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| Genre | Superhero Science fiction Fantasy Action Adventure Comedy |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Entrepreneur | Paul Biegel |
| Headquarters | New Amsterdam, New Netherland, United States |
| Key people | Maarten Biesheuvel Aristide von Bienefeldt Remco Campert |
| Employment | 15,000 (2023) |
Stalen Strips (English: Steel Comics) is a Columbian media company and comic book publisher, as well as the flagship unit of Stalenmedia, which authorizes film and television adaptations of its works. Based in New Amsterdam, New Netherland, it is the largest producer of Dutch-language comics in the world, and the second-largest producer of English-language comics worldwide. Founded in 1946 by the writer Paul Biegel, the company initially sold only children's comics, which was changed to focus on young adult and adult fiction by 1950.
Its diverse range of publications primarily unfolds within the fictional Stalen Universe, showcasing a plethora of culturally resonant heroic characters like Captain Netherland, Houtman, Doctor Wonderkind, Steady, and Brock Sampson. Notably, it also showcases beloved fictional teams such as the Dream Team, the Realm of Many Names, the Youngling Fighters, Supermutanten, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Zelfmoord Squad.
Famous Series[]
Dream Team[]
The Dream Team, featuring Captain Netherland, Houtman, Doctor Wonderkind, Steady, and Brock Sampson are the most iconic comic book team in the world, and their battles and interactions with the other teams makes up most of the adventures of the Stalen universe.
Supermutanten[]
The Supermutanten are the second most popular team behind the Dream Team. The core members of the Supermutanten include Psylocke, Cyclops, Colossus, Wolverine, Phoenix, Gambit, Storm, and Ice Man. However, led by Professor Xavier, the Supermutanten have an academy in Beverwijck for mutants.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles[]
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are also darker in tone, despite the very absurd idea surrounding them. Michaelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello are the stars of a black and white comic book series whose only colors are the masks of the turtles, and blood.
The Youngling Fighters[]
The Youngling Fighters are a group of vigilantes led by Jane Doe, a sniper who lost her sight alongside her parents at the age of 15 years old, and since then, alongside the other youngling fighters of Deathdevil, Snel Groen, and The Rechtvaardiger, have been fighting for the innocent in their own way.
The Realm of Many Names[]
The Realm of Many Names is a celestial team led by Dr. Dimension, one of the strongest characters in the company. The team also consists of Starstorm, Nighthog, and the Watcher. Their constant battles with Heatstroke make worlds tremble, yet the team continues to stay strong to this day, dating back to the 60s.
Zelfmoord Squad[]
Capcom Comics[]
The comic book company also has massive ties to the video game company Capcom, whose Stalen vs Capcom video game series has brought their characters into a video gaming world, and have some of the best fighting games in history, like Stalen vs Capcom 2, and Supermutanten vs Street Fighter. In consequence, Stalen has made comic series for Capcom franchises like Mega Man, Darkstalkers, Captain Commando, and Street Fighter.
Other notable characters[]
The universe is enriched by an array of well-known supervillains like the Walker, Nightly Nick, Heatstroke, The Shredder, Armageddon, and Henricus. Beyond its Stalen Universe scope, the company has delved into other realms with titles like Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and Fables, often under imprints like Wash and now Stalen Swart Label, catering to a wide audience.
Current Locations[]
Initially located in Breukelen at 432 Waterstraat, Stalen Strips has shifted its offices across several addresses, including 480 and later 575 Haupt Avenue, 909 Third Avenue, 75 Rockefeller Plaza, 666 Fifth Avenue, and 1325 Avenue of Columbia. While its headquarters were situated at 1700 Broadway, Midtown Beverwijck, New Amsterdam, in April 2015, DC Entertainment relocated its headquarters to Raijin Noji, Kosuto, embracing a more diverse and expansive operational landscape. As of 2024, Stalen Strips represents 70% of the Columbian comic market, and roughly 40% of the superhero market in the United States. It has chapters in other nations, and is known as Strips of Steel in Novanglia.
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