BSV Verlag

BSV Verlag, historically known as Bildschriftenverlag (BSV), is a German comic-book publisher. It was founded in 1956 in Hamburg under the name Verlag Internationale Klassiker, and in 1957 was renamed Bildschriftenverlag (BSV) and moved to Aachen. Its early success came with the acquisition of the comic series Illustrierte Klassiker. Through the 1960s the company published licensed series from the American Dell/Gold Key line, and from 1966 it brought Marvel Comics to Germany for the first time in the series Hit Comics; in 1969 it added DC (then National Periodical) material in Top Comics. In 1966 the publisher was acquired by National Periodical, which was in turn absorbed by Kinney National Services (later Warner Bros./Time Warner). From 1971 Warner decided to distribute its European publications under the uniform Williams label, and in 1972 BSV moved to Alsdorf near Aachen, with the imprint 'Bildschriftenverlag (BSV)/Abteilung Williams' appearing in its series. In 1973 Klaus Recht became managing director, and in October 1973 the now-independent Williams Verlag was founded in Hamburg. BSV was dissolved in 1974. In January 2013 the Bildschriftenverlag Hannover was founded, reviving the BSV name. The new publisher reissued the series Illustrierte Klassiker as well as other lines such as Phantom Lady, and has published the comic magazine Sprechblase since issue 240. Today the house operates an online shop under the CCH – Comic Club Hannover banner, selling new and collector-condition comics, including Illustrierte Klassiker, Sonderbände, Fix und Foxi anthologies, Perlen der Comicgeschichte, and vintage series such as Sigurd and Roy Stark. Its catalogue mixes reprints of German and American comic history with collector-oriented editions, often in limited print runs, and it positions itself as a specialist for comic heritage and nostalgia.

The Bildschriftenverlag (BSV) was founded in 1956 in Hamburg as Verlag Internationale Klassiker. In 1957 it was renamed Bildschriftenverlag (BSV) and relocated to Aachen. Its first major success came with the takeover of the comic series Illustrierte Klassiker. Through the 1960s the publisher issued licensed series from the American Dell Verlag and its successor Gold Key. From 1966, the series Hit Comics brought Marvel Comics titles to Germany for the first time. In 1969, series from Marvel's competitor and then US market leader National Periodical (later DC Comics) were published in the Top Comics line. In 1966 BSV was acquired by National Periodical, which was itself taken over by Kinney National Services (Warner Bros., later Time Warner). The strategic aim was to license US series across Europe through further acquisitions of European publishers and to publish them in parallel. In 1971 Warner Brothers decided to distribute its European publications uniformly under the Williams label. The publisher Williams & Co. Potsdam had held the exploitation rights to the children's book series Winnie-the-Pooh since the 1920s and had also published translations of English-language entertainment literature during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1972 BSV moved to Alsdorf near Aachen. For the first time the notice 'Bildschriftenverlag (BSV)/Abteilung Williams' appeared in the imprints of its series. In 1973 Klaus Recht became managing director at BSV. In October 1973 the now BSV-independent Williams Verlag was founded with headquarters at Elbchaussee in Hamburg. In 1974 BSV was finally dissolved. In January 2013 the Bildschriftenverlag Hannover was founded, reviving the BSV name. The publisher reissued the series Illustrierte Klassiker as well as other lines such as Phantom Lady. The comic magazine Sprechblase has also been published there since issue 240. The modern BSV operates an online shop under the CCH – Comic Club Hannover name, offering new and collector-condition comics, including Illustrierte Klassiker, Sonderbände, Fix und Foxi anthologies, Perlen der Comicgeschichte, and vintage series such as Sigurd and Roy Stark. Its catalogue mixes reprints of German and American comic history with collector-oriented editions, often in limited print runs.

• 2013

  Bildschriftenverlag Hannover founded, reviving the BSV name.

• 1974

  BSV dissolved.

• 1973

  Klaus Recht becomes managing director; independent Williams Verlag founded in Hamburg.

• 1972

  BSV moves to Alsdorf near Aachen; 'BSV/Abteilung Williams' imprint appears.

• 1971

  Warner Brothers decides to distribute European publications under the Williams label.

• 1969

  DC (National Periodical) series published in the Top Comics line.

• 1966

  Acquired by National Periodical; Hit Comics brings Marvel Comics to Germany for the first time.

• 1957

  Renamed Bildschriftenverlag (BSV) and moved to Aachen.

• 1956

  Founded in Hamburg as Verlag Internationale Klassiker.

Specialist publisher and online retailer for classic and collector-oriented comics, focused on German comic heritage and reprints.

• Illustrierte Klassiker

  Long-running comic series adapting literary classics; reissued by the modern BSV.

• Perlen der Comicgeschichte

  Anthology series presenting rare and historically significant comics, e.g. Centaur Mystery Comics and Lupo.

• Fix und Foxi – Die besten Geschichten

  Anthologies of the best stories from the classic German comic Fix und Foxi.

• Sprechblase

  German comic magazine published by BSV since issue 240.

• Phantom Lady

  Comic series reissued by the modern BSV.

• Sigurd

  Vintage comic series offered in collector editions.

• Roy Stark

  Vintage comic series offered in collector editions.

1. 1Illustrierte Klassiker & Bildschriftenverlag Comics | Comic Club Hannovercch-bsv.de
2. 2Perlen der Comicgeschichtecch-bsv.de
3. 3Fix und Foxi - Die besten Geschichten Nr. 13 | FF13cch-bsv.de
4. 4Fix und Foxi - Die besten Geschichten Nr. 14 | FF14cch-bsv.de
5. 5BSV Verlagwikidata.org
6. 6Bildschriftenverlagde.wikipedia.org