[Header artwork by (L-R) Jesse Lonergan, Hayden Sherman and Chris Wildgoose]
Via Deadline, IDW Publishing have announced nine original comics titles, beginning with Scott Snyder and Hayden Sherman’s firefighter thriller “Dark Spaces: Wildfire” in July.
– “Dark Spaces: Wildfire,” by Snyder and Sherman, follows a group of incarcerated female firefighters, as they attempt a heist on a California mansion during a wildfire.
– “Trve Kvlt,” a five-issue series by writer Scott Bryan Wilson and artist Liana Kangas, follows Marty Tarantella, a down-on-his-luck fast food server who comes “with a cult of violent, Devil-worshiping lunatics.”
– “Crashing,” a five-part superhero series by writer Matthew Klein and artist Morgan Beem, which follows Rose Osler, an emergency doctor, during the day of a superhuman war.
Art by Rafael Albuquerque
– “Earthdivers Book One: Kill Columbus,” a post-apocalyptic ongoing by writer Stephen Graham Jones and artist Davide Gianfelice, which sees four Indigenous survivors decide to go back in time and prevent the creation of America — by killing Christopher Columbus.
– “Dead Seas,” a supernatural six-parter by writer Cavan Scott and artist Nick Brokenshire, that tells the story of a convict trapped on board a sinking prison ship filled with ghosts. “Can he unite desperate criminals, pirates, and brutal guards as they try to escape a watery grave?”
– “Golgotha Motor Mountain,” a five-part sci-fi/horror car chase series by writers Matthew Erman and Lonnie Nadler, with artist Ryan Lee. It follows “two meth-cooking brothers and their attempt to make it home in one piece, as all manner of cosmic alien horrors are hot on their trail.”
– “Arca,” an original sci-fi graphic novel by writer Van Jensen and artist Jesse Lonergan, set on a luxurious world created by billionaires who fled the dying Earth. They are served by indentured teenagers, including a girl who “discovers that the good life promised for their years of servitude was a lie.”
– “The Sin Bin,” a six-issue fantasy series by writer Robbie Thompson and artist Molly Murakami. It follows “washed-up hockey player Dale ‘Dukes’ Duquesne, who moonlights as a monster hunter during away games with his daughter, Cat, in tow, hoping to find her mother’s killer.”
– “The Hunger and the Dusk,” a twelve-part fantasy comic by writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Chris Wildgoose, which explores what happens when humans and orcs are forced to ally against “a new, deadlier species. Fragile alliances form — and unexpected romances blossom — as former enemies wade into battle together to save their two races.”
IDW publisher Nachie Marsham stated, “Throughout our history, IDW has provided a supportive environment for passionate creators to pursue their artistic vision, taking form as such beloved titles as ’30 Days of Night,’ ‘Locke & Key,’ ‘V Wars,’ ‘Canto,’ ‘October Faction,’ and ‘Wynonna Earp,’ just to name a few. Our new Originals editorial division, spearheaded by Mark Doyle, reflects our commitment to building upon that legacy. More than ever before, we are reaching out to the creative community, welcoming fresh ideas that span a diverse range of genres, and offering audiences wild new worlds to explore.”
Doyle, who joined IDW after being laid off from DC during WarnerMedia’s restructuring in 2020, said, “A year ago we gave ourselves a mission: to make IDW the destination for premier talent and rising stars. This is an unprecedented moment in IDW’s history, and there’s been a tremendous team effort from our creative and editorial teams and everyone at the company to develop a stellar slate of original stories—and we’re having a blast doing it!”
IDW also disclosed more original projects planned for 2023 and beyond, including a series written by John Ridley, and several graphic novels aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. The new emphasis on original titles will likely help the company weather the recent loss of certain major comics licenses, like the “Ghostbusters,” “Transformers,” “G.I. Joe” and all-ages “Star Wars” books. In the meantime, you can check out the covers for all the first issues here.
