CrossGenesis #1, a preview issue for the universe and its concepts, launched the CrossGen universe in January 2000. Founder Mark Alessi and Gina M. Villa wrote the story bible of the “Sigilverse,” as the complex set of series and characters spread across many different genres was alternately known. All of the company’s universe titles were distinctly not superhero comics, something Alessi told The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide at the time that he wanted to avoid. Magic, science fiction, horror, swordplay, espionage, high seas piracy, and many others, though, were fair game.

The Sigil marks, frequently seen branded onto characters, were a common thread for the characters in the universe. While the CrossGen titles were clearly a universe from the ground up, it was the mystery of the Sigils and the powers frequently associated with them that held the concept together rather than a significant number of crossovers.

Unlike most publishers, for which editorial staff works with teams of independent freelancers, the creators employed by the company were all salaried employees and worked together at CrossGen’s headquarters in Oldsmar, Florida. Over the company’s history, creators on the company’s roster included Chuck Dixon, Butch Guice, Drew Geraci, Steve Epting, Jeff Johnson, Barbara Kesel, Ben Lai, Greg Land, Ron Marz, Brandon Peterson, Bart Sears, Andy Smith, Dexter Vines, and Mark Waid, among others. This policy would be relaxed somewhat later in deals with creators including George Pérez and J.M. DeMatteis.

The company’s initial offerings included CrossGen Chronicles #1 (June 2000) and Sigil #1, Mystic #1, Meridian #1, and Scion #1 (all July 2000). They ranged from space opera and magic to Arthurian-style adventures. The latter four would prove to be some of the company’s longest-running titles. The First #1 (November 2000) rounded out the launches for that calendar year.

The company continued to expand their line-up. Crux #1 (May 2001), Sojourn #0 (July 2001), Ruse #1 (November 2001), and Negation #0 (December 2001) followed the first year’s releases. The Path #1 (April 2002), Way of the Rat #1 (June 2002), Route 666 #1 (July 2002), Brath #0 (February 2003), Chimera #1 (March 2003), Mark of Charon (April 2003), Solus (April 2003), and El Cazador #1 (October 2003) continued the expansion.

CrossGen Comics, Inc. rebranded as CrossGen Entertainment, Inc. (CGE) in 2003 and added a number of subsidiary companies, including the Code 6 imprint, which was to publish non-universe titles co-owned by the company and their respective creators.

In June 2004, the company declared bankruptcy and stopped publishing, leaving many stories incomplete, including Negation War, the company’s first true crossover title. On November 15, 2004, The Walt Disney Company purchased CrossGen’s assets, largely so they could acquire J.M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Ploog’s non-universe series, Abadazad, which they published as three prose novels that include art segments beginning in 2006.

Checker Books published trade paperback editions of some of the CrossGen material, but they included no new material and did not reprint all of the previously published issues.

Disney eventually handed the CrossGen properties to their better-known comic book company, Marvel. Ruse #1, with original writer Mark Waid, and Sigil #1, with a very different take on the title, debuted as four-issue mini-series in March 2011. Mystic #1, also a distinctly different version of the story, was also released as the first of a four-issue mini-series in November 2011. Further CrossGen revivals at Marvel were announced, but they never came to fruition.

To learn more about CrossGen, order a copy of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide to Lost Universes from gemstonepub.com.