V-Wars, the series based on Jonathan Maberry’s novel, is set to debut this May with a FCBD edition. I love gruesome, fear-inducing vamp tales. This looks more in my wheelhouse than the glittery crap that more recent Vampire stories across various mediums have been. A vampire book for vampire horror fans.
Also hyped up was the return of Chuck Dixon’s Winterworld. Another favorite creator of mine (I mean, have you read his run on Nightwing back in the day? Classic!), Dixon is joined on the new series by veteran Butch Guice. Preview ashcans were available at the IDW booth, but I missed out on snagging one unfortunately. The original graphic novel has been on my Amazon wishlist for a long time now. Time to pull the trigger and by the damn thing so I can be ready for the new series.
The fourth Summer Blockbuster showcased was Little Nemo: Return To Slumberland by Shanower and Rodriguez. The one big announcement of the panel occurred when it was announced that IDW had signed Rodriguez to an exclusive contract, the first in the company’s history.
As far as the book goes, it looks to be a fun all-ages adventure. Shanower stated that it would be whimsical in the vein of Where The Wild Things Are. Exclusive pages were shown, and it was announced that Shanower himself would be providing the variant covers for the series. As a bit of a surprise, they stated that the setting would be the present day, not 1905, and that the main character’s name is not Nemo. It all looked (modern fantasy stuff, breathtaking art) and sounded cool enough to warrant at least a first look from me when it drops.
A new book that also really stood out thanks to a unique twist and more creator enthusiasm than you could shake a rusty vampire fang at was Monster Motors. Written by Lynch with art by Transformers artist Nick Roche, I was seriously digging the cool new motor twist on old horror icons. The story takes place in Transylvania, Kentucky, looks cool, and sounds the right kind of ridiculous. Another all-ages book that sounds like good comics fun…
The IDW Judge Dredd universe gets a new title in Judge Dredd: Anderson, Psi Division. The comic picks up where Judge Dredd: Year One left off. The Psi Division in this book will be one newly established, just getting off the ground, figuring out who and what they are. The real-world cosplaying Judges (kudos on the fantastic outfits gentlemen) surrounding me didn’t reach for their Lawgivers so I guess they were pleased by the news.
(Flip the page for bulletpoints from the panel!)