The concept of a shared universe in comic books dates back to 1940, when MLJ Comics—later known as Archie Comics—revolutionized the medium by bringing together two of its superheroes, the Shield and the Wizard, for a groundbreaking crossover event. This historic moment marked the beginning of the shared universe concept, which would eventually be embraced by other publishers. However, it was not until the 1960s that Marvel Comics made the shared universe a defining characteristic of its brand, influencing numerous other comic book companies, including Valiant Comics, Dark Horse’s Comics Greatest World, and the current Massive-Verse from Image Comics.
In an exciting development for the indie comic scene, Summit Comics is set to join the ranks of established superhero shared universes starting next year. With a roster of renowned independent comic creators that have collectively raised over half a million dollars through crowdfunding for their projects, the creators are uniting to form the Summit Universe.
At the helm of Summit Comics will be Travis Gibb (Upheaval, Cthulhu Invades) as Publisher, alongside Devin Arscott (Noir, Magni the Mighty) as Editor-in-Chief, and Adam Barnhardt (SH*TSHOW, Moonspawn) serving as Chief Creative Officer. The initial lineup of contributors includes a diverse group of talent: CJ Hudson (Granite, Interstellar Dust), Marcus Jimenez (Techoknights, Knight From Hell), Eric Palicki (Guardians of Infinity, Black’s Myth), Brayden Viloria (Haven), J. Michael Miller (Kid Crustaceous), Nate Schachter (The CloakRoom), Cam Kerkau (Gilgamesh), Daniel Kalban (American Dreams, Knightwrath), Brian Wolf (Upheaval), Benjamin Morse (We Are Scarlet Twilight), and letterer Jerome Gagnon.
The flagship comic that will introduce readers to the Summit Universe is Summit: Pinnacle, an annual anthology that will showcase various creators presenting stories set in distinct parts of the shared universe. These narratives will continue in the bi-monthly series Summit Jump, which draws inspiration from weekly shōnen manga titles. Select characters will also receive their own limited series, including Gibb’s Upheaval and Hudson’s Granite.
In a press release, Publisher Travis Gibb expressed the vision behind Summit Comics: “Over the years, countless creators have approached me about joining their publishing companies. Many have dreams of becoming the next Image Comics. But it wasn’t until I met the team behind Summit that I truly felt compelled to jump on board. Summit is built on a love of superheroes, with the goal of creating a connected universe filled with stories that matter. This group of creators aims to build something lasting and to tell stories in unique ways that can foster the next generation of heroes.”
Editor-in-Chief Devon Arscott added, “Comics are a special medium, one of celebration for the arts that combines written word and visual narrative-driven art together. Summit is built on the love of that medium, utilizing superheroes as the vehicle for that love. Our team has come together to show everyone that you can build something special that lasts forever with talent from across the industry to tell amazing stories featuring a diverse cast of characters. Join us at Summit on our journey to the pinnacle of storytelling.”
Chief Creative Officer Adam Barnhardt further emphasized the company’s approach: “There’s a delicate balance to what we’re doing with Summit, one that places the reader at the forefront of our creative process. We want to avoid overwhelming readers with decades’ worth of back issues to understand the narrative. Instead, we’ve crafted a tale that allows us to tell this story in year-long segments without the need for reboots, renumbering, or revamping.”
For further updates on the characters in the Summit Universe and the release date for Summit: Pinnacle in 2026, readers can subscribe to the Summit Comics newsletter.
Based on reporting by CBR.com. Read the full story at CBR.com.