IDW Publishing
Parent company | Idea and Design Works, LLC |
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Founded | 1999 |
Founder |
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Country of origin | United States |
Headquarters location | San Diego, California |
Distribution | Diamond Comic Distributors (comics)[1] Penguin Random House Publisher Services (US books) Diamond Book Distributors (international books)[2] |
Key people |
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Publication types | Comics |
Fiction genres | |
Imprints |
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Owner(s) | IDW Media Holdings, Inc. |
Official website | Official website |
IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW), itself formed in 1999, and is regularly recognized as the fifth-largest comic book publisher in the United States, behind Archie, Boom!, Dynamite, Oni Press, Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image Comics.[3] The company is perhaps best known for its licensed comic book adaptations of movies, television shows, and cartoons.
History
Idea and Design Works (IDW) was formed in 1999 by a group of comic book managers and artists that met at Wildstorm Productions included Ted Adams, Robbie Robbins, Alex Garner, and Kris Oprisko for an outsource art and graphic design firm. Each of the four was equal partners, owning 25%. With Wildstorm owner Jim Lee selling to DC Comics in 1999, Lee turned that company's creative service department, previously run by Adams, clients over to IDW allowing IDW to be profitable its first year. With these profits, the firm decided to fund a new venture every year. In 2000, they developed a TV show concept, getting as far as a pilot episode. For 2001's project, Adams's Ashley Wood talked to them about publishing an art book, thus starting up IDW Publishing. Una Fanta was published in March 2002. Woods had Steve Niles send Adams some of his rejected screenplays. Adams selected one, 30 Days of Night, and paired him with artist Ben Templesmith for a comic adaptation as a three issue series, beginning in August 2002. With low pre-orders, Adams personally pushed the comic with the distributor and major comic book stores. Soon the title's back issue were hot and were followed up with Wood's Popbot.[4]
In 2007, IDT Corporation purchased a 53% majority interest in IDW from the company's founders, removing Garner & Oprisko, while reducing Adams & Robbins to minority owners collectively at 47%. Then, in 2009, IDT proceeded to increase its interest to the current 76%, reducing Adams & Robbins's interest once again to the current 24%. Then, shortly afterwards, IDT created CTM Media Holdings via a tax-free spin-off. This new company consisted of the majority interest in IDW and CTM Media Group.[5] Eight years later, on April 3, 2015, CTM Media Holdings announced it would continue operations under a new name, becoming IDW Media Holdings, which would continue to consist of the majority interest in IDW and CTM Media Group.[6]
The company's first traditional comic series, 30 Days of Night, created by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith started a seven-figure bidding war between DreamWorks, MGM, and Senator International, with Senator winning and Sam Raimi attached to produce.[7][8]
IDW Publishing's second title, Popbot, won two Gold Spectrum Awards.[9]
IDW Publishing also publishes comics based on the TV franchises Star Trek and CSI. The company's other licensed comics include Topps' Mars Attacks, Sony's Underworld, FX' The Shield, Fox' 24,[10] and Angel; Universal’s Land of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead; and Konami’s Silent Hill,[11] Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, and Speed Racer. The company has also had success with comic license from toy company Hasbro brands: The Transformers (with Takara), G.I. Joe, My Little Pony, and Jem. Transformers has had as many as five different titles running concurrently.
Beginning in 2008, the company licensed the Doctor Who series from the BBC, launching two concurrent titles: Doctor Who Classics, which reprints colorized comic strips featuring the past Doctors such as the Fourth Doctor and Fifth Doctor originally published in the late 1970's-early 1980's by Doctor Who Magazine, and Doctor Who: Agent Provocateur, an original six-part limited series featuring the Tenth Doctor and overseen and written by TV series script editor Gary Russell. An additional six-part limited series titled Doctor Who: The Forgotten started in mid-2008 by Tony Lee and Pia Guerra,[12][13] as well as a series of monthly one-shot, self-contained stories. July 2009 saw the beginning of Doctor Who, an ongoing series featuring the Tenth Doctor, written by Tony Lee and illustrated by a rotating art team.[14]
In 2010, IDW Publishing released the sequel to Michael San Giacomo's "Phantom Jack" Image Comics series with "Phantom Jack: The Nowhere Man Agenda." The graphic novel is notable because it features the death of the main character, a reporter who can turn invisible.
IDW Publishing formed an imprint with EA Games in late 2009, called EA Comics, to focus on adaptations of the latter's video games, with initial titles including Army of Two and Dragon Age.[15]
September 6, 2011, for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, IDW Publishing teamed up Charlie Foxtrot Entertainment and released the graphic novel Code Word: Geronimo, written by retired Marine Corps Captain Dale Dye and Julia Dye, drawn by Gerry Kissell with inker Amin Amat.[16] Code Word: Geronimo reached #22 on Diamond Comics top 100 list its first month after release.[17] During that same year, the company has published its first crossover series Infestation.[citation needed]
In March 2012 IDW Publishing announced it would release new comics based on Judge Dredd and The Crow.[18] Also in 2012, Hasbro licensed the use of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic for an IDW comic book series. The company has also published Infestation 2.[citation needed]
In February 2013, IDW Publishing announced a partnership with Cartoon Network to publish comics based on the network's television series and reprint older Cartoon Network comics.[19]
On January 6, 2015, IDW Publishing announced it had acquired Top Shelf Productions.[20]
In February 2015, it was announced that IDW Publishing made a deal with Disney to continue the publication of the following comic books: Uncle Scrooge, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories.[21]
In 2016, IDW launched the Hasbro Reconstruction initiative to present a shared universe of Hasbro brands, which was later known as the Hasbro Comic Book Universe. The first event was Revolution, followed by First Strike on 2017.[citation needed]
In July 2017, Sega announced a partnership with IDW to publish comics based on Sonic the Hedgehog beginning in 2018, following the conclusion/cancellation of the previous series by Archie Comics.[22][23][24]
Imprints
Yoe! Books
- The Art of Ditko
- The Creativity of Ditko
- Barney Google: Gambling, Horse Races & High-Toned Women
- The Carl Barks' Big Book of Barney Bear
- The Complete Milt Gross
- Dan DeCarlo's Jetta
- Dick Briefer's Frankenstein (The Chilling Archives of Horror Comics)
- Felix the Cat’s Greatest Comic Book Tails
- The Golden Collection of Klassic Krazy Kool Kids Komics
- The Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories
- Krazy & Ignatz: Tiger Tea
- Bob Powell's Terror (The Chilling Archives of Horror Comics)
- Popeye: The Great Comic Book Tales by Bud Sagendorf
- Zombie (The Chilling Archives of Horror Comics)
The Library of American Comics
The Library of American Comics
Titles
- Street Fighter x G.I. JOE and Transformers
- Alex Toth
- Archie: The Classic Newspaper Comics
- Blondie
- Bloom County
- Bringing Up Father: From Sea to Shining Sea
- Chuck Jones: The Dream that Never Was ("Crawford")
- The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy
- The Family Circus
- King Aroo
- Al Capp's Complete Li'l Abner
- The Little King
- The Complete Little Orphan Annie
- "LOAC Essentials" (including Baron Bean, The Gumps, and Polly and her Pals)
- Miss Fury
- Polly and Her Pals
- Rip Kirby
- Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles
- Skippy
- Star Trek: The Newspaper Comic
- Steve Canyon
- The Complete Terry and the Pirates
- Walt Disney's Donald Duck: The Daily Newspaper Comics
- Walt Disney's Donald Duck: The Sunday Newspaper Comics
- Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: The Complete Disney Classics
- Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales
- X-9: Secret Agent Corrigan
In 2008, the first volume of The Complete Terry and the Pirates received an Eisner Award for Best Archival Collection.
Worthwhile Books and Blue Dream Studios
IDW Publishing launched two new imprints in 2008: Worthwhile Books, part of their children's books division,[25] and Scott Christian Sava's Blue Dream Studios, previously a separate self-publishing venture.[26][27]
IDW Publishing acquired the G.I. Joe comics license in May 2008 (previously held by Devil's Due Publishing) and released three new series under editor Andy Schmidt,[28] from writers such as Chuck Dixon, Larry Hama, and Christos Gage. Other comics were released in time to tie-in with the summer 2009 G.I. Joe film.[29][30]
In March 2009, IDW Publishing forged an agreement with Mike Gold's Comicmix.com to publish print versions of Comicmix's online comic books. The agreement stipulates Comicmix must provide two comic books a month to IDW Publishing to publish, as well as graphic novels and trade paperbacks as demanded by the market. The books are published with both the IDW Publishing and Comicmix.com logos on the covers. As of the end of 2009, the agreement has produced print versions of the Grimjack series The Manx Cat; the Jon Sable series Ashes of Eden; Mark Wheatley and Robert Tinnell's pulp hero series Lone Justice; the graphic novel Demons of Sherwood by Tinnell and Bo Hampton; and a graphic novel collecting Trevor Von Eeden's The Original Johnson. A collection of Munden's Bar stories original to Comicmix's website is also forthcoming.[31]
In 2004, 2005, and 2006 IDW Publishing was named Publisher of the Year by Diamond Comic Distributors.[32]
Publications
Adaptations in other media
Konami acquired the video game rights, and minority ownership, in IDW Publishing's CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations.[dead link][33]
30 Days of Night has been adapted into a film of the same name in 2007, starring Josh Hartnett and Melissa George, directed by David Slade, and produced by Spider-Man director Sam Raimi. It is distributed by Columbia Pictures.
Dimension Films has an option on two Steve Niles/IDW Publishing properties: Wake the Dead, with X2 screenwriter Michael Dougherty attached to write, and Hyde, with Mike Fleiss (The Bachelor, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) attached to produce.[34][35]
The motion comic version of Transformers: Movie Prequel titled Transformers: Beginnings (albeit excluding characters not present in the movie) is included in the Transformers DVD.
Syfy announced a television adaptation of Wynonna Earp, which premiered on April 1, 2016.
Upcoming projects
- In June 2012, Deadline reported that Hideo Nakata will direct the film adaptation of The Suicide Forest for Vertigo Entertainment.[36]
- USA Network announced a pilot for Brooklyn Animal Control produced by David Goyer.[37][38]
- Paramount Pictures has an option on the Steve Niles/IDW Publishing property Aleister Arcane.[39] In June 2016, Variety reported that Jim Carrey will star in Eli Roth's film adaptation of Aleister Arcane for Amblin Entertainment.[40]
- October Faction created by Steve Niles received a 10 episode series order from Netflix on September 28, 2018 with High Park Entertainment producing in association with IDW Entertainment, who would also distribution the series internationally.[41]
- Darkness Visible by Mike Carey is being developed as a TV series[42]
References
- ^ "Contact – IDW Publishing". www.idwpublishing.com.
- ^ "IDW moves to Penguin Random House for book distribution". September 13, 2016.
- ^ Albert, Aaron. "Here is a List of the Top Comic Book Publishers and Companies". ThoughtCo. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- ^ Bradley, Drew (February 16, 2015). "IDW: The Small Press Days". Multiversity Comics. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ "CTM HOLDINGS". ctmholdings.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ IDW MEDIA HOLDINGS (April 3, 2015). "CTM MEDIA HOLDINGS (CTMMA; CTMMB) TO BECOME IDW MEDIA HOLDINGS". idwmediaholdings.com. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ SignonSanDiego.com (July 2006) A Hollywood ending
- ^ IGN.com (2007) 30 Days of Night
- ^ Locus index to SF awards: 2002 Spectrum Awards https://web.archive.org/web/20151104210653/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Spectrum12002.html.
- ^ Weiland, Jonah (March 2004). "IDW Publishing to Release Comic Based on TV Show "24"". Comic Book Resources.
- ^ Weiland, Jonah (July 2003). "IDW Publishing Joins Konami for 'Silent Hill' Comic Book". Comic Book Resources.
- ^ The Timeline Of A Time Lord: Lee talks "Doctor Who". Comic Book Resources. June 26, 2008
- ^ Tony Lee and The Doctors in the House, Newsarama. July 14, 2008
- ^ "Tony Lee on the Doctor Who Ongoing Series". Newsarama. July 10, 2009
- ^ "EA and IDW Launch Army of Two and Dragon Age Comics". (press release), Reuters. October 5, 2009
- ^ Gustines, George Gene. "Graphic Books Best Sellers: True Life Comics".
- ^ "Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. - Top 100 Graphic Novels: September 2011". Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
- ^ "Chiller". Chiller. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ [1] https://web.archive.org/web/20151208154058/http://www.idwpublishing.com/news/article/2507/
- ^ "IDW Publishing Acquires Top Shelf Productions". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
- ^ "Disney Comics in Stores April 2015". IDW Publishing. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
- ^ @sonic_hedgehog (July 21, 2017). "SEGA and IDW are thrilled to announce a partnership to bring Sonic Comics to fans new and old. The new series arrives 2018!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (October 9, 2017). "Sonic the Hedgehog's next comics get a fantastic facelift (correction)". Polygon. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ Devore, Jordan. "Sonic comics return April 2018 with writer Ian Flynn". destructoid. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ "IDW Launches New Children's Division and Imprint". Comic Book Resources. January 10, 2008
- ^ "Blue Dream becomes imprint of IDW"[permanent dead link]. Newsarama. March 4, 2008
- ^ Dueben, Alex (December 3, 2008). "Scott Christian Sava Talks 'Dreamland Chronicles'". Comic Book Resources.
- ^ "Schmidt to Oversee G.I. Joe at IDW Publishing". Comic Book Resources. June 4, 2008
- ^ "IDW Announces GI Joe Plans". Newsarama. September 9, 2008
- ^ Jensen, Van (September 23, 2008). "IDW Launches G.I. Joe Invasion". Publishers Weekly.
- ^ "IDW and ComicMix Join Forces". ComicMix. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
- ^ "IDW's Gem-Award Triple Crown". Diamond Comic Distributors. April 2006. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "IDW Continues Popular Franchise With 'CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations—Rogue State'". Silver Bullet Comics. Archived October 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Comics2Film.com Books "HYDE" Film Rights https://web.archive.org/web/20131015114305/http://www.comics2film.com/FanFrame.php?f_id=4537/Dimension
- ^ Horror.com (November 2003) Dimension to "Wake The Dead"
- ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (June 14, 2012). "Hideo Nakata To Direct Graphic Novel Adaptation 'The Suicide Forest'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "'Brooklyn Animal Control' Comic Gets USA Drama Pilot Order, David Goyer Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "USA To Redevelop 'Brooklyn Animal Control' Pilot, Passes On 'Poor Richard's Almanack'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ "Par gains 'Arcane' rights". Comics2Film.com (June 2004) Archived February 14, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ McNary, Dave. "Jim Carrey, Eli Roth Team on Horror Film 'Aleister Arcane'". Variety.com. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (September 28, 2018). "Netflix Orders Three Sci-Fi Shows, Including Kate Bosworth Produced 'I-Land'". Variety. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
- ^ Petski, Denise (November 6, 2017). "'Darkness Visible': IDW Entertainment Developing Supernatural Comic Series For TV". Deadline. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
External links
- Official website
- IDW Media Holdings
- IDW's Drusilla/Angel Comic at FEARnet
- Dueben, Alex (January 17, 2008). "In-Depth with IDW Publisher Chris Ryall". Comic Book Resources.
- "IDW's Drusilla/Angel" https://web.archive.org/web/20131105035521/http://www.fearnet.com/news/b16032_exclusive_5_pages_from_idws.html. FEARnet.
- Gustines, George (September 9, 2011). "Graphic Books Best Sellers: True Life Comics". New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2013.