Upstart Associates, sometimes known as Upstart Studios, was the name of an artists' studio on West 29th Street in New York City formed in late 1978 by four comic book creators. These artists were Howard Chaykin, Walt Simonson, Val Mayerik, and Jim Starlin. The membership of the studio changed over time, eventually adding James Sherman, Frank Miller, and Gary Hallgren as previous members left (there were never more than four studio members at any one time). In addition, future comics professionals Peter Kuper and Dean Haspiel worked as assistants at Upstart before they began getting professional work.