E.T.C : The X-Files Comics
The X-Files comics are something of a semi-canon merchandise, occasionally rising at a much higher quality than what would be expected by a common tie-in product in both artwork and storyline, and occasionally being nothing more than that.

X-Files comics started being published during the peak of the show's popularity in 1995 by Topps comics. Nobody from the creative team of Ten Thirteen participated in their writing or production, although all comics were green-lit by Ten Thirteen. The monthly magazine (41 issues) was published from winter 1995 to summer 1998, i.e. from the middle of season 2 to right before the launch of season 6 of the show.

This is the "classic" X-Files comic, with Miran Kim's masterful and iconic covers, a combination of single, double and triple-issue stories, the "Deep Postage" column of information of all things X-Files and fan mail, and an announcement of the next issue. The comics had to be approved by Ten Thirteen productions, who had the final word on all X-Files-related merchandise. The series was essentially handled by two teams of writers/artists, Petrucha/Adlard (#1-16, art sample left) and Rozum/Saviuk (#30-41, art sample below), or combinations (Adlard stayed till #29), along with contributions by Purcell (#17-29) and a few others. The beginning of the series is memorable for a series of issues with interconnected stories coming together at the last issue (#1-12, my personal favourites), with Petrucha creating his own conspiracy to feature in the comics, as the Syndicate storyline of the TV series was something to be developed exclusively on TV. Petrucha complained that the relation with Ten Thirteen was a strenuous one, their approval process being too long and painstakingly strict. After some great scripts with meticulous research and literacy, Petrucha left (#16) and was replaced by Rozum; Adlard, with his particular but fittingly dark style, followed him later (#29). As the series progressed, Saviuk & Magyar's depiction of Mulder & Scully got better (and followed the changes in Scully's hairstyle), as was Rozum's (more Mulderisms and Scullyisms). In Rozum's scripts, it was obvious that the 22 pages of a single issue were too few to make up a satisfying story, as the double and triple-issue stories were the most memorable; themes related to the environment and to man's or scientists' misuse of nature were most recurrent. There were hints at an attempt at building a continuing story, with #27-29 obviously setting up characters that could have made a comeback, #39 reusing characters and stroylines from #30-31, and references to events in past issues and past TV episodes in the dialogue.
However, the series ended suddenly with #41, which did not feature an announcement of next issue's contents.

Parallel to that, several special comics were produced by Topps (2 mini-comics and 6 issues), along with one graphic novel and an adaptation of the 1996 Kevin J. Anderson novel Ground Zero (4 issues). Some mini-comics were produced for the short-lived first run of the X-Files Magazine by Topps (2 issues) in 1996. The same team of writers and artists worked here, with some occasional guest artists weighing in.

Most, if not all, of these Topps comics were republished or translated in several languages during the show's peak, either in the same or near-same format as the US magazine (story with fan mail, accompanying article on the series' themes) or incorporated as part of a larger X-Files magazine: UK, France, Germany, Greece, ...

During season 5 and the build-up to Fight the Future (1997-1998), several season 1 episodes were adapted in comic form (9 issues), with the Pilot being released as a test issue a year before. This series served as a kind of artists showcase, with a single writer doing the episode adaptations and 4 artists doing the artwork. The series stopped suddenly, with several issues that had been planned that were not published.

A graphic novel of Fight the Future, combining prose by Rozum and gloriously dark illustrations by John Van Fleet, was also published.

The longer-run X-Files Official Magazine by MVP (1996-2001, 18 issues) featured no comics.

To coincide with the airing of the Lone Gunmen series (2001), a comic was produced (along with a mini-comic strip).

Ten years after the last comics, in the wake of the release of I Want To Believe (2008), Wildstorm published a new series of comics (7 issues). Frank Spotnitz participated in the writing 3 issues; a two-issue story, the most interesting of this series, even included references to Roush Technologies, part of X-Files' mythology (see 5X03: Redux II and 6X01: The Beginning). Spotnitz promised more comics would come, but nothing came out of it.

In 2010, DC Comics published a cross-over between "The X-Files" and "30 Days of Night" (6 issues), a horrible mix of gore and more gore.

No comics based on Millennium or Harsh Realm have been produced.

Special appearances
- Skinner: Topps #1, 3, 36; TS15
- CSM: Topps #1, 3, 17
- The Lone Gunmen: Topps #3, 13; LG1, LG2
- X: Topps #13
- Senator Matheson: #27

Resources
- The X-Files Comics Checklist
- The X-Files Cover Checklist
- The X-Files on ComicVine
- Great reviews of Topps #1-12


Full list of published XF comics:






#
Title
1st pub
Pages
Paranormal theme
*/5
Topps Comics (monthly magazine, 1995-1998)
1
Not to be Opened Until X-mas Jan-1995 24
3rd Fatima prophecy; military-developed UFOs; Vatican; conspiracy
*****
2
A Dismemberance of Things Past Feb-1995 24
Roswell-like UFO crash and cover-up
*****
3
A Little Dream of Me Mar-1995 24
Cover-up continued; conspiracy involving ex-members of the military, claim to have knowledge of Samantha
*****
4
Firebird: Khobka's Lament
Apr-1995 24
Tunguska crash; alien entity
*****
5
Firebird: Crescit Eundo
May-1995 22
6
Firebird: A Brief Authority
Jun-1995 22
7
Trepanning Opera
Jul-1995 22
Third eye
*****
8
Silent Cities of the Mind
Aug-1995 22
Aztec mythology; crystal skulls
*****
9
Silent Cities of the Mind Sep-1995 22
10
Feelings of Unreality: Wheels Within Wheels
Oct-1995 22
Colleen Dunne  and Project Aquarius, linking all first 12 issues in a single conspiracy story
Mind control; implanted memories
*****
11
Feelings of Unreality: The Ancient of Days
Nov-1995 22
12
Feelings of Unreality: The Nightmare of History
Jan-1996 22
13
One Player Only
Feb-1996
22 Artificial intelligence; man-software interface
***
14
Falling
Apr-1996
26
Radiation from crash: alien UFO or military aircraft?
**
15
Home of the Brave: The New World
May-1996
22
Fallen angel UFO or experimental military aircraft; mind control induced hallucinations; swamp gas UFO sightings
****
16
Home of the Brave: A Question of Ownership May-1996 22
17
Thin Air
May-1996 24
Flight 19 disappearance; Bermuda triangle
****
18
Night Lights
Jun-1996
22
Ball lightning; Brown Mountain Lights
***

19
Night Lights Jun-1996 22
20
Family Portrait: Gallery
Jul-1996 24
Photo camera drawing the life out of its subjects; incubus
**
21
Family Portrait: The Camera Eye Jul-1996 24
22
The Kanashibari
Sep-1996
22
Kanashibari (Japanese sleep paralysis) in Haitian mythology
*
23
Donor
Nov-1996
22
Organ donor takes back his organs after death
*
24
Silver Lining
Dec-1996
22
Dorian Gray-like youth-sucking coat; shape-memory alloys
**
25
Be Prepared
Jan-1997
22
Windigo
*

26
Be Prepared Jan-1997
22
27
Remote Control
Mar-1997
22
CIA, remote viewing, SRI research on ESP, Stargate program, UFO technology
*****


28
Remote Control Apr-1997
22
29
Remote Control Apr-1997
22
30
Surrounded
Jun-1997
22
Flesh-eating mutated bacteria developed by anti-government militia

****
31
Surrounded Jul-1997 22
32
Crop Duster
Aug-1997 22
Little green frog-men: real or government-sponsored drug-induced hallucinations?
**
33
SOMA
Sep-1997
Indian sect Suttee; drink Soma from amanita muscaria mushroom; spontaneous human combustion
***
34
Skybuster
Oct-1997
22
Project HAARP; ionosphere manipulation as weapon; Gaia theory
***
35
N.D.E.
Nov-1997
22
Near-Death Experiences, angels/demons
*****
36
N.D.E. Dec-1997
22
37
The Face of Extinction
Feb-1998
22
Goat-men/Satyrs/Baphomet
****
38
Cam Ranh Bay
Mar-1998
22
Dolphins used as teleguided weapons developed by military
***
39
Scum of the Earth
Apr-1998
22
Flesh-eating bacteria (continuation of #30-31)
**
40
Devil's Advocate
Jun-1998
22
Cover-up of military nuclear weapons leak
**
41
Severed
Sep-1998
24
Werewolf
*
Topps Comics Special Editions
TS1
Trick of the Light [#-1]
Mar-1995
10
Obsession with alien abduction (+ self-references to Topps)
**
TS2
Circle Game [TV Guide #2207] Jul-1995
5
Crop circles; ghosts
**
TS3
Hallow Eve [Annual #1] Aug-1995
44
Mitochondrial Eve; ghosts
*****
TS4
Big Foot, Warm Heart [Comics Digest #1] Dec-1995
65
Small format (3-tier)
Big-foot
**
TS5
The Pit [XF Magazine #1] Winter 1996
8
Haunted mining pit
*
TS6
Tiptoe Through the Tulpa [Wizard Presents/#1/2]
1996
16
Tibetan tulpa
*
TS7
Dead to the World [Comics Digest #2] Apr-1996 65
Small format (3-tier)
Count of Saint-Germain; rosicrucianism; alchemy; immortality
*****
TS8
The Silent Blade [XF Magazine #2] Summer 1996 8
Haunted sword
**
TS9
Scape Goats [Comics Digest #3] Sep-1996 67
Small format (3-tier)
Chupacabra; UFOs; cattle mutilation
***
TS10
E.L.F.s [Annual #2] 1996
44
Extra Low Fequency Electromagnetic Energy; paranoia
***
TS11
Afterflight
Aug-1997
64
Graphic Novel
19th century airship; military/aeronautical R&D; UFOs & UFO technology
****
TS12
Ground Zero
Nov-1997
22
Adaptation of the novel published in 1996
Personal weapons derived from nuclear physics research


***

TS13
Ground Zero Jan-1998
22
TS14
Ground Zero Feb-1998
22
TS15
Ground Zero Mar-1998
22
TS16
Fight the Future
Jun-1998
56
Adaptation of the movie; prose with illustrations

Season One (1997-1998)
SO1
Pilot
Jul-1997
44


SO2
Deep Throat
Aug-1997
44


SO3
Squeeze Oct-1997
44


SO4
Conduit Dec-1997
44


SO5
Shadows Feb-1998 44


SO6
Ice Mar-1998 44


SO7
Space Apr-1998 44


SO8
Fire Jun-1998 44


SO9
Beyond the Sea Jul-1998
44


The Lone Gunmen (2001)
LG1
Generations Apr-2001
1
Geek fandoms (strip)

LG2
Patriots
Jul-2001
24


Wildstorm (2008-2009)
W1
(#0)
Sep-2008
27
Evil as infectious disease
****
W2
(#1) Nov-2008
22
Weaponized protein; Roush/Rauch Industries
****

W3
(#2) Dec-2008
22
W4
(#3) Jan-2009
22
Tong (Chinese secret society in the USA)
**

W5
(#4) Feb-2009
22
W6
(#5) Dante's Muse: Nasty Ones Mar-2009
22
Hollow Earth
*
W7
(#6) Dante's Muse: Netherworld Apr-2009
22
The X-Files/30 Days of Night [DC Comics] (2010)
#1

Jul-2010 32
Vampire zombies in Alaska
*
#2

Aug-2010 32
#3

Sep-2010 32
#4

Oct-2010 32
#5

Nov-2010 32
#6

Dec-2010
32





Total issues: 80 (+1 strip)
Total stories: 56 (+1 strip; 46 original)
Total pages: 2447



The Team: Topps Comics (Monthly series, Specials, Season One)


Dwight Jon Zimmerman, executive editor

Jim Salicrup, editor in chief
Renee Witterstaetter, editor

Miran Kim, cover artist
Stefan Petrucha, writer

John Rozum, writer
Kevin J. Anderson, writer

Roy Thomas, writer
Charles Adlard, artist [penciler & inker]

Alex Saviuk, artist [penciler]
Gordon Purcell, artist [penciler]

Josef Rubinstein, artist [inker]
George Freeman, colorist

John Workman, letterer
?
Rick Magyar, artist [inker]
?
Ted Boonthanakit, artist
Angelo Torres, artist
Claude St. Aubin, artist
Armando Gil, artist
Jill Thompson, artist
?
Larry Mahlstedt, artist
John Van Fleet, artist

Val Mayerik, artist
?
Sean Scoffield, artist




The Team: The Lone Gunmen


Jane Espenson, writer
?
Paul Lee, artist




The Team: Wildstorm


Frank Spotnitz, writer
Marv Wolfman, writer
Doug Moench, writer

Brian Denham, artist



The Team: DC Comics (XF/30 Days of Night)


Steve Niles, writer
Adam Jones, writer
Tom Mandrake, artist



Writers

Topps
- Stefan Petrucha: #1-16
- John Rozum: #17-41 (#30-31: with Don McGregor), except:
- Kevin J. Anderson: #20-21
- Dwight Jon Zimmerman: #40
Artists


Topps
- Charles Adlard [penciler & inker]: #1-16, 18-19, 22-23, 27-29 (#13 with Miran Kim, #27-29 with Gordon Purcell & Josef Rubinstein)
- Gordon Purcell [penciler], Josef Rubinstein [inker]: #17, 20-21, 24-29 (#27-29 with Charles Adlard)
- Alex Saviuk [penciler], Rick Magyar [inker]: #30-41

Topps specials
- Stefan Petrucha: TS1-7, TS11
- John Rozum: TS8-10, TS16
- Kevin J. Anderson: TS12-15


Topps specials
- Charles Adlard: S1-5, S7, S9 (S7: with Miran Kim)
- Ted Boonthanakit, Angelo Torres: S6
- Claude St. Aubin, Armando Gil: S8
- Gordon Purcell, Joe Rubinstein: S10
- Jill Thompson, Alexander Saviuk, Rick Magyar: S11
- Gordon Purcell, Larry Mahlstedt: S12-15
- John Van Fleet: S16


Season One
- Roy Thomas


Season One
- John Van Fleet: SO1, SO5
- Claude St. Aubin, Rick Magyar: SO2
- Val Mayerik: SO3, SO6-7 (SO3: with Rick Magyar)
- Sean Scoffield: SO4, SO8-9


The Lone Gunmen
- Paul Lee: LG1
- Jane Espenson: LG2


The Lone Gunmen
- Paul Lee: LG1-2


Wildstorm
- Frank Spotnitz: W1-3
- Marv Wolfman: W4-5
- Doug Moench: W6-7


Wildstorm
- Brian Denham: W1-7


XF/30 Days of Night
- Steve Niles, Adam Jones: #1-6


XF/30 Days of Night
- Tom Mandrake: #1-6


Special mention goes to Miran Kim, who did the cover artwork for all the Topps comics (except #33)








Title
Date
Contents
Reprints
The X-Files Ashcan #1
Jan-1995
Topps #1
The X-Files/Hero Illustrated Special
Mar-1995
Trick of the Light [Topps #-1]
The X-Files Special Edition #1
Jun-1995
Topps #1-3
The X-Files Collection #1
Jul-1995
Topps #1-6, Trick of the Light
With "An Interview with Chris Carter" and "Artists' Profiles"
The X-Files Special Edition #2
Dec-1995
Topps #4-6
The X-Files Special Edition #3
Mar-1996
Topps #7-9
The X-Files #0
1996
Pilot
With "The Making of the X-Files Comic Book Series"
The X-Files Special Edition #4
Nov-1996
Topps #10-12
The X-Files #-2
Sep-1996
The Pit, Silent Sword
Wizard ACE Edition #19: The X-Files #1
1997
Topps #1
The X-Files Collection #2
1997
Topps #7-12, Annual #1
The X-Files Special Edition #5
Sep-1997
Topps #13, Annual #1
Titan Books: Firebird
Nov-1995
Topps #1-6; Trick of the Light
Titan Books: Project Aquarius
Aug-1996
Topps #7-12; The Pit
Titan Books: The Haunting
Mar-1997
Topps #13-16
Titan Books: Night Light
Mar-1997
Topps #17-21
Titan Books: Internal Affairs
Aug-1997
Topps #22-23
Titan Books: Remote Control
Nov-1997
Topps #24-29
Titan Books: Skin Deep
Apr-1998
Topps #30-33
The X-Files Volume #1
2005
Topps #13-17, Pilot, Squeeze
The X-Files Volume #2
2005
Topps #18-22, Tiptoe through the Tulpa, Big Foot, Warm Heart
The X-Files Volume #3
2005
Topps #23-26, Fire, Ice, Trick of the Light
The X-Files
Nov-2009
Wildstorm #0-6
The X-Files/30 Days of Night
Jul-2011
The X-Files/30 Days of Night #1-6






E.T.C. 2004-2012