Originally the first characters designed were Nash and Agnew way back in 1996 during John Chihak's senior year in Tucson Magnet High School, animation class. John worked on various incarnations of what would eventually become Nash, including a monstrous killer by the name of Thorn. After reshaping and reforming the character, Nash was devised. After a bit of retooling, John decided that Nash needed a sidekick, not unlike Robin is the balance to Batman, Agnew became the guiding force and yin to Nash's yang. There were various ideas about Nash's origins, the first being one where he was a sleeper agent for the government and more of a Weapon X like soldier and killer. John began reading more comics like, Nightwing in 1997 and decided that Nash should not be a stone cold killer. That's too one dimensional and boring. Not to mention, The Punisher already does that pretty effectively. Nash began jumping rooftops in John Chihak's mind with his buddy Agnew in tow, but there needed to be more than just Nash and Agnew to make the story interesting. Nash wrestles for Triple X Hardcore Wrestling, and is one of the main eventers in the locker room. Nash also acts as a trainer for the hardcore wrestling school owned by Triple X.
Heartbreak saw to it that Nash and Agnew would not be alone for long. 1998 saw the creation of "the glue" to the story and Nash's love interest, Kyle. Originally Kyle created for the sole purpose of making creator, John Chihak happy. See John felt that if he himself could not be in a relationship, that at least Nash could. So, he created a girl that was perfect, physically and emotionally. Although her physical stature and back story have changed somewhat, Kyle started out wearing baggy jeans, baggy comic book t-shirts and stood about 5'9". Kyle was the girl from upstairs. She met Nash one day on the stairwell of their apartment building, as Nash was just waking up and Kyle was ditching school. Nash offered her a bowl of cereal and the two hit it off. They began to hang out daily and soon became a couple. The creator didn't want to make Kyle your typical comic book female, who was always in trouble and constantly in need of saving. No, Kyle became a strong center character in the Youth in Asia mythos. When Nash did not know why he should go on, she was the one who gave him reason. In subsequent years Kyle became pixie-like and very petite. She now stands somewhere between 5'3" and 5'5". She has also become a bit more girl-ly in that, gone are the baggy clothes, and in are the form fitting t-shirts and cut off shorts and mini skirts. This has not however changed Kyle's demeanor. She is still a strong willed character, and driven to help Nash succeed in his ventures. Kyle also wrestles for Triple X as Kay Fabian the Junior Heavyweight Champion. Kyle is also the guitarist for the massively popular Step Monsters punk rock group. Kyle runs a local comic book store, owned by her best friend, Grrry. Kyle also writes and draws a comic book based on Agnew, called Fuzzyface.
This time period also saw the creation of Nash's arch villain, Cain. Although, Cain's first name was going to be Monolyth, it had to be changed due to the DC Comics mini series. Cain is set to be the Lex Luthor to Nash's Superman.
The concept for for AHB was devised in 1999, when concepts and stories were first being written and drawn for the flagship title, Youth in Asia. Originally, John wanted to create a label for the title. AHB was going to be Hero Brand, which would subsequently be a clothing line that appeared in the YiA universe. John drew up several rough ad designs, before deciding that his characters were in no way going to be typical heroes. Because they were aligned outside of the confines of the law, and using extreme methods, they were clearly anti-heroes. And so, John changed the name to Anti-Hero Brand. The logo would eventually be created and finalized when John was in college a few years later, and the name eventually extended to Anti-Hero Brand Press, but the semantics of its meaning remain to this day. The idea of Anti-Hero Brand was frowned upon by the design instructor at the Art Center where John attended college. He was told that it was too extreme and not the right message that he should want to be sending. John fought against the grain his entire educational career. His designs constantly shunned and ideas turned down. John even used Agnew in his personal logo, and was decidedly graded down for poor execution and using a bad concept. Agnew has since become the icon of Anti-Hero Brand Press, and has gotten his own coloring book and series of mini plushes. Later when he went into the animation program, Agnew became John's character for character design and every single one of his flip books. The Agnew character design sheet got John an A, as did his first of four flip book animations. It seems what others thought was a bad idea translated to become success for John later on, when creativity and not spitting out the same boring ideas was actually looked upon in a favorable way. They shouldn't have done it. They should have left well enough alone. They opened the floodgates to their own damnation with their pats on the back and their thumbs up.
It was all the way until 2003 when John Chihak created the next series of characters for Youth in Asia. Based somewhat on a drawing done for a friend, John created Grrry, Nash and Kyle's best friend and the nemesis to local government. Grrry quickly became the voice that John and a lot of people wished they could have. She spoke her mind without fear of repercussions. She also could help take the story to another level. Grrry was the chick people never messed with. Known during her high school career as a chain smoking, heavy drinking, punk rock spewing, ass kicker. Grrry got into several fights with football players and so called tough guys during her four years at Rossdale High in Apex City. Grrry became the stereotype of what AHB is all about. Bigger than life and twice as loud. Grrry went from being just a tough skinny punk chick, to being the buff, tattooed, pierced and large chested pinup girl you know her as. She evolved into the girl every guy wanted, but nobody wanted to mess with. Grrry is the front-woman for The Step Monsters punk band. Grrry also owns Triple X Hardcore Wrestling and a local comic book store in Apex City. Following Grrry into the sketchbooks, was Em, Jane and Kevin.
The first issue of Youth in Asia was printed and set for sale on June 6, 2006, and Anti-Hero Brand has never looked back. Issue 2 saw print in December 2006 as well as a reprinting of issue 1 with directory's commentary as well as a different ending to the tale.
Youth in Asia issue 3 saw print in June of 2007 and the trade paperback saw print a month later compiling the first three issues, plus several pages of exclusive sketches, one extra page of story and an exclusive introduction by Agnew Pennyworth. Later in July AHB went to Comic Con International, as fans, but with the YiA TPB in tow. We handed out over 100 copies of the trade to comic book fans and professionals alike. Some of the big deals that got copies of the book were, Simon Bisley (he loved Agnew), Amanda Conner, Kevin Eastman, Rob Van Dam, Kane Hodder (Jason in Friday the 13th 7-X).
Anti-Hero Brand Press went to it's very first convention in January 2008 in Mesa, Arizona for the Phoenix Cactus ComiCon. There, AHB unveiled The Epidemic ashcan, the first issue of The Book of Grrry, and Bedhead the Anti-Hero Brand Sketchbook. Along with those new books, AHB brought out four posters, and mini Agnew plushes AND Agnew Chainsaw t-shirts. The convention was a huge success for us and ushered in the idea of going to more and more conventions to spread the word of AHB.
AHB went to Comic Con International once again in 2008, where John was greeted with a hug and pat down by Simon Bisley at Dick's Last Resort Bar. Simon did this to make sure he was carrying Agnew along with him. As if he would go somewhere this important without the main man. Among some famous people who got copies of the Youth in Asia trade paperback this time around were, Mick Foley, Jimmie Robinson (who ended up putting Nash and Kyle into issue 6 of BombQueen The Devine Comedy), Rick Spears (writer of Teenagers from Mars), and Clayburn Moore (the vaunted sculptor). Simon Bisley offered his willingness to do a pinup of Agnew for a future issue. Rob Van Dam got an Agnew Chainsaw t-shirt to which he remembered getting the trade the previous year. Jimmie Robinson also gave us a one liner to use for promotional purposes later.
The release of Youth in Asia issue 4 would coincide with Anti-Hero Brand's presence at a very highly respected small press event, APE Con 2008. This event would also see the launch of the first "all ages" Anti-Hero Brand product, Got Crayons? The Adventures of Agnew Coloring Book. AHB enjoyed brisk sales, but fully enjoyed being a part of a large scale convention that catered to small press and indie comics.
One week late, AHB took place in the first ever Tucson Comic Con. AHB had Tucson locals repping the brand, such as Vivica Von, Ashler, the YiA #4 cover and prologue artist), and Mike Moran, pinup artist and inker on The Epidemic and artist on future AHB projects. Got Crayons? became a top selling book, and came with a great gimmick, a free box of crayons with every purchase of the launching pad for Agnew Pennyworth.
2009 saw Anti-Hero Brand Press return to the Mesa Convention Center for the 2009 edition of Phoenix Cactus ComiCon. YiA cover and prologue artist, Ashler made the trip with John to Mesa. Got Crayons? was the clear front runner in sales once again. But the event saw a launch of a new concept for John and his creation of Youth in Asia, 1Liners. One page strips with a comical edge. Three 1Liners were launched soon after that, and more are sure to come.
After the convention, John set out to finish the art for issue five of Youth in Asia, and begin future scripts. But something changed the future of Youth in Asia. A concept for a 1Liner turned into a four page prologue to issue 5. John drew a four page short where Agnew gets a dog. Enter Sabu!.... and enter the second "all ages" AHB product, and Free Comic Book Day giveaway.
This has been the short history of Anti-Hero Brand. Don't worry, there is more to come...