IDW January Newsletter

Posted by Jesse in Comics, Latest News on January 7th, 2010

IDW January Newsletter

Happy New Year and welcome to the IDW newsletter, offering your monthly dose of news and not-to-be-missed books!

Arriving at inboxes the beginning of each month, the IDW newsletter brings highlights of the coming month, including books to look for at your local store, plus top stories from “Ryall Time” and the IDW website. Enjoy!

IDW Digital

IDW is ringing in the New Year with awesome new digital comics on more platforms!  In addition to expanded offerings for the iPhone and iPod touch, you can now enjoy IDW comics on your PSP. 

Take a break from gaming to read TRANSFORMERS or

Wormwood on your PSP. Plus, Wormwood is the very first digital comic to offer audio commentary, meaning you can enjoy both the art and insights (plus the cool Australian accent) of Ben Templesmith!

Click here to download comics to your PSP.

For your iPhone or iPod touch, check out our four-issue prequel to the upcoming movie, “Legion,” featuring an all out war between Heaven and Earth!  Legion: Prophets introduces the “prophets,” ordinary people who have yet to understand the powers they possess and their very special role in the apocalyptic events that are about to sweep across the globe.

Click here to get Legion: Prophets on your iPhone or iPod touch.

January Firsts!
The first month of 2010 features some amazing #1 issues, starting January 13th!  Check out the very first issue from EA Comics, Army of Two #1!

Then take a ride on the bizarre side with Weekly World News #1, written by lifeong Bat Boy fan and IDW Publisher/Editor in Chief, Chris Ryall.

Also on January 13th, IDW launches a new Star Trek series, Captain’s Log, starting with Captain Hikaru Sulu.  Each installment of the series will feature a different captain from The Original Series.

On January 27th, the acclaimed G.I. JOE: COBRA series continues with COBRA II #1. Get ready for another action-packed series, plus characters never before seen in IDW comics!  And if you haven’t done so yet, pick up the COBRA I series, which io9.com called “the latest smart, inventive reboot.”

And don’t miss the final leg of IDW’s TRANSFORMERS trifecta with Last Stand of the Wreckers #1, as this special AUTOBOT crew goes on a mission to investigate the prison planet under the rule of the DECEPTICONS.

New This Month

First issues aren’t the only thing happening in January!  We’ve got some great books to offer throughout the month, like Wizard’s Tale hardcover, Bill Willingham’s Angel #29 and the conclusion of the G.I. JOE: Snakes Eyes series! Here’s a quick look at some of our January highlights, and the complete list of January releases is below.

Angel #29

Bill Willingham, Bill Williams (w) • Brian Denham, David Messina (a) • Jenny Frison, David Messina (c)
Where has the “hero of L.A.” gone? While Team Angel Investigations try to figure out how to handle the everyday demons, danger, and evil-doing on their own, Angel’s whereabouts turn out to be part of a seriously sinister conspiracy. Plus: chapter two of the Eddie Hope back-up by Williams and Messina.
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, Vol. 9

Chester Gould (w & a & c)
Chester Gould’s fertile imagination continues at a breakneck pace, as he introduces The Brow, Flattop, Shaky, Breathless Mahoney, Measles, Gravel Gertie, B.O. Plenty, and the Summer Sisters! With an introduction by Max Allan Collins, and a special feature by Jeff Kersten of the Dick Tracy Museum about the famous radio program, “Dick Tracy in B-Flat,” starring Bing Crosby, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, and Bob Hope! Edited and designed by Eisner Award-winner Dean Mullaney, and containing all daily and Sunday comic strips from March 23, 1944 through September 19, 1945.
HC • PC • $39.99 • 264 Pages • 11” x 8.5” • ISBN: 978-1-60010-532-6

G.I. JOE: Snake Eyes #4

Ray Park, Kevin VanHook (w) • Lee Ferguson (a & c)
Having returned to the village where he trained with the Arashikage Clan, SNAKE EYES uncovers the true identity of the murderer who had stolen his identity! Now Snake Eyes must take the battle to holy ground as he confronts a demon from his past—and watches the world around him go up in flames!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

The Ghoul #2

Steve Niles (w) • Bernie Wrightson (a & c)
The Ghoul arrives in Los Angeles and quickly learns that there’s more to Hollywood than glitz and glamour—there are also demons invading Griffith Park and a cop named Klimpt, who is convinced an aging starlet is a blood-sucking freak of her own creation. It’s the Ghoul versus Demons in this knockdown, drag-out melee of monstrous behemoths!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Little Adventures in Oz Book 1

Eric Shanower (w & a & c)
In the marvelous Land of Oz, magic is always around the next corner. Dorothy, the Scarecrow and their many friends can’t stop plunging into one adventure after another. Wonder and magic abound in this collection of “The Enchanted Apple of Oz” and “The Ice King of Oz” by award-winning cartoonist Eric Shanower.
TPB • FC • $9.99 • 136 Pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-60010-589-0

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Fool’s Gold #2

Scott & David Tipton (w) • Fabio Mantovani (a) • Sharp Brothers, David Messina (c)
Deep Space Nine teeters on the brink of anarchy as swarms of treasure-hunters and mercenaries continue to flood the station. Major Kira and Constable Odo are on the case, and the investigation leads to a not-unexpected destination: Quark’s Bar!
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Wizard’s Tale

Kurt Busiek (w) • David Wenzel (a & c)
A magical story of redemption! The Wizard’s Tale is the story of the aged Bafflerog Rumplewhisker and his young companion, Muddle, the woodcutter’s son, as they embark on a quest to retrieve the magical Book of Worse—a tome that will ensure the land of Ever-Night remains as it is, a dark and gloomy realm of evil. But old Rumplewhisker’s heart slowly warms on their journey, and a chance to restore a semblance of goodness to Ever-Night is possible—if he and his young charge can dare face the challenges ahead.
HC • FC • $24.99 • 144 Pages • ISBN: 978-1-60010-595-1
© 2010 Kurt Busiek and David Wenzel

Monthly Giveaway

Each month, one lucky newsletter subscriber will be our raffle winner and will receive free IDW releases from that month. Our January winner will receive a copy of The Veil TPB.

Congratulations to our December winner: [Name], who won a copy of each of the three new Angel comics: #28, which begins a new story arc by acclaimed writer Bill Willingham, Annual and A Hole in the World #1!

Inner Monologue

Each month the newsletter features thoughts from different members of the IDW team. Our January “inner monologue” brings thoughts from IDW’s Shipping Manager, Alonzo Simon:

I hope everybody’s holiday season went well.  As the new year begins, our weekly publication schedule ramps up again.  In the three and a half years that I have worked at IDW, our weekly output has at least doubled, which means we are publishing a lot of comics and trades these days.  As I personally inventory all of our office copies, believe me when I say it’s a lot of books.  For example, in the first week of January, ten separate titles are coming out.  By the time a finished product gets into my hands to ship to a reviewer or a customer, a lot of people have helped get it there.  From the creator’s writing and drawing, to the editor’s red pen, to our production staff’s lettering and design, and finally to our printer, many people contribute to the process of making these books.  As a fan of comics, and books in general, it certainly opened my eyes as to the amount of work it takes to get just one book published.  But it is definitely worth it to see something that everyone worked so hard to produce become final and to get it into the hands of the fans.  Anyway, I think I hear a delivery truck pulling up so it’s back to the heavy lifting.  Happy New Year’s everybody.

Complete List of January Releases
January 6th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angel: A Hole in the World #2

GrimJack: The Manx Cat #6
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Music Box #2

Jon Sable Freelance #4

Little Adventures in Oz 1

Star Trek: Spock Reflections TPB 
Starstruck #5

TRANSFORMERS: Tales of the Fallen #6

 

January 13th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angel #29

Army of Two #1

Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, Vol. 9

Doctor Who #7

Fallen Angel: Reborn TPB

G.I. JOE: Snake Eyes #4

The Ghoul #2

Star Trek: Captain’s Log: Sulu

TRANSFORMERS #3

TRANSFORMERS: All Hail Megatron, Vol. 4

TPB
Torpedo, Vol. 1 HC

Weekly World News #1

January 20th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond the Wall #3

G.I. JOE #14

G.I. JOE: Best of Baroness TPB

G.I. JOE: Origins #11

Robot Galaxy Vol. 3

Robot Galaxy Vol. 4

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #2

TRANSFORMERS: Best of the UK: Bumblebee #2

The Veil TPB

 

January 27th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complete World War Robot HC

G.I. JOE: COBRA II #1

Star Trek: Ghosts #3

TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the Wreckers #1

Wizard’s Tale Vol. 1 HC

Sony Delays Spidey

Posted by Jesse in Comics, Latest News, Movies on January 6th, 2010

As Sony Pictures and series director Sam Raimi reportedly continue to clash over the fourth film’s villain, sources inside the studio have confirmed that the proposed holiday break for the filmmakers has become a full-fledged hiatus. The February production date is now being postponed.

Reportedly, Alvin Sargent (of Spidey 1 and 2, not to mention the classic Ordinary People) is the screenwriter currently charged with retooling the project. Previously, writers Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit), James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), and David Lindsay-Abaire (Robots, Inkheart) had submitted drafts of the superhero sequel.

Raimi has so far been set to return as director, but this is now understandably in question. It’s widely known that Sony and Marvel insisted Raimi inject Venom into Spider-Man 3, a character Raimi had little desire to feature. The resulting film was undoubtably weak compared to the previous two, and Raimi himself has stated he wants to go out on a higher note. Wanting to feature another classic villain, in this case the Vulture (a role rumored to be desired for John Malkovich), Raimi is reportedly being pressured by Sony to choose another villain. Raimi had wanted to feature the Vulture as Spider-Man 3’s 2nd villain, but the studio apparently found the character noncommercial.

Here’s the thing: Sony still has Spider-Man 4 scheduled for a May 6, 2011 release. It’s clear that this date is nigh impossible without quick thinking by all concerned.

Personally, the thought of Raimi returning to Spider-Man is a frustrating thought. Raimi is a passionate filmmaker who displays genius when working with material that really speaks to him. The Evil Dead films are fan favorites, and A Simple Plan is a classic, not to mention gems like The Gift and last years Drag Me To Hell (which, in 10 years, will be a classic). He did wonders for Spidey, but the frustrating development of Spider-Man 3 was evident in the final product, a toneless mishmash of too-many elements, burdened by studio interference and a palpable sense of malaise by most all concerned.

Unless Raimi feels like he wants to go back to the Spidey well, I sure don’t want him to.

Dead Space Universe Expands

Posted by dominie in Comics on August 27th, 2008

In addition to the Dead Space EA video game and Dead Space: Downfall, both arriving in October, and the ongoing Image Comic series, Dead Space has launched their new website, NoKnownSurvivors.com.

The website will utilize all manners of storytelling and filmmaking from audio effects to the rapidly growing 3D animation techniques to serve fans with more Dead Space content. Over the next nine weeks, fans can immerse themselves into the world and follow every step of the process as the creators tell two tragic stories, Misplaced Affection, followed by 13.

Misplaced Affection follows “an organ replacement technician who falls hard for a capable female security officer. 13 is the “tale of a sleeper agent who makes the wrong decisions for the right reasons.” Each story is four chapters long, with new chapters going live every Monday.

Virulents Lightens the Mood

Posted by Dominic in Comics on August 22nd, 2008

Director John Moore told MTV that “The world’s pretty serious right now, and there’s an ironic lightness in Virulents,” the Virgin Comics one-shot he will adapt next for the big screen. John Cox (Boot Camp) is working on the screenplay as announced by Variety.

“There’s a touch of macabre ridiculousness to it. I think we’ve seen a lot of attempts to make serious movies about serious things, and it strikes me that we might be a little more artful about how we make a point [these days].”

He said Mark Wahlberg, who stars in his next release, the video game come to life Max Payne, as an ideal candidate to star in the film. “I think he’s an actor of unlimited potential and I’d just love to go around with him again.”

The Virulents is your typical soldiers vs. vampire zombies tale. Virgin describes it this way: “A small platoon of American soldiers in search of their missing comrades comes across Indian commandoes looking for a group of terrorists suspected of hiding a most heinous weapon in the craggy breast of the Hindukush. It’s a night of revelation as the Americans discover the fate of their lost brothers, and the Indians discover the fate of their terrorists. But the terror is not in the form of flesh and blood, or bullets or gunpowder”

Meet the Cryptozoo Crew on the Big Screen

Posted by Dominic in Comics on August 19th, 2008

Cryptozoo Crew, a series of graphic novels by Jerry Carr and Allan Gross, has been optioned by Alcon Entertainment.  According to The Hollywood Reporter, Joe Gazzam (Scared Straight) will adapt the NBM-published material.

According to the publisher, the series is about: “Yeti sightings are a dime a dozen. Outsmarting your spouse – now that’s priceless! Join Cryptozoologist Tork Darwyn and his wife Tara as they discover unknown creatures, visit lost civilizations, and fight for the TV remote. Join the CRYPTOZOO CREW and their basement full of Cave Monkeys!”

Two volumes of material are already in print.

The Ferryman Travels from Dark Castle to WildStorm

Posted by Dominic in Comics on August 13th, 2008

WildStorm will release The Ferryman on October 8, a five-issue miniseries coming from Dark Castle.  The project is being written by Marc Andreyko (Friday the 13th: Pamela’s Tale) and drawn by Jonathan Wayshack.  “It’s been a great working with Jon,” Andreyko said of his collaborator. “When I look at the pages, I’m like ‘Oh my God, this is awesome!’ He just took my words and brought them to vivid life, which I’m just thrilled with. The book will sell because of the art; it just draws you into this world.

“Dark Castle generated the idea,” Andreyko told ShockTillYouDrop.com. “I’ve known Erik Olsen and Joel’s company for years. Joel [Silver] had been interested in the concept of the Ferryman and the River Styx. He wanted to do something contemporary with it, so that’s what I was given. From there, I brought to the table people selling their soul to the Devil. Eventually the Devil is going to collect on that so the Ferrymen carry the souls to hell.” (more…)

Quick Joe Hill Update

Posted by Dominic in Movies on August 13th, 2008

Joe Hill confirmed for Fangoria that Neil Jordan will not direct his screenplay adapting Hill’s Heart-Shaped Box.  The Warner Bros. film was affected by last fall’s Writer’s Strike and Jordan was unavailable during that time for studio requested script revisions.

He also told the magazine that his Locke & Key comic book is now being tailored for a television series as opposed to a feature film.  The interesting news here is that Frank Darabont is likely to write and direct at least the pilot.

Marks on Hack/Slash

Posted by Dominic in Comics on August 12th, 2008

As discussed in previous news, Todd Lincoln (From Dusk till Dawn) will be directing the big screen adaptation of Devil’s Due’s, Hack/Slash.  Now screenwriter Justin Marks reveals more intimate details on the plot.

In an interview with Newsarama, Marks excitedly reveals the Hack/Slash film adaptation will take a new direction in which it will be “the first chance [we will get] to see a slasher movie where there is more than one slasher!”  Slashers, for those of you who are unfamiliar, are what the government calls “Revenants” and whose purpose is solely to kill.  The film will be heavily character based and “[you're] going to get to know the people who are surviving and dying.” (more…)

SecondFriday the 13th Collection due in October

Posted by Dominic in Events on August 12th, 2008

WildStorm will release the second volume of comics based on Friday the 13th. Debuting, of course, in time for Halloween, the series collects Pamela’s Tale #1-2, Abuser and the Abused #1, Summer Vacation #1-2 and Bad Land #1-2. The 160-page collection features writers Marc Andreyko (Manhunter), Jason Aaron (Wolverine), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), and Joshua Hale Fialkov.  Artists include Adam Archer, Andy B, Shawn Moll and Mike Huddleston. Mike McKone (Fantastic Four) provides the cover art.

Review: Fall of Cthulhu: Godwar #1

Posted by Dominic in Comics on August 10th, 2008

Fall of Cthulhu: Godwar continues BOOM!’s mythos based on H.P. Lovecraft’s pulp stories.  The new series, debuting Wednesday, from writer Michael Alan Nelson and Mat Santolouco picks up where things were left off in a previous series and the entire first issue sets up the new events while recapping where we are.  As a result, for those just joining, you pretty quickly catch up with the players and situation so kudos to Nelson.

Having said that, the story structure takes up along with snippets focusing on the varying players and it definitely felt very formal, almost a checklist of people and places.  We pick up on Cy Morgan, our protagonist, now in the Arkham mental institution.  As he chats with his therapist, we cut around to see where Arkham himself is, seemingly preparing for something bad to happen.  In the Dreamlands, we meet Lucifer, a young woman being put into service by Harlot, who seems to be commanding one side of the coming war.  She tasks Lucifer with freeing Morgan from his confinement for as-yet unexplained reasons.  Then there’s Nodens, the entity seeking Arkham for its own reasons. (more…)

At Long Last, The Miskatonic Project

Posted by Dominic in Comics on August 9th, 2008

H.P. Lovecraft is everywhere these days including BOOM! Studios Cthulhu series of comics and adaptations of his prose into film.  Now we see yet another look at his dark world in the October release of The Miskatonic Project: H.P. Lovecraft’s The Whisperer.  After more than a decade in the works, the project is finally seeing print from Transfuzion/Millennial Concepts.Most likely the final work in Don Heck’s distinguished comics career, the project was finished by Darryl Banks (Green Lantern) and Daryl Hutchinson (Crypt of Cthulhu) the 128-page graphic novel will feature a cover by Banks and Mellissa Martin.

The entire story is based on “The Whisperer in Darkness” along with a new sequel from writer Mark Ellis. (more…)

Yeti Vs. Vampire Coming in October

Posted by Dominic in Comics on August 7th, 2008

Antarctic Press will be releasing a new four-issue miniseries this October with the deceptively simple title of Yeti vs. Vampire, written by Miles Gunter and illustrated by Kelsey Shannon. The first issue will retail for a mere 99 cents and the creators are happily blogging about it.

Gunter also did an extensive interview at Comic Monsters, talking about the project and its origins. “Yeti vs. Vampire is the story of Monda, a vampire fashion designer who sets out to capture the Yeti and use its exotic fur to create a line of ultra chic fur coats for her upcoming runway show in Milan,” he explained.

In addition to a Yeti and a vampire, Gunter promises, “Lots of monsters! We’ve got outlaw gutter punk werewolves, Egyptian sphinx cyclops horticulturists, Armani clad skeleton butlers, a giant mummified alligator that likes to play fetch with a steel skull, as well as some other creatures that I don’t want to reveal.”