Rip Off Press facts for kids
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| Founded | 1969 |
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| Founders | Fred Todd, Dave Moriaty, Gilbert Shelton, Jack Jackson |
| Headquarters location | San Francisco (1969–1987) Auburn, California (1987–present) |
| Publication types | Comics |
| Fiction genres | Underground comix |
| Imprints | Iguana Comics (changed to Magnecom in 1993) |
Rip Off Press Inc. is a company that sells and distributes comic books. It is best known for publishing many important comics during the underground comix era. The company was started in 1969 in San Francisco by four friends from Austin, Texas. These friends were cartoonists Gilbert Shelton and Jack Jackson, along with Fred Todd and Dave Moriaty. Today, Rip Off Press is run by Fred Todd in Auburn, California.
Contents
How Rip Off Press Started
Rip Off Press began on January 17, 1969, in San Francisco. The four founders were Fred Todd, Dave Moriaty, and cartoonists Gilbert Shelton and Jack Jackson. Their first idea was to print posters for rock bands using an old printing press. They also planned to make comics on the side.
The company was like a cooperative for cartoonists. This meant it was a place where artists could publish their work. It offered a different option from other publishers in the Bay Area at the time. The founders bought a used printing press and set up their shop. They shared a space with another company called Apex Novelties. This space was in the ballroom of an old building called Mowry's Opera House.
Early Challenges and Moves
In late 1969, a fire almost destroyed the opera house. Because of this, Rip Off Press had to move. They moved to the old headquarters of Family Dog, a group that promoted psychedelic rock music. Jack Jackson had been part of Family Dog since 1966.
Rip Off Press stayed at this new location in San Francisco from 1970 until 1985. By 1972, the business of printing posters had slowed down. The company then focused completely on becoming a publishing house for comics.
Moving to Auburn
In mid-1985, Rip Off Press moved again to a smaller place in San Francisco. They also had a warehouse space across town. This warehouse building caught fire on April 6, 1986. The fire started because of an explosion in an illegal fireworks factory in the basement.
After losing many comics and other items in the fire, Fred Todd decided to move the company. At this point, Fred Todd was the only original founder still working in the business. He and his wife, Kathe, decided to move Rip Off Press to Auburn, California. This city is part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. The move happened in June 1987. They continued to run the company while raising their two young children.
Changes in the Comic Business
In the early 1990s, the way comics were sold changed a lot. This was partly because Marvel Comics stopped using the main distribution system. Because of these changes, Rip Off Press started to cut costs. They slowly stopped publishing new comics.
By 1997, the company focused on selling older comics. They sold these comics in their store and through mail-order. Fans could also find their comics online. In 1999, the Todds moved the business to a much smaller space next to their home. They still sell comics, mostly through their company website.
The website was updated between 2011 and 2012. During this time, it was completely redesigned. Many special collector's items were added for sale. These items included old advertisements, rare printed sheets, and proofs from the company's publishing history.
