IDW Publishing has announced nine new original series in the launch of what it calls an "expansive new comic book initiative," and the "next evolution of original content. The initiative kicks off in July with writer Scott Snyder's Dark Spaces, a character-driven anthology series that explores "Desperate people, desperate situations" and the decisions made and the irreversible actions taken when people are placed in those dilemmas.
Check out more information about Dark Spaces below.
According to the publisher the new initiative builds on its creator-driven legacy, naming Snyder, G. Willow Wilson, Stephen Graham Jones, John Ridley, and more as the foundation.
The new initiative will feature new original projects encompassing the genres of crime thriller, supernatural horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and more.
"A year ago we gave ourselves a mission: to make IDW the destination for premier talent and rising stars," says Mark Doyle, editorial director of originals in IDW's announcement. "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!"
While not mentioned in the announcement, the Originals program and new emphasis on creator-driven content could be in response to IDW losing the Hasbro G.I. Joe and Transformers comic book license at the end of 2021.
The first nine new projects include:
Snyder's Dark Spaces, which will launch in July with Wildfire, a five-issue arc with art by Hayden Sherman and colors by Ronda Pattison that follows a crew of women from an inmate firefighters program "risking everything on the frontlines." But they're also planning a heist of a burning mansion deep in California hills smoldering from six weeks into the slow burn of the historic Arroyo wildfires.
Led by the crew's newest recruit - a white-collar convict with a shady Rolodex of contacts - she proposes abandoning their firefighting duties to burgle a former associate's abandoned mansion. The rest of the team must decide if want to jeopardize their one sure path back to redemption for a life-changing score. But whatever they decide it could be a deadly trap.
"With Dark Spaces, I wanted to do something different. This is a chance to tell dark, grounded, character-driven stories that are totally unique," says Synder in a new announcement with more details about Dark Spaces.
"Plus, I wanted this to be a book where I could collaborate with a terrific up-and-coming talent like Hayden. It was also important to me to be able to hold the door open for even more new writers and artists. That's why Dark Spaces: Wildfire is its own story, but will also mark the beginning of a line of new books featuring other writers and artists curated by me. Mark Doyle and IDW saw the vision and have been amazing partners in helping me build this space."
Dark Spaces: Wildfire will be published monthly from July through November, with subsequent storylines debuting in 2023. The first issue of Wildfire will feature variant covers by Sherman, Andrea Sorrentino, Liana Kangas, and Tula Lotay.
Check the covers out below followed by information about the other eight new IDW launches:
Trve Kvlt is a five-issue limited series written by Scott Bryan Wilson with art by Liana Kangas that introduces Marty Tarantella, a "down-on-his-luck loser" with a plan to escape lifetime employment in fast-food service. His "last-ditch scheme" sets him on a path to a collision course with a Devil-worshiping cult of violent lunatics!
Crashing is a five-issue limited series written by Matthew Klein with art by Morgan Beem set in an emergency room filled with casualties of a superhuman war. Dr. Rose Osler faces the most dangerous day of her medical career while trying to stay on her path of addiction and recovery.
Earthdivers is an ongoing series written by Stephen Graham Jones with art by Davide Gianfelice which unites four Indigenous survivors in an apocalyptic near future. The quartet attempt a bloody, "one-way mission to save their world by traveling back in time to kill Christopher Columbus and prevent the creation of America."
Dead Seas is six-issue limited series written by Cavan Scott with art by Nick Brokenshire. A cynical convict is transformed into a reluctant hero when trapped on a haunted, sinking prison ship he must unite the "desperate criminals, pirates, and brutal guards" as they try to escape?
Golgotha Motor Mountain, a five-issue limited series written by Matthew Erman and Lonnie Nadler with art by Ryan Lee, is a "high-octane, redneck motor massacre" about two meth-cooking brothers who attempt to make it home alive as "cosmic alien horrors" are hot on their trail.
Arca, the only original graphic novel in the group is written by Van Jensen with art by Jesse Lonergan. The story features billionaires who leave a dying Earth behind and establish a luxurious new society in space, but with a labor force of teenage indentured servants. "But one girl discovers that the good life promised for their years of servitude was a lie…"
The Sin Bin, a six-issue limited series written by Robbie Thompson with art by Molly Murakami, stars a washed-up hockey player Dale "Dukes" Duquesne, whose second job during away games is monster hunting with his daughter Cat along for the hunt, in search of her mother's killer.
The Hunger and the Dusk is a twelve-issue series written by G. Willow Wilson with art by Chris Wildgoose. The fantasy series "upends an age-old conflict between humans and orcs" by introducing a new, deadlier species of orc. "Fragile alliances form - and unexpected romances blossom - as former enemies wade into battle together to save their two races."
"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," says IDW publisher Nachie Marsham.
"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."
IDW adds that the initial nine titles are just the beginning of the Originals initiative, and the publisher has more projects in development for 2023 and beyond, including a series by John Ridley and original graphic novels aimed at middle grade and YA audiences.
Finally, the publisher says is developing these properties for film, television, and other mediums.
Look for IDW's new line of titles at your local comic shop.
