Interpresse
Corporate brand
UnclaimedInterpresse was a Danish comic-book publisher whose magazines, translations, and original productions helped shape the country's mass-market comics industry.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Interpresse was a Danish comic-book publishing house active from 1954 until 1997. It began as Stenby Press, founded in 1954 by the young Danish history student Arne Stenby together with Swedish publishing entrepreneur T. Armas Morby. The company adopted the name Interpresse in 1955 and developed into one of Denmark's most important publishers of serialized comics and comic magazines. The company's business centered on periodical comics, translated material, and selected original Danish productions. Its catalogue covered a wide range of popular genres, including Westerns, war stories, romance, adventure, espionage, humor, superheroes, science fiction, and licensed character comics. Among its recurring or notable titles were Wild West, Prærie Serier, Commando serien, Kampflyver, Amor, Min melodi, Søren Spætte, Fantomet, Basserne, Agent X9, Kung-Fu magasinet, and Seriemagasinet. This breadth allowed Interpresse to address different age groups and readerships while building a substantial presence in Danish newsstands and other mass-market sales channels. Publishing and printing operations moved to new premises on Krogshoejvej in Bagsværd in 1961. During the 1960s and 1970s, Interpresse expanded beyond Denmark. It operated a Belgian branch from 1965 to 1980 and, for a short period, participated in a French publishing arrangement with Sagédition. The company also maintained a Norwegian branch from 1977 to 1986. These operations reflected the cross-border licensing and distribution model common to European comics publishing, in which publishers combined locally produced editions with translated American and European material. Interpresse reached a particularly strong position in Denmark during the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s, when public interest in comics was at a high point. It acquired the Danish branch of Williams Publishing in 1976, bought Runepress at the beginning of 1977, and acquired the comics publishing rights of Winthers Forlag in 1984. These transactions strengthened its catalogue and helped consolidate the Danish comics market. Runepress continued to be used as an imprint after the acquisition. The company was also associated with a notable editorial culture. Editors including Tonny Lützer, Uno Krüger, Per Sanderhage, Marianne Kidde, Henning Kure, Carsten Søndergaard, Rune T. Kidde, and Michael G. Nielsen helped shape its publishing program. Translators such as Ove Høyer and Niels Søndergaard were likewise important to the adaptation of international comics for Danish readers. Interpresse supported or published work by Danish creators including Peter Madsen, Freddy Milton, and Teddy Kristiansen. One of its best-known original projects was Valhalla, a Danish series about Norse gods and Viking mythology. Planning began in 1976 and 1977 under Arne Stenby and editor Henning Kure. Peter Madsen became the principal artist, working with Hans Rancke-Madsen and other collaborators. The series first appeared as a newspaper strip in 1978, followed by collected albums beginning in 1979. Valhalla combined Scandinavian mythological subject matter with the polished storytelling and visual approach associated with European album comics. Ownership changed significantly in 1973, when Morby bought out Stenby's interest and sold half of the company to Bonnier. Bonnier acquired the remaining shares in 1986. On 1 July that year, Interpresse and Bonnier-owned Carlsen Comics were brought together under SEMIC Forlagene A/S, although the established publishing names continued to be used. In January 1991, the two operations were separated again. Interpresse subsequently operated as Semic Interpresse and concentrated on comics magazines, while Carlsen focused more heavily on albums and books. By the mid-1980s, the market environment had changed. Home video, computer games, and computer animation competed for leisure time and weakened the position that traditional comics magazines had enjoyed. On 2 July 1997, publication of the comics releases was transferred to Egmont Serieforlaget, ending Interpresse's operation as an independent Danish comics publisher. Its catalogue, editorial legacy, and original productions—especially Valhalla—remain part of the history of Danish popular publishing.
History
Interpresse originated as Stenby Press in 1954, when Arne Stenby and Swedish publisher T. Armas Morby established a Danish publishing business. The name changed to Interpresse in 1955. Its core activity was the publication of comic magazines, initially drawing on popular genres and translated material suited to mass-market distribution. In 1961, the company moved its publishing and printing operations to new facilities in Bagsværd, providing a more substantial base for expansion. The publisher developed an increasingly international structure during the 1960s and 1970s. A Belgian branch began operating in 1965. In 1967, Interpresse worked with French publisher Sagédition on a joint arrangement involving the title Superman et Batman; the arrangement ended the following year, after which the title was handled by Interpresse Belgium. A Norwegian branch operated from 1977 to 1986, while the company also maintained a French presence for a limited period. Interpresse's strongest period came during the 1970s and early 1980s, when comics enjoyed substantial popularity in Denmark. The company published a large portfolio of recurring magazines, including Western, war, romance, adventure, humor, superhero, and licensed-character titles. It expanded through acquisitions, taking over the Danish Williams Publishing operation in 1976, acquiring Runepress on 1 January 1977, and obtaining the comics publishing rights of Winthers Forlag in 1984. Runepress was retained as an imprint. The company was shaped by editors and translators who became important figures in Danish comics publishing. Tonny Lützer, Uno Krüger, Per Sanderhage, Marianne Kidde, Henning Kure, Carsten Søndergaard, Rune T. Kidde, and Michael G. Nielsen were among the editors associated with different periods of the company. Ove Høyer and Niels Søndergaard were notable translators. Interpresse also gave space to Danish creators such as Peter Madsen, Freddy Milton, and Teddy Kristiansen. A major original production was Valhalla. Conceived in the mid-1970s by Arne Stenby and Henning Kure, the series adapted Norse mythology into a modern European comics format. Peter Madsen took on the principal artistic role and worked with Hans Rancke-Madsen and other collaborators. The first newspaper strips appeared in 1978, and the first collected album followed in 1979. Valhalla became one of the most distinctive Danish projects connected with Interpresse and was later continued through Carlsen Comics. Corporate ownership changed in stages. In 1973, Morby bought out Stenby's stake and sold 50 percent of Interpresse to Bonnier. Bonnier bought the remaining shares in 1986. On 1 July of that year, Interpresse and Carlsen Comics were merged into SEMIC Forlagene A/S, although both names continued to appear as publishing brands. In January 1991, the operations were separated once more. Semic Interpresse then focused primarily on magazines, whereas Carlsen concentrated on albums and books. The market weakened during the second half of the 1980s as home video, computer games, and computer animation competed with comics for consumers' attention. On 2 July 1997, Egmont Serieforlaget took over all comics releases. This marked the end of Interpresse as an operating publisher, although its titles, creative associations, and publishing history continued to influence Danish comics culture.
- 1997
Independent publishing ends
[1]Egmont Serieforlaget takes over the company's comics releases from 2 July.
- 1991
Semic Interpresse is separated from Carlsen
[1]The companies separate again, with Semic Interpresse focusing on magazines.
- 1986
Interpresse joins SEMIC Forlagene
[1]Bonnier acquires the remaining shares and combines Interpresse with Carlsen Comics under SEMIC Forlagene A/S.
- 1984
Winthers Forlag rights are acquired
[1]Interpresse acquires the comics publishing rights of Danish publisher Winthers Forlag.
- 1978
Valhalla begins newspaper serialization
[1]The Danish Norse-mythology series begins as a strip in Politiken.
- 1977
Runepress is acquired
[1]The company acquires Runepress and continues using it as an imprint.
- 1976
Williams Publishing Denmark is acquired
[1]Interpresse takes over the Danish branch of Williams Publishing.
- 1973
Bonnier acquires a 50 percent interest
[1]Morby becomes sole owner of the non-Bonnier portion after buying out Stenby and sells half of Interpresse to Bonnier.
- 1965
Belgian branch opens
[1]Interpresse establishes a Belgian operation that remains active until 1980.
- 1961
Operations move to Bagsværd
[1]Publishing and printing are transferred to new premises on Krogshoejvej in Bagsværd.
Products and positioning
A broad-market Danish comics publisher combining high-volume translated magazines with original Scandinavian productions and selected prestige projects.
Original Danish comic series · 1978
Valhalla
A comic series inspired by Norse mythology, centered on figures including Thor, Odin, and Loki. Developed by Arne Stenby and editor Henning Kure with Peter Madsen as principal artist, it began as a newspaper strip in 1978 and moved into collected albums from 1979. Its carefully drawn artwork and European album-style storytelling made it one of the most prominent original productions associated with Interpresse.
Humor comic magazine · 1972
Basserne
A Danish edition of Beetle Bailey material published by Interpresse as a long-running magazine. It was among the company's most durable mass-market titles, reaching 513 issues between 1972 and 1997 before continuing under Egmont Serieforlaget.
Espionage comic magazine · 1976
Agent X9
An espionage-themed anthology magazine published by Interpresse from 1976 through 1997. It accumulated 188 issues during the Interpresse period and was subsequently continued by Egmont Serieforlaget.
Licensed adventure comic magazine · 1971
Fantomet
Interpresse's Danish publication of translated Phantom comics. The title formed part of the publisher's extensive adventure and licensed-character catalogue and ran for 358 issues from 1971 to 1994.
War comic magazine · 1961
Commando serien
A long-running war-comics title in Interpresse's periodical catalogue. Published from 1961 to 1993, it reached 732 issues and exemplified the company's emphasis on serialized, genre-focused magazines.
Graphic novel · 1990
Superman: A Tale of Five Cities
A 48-page prestige-format Superman graphic novel produced for the international market. Written by Niels Søndergaard and illustrated and colored by Teddy Kristiansen, it places Superman and Lois Lane in a Cold War plot spanning Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki. The work received the Tegneseriekonvents award for Best Colored Danish Cartoon.
Brand decisions
1997
Transfer of comics releases to Egmont SerieforlagetStrategyBackground
The comics market had become more competitive as home video, computer games, and computer animation reduced the dominance of traditional comics magazines.
Action taken
From 2 July, Egmont Serieforlaget took over all comics releases.
Aftermath
Interpresse ceased operating as an independent comics publisher.
1991
Separation from Carlsen and magazine specializationStrategyBackground
After the SEMIC combination, Bonnier reorganized the two publishing operations according to different formats and editorial focuses.
Action taken
Interpresse and Carlsen became separate companies again; Semic Interpresse concentrated on comics magazines while Carlsen focused on albums and books.
Aftermath
Interpresse operated under the Semic Interpresse name until its releases were transferred to Egmont Serieforlaget in 1997.
1986
Merger with Carlsen Comics under SEMIC ForlageneM&ABackground
Bonnier had acquired the remaining Interpresse shares and owned both Interpresse and Carlsen Comics.
Action taken
On 1 July, the two publishers were merged into SEMIC Forlagene A/S while continuing to use their established names.
Aftermath
The combined structure lasted until the publishers were separated again in January 1991.
1984
Acquisition of Winthers Forlag comics rightsM&ABackground
Interpresse was using acquisitions and rights purchases to broaden its presence in the Danish comics sector.
Action taken
The company acquired the comics publishing rights of Winthers Forlag.
Aftermath
Interpresse gained additional control over comics material in the Danish market.
1977
Acquisition of RunepressM&ABackground
Interpresse continued consolidating Danish comics publishing assets.
Action taken
Runepress was acquired on 1 January and retained as an imprint.
Aftermath
The acquisition added another publishing identity and catalogue to the Interpresse portfolio.
1976
Acquisition of Williams Publishing DenmarkM&ABackground
Interpresse was expanding its Danish catalogue during a period of strong public interest in comics.
Action taken
The company acquired the Danish branch of Williams Publishing.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened Interpresse's position in the local comics market.
Sources1 sources
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