Dark Horse Comics Workers Form Union, Seek Voluntary Recognition
If recognized or elected, Dark Horse Workers United would become the third U.S. comic publisher with a CWA-affiliated union, following Image Comics and Seven Seas Entertainment.
Reporting from 1 sources: Anime News Network.
Employees at Dark Horse Comics and its retail chain Things From Another World have formed Dark Horse Workers United, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. The union is asking for voluntary recognition by June 3 and cites recent layoffs, a wage and hiring freeze, leadership changes, and return-to-office policies as reasons for organizing.
Dark Horse Comics and its retail chain Things From Another World now have a union. Employees announced Dark Horse Workers United on Wednesday, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. The union is asking interim CEO Jay Komas for voluntary recognition by June 3. If the company does not agree by then, the union will petition the National Labor Relations Board for an election.
The union cited recent layoffs, a wage and hiring freeze, a change in leadership, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and return-to-office policies as reasons for organizing. Dark Horse confirmed layoffs in February 2025, citing increasing overhead and changing market conditions. Founder and CEO Mike Richardson left the company in March after 40 years.
If recognized or elected, Dark Horse Workers United would be the third CWA-affiliated union at a U.S. comic publisher, after Image Comics and Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas voluntarily recognized its union in 2022. Abrams Books and its comic-focused division formed a union in 2025 under UAW Local 2110.
Dark Horse Media is owned by Embracer Group, which announced on May 20 plans to split into two public companies and list Fellowship Entertainment-which includes Dark Horse Media-on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange in 2027. Dark Horse also announced on May 21 it would close all three Things From Another World retail locations between June and September.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network News Comic Publisher Dark Horse's Workers Form Union