Cooperative artists studios have been around since the first days of the comics industry when Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster produced their early Superman stories. Such studios developed into communal commercial enterprises in the days of Will Eisner, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby during the 1940's and '50's... and became a model in the 1970's under the hands of Neal Adams' Continuity Studios, leading to other notable creators such as Berni Wrightson, Jeff Jones, Barry Windsor-Smith and Mike Kaluta to form The Studio, and later, Walter Simonson, Howard Chaykin Frank Miller and Jim Sherman, along with others, forging similar efforts into the 1980's.

Today, the expanding internet network has replaced traditional publications and portfolios as the canvas upon which comics artists promote their work. It has also provided the tools with which to gather artists and writers together under one umbrella in order to offer a wider variety of work, and also the solidarity and efficiency such a team effort can promise, to produce the type of projects that require a variety of professional inputs.

One such enterprise currently operating on the world wide web is ARGH! Studios, founded by Aris Iliopoulos and Kanila Tripp, from an idea which germinated about 2 years ago in the creative community of Millarworld Forums.

"I was posting at MW," tells Aris, "and started to come across pro-level talent about 2 years ago or so. And I had been chatting via PM [Private Message] with Kanila Tripp who is a colorist (done various projects for DC, worked for Wildstorm and done some coloring for Image) and something clicked. Lets get these guys and gal together and try to get a studio going."

Which is exactly what they went on to do. Aris, acting as Editor in Chief and projects coordinator, pooled resources with Kanilla to bring in a range of talented professionals and friends working in the animation and illustration fields, as well as talented Millarworld members who'd posted their work there in the creative forum. The impressive array of core talent the studio began working with included:

Keith Conroy: Design supervisor for the TMNT show, who also worked for Malibu comics in the 1980's.
Jason Narvaez: Production manager for the Chaotic card line (based on the show) and producer of 9/11 relief work and various Indy comics projects.
Shedlon Allen: A prodigy writer whose first work appeared in Spider-Man Unlimited at the age of 19, and has recently previewed his work at Indy film festivals.
Adrian Barrios: Designer and storyboard artist at 4Kids Entertainment, working in the animation field.
Pete Hernandez: Graphic designer and artist currently putting the finishing touches on his first independent project, of his own creation.
Nicola Scot: Currently drawing Birds of Prey for DC Comics.
Mike Furth: Talented inker known for his work on Indy publications.
Marc Deering: Inker extraordinaire for independent publications.
Caanan White: Considered one of the finer 90's influenced artists and currently contracted by Dabel Brothers.

With Aris producing design and layout, Sheldon on scripts and Kanilla on coloring and finishing, ARGH! Studios ventured into studio produced comics projects such as That Girl, Pilgrim Blade, Jurassic, Stability Theory, Atom City, WMD, Pimpology, ADguns, The Disciples, and Desert Prince, all of which are in various stages of development today.

The promotional efforts ARGH! Studios exerts into making its presence known in comics fandom and professional circles include guerrilla web-advertising blitzes on message boards and discussion forums, which have brought about a flurry of requests for cover art, commissions and design work the studio distributes amongst its talent. "I keep my eye out for pro-level guys on boards and reach out constantly." Says Aris, "And every now then. connect guys and get them involved in a paying gig, or a writer or company will reach and ask about an artist. Dabel Brothers sent me an email about Caanan and wham, a week later he was working for them."

But the road to the success of such a studio today is laden with obstacles. Artists move on to larger publishers, such as Nicola Scott moving to Birds of Prey at DC Comics, and many others remain busy with their daily chores, whether in animation or commercial illustration. Aris nonetheless presses on: "We continue to do commissions and have done cover work for others. Its not much but any one who asks, we jump on it."

"When a person reaches out to me for a cover or design" Aris cotinues, "I manage it and make sure they get what they are asking for, and ON TIME. It's also important to be visible and the comic book world isn't very big, guys coming up may be the guys offering you work, or you may be offering them work, so you sometimes trade favors."

Aris Iliopoulos remains hopeful for the future of ARGH! Studios. "We want to see our comics published. Hopefully going into 2008 we will have a little more stability in our schedules and get our own books done. And perhaps a chance at working on DC's and Marvel's toys one day. But seriously, we just want to put out good books and do fun projects."

"Hey," Aris reaches out, "if any one out there is looking for pro-level guys at reasonable rates give me a ring. We have a great blend of talents and styles."

ARGH! Studios
The Talent You Want!