IDW Publishing have acquired the comic book rights to the Netflix series Narcos, and will begin publishing a four-issue series by writer Ryan Ferrier and artist Vic Malhotra in April. The comic will take place during the events of the first season, which chronicled the life of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Here’s the full press release:
SAN DIEGO, CA (February 12, 2019) – Beginning in April, IDW Publishing will launch an all-new front in the War on Drugs with the official Narcos comic book series, an original story set within the continuity of the first season of the drama series, a Netflix Original produced by Gaumont.
Written by Ryan Ferrier (G.I. Joe: Silent Option) with art by Vic Malhotra (The X-Files), the four-issue Narcos miniseries introduces new dangers for DEA agents Steve Murphy and Javier Peña to face, while at the same time, El Patrón must contend with a dangerous threat to his drug empire.
“I’m thrilled to take fans new and old into a deeper, unseen story from the volatile, teeth-gritting world of Narcos,” says Ryan Ferrier. “I’m even more excited to bring this to life alongside Vic Malhotra, whose immense talent and style will show us a new side of Narcos — one with dangerously high stakes and a new, chaotic presence that will affect the DEA, the Cartels, Don Pablo himself, and all of Colombia.”
Vic Malhotra says, “I’m stoked that IDW and Gaumont selected me as the artist for this book. Narcos feels very authentic, its brooding characters and gritty world. It’s very important to bring that feel to the comic page, to inject it into the way things are drawn, the colors, the compositions. It’s been fun and challenging so far, and I hope readers dig it!”
Editor Bobby Curnow says, “The team behind the Narcos series did such a fantastic job of bringing the audience into this fascinating world of power and deceit. Ryan and Vic have seamlessly integrated into this world and are bringing us a story that fits right into the larger picture. This feels like it could be an episode of the show while still retaining that unique comic book magic!”
“IDW Publishing is one of the most prolific graphic novel publishers in the U.S. and the talented and accomplished team they have assembled to create this Narcos comic book series are heralded in the industry,” says Tim Stephen, Head of Legal and Business Affairs. “Fans of Narcos will be captivated as they discover new ways to experience the real-life rise to global power and wealth story of the world’s most infamous drug lords through this dynamic and engaging new format!”
Produced by Netflix for three seasons from 2015 to 2017, Narcos told the story of Drug Enforcement Administration officials Steve Murphy and Javier Peña (respectively played by Boyd Holbrook and Pedro Pascal), who were tasked with bringing down Escobar. A companion series starring Michael Peña and Diego Luna, Narcos: Mexico, began last year. The first issue of the comic will be released on April 24.
