12toners

12toners is a term used to describe a specific category of American comic book publishers that emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These publishers were characterized by their shared aesthetic and approach to comic book creation, often drawing inspiration from manga and anime. The name "12toners" is a playful reference to the common practice of these publishers releasing their books in a standard 32-page, $2.99 price point, which, when combined with the typical thickness of the paper used, approximated the weight of "12 tons" if a massive quantity were stacked.

The content of 12toner comics often featured distinct art styles, with influences from Japanese sequential art, including detailed linework, dynamic panel layouts, and expressive character designs. Storytelling frequently explored themes common in manga, such as science fiction, fantasy, martial arts, and coming-of-age narratives, though adapted for an American audience. These publishers aimed to attract a readership interested in these particular genres and styles, often differentiating themselves from mainstream American superhero comics.

While the term "12toners" is not official, it gained traction within comic book fan communities and criticism circles as a way to group and discuss these publishers and their output. The era of 12toners saw the rise and fall of several independent imprints, each contributing to the diversification of the American comic book landscape and introducing new visual and narrative approaches to the medium.