DC Comics is launching a new imprint called MINX, which will publish original graphic novels for teenage girls. MINX will be the first imprint from a major American comic book publisher devoted to reaching the teenage girl. MINX will launch in May 2007 with the publication of THE PLAIN JANES, a graphic novel written by young adult novelist Cecil Castellucci (The Queen of Cool and Boy Proof) and illustrated by Jim Rugg (the creator and artist of Street Angel). The MINX imprint will be overseen by Vertigo Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Karen Berger and Vertigo Group Editor Shelly Bond.
“The launch of MINX represents an opportunity for us to reach a very active reader who has only recently begun sampling graphic novels: the teenage girl,” said DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz. “Until now, there has not been an American graphic novel imprint specifically for teenage girls. We want to reach out to this audience with creativity and offer them a line they can look to for titles designed for them.”
In an unprecedented level of commitment for an American comic book publisher, DC Comics will launch MINX with a major national, year-long marketing campaign. As part of this effort, DC Comics has hired Alloy Media + Marketing, the promotional experts behind such youth-targeted best-sellers as the Gossip Girl series, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The A List.
“We see an opportunity in the marketplace for fresh stories for and about young women – and we have to be smart and respectful about how we reach them,” said DC Comics Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Stephanie Fierman. “With Alloy’s guidance, our messaging and marketing efforts will reflect teen girls’ growing sophistication and individualism.”
MINX is currently scheduled to publish seven books in 2007. MINX books will feature a diverse cast of characters, including a tenacious martial artist; a rebellious detective; an ex-surf punk; a big mouth blogger and a futuristic brainiac. From risk takers to troublemakers, the MINX characters don’t just play by their own rules – they invent as they go along, resulting in up-to-the-minute, unexpected adventures.
“MINX books will appeal to the many young women who have been introduced to the visual impact of graphic novels through manga and books like Persepolis,” said Vertigo Senior Vice President, Executive Editor Karen Berger. “The first book, THE PLAIN JANES, tells the story of a girl named Jane who leaves the city. She meets three other girls named Jane, and together, they form a secret art gang and take on suburbia to bring about change for the better. MINX stories are smart, fearless, and about the real world.”
2007 MINX TITLES:
THE PLAIN JANES (May 2007)
The story of four girls named Jane who are anything but ordinary. Once they form a secret art gang, the girls take on Suburbia by painting the town P.L.A.I.N. – People Loving Art In Neighborhoods.
Cecil Castellucci
Cecil Castellucci grew up in New York City. In addition to being the author of two young adult novels, The Queen of Cool and Boy Proof, she is filmmaker, actress and a singer-songwriter. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles, in the “belly of the beast” known as Hollywood.
Jim Rugg
Jim Rugg is the artist and co-creator of Street Angel. He grew up in and currently lives near, Pittsburgh.
RE-GIFTERS (June 2007)
A Korean-American California girl learns that in love and in gift-giving, what goes around comes around.
Mike Carey
Mike Carey is a comic writer, novelist and screenwriter who lives and works in London, England. He is best known for his work on Vertigo’s LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER series. His novel, The Devil You Know, will be published by Warner Books in summer 2007.
Sonny Liew
Sonny Liew is an illustrator currently residing in Singapore. His works include Malinky Robot and MY FAITH IN FRANKIE, he has been part of the Flight and 24Seven anthologies.
Marc Hempel
Marc Hempel is best known for his collaboration with Neil Gaiman on THE SANDMAN: THE KINDLY ONES, as well as his own creations GREGORY, Tug & Buster, and Naked Brain.
CLUBBING (July 2007)
A spoiled, rebellious London girl conquers the stuffy English countryside when she solves a murder mystery on the 19th hole of her grandparent’s golf course.
Andi Watson
Andi Watson was born and bred in Leeds, England. He attended art school in Liverpool and spent his post-graduate years penniless in London. He has written several graphic novels including Samurai Jam, Skeleton Key, Geisha, Breakfast After Noon, Slow News Day and Love Fights.
Josh Howard
Josh Howard is the artist and writer of Dead @ 17 (Viper Comics), named by Wizard Magazine the #1 independent book to watch in 2005. Josh lives in Arlington, Texas with his wife and two children.
GOOD AS LILY (August 2007)
What would you do if versions of yourself at ages 7, 29, and 70 suddenly became part of your already complicated high school life?
Derek Kirk Kim
Derek Kirk Kim has been writing and drawing comics all his life. His work includes Same Difference and Other Stories, as well as a story in FABLES: 1,001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL.
Jesse Hamm
Jesse Hamm’s cartooning has appeared in various mini-comics, anthologies and on the web. GOOD AS LILY is his first mainstream project. Jesse lives near Portland, Oregon with his wife Anna, and her cat.
CONFESSIONS OF A BLABBERMOUTH (September 2007)
When Tasha’s mom brings home a creepy boyfriend and his deadpan daughter, a dysfunctional family is headed for a complete mental meltdown, compliments of Tasha’s blabbermouth blog.
Mike Carey
Mike Carey is a comics writer, novelist and screenwriter who lives and works in London, England. He is best known for his work on Vertigo’s LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER series. His novel, The Devil You Know, will be published by Warner Books in summer 2007.
Louise Carey
Louise Carey’s writing includes The Diary of a London Schoolgirl for the website of the London Metropolitan archive. She is a member of the Chicken Shed theatre company in London and has acted in their productions of Alice in Wonderland and Grimm Nights.
Aaron Alexovich
Aaron Alexovich was born in Chicago, Illinois, the year Elvis died. He currently sleeps the daylight hours away in Southern California. He contributed character designs to Nickelodeon’s Invader Zim and Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is also the creator of Serenity Rose.
WATER BABY (October 2007)
Surfer girl Brody just got her leg bitten off by a shark. What’s worse? Her shark of an ex-boyfriend is back and when it comes to Brody’s couch, he’s not budging.
Ross Campbell
Ross Campbell currently lives in Rochester, New York. His published works include the Exalted RPG books, Spooked and Wet Moon, and The Abandoned.
KIMMIE66 (November 2007)
This high-velocity, virtual reality ghost story follows a tech-savvy teenager on a dangerous quest to save her best friend, the world’s first all-digital girl.
Aaron Alexovich
Aaron Alexovich was born in Chicago, Illinois, the year Elvis died. He currently sleeps the daylight hours away in Southern California. He contributed character designs to Nickelodeon’s Invader Zim and Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is also the creator of Serenity Rose.
