IDW visits Jurassic Park

IDW Publishing is pleased to announce a publishing agreement with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to create an entirely new series of comics based on the always-popular Jurassic Park franchise. Launching in June, IDW’s Jurassic Park comics will bring all of the oversized action and prehistoric adventure that fans love in a brand-new story. Plus, IDW will also reprint all the original Topps Jurassic Park comics in a trade paperback collection, most of which have never before been reprinted. Fans attending WonderCon 2010, one of the country’s leading comics and pop culture conventions, held April 2nd through the 4th in San Francisco, can get a sneak peak of the new series at the IDW booth #519 and at the Jurassic Park panel on Friday.

“I’ve been a fan of Jurassic Park since we first published it at Topps back in the 90’s, and it’s exciting revisit and reinvigorate the property after all these years,” said IDW chief operating officer, Greg Goldstein. “There’s so much potential for interesting stories, and we have a great team in place to bring them to life.”

Available in both print and digital, IDW’s Jurassic Park comics kick off with a five-issue story arc, written by IDW Senior Editor and comics veteran Bob Schreck. Nate Van Dyke provides interior art, while comics’ legends Tom Yeates and Frank Miller offer their awesome and gory covers to the first issue, with Arthur Adams, Paul Pope, and Bernie Wrightson also providing variant covers for the first storyline. IDW will be giving away a Jurassic Park poster at WonderCon, featuring Frank Miller’s cover art for issue #1. Schreck, Van Dyke and Yeates will also all be on hand throughout the weekend to sign autographs.

“Having been born in the Jurassic Era myself, I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity,” Schreck commented. “I was raised on a strict diet of Willis O’Brien and Ray Harryhausen movies and adore the Jurassic Park films. I can’t begin to convey the thrill of bringing this tale to life with so many old (and new) super-talented friends and fellow dinosaur lovers.”

The first five-issue story arc in IDW’s new Jurassic Park series, Jurassic Park: Redemption, takes up thirteen years after the very first Jurassic Park motion picture and finds John Hammond’s grandchildren, Tim and Lex Murphy, as well-to-do young adults. While Lex is working with the UN to continue keeping people off of both Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna — her brother Tim has other ideas about how to get their grandfather’s name back in good standing. Each issue in the arc will feature a cover by Yeates and a variant by another major artist. For issue #2, fans can expect great things from Arthur Adams, followed by Paul Pope on issue #3, Bernie Wrightson on issue #4 and the hugely popular dinosaur connoisseur Bill Stout on issue #5.


Jurassic Park: Redemption #1 (32 pages, full color, $3.99) will be available in stores in June. Visit IDWPublishing.com to sign up for updates and learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

Join the Mystery Society

Starting in May, IDW Publishing, famed horror creator Steve Niles and renowned artist Fiona Staples invite fans to join the Mystery Society. The all-new, five-issue series introduces Nick Hammond and Anastasia Collins, who are the Mystery Society and bring new meaning to “underground cult” status. Each issue features a fun and sexy new adventure for this skullduggery duo, as they stealthily avoid the authorities while righting the wrongs committed in the dark recesses of the world’s underbellies.

“This book is a conspiracy-theorist cum monster-fan’s dream!” IDW Senior Editor Bob Schreck commented. “Steve and Ashley’s concept ‘Brundle-Flies’ Nick and Nora from The Thin Man with a sort of Scully and Mulder from the X-Files as this well-to-do duo run the gamut exposing the truth behind ‘real life’ conspiracies and all things that go bump in the night. And Fiona’s contribution is amazing as anyone who has seen her work will tell you. Best thing for us is… she’s bringing it to a whole new level with this series.”

Created by Niles and the legendary Ashley Wood, Mystery Society is a fast-paced, take-no-prisoners adventure series that is sure to delight fans from cover to cover. The series starts off with a bang, as Ana defends the Mystery Society’s secret headquarters, while Nick goes on a rescue mission that has him breaking into Area 51 for a bounty readers will have to see to believe! This first issue also features a cover by Wood, as well as a variant cover by Staples.


Mystery Society #1 (of 5, $3.99, 32 pages, full color) will be available in stores in May. Visit IDWPublishing.com to sign up for updates and learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

Ducktales returns this June

One of the most action-packed Disney franchises returns to the comic page in a big way this summer from BOOM Kids! Mickey’s Mailbag has been overflowing with requests for a trip back to the world of The Disney Afternoon, and because the fans demanded it…DuckTales returns starting in UNCLE SCROOGE #392 this June.

The premiere of DuckTales in UNCLE SCROOGE #392 will appear on store shelves the same month as BOOM!’s new DARKWING DUCK mini-series that was announced this past weekend. “DuckTales is one of the most beloved television shows of the ‘90s,” said BOOM Kids! editor Aaron Sparrow. “It’s just spectacular to be bringing it back for a whole new generation to discover and enjoy!”

The fun begins in UNCLE SCROOGE #392, as BOOM Kids! kicks off the four-issue arc, “Like a Hurricane!” Fans of both the groundbreaking animated series and the classic Carl Barks comics it was based on will delight at the chance to get their hands on these stories, never before seen in the United States, that are coupled with some old favorites printed at the time of the original television series.

Non-stop adventure is what’s in store when Uncle Scrooge is accompanied by his nephews, plus the unpredictable Lauchpad McQuack! Add in some super-heroics from the amazing Gizmoduck, and you have a recipe for an epic good time!

The first Duck Tales arc starting in UNCLE SCROOGE #392 includes scripts by veteran Disney writers Paul Halas, Tom Anderson, Didier le Bornec, Chris Weber, Karen Willson, Doug Murray and Régis Maine with outstanding art by modern masters Xavier Vives Mateu, José Maria Carreras, Roberto Santillo, Cosme Quartieri, Wanda Gattino, and José Cardona Blasi.

UNCLE SCROOGE #392 contains the first installments of the “Like a Hurricane!” saga entitled “The Everlasting Coal” which is written by Paul Halas & Tom Anderson, with interior art by Xavier Vives Mateu. UNCLE SCROOGE #392 also includes the classic backup “The Littlest Gizmoduck” written by Chris Weber and Karen Willson with interiors by Roberto Santillo. This kick-off issue features two covers in a 50/50 split by Michel Nadorp and Magic Eye Studios and carries a cover price of $2.99 and ships this June.

For more information about BOOM! Studios please visit BoomStudios.com and for more information on Disney you can visit Disney.com.

IDW achieves Premier Publisher status

Diamond Comic Distributors and IDW Publishing announced today that IDW has become the first publisher to advance to “premier” status since the classification was implemented in 1996. Diamond and IDW have signed a new, multi-year agreement that features a number of fresh initiatives, including premier status, in recognition of IDW’s success as a top tier comic book and graphic novel publisher. Under the agreement, Diamond will continue to be the exclusive distributor of IDW comic books and graphic novels to the comic book specialty market, and to the bookstore market through its Diamond Book Distributors division.

“This change recognizes the growth and importance of IDW Publishing,” said Diamond President and CEO, Steve Geppi, “and we look forward to working with them for many years to come.” Diamond VP Purchasing Bill Schanes added, “Since IDW began publishing, they have grown consistently each and every year, while at the same time establishing one of the best editorial, marketing, and business teams in our industry. They’re easy to work with, understand our market, and are forging ahead with new strategies and plans to grow the consumer appetite for comics and graphic novels.”

In April, Diamond’s PREVIEWS catalog and PREVIEWSworld.com website will showcase IDW’s new vendor status as the company moves to the “Premier Comics” section. IDW will have an exclusive section in the front of the catalog each month, highlighting their new offerings to comic shop retailers and customers.

“We are very pleased to have completed this groundbreaking agreement with Diamond,” said Ted Adams, CEO of IDW Publishing. “By combining Diamond’s leadership in distribution with IDW’s ten-plus years in developing, creating and marketing comic books and graphic novels, we have created an ideal relationship for each of our companies. The comic book medium is trending upward in all parts of consumer awareness and we are proud to be a partner with Diamond for the future.”

For more information about Diamond Comic Distributors please visit DiamondComics.com. For more information on IDW Publishing please visit IDWPublishing.com.

BOOM Studios gets dangerous with Darkwing Duck

He is the terror that flaps in the night. He is the super-hero that is about to make his return. He is…DARKWING DUCK! This June, Disney and BOOM! Studios herald the triumphant comeback of the beloved Disney Afternoon star with DARKWING DUCK: THE DUCK KNIGHT RETURNS. Lanchpad McQuack, Gosalyn Mallard, and the fiercest of Darkwing’s rogue gallery all join the daring duck of mystery in an all-new, completely original four-issue mini-series: DARKWING DUCK: THE DUCK KNIGHT RETURNS!

Whether you’re a Darkwing fan from the hit TV show or want to discover this cherished character for the first time, this new mini-series delivers all the madcap adventurous spirit that made a fan out of millions! Written by Ian Brill (ZOMBIE TALES) and James Silvani (MUPPET KING ARTHUR), the mini-series sees Darkwing’s city of St. Canard under the control of a mysterious corporation. Darkwing’s been out of commission for a while but when his friends and family are under attack…you better watch out you bad boys! Darkwing fights new villains as well as old, for Megavolt, Quackerjack, Liquidator and Bushroot are on the loose!

“It’s such a dream to bring back Darkwing, a favorite of mine and millions of other’s,” says series writer Brill. “Everyone involved in this book are working tirelessly to make sure this comic has the same feel of anarchic fun of the TV series, while still presenting a whole new adventure in the life of Darkwing.”

Debuting in 1991 as a spin-off of the hugely popular DUCK TALES, DARKWING DUCK brought super-hero action and excitement to the Disney Afternoon animation block, captivating viewers for years. Shown around the world, DARKWING DUCK is still a fan-favorite of pop culture fans everywhere.

DARKWING DUCK: THE DUCK KNIGHT RETURNS #1 is written by Ian Brill with interior art by James Silvani. The debut issues features two covers in a 50/50 split by Magic Eye Studios and Silvani respectively and a 1-in-10 incentive cover by Silvani and Jake Myler. For more information on this and other great titles please visit www.boom-studios.com.