Publication History
The main series was published by Topps Comics and ran for 41 issues from January 1995 to September 1998, coinciding with the second through fifth seasons of the television program.
In 1996, Topps published X-Files #0, an adaptation of the pilot episode, in order to test the market for a series adapting the episodes of the X-Files TV series. The issue was successful, and X-Files Season One ran for nine issues (August 1997 - July 1998). The series's name was provisional, and Topps in fact intended to adapt every episode, but never got as far as season two. The series was written by Roy Thomas, who would create a first draft for each issue by working off of the episode's script, then watch the actual episode and modify his work to account for changes made on the set.
Topps also published Ground Zero, a four-issue mini-series (December 1997 - March 1998).
Tony Isabella reported difficulties with The X-Files creator Chris Carter over the Topps Comics' series:
"The main reason the comics fell behind schedule was because it took so long to satisfy the X-Files people. They went over everything with a fine-tooth comb, including the letters columns. ... I rarely ran negative letters in these columns because the editors were afraid that the X-Files people would want even more changes in the material. Almost from the start, there were never enough usable letters for our needs. That's why I started including the "Deep Postage" news items — and making up letters completely. I also wrote the Xena letters columns, but those were a lot easier to produce."
The digest consisted of three issues published at five month intervals beginning December 1995 through September 1996, each featuring separate titles: "Big Foot, Warm Heart," "Dead to the World," and "Scape Goats." All included stories from the Ray Bradbury Comics.
There were also a number of one-offs like the Hero Illustrated Special (March 1995), and the graphic novel Afterflight (August 1997).
Wildstorm published "The X-Files Special" in August 2008. It was a one-shot timed with the release of the second film, written by Frank Spotnitz with art by Brian Denham. The deal Spotnitz signed is for another two comics. This became a 6 part series that started from Nov. 2008 - April 2009 with Spotnitz writing the first two issues, Marv Wolfman for #3-4 and Doug Moench for #5-6.
In July 2010 Wildstorm and IDW published issue #1 of X-Files/30 Days of Night to positive reviews. The six-issue limited series is written by 30 Days of Night creator Steve Niles and Tool guitarist Adam Jones and follows Mulder and Scully to Alaska to investigate a series of grisly murders that may be linked to vampires.
Read more about this topic: The X-Files (comics)
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