IDW – Alternative Mindz

Berkeley Breathed’s Bloom County Series Continues in October

September 12, 2011Rob Leave a Comment

Volume five of IDW’s award-winning Complete Library now available for pre-order

Best-selling chronological collection will expand to include Outland, Opus

San Diego, CA (September 12, 2011)—The wildly successful return of Opus, Binkley, Bill the Cat and the entire cast of Bloom County continues in October with BLOOM COUNTY: THE COMPLETE LIBRARY, VOLUME FIVE, now available for pre-order. After weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list, multiple awards and nominations, and a museum retrospective, VOLUME FIVE brings readers the final chapter of Berkeley Breathed’s incredibly popular and Pulitzer Prize-winning series. And just as Breathed was drawn back to Bloom County, so will IDW finish the Complete Breathed Strip Library with the first full color, chronological reprints of both Outland and Opus, starting in 2012.

“The really funny thing about many of these past strips… is how utterly inappropriate they would be for today’s newspapers,” said Breathed. “I’m thankful there’ll be a complete record of inappropriateness now.”

BLOOM COUNTY: THE COMPLETE LIBRARY, VOLUME FIVE offers every daily and Sunday strip from November 30, 1987 through August 6, 1989, the day that Breathed, at the top of his game both critically and commercially, walked away from Bloom County. This ultimate volume features an introduction by Breathed and is also full of the annotations and behind-the-scenes antidotes from him, a hallmark for which the series has become known.

As with the first five volumes, OUTLAND and OPUS will also offer engaging comments and insights from Breathed about the strips. Each volume will contain the full run of Sunday-only strips, offering fans the first and only complete, full color, chronological collections, and featuring many of the characters from Bloom County.

“This is sort of a ‘the king is dead, long live the king’ moment for me,” said series editor Scott Dunbier, “While I’m happy the Bloom County Series is now collected, I’ll be sad to not be working on it anymore… but elated to have both Outland and Opus on the horizon!”

Breathed‘s Bloom County is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed newspaper strips of modern times. Premiering on December 8th, 1980 – a month after the election of Ronald Reagan as President – the strip brought a unique amalgam of contemporary politics and fantasy, all told with hilarious wit and humor. At its height, Bloom County was published in an astonishing 1200 newspapers, and the first collection, Loose Tails, sold more than one million copies.

Celebrating the cultural impact of this remarkable comic strip, IDW Publishing has teamed up with Breathed for the first complete and chronological collection of Bloom County. Each volume features the many quirky citizens of Bloom County—such as Opus, Bill the Cat, and Milo Bloom—while projecting Breathed’s uncanny ability to be both cynical and naïve, often at the same time. The first four volumes of BLOOM COUNTY: THE COMPLTE LIBRARY are currently available at fine bookstores everywhere, with Volume Five launching in October. The single volume of Outland will be released in April of 2012.

In addition to the print books, IDW has also released a BLOOM COUNTY application for Apple’s iPad, starting with the inaugural year, 1980-81, with more years soon to follow. BLOOM COUNTY will also launch in iBooks, shortly. Each digital edition is specially formatted, with one day’s strip per page for optimal viewing on the iPad or iPhone.

Bloom County: The Complete Library Volume Two is published by IDW under its imprint Eisner award-winning imprint, the Library of American Comics. Bloom County: The Complete Library series is edited by Dunbier and designed by Dean Mullaney.

BLOOM COUNTY: THE COMPLETE LIBRARY VOLUME FIVE ($39.99, 272 pages, hard cover, partial color) will be available in stores in October 2011. ISBN 978-1-61377-061-0. Diamond order code AUG11 0382.

BLOOM COUNTY: THE COMPLTE LIBRARY VOLUME ONE (iPad only, $7.99, December 8 1980 – December 31, 1981, partial color) is now available through iTunes [http://bit.ly/bloom-county-ipad].

HASBRO, INC., AND IDW PUBLISHING TO LAUNCH MAGIC: THE GATHERING COMIC BOOKS

September 1, 2011Rob

SAN DIEGO, CA (September 1, 2011) – IDW Publishing and Hasbro, Inc. today announced yet another extension of the companies’ long-term relationship with an all-new comic book series based on the ground-breaking MAGIC: THE GATHERING trading card game (TCG). Under license from Hasbro, Inc., and in collaboration with Wizards of the Coast, IDW will launch a new series entitled MAGIC: THE GATHERING this fall, the first comic series in more than a decade based on the many worlds of the hugely popular game. Adding to the rich stories are exclusive, playable, alternate-art cards for the MAGIC: THE GATHERING TCG, which will only be available through select issues of the IDW comics.

“Magic: The Gathering is an incredibly strong property which spawned a new entertainment category, and there is so much to be done creatively with comics,” says IDW’s Magic editor, Denton J. Tipton. “I’m really looking forward to telling new stories in the many worlds of Magic, which have been near and dear to my heart since the mid-90s.”

IDW Publishing and Hasbro subsidiary, Wizards of the Coast will work closely together to ensure the comics offer another layer of experience for MAGIC: THE GATHERING fans. The initial four-issue miniseries will focus on a unique, new Planeswalker, a powerful mage with the ability to travel between worlds in the Magic Multiverse. Many popular MAGIC: THE GATHERING characters will be featured in the series, as well.

This comic series is written by renowned author and game designer Matt Forbeck (The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game, Amortals, The Marvel Encyclopedia), who is joined by talented newcomer, artist Martín Cóccolo. Each comic book will also be collected at intervals into graphic novels. MAGIC: THE GATHERING will be distributed to a wide audience through comic-book outlets, trade bookstores, mass retailers, and digitally through a variety of platforms.

IDW Publishing is Hasbro’s comic book licensee for the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE brands. IDW launched the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ongoing comic series in 2010, and publishes licensed comic books for many other hugely popular brands, include HBO’s True Blood, The BBC’s Doctor Who, and EA’s Dragon Age.

Locke & Key Extravaganza at San Diego Comic Con 2011

July 11, 2011Rob

LOCKE & KEY is taking San Diego Comic-Con by storm in July. Centered at the IDW booth #2643, the LOCKE & KEY action will be non-stop, with exclusive keys, books and temporary tattoos; plus signings with the multiple Eisner-nominated creative team of Joe Hill (Horns) and Gabriel Rodriguez. On Friday, attendees will have a chance to see the pilot everyone is talking about, as Hill and Rodriguez headline the panel and are joined by Locke & Key television writer Josh Friedman for an only at Comic-Con screening of the Locke & Key pilot. With thanks to Fox Broadcasting Corporation, details for the screening and panel are listed below.

Throughout Comic-Con, readers will head to the IDW booth for their Locke & Key fix, headlined by an exclusive edition of the latest collected edition, LOCKE & KEY, VOL. 4: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM, and several exclusive keys, thanks to Skelton Key Studios. From Skelton Key Studios, IDW will be selling a limited number of Legacy Edition Ghost Keys, Shadow Keys, Head Keys and Hercules Keys, as well as the Comic-Con exclusive IDW Key. Locke & Key fans will also be able to pick up the latest issue of the series, too, LOCKE & KEY: CLOCKWORKS #1, which makes its debut that week. IDW will also be offering temporary tattoos of seven different LOCKE & KEY keys, including the Omega Key, the Head Key and the brand new IDW key. Attendees are encouraged to stop by the IDW booth to get tattooed throughout the convention.

“I’m glad to see LOCKE & KEY getting the recognition it deserves,” said IDW chief executive officer and co-founder, Ted Adams. “It’s especially great that Joe and Gabe’s hard work and amazing creativity is being honored by their peers with four Eisner nominations and two Harvey Award nominations this year alone.”

LOCKE & KEY, VOL. 4: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM features more keys making themselves known and the depths of the Locke’s family’s mysteries ever-expanding, while Dodge’s desperation to end his shadowy quest drives the habitants of Keyhouse ever closer to a revealing conclusion. The variant edition of the KEYS TO THE KINGDOM hardcover features a cover image by Gabriel Rodriguez with the three new keys featured in the book spot-varnished in front of the Well House.

Adapting LOCKE & KEY, VOL. 1: WELCOME TO LOVECRAFT, the Fox Television pilot will be screened only once during Comic-Con, on Friday, July 22nd at 10.30 a.m. in room 8. In addition to the screening, IDW’s editor in chief/chief creative officer Chris Ryall will moderate a panel featuring Hill, Rodriguez, and Friedman all participating in a discussion of the show, the comic and what’s coming up in CLOCKWORKS, the second-to-last story arc in the acclaimed series. The panel will begin immediately following the screening, also in room 8.

Locke & Key Pilot Screening:
Friday, July 22nd
10.30 a.m.
Room 8

Locke & Key Panel:
Friday, July 22nd
Immediately following screening
Room 8

The Original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return!

May 20, 2011Rob

The Original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Make a Triumphant Return to Comics!

New “Heroes on a Half-Shell” Series Debuts in August
with TMNT Co-Creator, Kevin Eastman

Starting in August, IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will kick off with a brand new installment of the original series, led by Eastman and co-writer Tom Waltz (Silent Hill: Past Life, Infestation: Outbreak). Phenomenal new-comer Dan Duncan will bring the Turtles to life with dynamic interior art, while Sam Kieth and Walter Simonson provide eye-catching covers for issues one and two, respectively. Eastman will also provide layouts for Duncan‘s art, as well as variant covers.

This first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series will feature new and exciting storylines that maintain the “turtle power” core beloved by millions of fans. Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael reunite to bring their ninja aptitude and teenage attitude in these all-new, action-packed adventures based on the original series. The first story arc will tell the origin story of the Turtles and introduce a new villain, the fearsome mutant alley cat, Old Hob. Featuring a cast of familiar characters, including Master Splinter, April O’Neill, Casey Jones, and true to the spirit of the original comics created by Eastman and Peter Laird, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are bigger and badder than ever, and ready to rock old and new fans alike.

IDW and Nickelodeon have a long-term partnership to offer an all-new installment of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and graphic novels. IDW’s new comics are part of a larger initiative to bring Turtles to a new generation of fans, starting with these new storylines from the original series that recapture the magic of the original Turtles comics. Additionally, in fourth quarter 2012, Nickelodeon will premiere a new CG-animated version of the wildly popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.

IDW Publishing releases custom Infestation Comics app for iOS

March 14, 2011Rob

Infest Your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch

IDW Publishing is pleased to announce the release of INFESTATION comics to Apple iOS users. Available as both a stand-alone app and within the IDW Comics storefront, readers can now enjoy the entire INFESTATION crossover event on their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.

INFESTATION is the hit comic series that infects the TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, Ghostbusters, and Star Trek universes with legions of undead. This dimension-spanning storyline begins with a specially priced 40-page story by writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (The Thanos Imperative), and artist David Messina (True Blood). Something goes horribly awry in IDW’s Zombies vs Robots universe, threatening to tear some of pop culture’s biggest realities asunder. This unparalleled, never-before-seen event is now available digitally through the Apple App Store. The INFESTATION Comics app is made for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Readers can view full size pages, or read panel-by-panel simply by turning the iPhone or iPod touch horizontally.

“We’re excited to bring out INFESTATION as a stand-alone comics app,” stated Jeff Webber, IDW’s director of ePublishing. “While all of the issues are also available in our IDW Comics app for our regular readers, creating a stand-alone INFESTATION Comics app allows us to introduce the whole event to fans of the individual brands. This way, casual readers of TRANSFORMERS, Star Trek, G.I. JOE and Ghostbusters digital comics can see what this big comics cross-over event is all about!”

IDW’s INFESTATION app includes free digital-only versions of the preview edition, an issue checklist, a cover gallery and character designs. Readers will also be able to get the 40-page kick-off story, INFESTATION #1, for only $0.99. In addition, new issues of the series will be added over the course of March and April, culminating in the grande finale and a special TOP SECRET digital-only cross over.

“This will be one huge surprise for comic fans everywhere,” added Webber. “All we can say right now is, bring a life vest!”