IDW Preview Review for May

Jim: So since I view IDW as having patterned themselves off the type of company that Dark Horse has become I’m now waiting for them to start doing collectibles. I can’t wait for the Ghoul action figure.
Lee: Oh yeah, me too! But you bring up a good point, it's only a matter of time before we start seeing that type of thing from IDW.

WITCH & WIZARD #1
Written by Dara Naraghi, art by Victor Santons, covers by Santos and J.K. Woodward.
In a blink of an eye, their world has changed, with the oppressive New Order declaring all magic as evil incarnate! In this action-packed first issue spinning out of best-selling author James Pattersons's #1 novel, sibling teenagers Whit & Wisty Allgood use their newly discovered magical powers to infiltrate into enemy territory of the New Order to gain control of the inter-dimensional Shadowland. 32 pages, $3.99.
Jim: I guess Patterson was getting tired of seeing Stephen King having his name all over comics and decided to put his brand on comics. Patterson with the multitude of co-writers he has puts out more books than any other writer in the business.
Lee: I have to agree, Patterson is quite the publicity whore. It's interesting to see all these writers coming into comics though. Maybe, after all these years, comics are finally gaining some respect.

MYSTERY SOCIETY #1
Written by Steve Niles, art by Fiona Staples, cover by Ashley Wood.
Nick Hammond and Anastasia Collins are the Mystery Society and bring new meaning to "underground cult" status! Stealthily avoiding the authorities, this skullduggery duo spend their time and money righting wrongs committed in the world's underbellies. This issue, Ana defends their secret headquarters as Nick goes on a rescue mission breaking into Area 51 for a bounty that you will not believe! 32 pages, $3.99.
Jim: Niles constantly is creating various characters and putting them out there with many companies. IDW seems to be his home of choice now and when I see Steve’s name on a book it is an automatic to check out issue #1.
Lee: Did Niles disappear for awhile? For awhile it seemed like he had a new book every month or even every week. And for the most part, they were all very good. It's worth checking out the first issue.

BRAM STOKER'S DEATH SHIP #1
Written by Gary Gerani, art by Stuart Sayger, cover by Cliff Nielsen.
An untold story from the greatest vampire story ever written, Bram Stoker's Death Ship explores the harrowing, nightmarish sea voyage from Transylvania to England. One by one, the terrified crewmembers of the Russian schooner Demeter vanish, victims of the unearthly lifeform that lies comatose in the ship's hold during daylight hours. Only Demeter's seasoned captain, a proud man of the sea, remains to confront the voracious monster that has preyed upon his crew by moonlight... 32 pages, $3.99.
Jim: This sounds pretty cool. I forget sometimes that someone like Stoker wrote other books.
Lee: This hasn't been done before? I'm surprised by that. Oh well, it sounds great!


ARCHIE: THE BEST OF DAN DECARLO, VOL. ONE
Art and cover by Dan DeCarlo.
Beginning his career at Archie in the mid 1950s, Dan DeCarlo soon became the main artist on Betty and Veronica, and drew every Archie character at one time or another in his nearly 50-year career with Archie. Reproduced from the original art and recolored to ensure the highest possible quality reproduction, the stories in this collection are from what is generally regarded as DeCarlo's best period =- the mid 1950s to the early 1970s.
152 pages, $24.99.
Jim: I like this concept, but I get scared when they say they are going to re-color something.
Lee: Since I already have the Archine in the 40's, 50's, etc collections I will certainly get this too. I more interested in the 50's stuff since it really does reflect the time, albiet in a humorous fashion. Then again, I look at this from a historical perspective, Jim's probably thinking those were the good old days.

Jim: IDW has put a lot of effort and a lot of their publishing efforts into their license deals with GI Joe, Transformers and Star Trek. They have also become the go to publisher for cartoon strips and some art books. It may seem to limit them, but I think they are careful in what they publish under their banner and is another reason they have lasted over a decade in a tough business.
Lee: IDW has done a great job of diversification. There's something for everyone from the comic historian with strips, to classic material like Rocketeer to the newer stuff with GI Joe.