After Hours Press - Independent Comic Books

Darren Sanchez - Publisher
Writer/creator of Celestial Alliance

Darren has been employed in the comic book industry since 1991, starting off with Valiant Comics, at their height, as Production Manager. He learned comic writing by working closely with various Valiant writers and Editors. His writing credits include the ARMORINES-Yearbook, MAGNUS 2001, and an unpublished Archer & Armstrong.

Currently he is the Production Director at Wizard Entertainment, home of Wizard, ToyFare and InQuest magazines. With credits in every publication Wizard puts out, including their collectible 1/2’s and ACE’s, Darren has been publishing other people’s books for years. The CELESTIAL ALLIANCE however, is his first independent publishing venture.

The concept for CELESTIAL ALLIANCE came to him back in 1988 when he was an Attack Helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army, and he hasn’t let it go since. Flying Cobras in Hawaii and making frequent overwater flights from Oahu to the neighboring islands, the idea of what might happen if he crashed into the ocean sounded like a good beginning to a story.

From there a love of comics and science fiction took over and soon there were concept sketches and descriptions of various alien and human super-teams. Several years, incarnations and edits later, with a more polished concept and a handful of comic pros as friends, the CELESTIAL ALLIANCE became a reality through a self started company called AFTER HOURS PRESS. After Hours was founded by Darren and another Wizard employee turned comic writer, Buddy Scalera. With Buddy as President and Darren as Publisher the AFTER HOURS umbrella was the key to putting out their creations.

A sports fanatic and natural organizer, Darren has been responsible for organizing dozens of intra-company foosball, basketball, softball and football clashes between Valiant, DC, Wizard, Marvel and even Quebecor (the printing giant from Montreal). He also serves on the board at his local Little League and coaches each of his two sons teams.

Where CELESTIAL ALLIANCE and AFTER HOURS go from here will be interesting to find out. With any luck you can go pick up your Onyx, Andar, Tundra and Darsa action figures soon at your local Toys R Us.