G.I. Joe Goes to IDW
In a surprise to pretty much no one, Hasbro announced today that it had reached an agreement with IDW Publishing to produce comics based on the toy company’s G.I. Joe license.
As we reported back in January, the license was up for grabs after Hasbro declined to renew with Devil’s Due, the publisher often credited with making the license relevant again after G.I. Joe properties had spent a long period in limbo.
The move to IDW has been anticipated ever since the license was freed up, due to IDW’s successful management of the Transformers license during the period leading up to and after the release of the Transformers live-action film. A live-action G.I. Joe film is scheduled for an August 2009 release from Paramount Pictures.
(You can view a large gallery of the recently released G.I. Joe cast photos here.)
As far as IDW’s plans for the license, the official announcement includes the following information:
As part of the agreement, IDW will produce a new monthly comic series, as well as deluxe reprints of the G.I. JOE property’s vast comic library, which helped catapult the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA phenomenon more than 25 years ago. IDW also has the rights for trade paperbacks and graphic novels.
The first products from this deal, a new monthly comic book series based on classic G.I. JOE vs. COBRA lore, will be launched with an introductory debut issue in October 2008. Featuring all-new storylines, the comics will portray the epic struggle of the G.I. JOE team against the evil forces of COBRA, while highlighting the brand’s favorite heroes and villains that made kids of the ‘80s today’s fans.
In 2009, IDW will also produce comic series both inspired by and based on the upcoming G.I. JOE live-action major motion picture from Paramount Pictures and Hasbro slated for August 7, 2009, as well as deluxe reprints from the vast G.I. JOE vs. COBRA comic history. The planned IDW comic book projects will be distributed to a wide audience through comic book outlets, trade bookstores and mass retailers.