SDCC WINDING UP: IDW PANEL REPORT

[MattBrady]

by Mike Cruz

IDW’s panel at Comic Con International: San Diego kicked off with a review of its upcoming releases for August and September:

Night Mary by Rick Remender (w) and Kieron Dwyer (a)
Spike by Peter David (w) and Fernando Gori (a)
Metal Gear Solid by Alex Garner and Ashley Wood
Land of the Dead by Chris Ryall and Gabriel Rodriguez (Official Adaptation of the George Romero film.)
Mars (originally a First Comics property that will first issue in reprint form followed by original stories by Mark Wheatley)
Clive Barker’s Thief of Always
Shadow Play by Amber Benson
The Keep by original author F. Paul Wilson and Matthew Smith (Hellboy)
Jon Sable by Mike Grell (a trade paperback consisting of reprints from the original series followed by original stories by Grell.)

Ryall announced that IDW will be publishing Doomed, a monthly black and magazine that he describes as an homage to Warren classic horror magazines Eerie and Creepy.

Speaking to Newsarama after the panel, Ryall detailed the series further: “Doomed will be 8 ½” x 11”, newsprint style, and black and white. We’re going to adapt horror stories from well known writers with each issue, with material from people like Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson, F. Paul Wilson, and others. We’re getting artists from the past and present to illustrate, so with the first issue, we’ve got Ted McKeever, Ashley Wood – who’s kind of spearheading the whole thing, Kristian Donaldson, and Eduardo Baretto.”

Each magazine will contain four 15-page stories, and will be hosted by Miss Doom, “our eye patch-wearing, man-hating hostess who was designed by Ash. The back of each issue will have some editorial content as well – pieces on the writers, and interviews.”

November will see the publication of a new Maze Agency miniseries by writer Mike W. Barr and artist Ariell Padilla. Also in November, Angel: Old Friends begins. “It’s five issues with Jeff Mariotte is writing, which will have a lot more of the characters from the television series, and take a few steps toward answering what happened after the television series ended,” Ryall told Newsarama.

December will see the release of Super Bad James Dynomite by funnyman Marlon Wayans. “Marlon just wanted to do this fun, ridiculous Blacksploitation comic,” Ryall said. “It’ll be quarterly – he’s writing it, I think Shawn is helping him with it. Marlon approached us through agents and other people, told us he wanted to do a comic, and like what he saw coming from us. This seemed like a fun, different kind of thing for us. We’ve been trying to branch out beyond horror, and this seemed like a nice way to do that.”

That month will also see Fallen Angel’s IDW debut, as well as the four issue Supermarket by Brian Wood and Kristain Donaldson. Donaldson described the work as a clash between legitimate and illegitimate economics in which a teenage girl stumbles into the criminal world.

“It’s a great type of story that people have come to know from Brian – the surface story, and all the layers underneath,” Ryall explained. “It’s an anti-consumerism story set in the near future in Japan, featuring a disaffected girl in Tokyo, who finds out that she’s heir to a major crime family, and as a result, she gets sucked into the world of crime.”

January 2006 will see the publication of Adventures in Oz by Eric Shanower; a 12-issue adaptation of Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show with Ryall writing. No artist has been slated to illustrate this title as yet. Lastly, Spike: Old Wounds by Scott Tipton and Fernando Goni will also mark the month as its debut.

Additionally, IDW will adapt the sequel to Underworld coming in December, as well as projects featuring the characters from the horror film Saw. While Ryall explained to Newsarama that it wasn’t clear if IDW would be adapting the forthcoming Silent Hill movie, the publisher would be producing two new Silent hill miniseries, both to be written by Scott Ciencen.

Aaron Archer, the front man for Hasbro, says that the Transformers book will be supportive of the live action film that is set for release on July 4, 2007. Clarifying, Ryall told Newsarama: “The movie is a good two years away, so we’re got a nice window to establish our stuff beforehand, so we can establish our world, and do our own thing before the movie gets here. Since we’re doing the kind of ‘Ultimates’ approach, where we’re re-telling things from scratch, we’re hoping that it will appeal for movie fans who might find all the continuity of the previous series a little daunting.”

Elaborating on their relationship with IDW, Archer said that there will be complete collaboration between IDW and Hasbro. IDW will present scripts and artwork to the company prior to publish, though Archer did not discuss whether IDW was contractually obligated to do so. Along with the regular Transformers series, IDW will publish Beast Wars, beginning in January. The miniseries will be written by Simon Furman.

When asked about her project Smoke, Alex De Campi stated that the series began originally as a maxi series, and that Smoke is a hard book to write. Di Campi declared that Smoke will have a 6-12 month break before returning to “go in really good, really different directions.” Also, De Campi reported that she has “stuff in the works.” Specifically, short minis, a manga product, and a work produced in French.

Finally, Ryall told Newsarama that IDW will most likely publish a collection of “Munden’s Bar” stories tat originally appeared in the back of GrimJack when it was published by First.

[Check out Newsarama’s continually updated 2005 SDCC News Index for all the con coverage from Newsarama and CBR].

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[Psivage]

Doomed looks like a book/magazine that I will be getting.
Super Bad Jame Dynomite should be good.

[Silencer]

IDW should do cool things with Transformers. I really like their licensed books. Glad to hear they're starting over with it.

[algertman]

SMOKE is one of the best books out today

[Mark Katzoff]

This is a great line-up: New Mars, new Maze Agency and new Shanower Oz plus the return of Fallen Angel alone are enough to make me very happy. Now if Steven Grant could find and artist and have Whisper join the First reunion ... (and yes, I know the Maze Agency was not a First book).

[Jed Saxon]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Additionally, IDW will adapt the sequel to Underworld coming in December,

Nice. Hopefully by the same artists. Liked the first adaption as well as the miniseries.

IDW will publish Beast Wars, beginning in January. The miniseries will be written by Simon Furman.

[xtremefanboymode]WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!![/xtremefanboymode]

When asked about her project Smoke, Alex De Campi stated that the series began originally as a maxi series, and that Smoke is a hard book to write. Di Campi declared that Smoke will have a 6-12 month break before returning to “go in really good, really different directions.”

More Kordey, too?! PULEEZ? Ryall? *puppyeyesattack*

[SuperginraiX]

Getting more and more excited about the Transformers comic. I guess that'd be IDW's "hook" for this fish. Get me with Transformers and keep me with something else on their line up.



There goes my wallet.

[naphtha]

Glad to hear Fallen Angel will be coming up soon. I'm definitely preordering it.

[Egg]

While I am interested in seeing everything that IDW has mentioned in this article, I am particularly enticed by Doomed! A new horror mag with "traditional" tastes sounds great!

Egg Embry
Editor - DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES - www.ArcanaStudio.com

[JONAS]

How many issues has been published by Smoke?

[Robert_Coyner]

Originally posted by JONAS
How many issues has been published by Smoke?

Two issues of SMOKE are on the stands right now. One more due out next month. If sales warrant, they've said the series will continue. With as much buzz as there's been, it will be absolutely criminal if they can't continue this series. Issue 2 is seriously the best single issue of any comic I've read this year.

Shadowplay and especially Doomed look fun, so I'll be giving them a look. I was hoping for word on some of Ashley Wood's other projects like World's Best Robots, LORE and Popbot...

Finally, another Brian Wood project this winter! Right on. I'd heard about SuperMarket, but not when it was due out. November and December look like a great time to be a fan of his with Local (Oni) and DMZ (DC/Vertigo) in November and this one with Kristian Donaldson. Donaldson's art was great in Forsaken. His work is growing pretty well from the samples they've made available online for this.

Oh, and the new artist for Fallen Angel looks great as well. I'm interested to see how this new series comes off. And, if they will do it like previous IDW releases as a series of minis.

LoL - can you tell I've been waiting anxiously for news from this panel? IDW is pretty close to being my fave publisher right now... Even titles I have no interest in on their face, I have to stop and take a look at as the design and art IDW puts together is always impeccable.

[Guy_DuBlanc]

There's no question that Dreamwave's TF comics got bogged down in extreme continuity. This became particularly apparent in TF Vol. 2: War & Peace, which was so densely written and crammed with obscure references. Nevertheless, Pat Lee's artwork was incredible.

I look forward to IDW's take on TF, especially BEAST WARS. I highly doubt that the artists will be as good as the ones at Dreamwave (who were incredible), but I eagerly await a more "ultimate" approach to the TF.

I can understand, though, if TF's bigger fans are disappointed. There are too many different continuities with the TF, and we're about to get another two (IDW and then the movie).

[GalvaTRION]

"The Keep by original author F. Paul Wilson and Matthew Smith (Hellboy)"

Wait a damn minute... you mean like The Keep, as in the classic Michael Mann movie? A comic based on that, or is it something ese?

[Winteriscoming]

I see Fallen Angel is getting about as much hype from IDW as it was getting from DC. Nah, to be fair December is still a long ways off.

[OcCaM]

OK that OZ series better not affect Age of Bronze in any way, shape or form. Otherwise, looking forward to it!

It was Silent Hill that got me really noticing IDW, glad to see more of those series.

I bought the first two Grimjack trades. Not a big fan of Gaunt but I like the concept overall, will have to give that Munden's bar trade a try!

REALLY looking forward to the b/w magazine. About the only stuff I like in b/w is horror stories. Go figure! Just hope this isn't priced too unreasonably. I figure at $4 for 22 page comics this is likely to run around $11-12 for 60 pages of stories. Then again, they aren't using colour so maybe the cost can be kept down to the $8ish range.

Other than stuff I already knew about (such as Night Mary) those 4 items have me interested the most! Keep up the great work IDW!

[Egg]

Originally posted by GalvaTRION
"The Keep by original author F. Paul Wilson and Matthew Smith (Hellboy)"

Wait a damn minute... you mean like The Keep, as in the classic Michael Mann movie? A comic based on that, or is it something ese?

GalvaTRION,

Here's a link to Newsarama's previous article/press release about The Keep - http://www.newsarama.com/forums/show...threadid=37068

Originally said by F. Paul Wilson
“Back in the 1980s Paramount Pictures released a film version of THE KEEP written and directed by Michael Mann,” said writer Wilson. “The result was a critical and commercial disaster. Why? Because Michael Mann’s film resembles my novel in name only. When IDW offered me the chance to script a graphic adaptation of THE KEEP, I jumped at it. This mini-series will show both newcomers and longtime fans of the novel what could have been... what should have been.”

Egg Embry
Editor - DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES -www.ArcanaStudio.com

[Egg]

Originally posted by OcCaM
REALLY looking forward to the b/w magazine. About the only stuff I like in b/w is horror stories. Go figure! Just hope this isn't priced too unreasonably. I figure at $4 for 22 page comics this is likely to run around $11-12 for 60 pages of stories. Then again, they aren't using colour so maybe the cost can be kept down to the $8ish range.

OcCaM,

The cover - http://www.newsarama.com/IDW/Doomed.jpg - shows it's $6.95 for 60+ pages of content! I think it's a good, good, good deal and I'm really looking forward to it!

Egg Embry
Editor - DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES - www.ArcanaStudio.com

[Gransazer]

Doomed looks awesome in concept, but the logo definitely needs to be stronger. It doesn't pop like the Eerie and Creepy logos did.

Definitely on my list, though.

[a_de_campi]

"More Kordey, too?! PULEEZ? Ryall? *puppyeyesattack*"

I think Igor is doing a few covers for IDW in the near future. And of course he is the artist for SMOKE. There will not be another.

Thanks for all the kind words on SMOKE, everyone. I'm glad Issue 2 is going over well.

Once the series' future is sorted out, I'll post something on my site.

- Alex
http://www.alexdecampi.com

[ATKokmen]

November will see the publication of a new Maze Agency miniseries by writer Mike W. Barr and artist Ariell Padilla.

Who-hoo! Maze Agency is one of my favorites from way back when, so I'll be glad to see it again!

And if IDW would do new Ms. Tree stories, then they could corner the market on fan-favorite female P.I.'s from 1980s series!

We can only hope!

[render man]

Yeah whats the price on that Doomed mag going to be IDW? I am interested, but if its in the $7 or $8 range, I dont know if I could pick up more than one or two of the issues every now and again.

[Ryall]

"The Keep by original author F. Paul Wilson and Matthew Smith (Hellboy)"

Wait a damn minute... you mean like The Keep, as in the classic Michael Mann movie? A comic based on that, or is it something ese?

Er... the movie was actually an adaptation of F. Paul Wilson's novel--Paul felt like the movie version wasn't at all faithful to the book, so he's writing the comic himself so he can present his definitive visual version of his own novel. Kind of like Stephen King re-doing The Shining, only this one will actually be good and very different from the book.

I see Fallen Angel is getting about as much hype from IDW as it was getting from DC.

Wha-a-a? We talked about it at the panel, let Peter talk more about it at length at the same panel, featured a big vinyl banner for it at the booth and are breaking our "no ads in our 48-page books" rule for the only time ever to run an FA ad in Peter's Spike one-shot, too. Not sure what you're getting at here.

OK that OZ series better not affect Age of Bronze in any way, shape or form. Otherwise, looking forward to it!

It won't--all those stories are already done, we're just doing a full "remastering" job on them, with Eric's help. He already provided a brand-new cover for the collected version, too.

And DOOMED will be $6.99 for 72 pages (at traditional magazine size).

And Igor... anything more we can get from Igor, I will certainly be all for. I love the guy. I know he's busy with some French comics right now, but we'll definitely work together again.

Regarding Ms. Tree, we've talked about it with Max but that's all thus far.

[Tha Mauser]

Amazing projects. Count me in!

[Hooks]

Chris,

Amazing news, as always.

Are you guys able to state who is doing the art for the BEAST WARS book, or do we have to wait until the January solicitations are released?

Thanks! I'll keep pimping your stuff on Allspark. Keep up the good work.

Hooks!

[Jed Saxon]

Originally posted by a_de_campi
And of course he is the artist for SMOKE. There will not be another.

That's definitely cool.

Originally posted by Ryall
And Igor... anything more we can get from Igor, I will certainly be all for. I love the guy. I know he's busy with some French comics right now, but we'll definitely work together again.

Even better! Thanks.
French comics.... hmmm.... smells like Jodorowsky.
Hopefully there will be an English version (were oh were has Humanoids gone? *sniff*).