Kiss (comics)

Comic books have been an integral and popular part of the American rock group Kiss' merchandising since 1977, beginning with their appearance in Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck #12. Over their career of nearly four decades, Kiss has licensed their name to “more than 3,000 product(s) . . . to become nearly a one-billion-dollar brand.”

Licensed Kiss stories and adventures have been published by Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Platinum Studios, Archie Comics, and IDW Publishing; unlicensed stories have been published by Revolutionary Comics, among others. Ironically, according to frontman Gene Simmons, all the band members save himself "hate comic books."

KISS’s first comic book appearance was in issue #12 of Marvel’s Howard the Duck in May 1977, titled “Mind Mush!”. The group also appeared in issue #13 of the series titled, “Rock, Roll Over and Writhe!”.

In 1977 Marvel Comics published a magazine-format full-color comic book, titled, A Marvel Comics Super Special!: Kiss presenting the band KISS as superheroes. It was the first in the Marvel Comics Super Special series which featured other well known musicians such as The Beatles. Blood from each band member was drawn by a registered nurse, witnessed by a notary public, and poured into the vats of red ink used for printing the comic at Marvel's Borden Ink plant in Depew, New York. Marvel also published a second KISS comic magazine, issue #5 in the Super Special series, in 1978, with much less fanfare.

In 1995 Marvel printed a trade paperback issue compiling issue #1 and #5 of the Super Special series titled, KISS Klassics. A year later Marvel released the magazine KISSnation, which featured interviews and photographs concerning the band's reunion and subsequent Alive/Worldwide Tour. KISSnation also came with the KISS Meets the X-Men comic.

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