Tagged: IDW

IDW Expands Reach with Uclick Deal

News
December 4, 2008

Uclick has added IDW’s graphic novel version of Clive Barker’s The Thief of Always to its rapidly growing line of comic book titles optimized for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Like the children lured to Mister Hood’s Holiday House in the novel, once fans begin reading this engrossing tale, presented in vibrant color and rich detail on their iPhone screens, they too will find it impossible to leave.

Creator of the well-known horror films Hellraiser, Nightbreed and Lord of Illusions, and author of more than a dozen horror novels and short story collections, Clive Barker has long been considered a master of the horror genre. Barker originally published The Thief of Always in 1992 as a fable for young readers. The novel was serialized as a graphic novel in 2005 by IDW Publishing, with story adaptation by Kris Oprisko and art by Gabriel Hernandez. All three installments of The Thief of Always are now available on the iPhone App Store for only 99 cents each.

“We feel very fortunate to once again be working with IDW and now Clive Barker,” said Uclick CEO Douglas Edwards in a release. “Mr. Barker is a legend and literary genius. We are honored to bring his masterpiece to millions of fans on the iPhone through the Uclick graphic story player.”

“The Thief of Always graphic novel is based on one of Clive Barker’s most popular stories,” IDW’s CEO Ted Adams said. “We’re very excited that this critically acclaimed title is now available for readers to download on the iPhone through the App Store. This is a great new way for fans to experience some of the best work in comics.”

The Thief of Always is the tale of Harvey Swick, an average boy bored with school until he receives a visit from an otherworldly stranger. Mister Rictus invites Harvey to Mr. Hood’s Holiday House, a child’s paradise where, Rictus declares, Harvey will find everything his heart desires. The Holiday House proves to be all Rictus promised, but Harvey soon discovers that its pleasures come at a heavy price.

Uclick continues to add to its already diverse collection of popular graphic novels and webcomics available on the iPhone App Store. IDW Publishing’s adaptation of the beloved Clive Barker fable joins Jeff Smith’s Bone, the cosmic sci-fi superhero series GODLAND, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles anthology series Tales of the TMNT, and webcomics Pibgorn and Basic Instructions.

Troy Little’s ‘Angora Napkin’ Headed for Animation

News
December 3, 2008

Troy Little’s graphic novel Angora Napkin is being adapted as an animated project to air on Canada’s Teletoon in March of 2009.

IDW will publish the book as a 152-page hardcover in January and the publisher describes the book as “an adult comedy about a girl band pop trio.”

Little (Chiaroscuro) is involved in all aspects of the production of the Angora Napkin animated pilot.

Teletoon, in a Canada wide search for new and original adult animation ideas, selected Angora Napkin to be developed as an animated pilot. “The idea of Angora Napkin was originally developed by Nick Cross and me as an animated series so it’s really interesting to see the project come full circle” Little said in a release. “We’ve teamed up with Mugisha Enterprises to produce the cartoon. Both Nick and I are putting many hours into the cartoon and are involved in all aspects of production to ensure the unique look of the show remains fresh and creator driven”.

Troy believes the timing of the book and cartoon will do much to compliment one another and help draw attention to the product. “Angora Napkin is one of those quirky little concepts that could potentially draw a cult status. It’s very subversive humor coupled with a healthy dose of sex and violence”.

Angora Napkin graphic novel synopsis:

Halloween is upon us! Historically this ancient event has been identified as the day in which the boundary between the living and the dead becomes unstable. It is on this fateful night that we find Beatrice, Molly, and Mallory, the pop music group known as Angora Napkin, running behind schedule for their performance at the big Halloween bash. Taking a short cut on a dark, twisting mountain road, the girls cross paths with one of the wandering dead. Undaunted by such an unusual encounter, they offer him a lift to a secret underground party. It is here that they are introduced to a lonely, misunderstood zombie boy named Dennis who they unwittingly convince to eradicate life on Earth in order to keep the party of the undead going for all eternity! Will Angora Napkin be able to set right the horror they’ve unleashed upon humanity and still make the show on time, or will we all become worm food in the wake of the zombie apocalypse?

ComicMix Radio: The Best Place To Buy!

Podcasts
December 2, 2008

After Black Friday and even Cyber Monday, there is still a lot of us with a number of names on that Christmas list. When you are racking your brains for the unique gifts, keep in mind the cool stuff tucked away at your local comic store. Beyond the weekly fix, there are plenty of things there not found anywhere else and this week we start to point them out, plus:

Batman #681 gone gone gone
A pair of Santa Hulks
IDW brings more comics to ITunes

The shopping starts when you Press the Button!

And remember, you can always subscribe to ComicMix Radio podcasts via or RSS!

Devil’s Due Restructures

News
December 2, 2008

Devil’s Due Publishing has restructured their staff, with CEO PJ Bickett stepping down and two other staffers being laid off.

Bickett told Comic Book Resources, " I have officially separated from Devil’s Due." Replacing him on an interim basis will be DDP’s founder Josh Blaylock.

The lay offs include Editor Cody DeMatteis and Marketing Manager Brian Warmoth with Blaylock telling CBR, that their layoffs were “absolutely no fault of their own.”

"I have really enjoyed being a part of the DDP family for the past several years, and now it is time for me to move on to new challenges," Bickett said. "It was an honor working with such talented people, and I look forward to watching the company evolve."

Blaylock said in a release, "Coming from a strategic planning background, PJ was able to bring a fresh set of eyes to Devil’s Due. It has given us a unique perspective on the industry and where it’s going in years to come, and helped better prepare us for that."

Blaylock helped found the creative services outfit Kunoichi, Inc..and has been concentrating on that in lieu of DDP. Now, Bickett will be spending most of his time on Kunoichi’s operations. They recently entered into an agreement to purchase Arachia Comics.

Kunoichi and DDP have shared lineage and even shared Chicago offices blurring the line between the two. DDP currently works out of Los Angeles offices.

DDP has made its name with licensed properties, notably G.I. Joe and Halloween but lost the former to IDW and has suffered financially for it. Their best known original title is Hack/Slash, which has been optioned by Rogue Pictures, a division of Universal Studios that just happens to be up for sale itself.

‘Ghost Whisperer’ Comic now goes Mobile

News
December 2, 2008

IDW Publishing has licensed their Ghost Whisperer comic book for repurposing on mobile phone to iVerse Media. Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted #1 is now available at the iTunes App Store.

The high profile title is based on the hit CBS series featuring Jennifer Love Hewitt as Melinda Gordon, the medium who helps ghosts cross over. The five-issue miniseries is written by series writers Carrie Smith and Becca Smith, with art by Elena Casagrande.

The story in the comic fits in between Seasons 2 and 3 of the show, and follows Melinda as she spends her days and nights helping earthbound spirits cross over into the Light. In the comic series, however, Melinda gets more than she bargained for when she comes face-to-face with Osiris, Egyptian God of the Dead, who wants the souls for himself.

The comic follows the same format as the show, with a ghost that needs to cross over in each issue. Unlike the show, however, another ghost – Osiris – appears in each issue, tying the miniseries together and keeping the tension on the rise from one issue to the next.

The digital version of the comic was adapted to the iPhone and iPod touch by iVerse Media. A new issue of the series will be released every few weeks until all five issues of the series have been adapted digitally.

“Many fans of the Ghost Whisperer TV show may not even realize that the comic book exists so this presents an excellent opportunity to reach out to both existing and new readers. The digital format is a no-brainer for this type of content,” IDW’s CEO Ted Adams said in a release.

"We’re very excited to be making Ghost Whisperer available to iPhone and iPod Touch owners," said Michael Murphey, owner of iVerse Media. "IDW has created a fantastic comic book that is true to the television series, and a great gateway into digital comic books for new readers of the format."

Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted #1 is available in the iTunes App Store now for $0.99:

The Latest ‘Star Trek’ News

News
November 24, 2008

First Showing is reporting that Star Trek will not only beam into multiplexes around the nation, but can also be found on IMAX.

Other IMAX releases are scheduled to include Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

In other Star Trek news, Paramount released two more teaser posters featuring Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and the villain Nero (Eric Bana) as seen here.

IDW released the cover to the first issue of Star Trek: Countdown #1, the prequel miniseries coming in January.

The story is plotted by Trek screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and scripted by Mike Johnson (Superman/Batman) and Tim Jones, with art by David Messina (Star Trek: Mirror Images). Messina also provides covers for the series.

“There was a lot of back and forth about doing this project, how to do it, what it would be about, but what all parties agreed on was that we needed the right story and that it needed to matter. It had to count both on its own merits and when read in conjunction with the new movie,” said series editor Andy Schmidt in a release. “I couldn’t be happier with the project and what it means to the overall Star Trek franchise!”

"Star Trek: Countdown lays the groundwork for what happens in the movie," said Roberto Orci. "It’s our way of passing the baton from the Next Generation characters and their movies to the new film."

William Messner-Loebs Appreciates his Industry’s Support

News
November 24, 2008

Michigan-based William Messner-Loebs has had a very difficult life since birth but he remains undaunted as he continues to write and draw comics. This year, he seemed to have hit rock bottom and the industry rallied to his support. Additionally, IDW republished his classic independent title, Journey, and he has found work after too many fallow years.

Michigan’s MLive blog recently provided an update on Messner-Loebs who clearly recognizes the generosity of his peers. Brad Meltzer and Geoff Johns led the current wave of industry support following previous waves of support, headed by Mark Waid and Tom Peyer.

"It’s so heartwarming. When this sort of thing happens you feel utterly alone and forgotten. To have people give us the help they have, and the really touching letters and e-mails that enabled us to go on, was a blessing," the 59 year old creator said.

Both Messner-Loebs and his wife Nadine have suffered numerous ailments requiring surgery and hospitalization that left them teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. They wound up living in homeless shelters as Messner-Loebs attempt to find temp work but felt he was never chosen given his status as a one-armed man.

When Waid became editor-in-chief at BOOM! Studios, he was in a position to do more than just send money or rally support. He gave the man work. "That’s less an indication of the kind of person I am and far more a measure of the kind of guy Bill is — a loyal and good man who has a way about him that everyone adores," said Waid. "In the quarter-century I’ve known Bill, I’ve never heard anyone express anything but affection for him. Never once."

His work at BOOM! can be found in Zombie Tales while he has also drawn " for Boom! Chicken Wings for the Beer Drinker’s Soul for Novi-based Com Publishing. Messner-Loebs also illustrates a monthly cartoon for the Livingston Parent Journal which will be turned into a line of greeting cards and a calendar.

"Humor is a subversive reflex. I’m not sure I could abandon it, even if I wanted to. Besides, the day we officially lost the house was Sept. 10, 2001. I had exactly 24 hours to feel like the unluckiest person on the planet. Then I grew up," he said.

"So many people have invested in me getting back on my feet; it’d be a betrayal of them if I didn’t keep going."

In 2006, the couple had been given enough cash to allow them to buy and live in a mobile home in Green Oak Township.

While working here and there, he continues to plan for a new volume in the adventures of Wolverine McAllister, the pioneer star of Journey. "I had been reading about the mountain men of the 1830s. Well, these were legendary guys and underused in a way that western gunslingers weren’t. The scruffiness and casualness of the ambiance was appealing to me. As I started (the) stories, I realized I’d be investing a huge amount of time just to figure out the basic topography, flora and fauna of California. If I moved the scene 20 years earlier those same trappers and pioneers would be in Michigan. I could do research by just looking out the window."

Manga Friday: Shojo (Slight Return)

News
November 22, 2008

Once again I’m left with a stack of books that are sequels to other books – that’s what comics is about, isn’t it? stories that never end? – and so I shoved three of them together due to some vague shojo similarities. And they are…

Nephilim, Vol. 2
By Anna Hanamaki
Aurora, July 2008, $10.95

The first volume of Nephilim – which I reviewed back in August – looked a lot like an adventure story, with daring escapes, swordfights, chase scenes, and two battling empires. But it had within it the hints of the emotion-drenched shojo romance it was destined to eventually be. By the end of that book, the dashing nobleman Guy had saved the Nephilim Abel (one of a nearly-genocided race of people who all change sex at night, which must make pregnancies interesting) and they’d seemingly shared a “we both love each other” moment before they were rudely separated.

But it’s now a year later, and Abel is searching for Guy, while swanning over the one moment when he said he wanted to be her husband. (She’s a shojo heroine, so she spends a lot of time in a romantic reverie and hardly any time noticing the world in front of her.) The background is still of a world vaguely at war, between two large powerful countries, with the poor Nephilim (what of them are left) stuck in the middle. But that’s really just for added drama: the focus here has shifted decisively to “but does he luuuuuuuve me?!” territory.

Abel does catch back up with Guy, as we knew she would. She eventually learns he has a Tragic Secret (related to a Weakness He Is Too Much Of An Honorable Man To Tell, and which Threatens His Life when he Performs Great Deeds), and, even worse, that he has what looks like another romantic entanglement. (Interestingly – since he seemingly originally was interested in Abel during the day, when she was a boy – the woman he’s canoodling with now has a short, severe haircut and an tough, commanding attitude that some might even call “manly.”)

(more…)

October Comics Sales Soften

News
November 20, 2008

As the economy went into free fall, ICv2 notes that October sales have shown some slippage. From their just released list of the top 25 titles, just two showed signs of improvement over September sales. One was Amazing Spider-Man #573 which featured the faux-Stephen Colbert for President cover while the other was Batman #680, the penultimate chapter to Batman RIP.

Despite somewhat stagnant sales, the dollars sold in to comic stores were up a “robust” 9% compared with a year ago, according to the industry watchdog. September and October were the first positive months for comic sales since January. Of course, more titles were retailing last month at $3.99, rapidly becoming a standard, as opposed to last October. ICv2 did note that the unit sales for the title charting in the 300th position was 4200 compared with 3000 just twelve months ago which they interpret as a sign of overall industry strength.

Graphic novel sales showed an increase of just 5% compared with last October. Combined with comic book sales, that creates an 8% total increase.

The site notes that the company crossovers, Secret Invasion #7 (154,675 copies) and Final Crisis #4 (115,666 copies) took the first two spots on the list. Marvel had seven of the top 10 and 17 of the first 25 with DC taking the balance. IDW’s G.I. Joe relaunch and Angel: After the Fall were the first non-Top Two titles to crack the top 100 list coming in at 65th and 66th place. This further cements IDW’s fourth place standing among comic book publishers, after Dark Horse and now ahead of Image.

In graphic novels, DC’s Joker by Brian Azzarello, took first place with an estimated 17,000 copies sold, also nabbing the top spot for dollars earned. Marvel’s best seller for the month was the Marvel Zombies trade paperback, which likely hit the top Marvel spot given its three variant covers. Wile Watchmen slipped from first place to sixth, its 6000 copies remains impressive given its age.

(more…)

IDW Holds Office Sale

News
November 17, 2008

IDW Publishing is holding its first ever sale of comic books and graphic novels at its San Diego headquarters on Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. This is a fantastic opportunity for comic book collectors to scoop up some real bargains and hunt down some rare titles they may have missed, including some limited editions and signed copies – all at bargain prices. There will be surprises and giveaways with every purchase.

A number of comic book creators will be on hand offering free autographs on their work, including Ben Templesmith (Wormwood, 30 Days of Night), Chris Ryall (Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show, Zombies vs. Robots), and Chris Mowry (Transformers).

The sale gives IDW a chance to thank fans for their continued support and for helping with the company’s phenomenal growth over the past few years. IDW was recently ranked No. 4 comic book publisher in the United States by Diamond Comic Distributors.

The sale is primarily intended to free up space in IDW’s warehouse for the company’s expanded and exciting line up of titles in 2009.

“Our warehouse manager is literally buried,” says IDW’s Chief Operating Officer, Greg Goldstein. “After 10 years of publishing, it’s only natural that the boxes have piled up because of accidental print overruns, books that were set aside as office copies, books intended for reviewers and others earmarked for promotional purposes. Time to get them out of here.”

The sale will be held in IDW’s parking lot, 5080 Santa Fe St, San Diego, CA 92109.

IDW is offering new comics for $1 each (Reg. $3.99 cover). Titles include — subject to availability — 30 Days of Night, Transformers, Star Trek, Wormwood, Spike, Fallen Angel, Dr. Who, Scarface, Gene Simmons, Metal Gear Solid, Clive Barker, Zombies vs. Robots, and CSI.

Trade paperbacks / collections will be $5 each (Reg. $19.95-$24.95 each).

Other books, comics and magazines will be up to 80% OFF cover price.

Most items are brand new; some with nicks and dings.

There will also be some limited edition and signed editions TBD, along with special surprises.

For example:

• Signed and numbered, limited edition copies of Clive Barker’s Thief of Always (hardcover) only $10!

• Limited edition Zombies vs. Robots Bertie statue regularly priced at $350 will be reduced to $250.

(All prices are in effect day of sale only and are not applicable online.)

Giveaways with every purchase.

Cash or major credit cards accepted; no checks.

Tagged: IDW

IDW Expands Reach with Uclick Deal

Troy Little’s ‘Angora Napkin’ Headed for Animation

ComicMix Radio: The Best Place To Buy!

Devil’s Due Restructures

‘Ghost Whisperer’ Comic now goes Mobile

The Latest ‘Star Trek’ News

William Messner-Loebs Appreciates his Industry’s Support

Manga Friday: Shojo (Slight Return)

October Comics Sales Soften

IDW Holds Office Sale

Categories

Archives

Everything you need to make great comics!

Nucleus X

Bookshop Zaks