Press Release
Following this year’s Comic-Con launch of the epic crossover Star Trek/ Green Lantern comic book, IDW announced two more new comic book projects slated for 2015.
This October will see the release of Star Trek #50, marking one of the longest-running Star Trek comic-book series by any publisher. Mike Johnson continues his stint with this special anniversary issue that kicks off an epic, three-part adventure that will introduce the classic “Mirror/Mirror” storyline into the new film-based universe. Issue #50 will also boast additional bonus content, including behind-the-scenes looks at the entire 50-issue run, along with hints about where the series is going. It will all be surrounded by a gorgeous wraparound cover by series artist Tony Shasteen.
In December, IDW is adding a new dynamic to Star Trek lore with the debut of a new miniseries, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The comic follows Kirk, Spock, Uhura and some surprise faces while they are still cadets-in-training at Starfleet Academy, set in the period just prior to the opening of the 2009 mega-hit film. At the same time, you’ll meet the all-new “current day” class of Starfleet cadets, full of compelling young characters from all over the galaxy. The past and the present collide when a mystery bridges the two timelines. This vibrant series, designed to be an entry point for diverse groups of readers, is written by Mike Johnson and Ryan Parrot, with art by fan-favorite creator Derek Charm.
“IDW is proud to have been partnered with Star Trek for nearly a fifth of its lifespan so far,” said IDW Editor-In-Chief Chris Ryall. “As these new comic book projects, and many others coming soon, will show, we’ve got plenty of exciting new ways to bring Star Trek stories to the fans.”
“The fan enthusiasm surrounding Starfleet Academy, much like Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, or X-Men’s Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, shows that the educational lives of our most beloved heroes makes for fantastic stories,” said IDW editor Sarah Gaydos. “I am so excited to flesh out a new chapter in the lives of the Enterprise crew, while introducing you to a great new team of recruits – – ready to boldly go!”
Join Mike Johnson, Derek Charm and Sarah Gaydos at SDCC on Friday, July 10 (4PM-5PM) for the IDW: The Best Panel On Recorded History where they will discuss these Star Trek projects and more.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Disney’s classic characters including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Uncle Scrooge; Paramount/CBS’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Zombies vs Robots by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood; Ragnarök from Eisner Award-winner Walter Simonson; and Little Nemo from the award-winning duo of Eric Shanower and Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to acclaimed imprints such as the Library of American Comics, which publishes classic comic reprints, Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio, IDW Artist’s Editions, and Top Shelf Productions.
IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot; Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Warner Brothers are producing a film based on Ashley Wood’s Lore; Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film, and Alex Kurtzman is producing a movie based on Locke & Key at Universal.
IDW Entertainment was started in 2014 to fund, develop, and oversee brand extensions across IDW Publishing’s portfolio of comics and graphic novels for the global television market. IDW Entertainment is currently in development with a slate of properties for television including the chilling and realistic vampire thriller, V Wars, by New York Times Best Seller Jonathan Maberry with writer/executive producer Tim Schlattmann (Dexter, Smallville); Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, with writer/executive producer Max Landis (Chronicle); and many others.
2 Comments
Am I the only one slightly disappointed that the Starfleet Academy series is featuring known characters instead of branching off to tell completely original stories about new, unique and possibly expendable characters? Don’t get me wrong, it still looks interesting, I have just been hoping to see a little more of the Trek setting than just seeing the same familiar faces over and over again.
My exact thoughts!
I remember with fondness an earlier ‘Starfleet Academy’ series, with mostly new characters (except for DS9’s Nog and a nod to the Decker legacy). It was short-lived, but it was a fun read, especially the Klingon language issue!
I was also hoping this series would give us new characters and adventures, but it doesn’t appear this will happen as cleanly as that. Unless the ‘magnificent seven’ core characters are simply relegated to cameos and ‘campus legend’ stories.