by Mike Mignola in September 2013, with a print run of around 2,000 copies. By the end of 2013 the publisher had signed an exclusive French-language distribution deal with Boom! Studios, which has been the backbone of its catalog ever since. After thirteen years in business, Bliss has published more than 200 volumes and currently employs five full-time staff plus eight freelance translators. The company's headquarters remain in Toulouse — which sets Bliss apart from other French comics publishers concentrated in the Paris region.
What are the flagship series in the Bliss Comics catalog?
The Bliss Comics flagship series span four source publishers. From Boom! Studios: Lumberjanes (24 volumes in French, series concluded), Giant Days (14 volumes), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (18 volumes), Once & Future (5 volumes published), Something Is Killing The Children (8 volumes), Klaus by Grant Morrison (4 volumes). From Image Comics: Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (12 volumes published, series ongoing), Wicked + Divine by Kieron Gillen (9 volumes, series concluded), Die by Kieron Gillen (4 volumes, series concluded), the Phonogram trilogy (3 volumes). From Lion Forge: the Catalyst Prime line (discontinued in 2019). From Dark Horse: Hellboy in Hell (4 volumes). Saga remains the absolute best-seller with over 18,000 cumulative copies of vol. 1.
How do Bliss Comics print runs compare to Panini and Urban?
Bliss Comics prints significantly smaller runs than the major players in the French market. A standard Bliss volume is printed in runs of 1,500 to 3,000 copies, versus 5,000 to 20,000 at Panini Comics and Urban Comics for their Marvel and DC catalogs. Bliss best-sellers like Saga vol. 1 and Lumberjanes vol. 1 have gone through multiple reprints that add up to 15,000–20,000 cumulative copies over their commercial lifespan, but each individual print run stays limited. Deluxe and collector editions go as low as 500–800 numbered copies. This limited-print-run policy mechanically generates future scarcity that's attractive for collectors, unlike larger publishers that reprint best-sellers indefinitely.
What are out-of-print Bliss volumes worth in 2026?
Secondary market values for Bliss Comics vary across three categories. Out-of-print standard first printings typically trade at 1.5x to 3x the original cover price: Lumberjanes vol. 1 first edition 2014 is valued at €45–70 (original price €16.90); Wicked + Divine vol. 1 first printing goes for €25–35 (original price €16.90). Convention variants and limited editions reach 5x to 10x the original price: Power Rangers variant Paris Manga 2016 is valued at €80–120; Saga variant Lyon BD 2014 signed by Fiona Staples fetches €350–500. Numbered deluxe editions like the Wicked + Divine deluxe vol. 1 (500 copies, original price €65) sell for €200–280 in 2026. The main sources for these valuations are BDGest, completed eBay France listings, and the BDGest forum.
Does Bliss Comics reprint out-of-print series?
Bliss Comics follows a selective reprinting policy, unlike larger publishers. Best-selling series like Saga, Lumberjanes, and Wicked + Divine have gone through several reprints on their early volumes (3 to 5 reprints depending on the title). Mid-tier series typically see a single print run with no reprint: the Phonogram trilogy, Catalyst Prime, older Giant Days volumes. Numbered deluxe editions and convention variants are never reprinted by design — their value rests precisely on the original limited run. This selective approach is exactly why first-printing Bliss editions are so sought after by collectors: once a title goes permanently out of print, a standard volume quickly becomes a collectible worth 2x to 4x its original cover price on the French secondary market.