Edition 52

Edition 52 is a German independent comic publisher founded in Wuppertal in the late 1990s by Uwe Garske and Thomas Schützinger. The company takes its name from F-52, the final comic by French artist Yves Chaland. From its base in Wuppertal, Edition 52 has built a programme that combines international independent comics — particularly from the United States, Canada and the Franco-Belgian sphere — with works by German-speaking artists such as Andreas Eikenroth, Jan-Michael Richter, Piero Masztalerz and Ulf K. The publisher is known for its emphasis on artistic and literary ambition, and in recent years it has increasingly focused on literary and historical graphic novels. Notable titles include Andreas Eikenroth's adaptation of Georg Büchner's Woyzeck, the Engels – Unternehmer und Revolutionär graphic novel about Friedrich Engels, and Baru's Bella Ciao trilogy about Italian migration to France. Edition 52 also publishes science fiction and fantasy comics, cartoons, and has supported small labels and anthologies such as the Berlin comic anthology Epidermophytie. The publisher remains active, presenting new releases and signing sessions at events such as the Comic Festival Erlangen.

Edition 52 was founded in Wuppertal in the late 1990s by Uwe Garske and Thomas Schützinger. The name references F-52, the last comic by French artist Yves Chaland. From the outset, the publisher aimed to release works by German and international artists who approached their graphic and literary work with particular artistic ambition. The programme has included international comics, mostly by well-known independent artists from the United States and Canada or the Franco-Belgian region, alongside works by domestic artists such as Andreas Eikenroth, Jan-Michael Richter, Piero Masztalerz and Ulf K. In recent years, Edition 52 has placed increased focus on literary and historical graphic novels. Among these are Nofi's (Lutz Nosofsky) Hauptmann Veit, set during the social protest movements of the German Peasants' War, and the German production Engels – Unternehmer und Revolutionär by Christoph Heuer, Fabian W. W. Mauruschat and Uwe Garske, about the life and work of the Wuppertal philosopher and revolutionary Friedrich Engels. The 2019 comic adaptation of Georg Büchner's Woyzeck by Gießen artist Andreas Eikenroth was positively received and fits into the context of publications of socially critical literature in comic form, to which the works of French comic artist Baru (Hervé Barulea) also belong. Baru's new comic trilogy Bella Ciao from 2021 takes migration as its subject, using the example of Italian workers in France since the 19th century. Further content directions of the publisher, alongside socially critical themes, include comic works from science fiction and fantasy, such as the science fiction series Rocco Vargas (Daniel Torres), and selected cartoons, including Ruhr-area artist Jamiri as well as Bernd Nettmann and Piero Masztalerz. An outstanding publication of comic art is the anthology Engelsgesichter, edited in 2020 by Wuppertal cartoonist André Poloczek for the 200th birthday of Friedrich Engels. Foreign comic creators in the programme increasingly include North American artists such as Joe Matt, Rich Koslowski, and especially Canadians Seth, Jeff Lemire and Michel Rabagliati, as well as southern European artists and authors, Daniel Torres or French author Baru. In addition to its usual individual publications, Edition 52 for several years also published works by other artist groups or supported the work of small labels, including comics from the horror-focused project Unheimlich by authors Miguel E. Riveros and Alexander Fechner and the renowned Berlin comic anthology Epidermophytie. The publisher remains active, with recent and forthcoming titles such as Leonce & Lena by Andreas Eikenroth and Bella Ciao Band 3 by Baru, and participates in events such as the Comic Festival Erlangen.

• 2026

  Release of Leonce & Lena by Andreas Eikenroth and Bella Ciao Band 3 by Baru; signing sessions at Comic Festival Erlangen.

• 2021

  Publication of Baru's Bella Ciao (Uno).

• 2020

  Publication of Andreas Eikenroth's Woyzeck, Jamiri's Gödel Escher Gott, and Engels – Unternehmer und Revolutionär.

• 2019

  Publication of André Poloczek's anthology Engels-Gesichter and Piero Masztalerz's Mit dir ist alles Super.

• 2013

  Publication of Baru and Jean Vautrin's Bleierne Hitze.

• 2011

  Publication of Hugh! Winnetou – Hommage an Karl May und Helmut Nickel.

• 2009

  Publication of Wäscher – Pionier der Comics.

• 2004

  Publication of Seth's Eigentlich ist das Leben schön.

• 1997

  Edition 52 founded in Wuppertal by Uwe Garske and Thomas Schützinger.

Independent publisher of artistically and literarily ambitious comics, with a focus on literary and historical graphic novels, socially critical works, and international independent comics.

• 2021

  Bella Ciao (Uno)

  First volume of Baru's trilogy on Italian migration to France.

• 2013

  Bleierne Hitze

  Softcover comic.

• 2019

  Mit dir ist alles Super

  Softcover comic.

• 2020

  Woyzeck

  Comic adaptation of Georg Büchner's drama.

• 2020

  Gödel Escher Gott

  Hardcover comic.

• 2009

  Wäscher – Pionier der Comics

  Softcover.

• 2011

  Hugh! Winnetou – Hommage an Karl May und Helmut Nickel

  Softcover.

• 2020

  Engels – Unternehmer und Revolutionär

  Graphic novel about Friedrich Engels.

• 2019

  Engels-Gesichter

  Anthology for Engels' 200th birthday.

• 2004

  Eigentlich ist das Leben schön

  Softcover comic.

1. 1Edition 52 – Verlag für Comics, Cartoons und Graphic Novelsedition52.de
2. 2Edition 52 – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Edition 52 – Wikidatawikidata.org