Tyler Chin-Tanner

Tyler Chin-Tanner didn’t just want to make comics — he wanted to build a world where comics could matter. Co-founding A Wave Blue World with his wife Wendy in 2005 while still a student at The Joe Kubert School, Tyler set out to create a publishing house that would champion socially conscious storytelling and diverse voices in indie comics. Two decades later, AWBW has become one of the most respected independent publishers in the industry, winning GLAAD Media and Ringo Awards while publishing graphic novels, anthologies, and art books that challenge the status quo.

From Kubert School to Publishing Pioneer

Tyler’s journey into comics began with a passion for storytelling that led him to The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, where he studied from 2003 to 2006. It was during his first year that he coined the name “A Wave Blue World” for a class assignment — a mini-comic with a logo to make it feel real. The name, inspired by the ocean and futuristic allegories like Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451, would become the foundation of an award-winning publishing empire.

Working alongside fellow Kubert School alum Pete Carlsson as art director, Tyler began publishing his own creator-owned projects. His first graphic novel, American Terrorist, caught the attention of The New York Times, establishing Tyler as a voice unafraid to tackle complex social issues through the medium of comics. This was followed by the Mesoamerican fantasy epic Mezo and the YA Arthurian adventure The Orphan King, both published through AWBW.

The Anthology Architect

Where Tyler truly made his mark was in the world of anthologies. Recognizing the power of short-form storytelling to amplify diverse voices, he spearheaded a series of collections that tackled everything from hopeful sci-fi to horror. The 2018 anthology All We Ever Wanted: Stories of a Better World, which he co-edited with Matt Miner and Eric Palicki, presented 24 stories envisioning a brighter future — a deliberate antidote to dystopian fatigue. The Ringo Award-nominated collection featured work from creators like Howard Mackie, Tess Fowler, Liana Kangas, and Rich Douek, and was highlighted by The New York Times as one of seven essential comics of the season.

Tyler’s editorial vision extended to Dead Beats, a horror music anthology, and Embodied, a collection exploring identity and the human experience. But his most celebrated editorial achievement came with Young Men in Love, a queer romance anthology co-edited with Matt Miner that won both a GLAAD Media Award and a Ringo Award. “Every creator on this book, from the letterer and logo designers through every writer, artist, colorist, is a queer male or a non-binary person,” Tyler told The Beat, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation.

Building Something That Lasts

Under Tyler’s leadership, A Wave Blue World has grown from a two-person operation into a team that includes his daughters Maddy and Lucy in community outreach and social media. “Wendy and I are the co-founders and co-publishers,” Tyler explains, “but our whole family is involved.” The publisher’s focus on culturally relevant, original storytelling has earned them a reputation as one of indie comics’ most important voices — a platform where underrepresented creators can tell stories that matter.

Tyler continues to write, edit, and publish through AWBW, driven by a belief that stories should break down borders and connect people. As he told Publisher Spotlight: “For me, writing is about sending a message to the world. We’ve always had a very global perspective at A Wave Blue World.”

Perfect for fans of anthology publishers like Image Comics, socially conscious storytelling, and anyone who believes that indie comics can change the world.