  pacific comics (pc) was an independent comic book publisher that flourished from 1981-1984. it was also a chain of comics shops and a distributor. it began out of a san diego, california, comic book shop owned by brothers bill and steve schanes. along with competitors like first comics and eclipse comics, pc took early advantage of the growing direct market, attracting a number of writers and artists from dc and marvel to produce creator-owned titles, which were not subject to the comics code, and thus were free to feature more mature content. == history == === origins === in 1971, the schanes brothers (steve schanes, age 17, and bill schanes, age 13) co-founded pacific comics, which started out as a mail-order company, selling to consumers via ads in the comics buyer's guide. this led to advertisements inside some marvel comics, and ultimately to tangible retail stores. the first pacific comics store opened in pacific beach, california, in 1974, and business was soon doing so well that the brothers realized they "couldn't get merchandise" for the stores, and so set up a distribution system, which was soon supplying neighboring stores also.sanford, jay allen. "two men and their comic books," san diego reader (aug. 19, 2004). the move from newsstand distribution to the direct market (non-returnable, heavily-discounted, direct purchasing of comics from publishers) happened in the 1970s, in large part due to the work of phil seuling and his east coast seagate distribution company (founded in 1974), as well as a number of individuals, including the schanes brothers and bud plant. the direct-market went hand-in-hand with the creation of specialist comics shops to cater to the collectors who could then buy back issues months after a newsstand issue had disappeared. by the late 1970s, thanks partly to the success of films such as star wars and superman: the movie, comics were selling well, and pacific expanded its distribution system nationwide,
1971_establishments_in_California Comic_book_publishing_companies_of_the_United_States Comics_industry Comics_retailers Companies_based_in_San_Diego,_California Defunct_comics_and_manga_publishing_companies Distribution,_retailing,_and_wholesaling Privately_held_companies_based_in_California Publishing_companies_established_in_1971