UPDATED: BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS SET BLACK SAILS @ IDW

[MattBrady]

Press Release

IDW Publishing is very proud to announce that they are working with Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips to publish their creator-owned miniseries, Black Sails.

Black Sails mixes high adventure and horror in a vampire tale like no other. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the creative team behind the hit comic Sleeper, cast a three-issue tale of mysterious vampire pirates with an intriguing hook: these men are manning the very ship on which Dracula himself once sailed.

In Black Sails, Depression-era coastal towns are terrorized by a mysterious ship that sails only by night, drifting in with the fog, and leaving bloody waters in its wake. Brubaker’s moody and horrific story follows a darker path than readers are accustomed to seeing from him, and Phillips’s textured artwork is again the perfect complement to his prose. The series should hit your port in Spring of 2005.

“Working with Sean has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my career, and now to be continuing that partnership on work we own, at a company that I feel puts out some of the most beautiful packages on the shelves, is just perfect,” said Brubaker. “Black Sails is an idea that just hit me out of the blue, and seemed like the perfect way to start a relationship at IDW, bringing what we do to a genre they’ve done very well with, and giving it a twist that I’ve never seen done before. Of course, I immediately sent my idea to Sean, and by way of his acceptance, got back a color rough of his first cover idea.”

Chris Ryall, Editor-in-Chief of IDW Publishing, added that “Ed and Sean are among the best creative teams in comics today, and I couldn’t be happier that they’re bringing a book like Black Sails to IDW. People are really in for a surprise here—this is unlike anything they’ve done before.”

UPDATE 4:12 pm EDT.

Newsarama spoke with Brubaker briefly about Black Sails this afternoon.

Newsarama: First off, the setting - Depression era...and the ship. This is the one that Dracula used to come to Europe from Transylvania in the Stoker novel, right? Who mans it now?

Ed Brubaker: Yeah, that’s the ship – and that was my revelation. What if the crew of that ship wasn't just killed by Dracula, but made into vampires? So suddenly you have this ship with loads of potential for tragedy and horror. And it can go down through the years. At the time our story takes place, they've been at this for about 50 years.

As for the period nature of it, that's something I just love, but also, it works for this story; this is a pre-internet, pre-TV society, where news travels slowly. It needs to be. Plus I wanted to do something that went to one of the themes of Dracula, which was an examination of the Industrial Revolution and how it affected people. So, you've got these sailors who've watched the world change, and these villagers experiencing the first real disaster of the post-industrial age. This is going to be a very human story, at its heart.

NRAMA: So they what, raid coastal towns for blood?

EB: Think Jaws, but with Pirates and Vampires, and you've got an idea of
where we're going.

NRAMA: So who’s going to stop them?

EB: That's the story, man. Can they? Who do they send? Who would go out to the open sea to search for a ship of monsters?

NRAMA: Was Sean that hard to pull on board (pardon the pun)?

EB: I think Sean and I both feel that we do our best work together. I feel like I'm blessed with great collaborators right now, but some things, I can only picture being drawn by Sean. I love the subtlety of his work, and how versatile he is. And for something like this, Sean is perfect. He can draw period, he can draw horror, and he can draw the hell out of the ocean.

NRAMA: Why IDW? You’ve got a solid relationship with Wildstorm…

EB: Why IDW is easy. I like Ted and Chris. They're straight shooters, they made a really progressive deal with us. Also, I like their packages a lot. Their books look beautiful, and the paper is great. All the way around, they are a class act. I wanted to do Black Sails as a 3 issue mini that has 32 pages of story in each part, and it was just a phone call and an email, that same day I got a yes on the format. I like that kind of flexibility and looking at each project on its own merits. There's no standard format.

NRAMA: And why horror?

EB: As for why horror, it's probably because I've been working out a longer project that Sean and I are going to do with IDW after this, that has elements of all kinds of pulp -- horror, crime, adventure, mystery, even some sci-fi -- and because of that, I'd been reading more old pulp horror, and this idea just hit me. So I thought, okay, before we jump into an epic, lets do something shorter, for a break, and to establish ourselves as a team outside of Sleeper. And let's face it; IDW has done very well with horror. So, like I said, it's Sean and me getting a chance to do what we do, but on a horror book, and I think it'll be a horror book unlike any that's been seen before.

[Von Raven]

Looks interesting.

[rockieman]

The general premise is not my usual cup of tea, but with these guys I'll buy anything. And I'm damn sure it'll be worth it. They are a terrific team and I hope they have plenty more collaborations planned.

[Derek Ruiz]

I'll check this out.

[cs3ink]

...cast a three-issue tale of mysterious vampire pirates with an intriguing hook: these men are manning the very ship on which Dracula himself once sailed.

First of all, I'm a HUGE fan of Sleeper.

But his press release doesn't sound a little lame to anyone? What, the hook isn't that they're vampire pirates? That's like saying:

...cast a three-issue tale of mysterious vampire lifeguards with an intriguing hook: these men are manning the very beach on which Dracula himself once avoided the sun.

The Dracula thing seems just a little desperate. "Wait, just in case the Brubaker/Phillips/Vampire pirates thing doesn't work, let's add in that Dracula once bought a soda on the boat".

I'm buying it anyway, but IDW really needs to hire a new promotional editor.

Thus endeth the nitpick.

Chip

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by cs3ink
The Dracula thing seems just a little desperate. "Wait, just in case the Brubaker/Phillips/Vampire pirates thing doesn't work, let's add in that Dracula once bought a soda on the boat".

um, a ship does play an important role in the story of Dracula...

MattB

[Von Raven]

Originally posted by MattBrady
um, a ship does play an important role in the story of Dracula...

MattB

That's why people should also read the book instead just seeing the movie.

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by Von Raven
That's why people should also read the book instead just seeing the movie.

they took the concorde in the movie, right?

MattB

[Warewolf]

Originally posted by Von Raven
That's why people should also read the book instead just seeing the movie.

I've read the book, but can't remember the significance of the ship. Can you refresh my memory, por favor?

[Von Raven]

Originally posted by Warewolf
I've read the book, but can't remember the significance of the ship. Can you refresh my memory, por favor?

"The ship of death"

A ship arrives, with it's crew and all passengers dead...a wolf was seen running from it.

A very eerie scene.


When you take this part of the story into consideration, it helps you realized what a cool concept this new comic book is.

[MattBrady]

[quote]Originally posted by Von Raven
A ship arrives, with it's crew and all passengers dead...a wolf was seen running from it. /QUOTE]

and coffins filled with dirt belowdecks...

MattB

[Von Raven]

[quote]Originally posted by MattBrady

Originally posted by Von Raven
A ship arrives, with it's crew and all passengers dead...a wolf was seen running from it. /QUOTE]

and coffins filled with dirt belowdecks...

MattB

Yes, a terrific scene...considering this was well before horror films.


Now, imagine, in this comic book, another ship coming across this ship in daylight, finding it empty except for dirt filled coffins...




That said, I found Stoker's book (and his writing) hard to enjoy. I didn't like the correspondence narrative...I enjoyed Shelly's Frankestein much more.

[choisez]

IDW? Sounds like a perfect fit all-around.

Wonder how Sean'll be changing his style to fit this one.

Any word on coloring? Full-color, limited colors, B&W?

-Eddy

[Vyper]

Sweeeeet. I need a horror comic fix now that Route 666 is gone.

[idkidd]

I agree with the poster above-- I think this is a major announcement and breaking the news exclusively to Newsarama in a little interview would have been cooler (especially with the Brubaker coverage all week - like a little grand finale that could have been pumped all week).

I love the work of these two men and am thrilled they are doing some creator owned stuff and I will definetly be buying the trade; however, I just cannot support a regular sized comic (32 pages?) at $3.99 (IDW's normal price). $2.99 is my breaking point without extra page count or bonus story pages being added in. And yes, I know they use the highest quality paper but, for me, that's not worth an extra dollar. Marvel's quality paper or the wildstorm line is perfectly satisfying to me and anything heavier just seems to add to the weight of the comic rather than the appearance (to my eyes).

Again, congrats to Brubaker, Phillips & IDW -- and bonus points for not going the superhero route.

[sean phillips]

The format is going to be 32 pages of STORY per issue. I'll be painting the pages and taking care of the lettering and design as well. One of the only things I asked of IDW was total artistic control.

[Caramuru]

Originally posted by idkidd
I agree with the poster above-- I think this is a major announcement and breaking the news exclusively to Newsarama in a little interview would have been cooler (especially with the Brubaker coverage all week - like a little grand finale that could have been pumped all week).

I love the work of these two men and am thrilled they are doing some creator owned stuff and I will definetly be buying the trade; however, I just cannot support a regular sized comic (32 pages?) at $3.99 (IDW's normal price). $2.99 is my breaking point without extra page count or bonus story pages being added in. And yes, I know they use the highest quality paper but, for me, that's not worth an extra dollar. Marvel's quality paper or the wildstorm line is perfectly satisfying to me and anything heavier just seems to add to the weight of the comic rather than the appearance (to my eyes).

Again, congrats to Brubaker, Phillips & IDW -- and bonus points for not going the superhero route.

I agree with all that. I will resist as long as I can before I buy a $3.99 monthly. But, hey, I can't tell them how much they should charge for their comics. On the other hand, I really like the premise and the creators involved. I hope the book is successful. Maybe one day they will make a more affordable TPB?

[Ed Brubaker]

Did I miss the part where a price was announced?

The only format stuff announced was that the page count would be 32 story pages per issue. I have no idea what the price will be, but Sean and I will be working hard to make sure whatever it is, it's worth it.

Another note, I must have missed this in Matt's question, but I still have a great relationship with Wildstorm and DC, I just wanted to do something outside the WB realm for a change.

[COREMARK]

I will try anything from the guys who brought us Sleeper.

[Franklin Harris]

For the record, the ship in question is named The Demeter.

[CyclopsScott]

Definitely interested in this one, though a lot of IDW titles that DO interest me lately have me passing ultimately due to the art being a style I don't like. Looks like 3 issues of goodness finally.

Scott Summerton

[Bullwinkle]

Sounds good - I just hope that Ed returns to doing some of his more personal stuff at some point as well. Not that I don't enjoy his current output, but I really enjoyed Lowlife, Detour, etc. and want to see something else like that at some point in the future ....

I think the move to IDW for these kind of projects also makes complete sense - it may cost a tad extra, but IDW's high-quality output and flexible formatting really makes them a prime candidate for this sort of work. I look forward to Black Sails and whatever they have coming next.

- Chris

[Babytoxie]

Ed and Sean: Sleeper is the only comic I pick up monthly. Excellent job on that title, so I'll your other projects a shot. I will definitely check this one out.

Neat how you've chosen to expand upon a part of the Dracula novel that doesn't get its due in most of the horrid film adaptations. If anyone wants to see this creepy scene covered appropriately, check out the original F.W. Murnau Nosferatu.

[Nakedmanatee]

I agree... Nosferatu is a must-rent when you've got a dark, windy night with nuthin' to do. I doubt you'll find it at Blockbuster though. They did play it on TCM a month or two back and it still was pretty darn creepy.

As for the new book, this sounds right up my alley. Vampires? Pirates? Brubaker and Phillips? What's not to love? This almost makes up for Bru leaving Catwoman. Almost.

--Dave

[marioboon]

Originally posted by sean phillips
The format is going to be 32 pages of STORY per issue. I'll be painting the pages and taking care of the lettering and design as well. One of the only things I asked of IDW was total artistic control.

see, that statement alone has me putting aside money to buy this (well, i was anyway )