Jack Lake Productions is continuing its re-issues of the original Classics Illustrated and Classics Illustrated Jr. comics with 12-16 new releases per year planned, according to company president Jaak T. Jarve. 

 

The company currently has 52 titles available:  24 Classics Illustrated and 28 Classics Ilustrated Jr.

 

Up next are Swiss Family Robinson, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Black Beauty, and Treasure Island. 

 

We asked Jarve how the company was choosing which titles to reprint.  He said that they have access to the print runs from the original editions and can base some of their decisions on the popularity of the original releases.  But input from schools and libraries, which are growing in importance to the company, are also considered.  For example, Jarve said that the company will issue more Shakespeare titles in 2009, based on the response from that channel. 

 

The company sells its books through Diamond Comic Distributors, and directly to schools and libraries.  It has no book trade distribution.  It has been releasing new editions of Classics Illustrated titles since 2004 (see “Classics Illustrated War of the Worlds Planned”). 

 

Papercutz is issuing new editions of the First Comics volumes (see “Great Expectations in January,” and “Classics Illustrated Celebrated in Newsweek”), and other new volumes.