Juniorpress
Corporate brand
UnclaimedJuniorpress was a Dutch comic-book publisher best known for Dutch-language editions of American superhero comics.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Juniorpress was a Dutch publishing brand and comic-book publisher associated primarily with translated American comics. Founded by Rob Spijkstra in 1973 as the Dutch-language branch of the Swedish publishing group Semic Press, the company began publishing comics in 1976. Its early catalogue was broader than the superhero material for which it later became known, encompassing war, Western, romance, horror, and crime titles. Examples from this first phase included Bajonet, Front, Gruwel, Krimi, Marshall, Oorlog, Romantica, and Western, with a number of publications drawing on reprint material previously issued by the Dutch publisher Nooit Gedacht. A major turning point came in 1978, when Juniorpress obtained the Dutch-language rights for Marvel Comics in the Netherlands and Belgium. The licence enabled the company to build a substantial translated-superhero catalogue, including several Spider-Man series, X-Men, Wolverine, and other Marvel properties. In the early 1990s, some Marvel reprints reportedly sold about 5,000 copies per issue, illustrating the commercial importance of the licence within the Dutch comics market. The company also published material from other major American comic-book publishers. Its output included DC Comics titles, Image Comics publications, and DC-related Cliffhanger material. During 1982 and 1983, Juniorpress discontinued most of its original genre titles and redirected its publishing programme toward translated American superhero comics. Around 1984 it took over the previously independent Baldakijn Boeken imprint, using that name for Dutch editions of DC superhero comics such as Batman, Superman, and The New Teen Titans. Juniorpress's DC publishing period included dedicated series for Batman and Superman as well as other DC-related releases, although the company appears to have lost its DC publishing rights around 1996. Juniorpress continued to publish Marvel material for many years after its DC rights ended. Its catalogue included multiple Spider-Man lines, Web van Spiderman, De X-Mannen, and Wolverine, alongside licensed titles such as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles and the long-running equestrian comics magazine Ponyclub. The company lost its Dutch Marvel rights in 2007, when those rights moved to Z-Press Junior Media. Juniorpress temporarily stopped its superhero lines after that loss, but later returned to licensed publishing with properties including Lego. In October 2014, Juniorpress was sold and renamed JP Publishing. The successor company did not continue publishing comics, and the remaining Juniorpress-branded titles gradually disappeared by the end of 2015. The brand is therefore principally remembered for its role in bringing translated Marvel and DC comics, together with other American and international licensed properties, to Dutch-speaking readers in the Netherlands and Belgium from the late 1970s through the 2000s.
History
Juniorpress was established in 1973 by Rob Spijkstra as the Dutch-language branch of the Swedish publishing group Semic Press. Although the company was founded in that year, its comic-book publishing activity began in 1976. The first catalogue consisted of a variety of genre publications rather than a concentrated superhero programme. Titles such as Bajonet, Front, Gruwel, Krimi, Marshall, Oorlog, Romantica, and Western covered war, Western, horror, crime, romance, and related popular-comics categories. Some of this early material was reprinted from publications associated with Nooit Gedacht, a Dutch publisher. The company changed direction significantly in the early 1980s. During 1982 and 1983 it cancelled most of its original titles and made translated American superhero comics the centre of its business. The most important licensing development occurred in 1978, when Juniorpress secured Dutch-language Marvel rights for the Netherlands and Belgium. That agreement supported an extensive catalogue of Marvel translations, including several Spider-Man series, X-Men, Wolverine, and other superhero titles. In the early 1990s, some Marvel reprints reached reported sales of approximately 5,000 copies per issue. Juniorpress also became involved in publishing DC Comics material. Around 1984 it took over Baldakijn Boeken, an imprint that had previously operated independently. Baldakijn Boeken was used to market Dutch translations of DC superhero comics, including Batman, Superman, and The New Teen Titans. Juniorpress published dedicated Batman and Superman series during this period, but its DC publishing rights appear to have ended around 1996. The publisher maintained a broad licensed-entertainment portfolio alongside its principal Marvel and DC output. Selected series included Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, Tarzan, Bamse, and Ponyclub, the latter being a comics magazine aimed at female horse enthusiasts. Its long-running superhero lines included De Spectaculaire Spider-Man, Peter Parker de spektakulaire Spiderman, Spiderman, Web van Spiderman, De X-Mannen, and Wolverine. These publications made Juniorpress a prominent vehicle for Dutch-language access to American comic-book characters during the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. In 2007, Juniorpress lost its Dutch Marvel licence to Z-Press Junior Media. The loss led to the temporary cancellation of its superhero lines, although Juniorpress later resumed licensed publishing with properties such as Lego. The company was sold in October 2014 and renamed JP Publishing. Because the successor did not publish comics, the remaining Juniorpress titles gradually came to an end, with the last few titles petering out by the end of 2015. Juniorpress is consequently a defunct publishing brand whose historical identity is closely tied to translated Marvel and DC comics in the Dutch-speaking market.
- 2015
Remaining comic titles end
[1]The remaining Juniorpress-branded comic publications had largely petered out by the end of the year.
- 2014
Sale and renaming
[1]Juniorpress was sold in October and renamed JP Publishing.
- 2007
Marvel rights are lost
[1]Z-Press Junior Media acquired the Dutch Marvel rights previously held by Juniorpress.
- 1984
Baldakijn Boeken is taken over
[1]Juniorpress assumed control of Baldakijn Boeken and used the imprint for DC-related translations.
- 1983
Superhero focus becomes dominant
[1]Most original genre titles were cancelled as Juniorpress concentrated on translated American superhero comics.
- 1978
Marvel licence acquired
[1]The publisher obtained Dutch-language Marvel rights for the Netherlands and Belgium.
- 1976
Comic publishing begins
[1]Juniorpress began issuing comics, initially covering war, Western, romance, horror, crime, and related genres.
- 1973
Juniorpress is founded
[1]Rob Spijkstra founded Juniorpress as the Dutch-language branch of Semic Press.
Products and positioning
A Dutch-language licensed-comics publisher focused on accessible translations of internationally known superhero and youth properties, with particular historical importance as a Marvel publisher in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Marvel translated comic series · 1979
De Spectaculaire Spider-Man
A Dutch-language Spider-Man series and one of Juniorpress's principal Marvel publications. It ran for 196 issues from 1979 to 1995, forming part of the publisher's sustained effort to present Marvel superhero stories to readers in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Marvel translated comic series · 1983
De X-Mannen
Juniorpress's Dutch edition of X-Men comics. With 296 issues published from 1983 to 2007, it was among the brand's longest-running and most substantial superhero lines.
DC translated comic series · 1984
Batman
A Dutch-language Batman series associated with Juniorpress and its Baldakijn Boeken publishing activity. The series ran for 78 issues between 1984 and 1995.
DC translated comic series · 1984
Superman
Juniorpress's Dutch-language Superman series, published during the period when the company handled DC-related material. It ran for 119 issues from 1984 to 1996.
Youth and equestrian comics magazine · 1985
Ponyclub
A comics magazine aimed at female horse enthusiasts. Ponyclub was one of Juniorpress's longest-running non-superhero publications, with 254 issues released from 1985 to 2000.
Marvel translated comic series · 1990
Wolverine
A Dutch-language Wolverine series that extended Juniorpress's Marvel superhero catalogue beyond its Spider-Man and X-Men lines. It ran for 89 issues from 1990 to 2000.
Licensed youth comic series · 1990
Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles
A licensed comic series based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property, using the 'Hero Turtles' naming common in some European markets. Juniorpress published 61 issues between 1990 and 1995.
Brand decisions
2014
Sale and conversion to JP PublishingM&ABackground
Juniorpress was still associated with a small number of remaining comic titles after the loss of its Marvel rights.
Action taken
The company was sold in October 2014 and renamed JP Publishing.
Aftermath
JP Publishing did not publish comics, and the remaining Juniorpress titles ended by approximately the end of 2015.
2007
Loss of Marvel publishing rightsOtherBackground
Marvel rights had been a central part of Juniorpress's publishing operation since 1978.
Action taken
The Dutch Marvel rights moved from Juniorpress to Z-Press Junior Media.
Aftermath
Juniorpress temporarily cancelled its superhero lines and later pursued other licences, including Lego.
- Z-Press Junior Media — Z-Press Junior Media became the new holder of the Dutch Marvel publishing rights.
1984
Takeover of Baldakijn BoekenM&ABackground
Baldakijn Boeken had previously operated as an independent publisher and was associated with DC comic-book publications.
Action taken
Juniorpress took over the imprint and used it to market Dutch DC translations.
Aftermath
The takeover expanded Juniorpress's presence in Dutch-language superhero publishing beyond its Marvel catalogue.
1983
Concentration on American superhero translationsStrategyBackground
Juniorpress had originally published a broad selection of war, Western, romance, horror, and crime comics.
Action taken
The company cancelled most of its original genre titles and focused almost exclusively on translated American superhero comics.
Aftermath
The change established the superhero-focused identity for which Juniorpress became best known.
Sources2 sources
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