CBS Consumer Products Celebrates Star Trek’s 40th Year By Naming IDW As New Comics Partner
San Diego, CA (November 9, 2006)—It’s not a rift in the space/time continuum—IDW Publishing is pleased to announce the return of Star Trek to the realm of comic books. The legendary science fiction franchise that’s spanned six television series, ten motion pictures, and hundreds of novels, celebrates its 40th anniversary by naming IDW Publishing as the source for all-new Star Trek comic book voyages.
IDW’s plans for the Star Trek franchise in comics are far-reaching, and will unfold over the next few months. The first Star Trek miniseries will debut in January 2007, in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation®. Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D return with an all-new adventure that will span The Next Generation timeline. The six-issue miniseries, Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Space Between, begins by setting the scene during the first year of the Enterprise-D’s mandated mission to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, boldly going “where no one has gone before.”
At the helm of this first venture is writer David Tischman (Bite Club), who is joined by artist Casey Maloney (Children of the Grave). Artists Dennis Calero (X-Factor) and Zach Howard (Shaun of the Dead) will provide 50/50 covers for the first issue, with covers from Spectrum Award-winning artist Jeremy Geddes (Doomed) and veteran painter Ken Kelly (KISS’s Destroyer album art) also on the way.
But that’s just the beginning. IDW Publishing will be producing additional Star Trek titles with a new line of comic book projects in the rich tradition of 40 years of science fiction excellence.
“I couldn’t be happier to be shepherding Star Trek comics in the 21st century,” said IDW’s Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall. “Not only is this one of the most storied franchises in all of entertainment, but its history in comics is a long one, too. And yet, despite the abundance of different Star Trek comics that have come along in the past, we’ve hit on some unique ways to bring new vibrancy and creativity to the line. I look forward to building on the legacy that stretches back to the Gold Key comics I read as a kid and moving the franchise forward into the future. Well, further into the future, that is. Can’t wait to let the fans know more of what we have in mind.”
Star Trek The Next Generation: The Space Between issue #1 (of 6) debuts in January 2007. Diamond Order Code NOV06 3645
ABOUT IDW PUBLISHING
IDW PUBLISHING is a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC, a revolutionary creative service company with a wide range of clients. Among their best-selling titles are Hasbro’s THE TRANSFORMERS; Fox’s ANGEL, Konami’s METAL GEAR SOLID, and FALLEN ANGEL. IDW’s 30 DAYS OF NIGHT film is in development and will be released by Sony Pictures in October 2007. IDW has films in development at Dimension Films and Paramount Pictures, as well.
ABOUT CBS CONSUMER PRODUCTS
CBS Consumer Products, a unit of CBS Enterprises, manages the worldwide licensing, merchandising and video activities for a diverse slate of properties owned or controlled by the CBS Corporation. Additional information is available by visiting www.CBS.com
A larger (400x600) image of the cover art can be seen at Things From Another World, along with the following description...
"In the first issue of this special mini-series, planet Tigan-7 requests entry into the Federation, but the Enterprise is attacked as a hostile invader when it makes contact, and the planet's leader has no record of any communication with any outside world. Riker, Tasha, and Data beam down to the planet in secret, and discover an information-obsessed culture, rewriting pieces of its 6,000-year history on a daily basis, to maintain political stability.
"An all-new, all-different, Next-Gen adventure, featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise D! NOTE: Covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1-to-1 ratio."
Glad to hear this news. I hated the TOS manga that came out a few months back, so it'll be nice to see a "real" Trek comic again (I'm saying that with tongue in cheek -- manga-lovers please no flames; it's a great and honorable genre. It just didn't work for Star Trek.)
Having TNG come out first makes sense, and I assume Tokyopop probably has the rights to TOS tied up for their manga. Hopefully the company will also put out new DS9 and Voyager tales and, should I start wishing?- an Enterprise comic.
