SDCC ’09: IDW welcomes Bill Willingham

Press Release

Today at San Diego Comic Con, IDW Publishing announced that Eisner award-winning creator Bill Willingham will be joining the company on two separate projects. Willingham will bring his lauded storytelling ability to IDW’s ongoing Angel series, with his first six-issue story, “The Crown Prince Syndrome,” launching in December. Then, in 2010, IDW will publish a new fantasy book by Willingham and artist Gene Ha: Back Roads, the first collaboration of these two highly regarded creators.

“Bill is someone I’ve long wanted to work with,” said IDW Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Chris Ryall. “His storytelling ability and strong sense of character perfectly suit a book like Angel, and his first collaboration with Gene is a pairing of two true comic book superstars. I’m ecstatic about both.”

Beginning with issue #28 of Angel, Willingham plots a gripping story as the title character struggles with his new-found celebrity and the myriad, moral complications it creates. Each issue will also feature a special parallel story by Bill Williams featuring a brand-new character, Eddie Hope. Artist Brian Denham will illustrate the main story, while fan-favorite artist David Messina takes on the back-up tale. Jenny Frison will create covers for each issue.

“I am looking forward to joining IDW’s Angel series and to working with Gene. We have been looking for the perfect project to do together for seven years and it finally happened when IDW called up and said do something for us… and that was it,” commented Willingham. “Then we worked out a story that is great and contains everything Gene has always wanted to draw.”

In Back Roads, fellow Eisner-award winning creators Willingham and Ha join forces to tell the story of a young man who is most unexpectedly shown a part of our world he never knew existed—and the secret to unlocking and accessing the hidden byways that allow travelers to explore the magical roadways that connect all the worlds in creation.

“I’ve always hoped to work with Bill,” said IDW Special Projects Editor, Scott Dunbier, “and I am very happy it’s finally happening. And, of course, I love any chance to do something with Gene.”

Willingham is known for his richly layered stories and his fine ear for dialogue, and Ha for his beautiful and lush art fine attention to detail.

Ha added, “There are a small handful of writers I’ve wanted to work with since I was a teenager. Bill Willingham is the final name on that list. I really want to make this spectacular. God, I’m such a geek.”

About IDW
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: Hasbro’s The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; Fox’s Angel; the BBC’s Doctor Who; and television’s #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix.

IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.