IDW

Find the best and the brightest of the comic book world right here, before the books hit the shelves. Thumb through the gallery above, and click on thumbnails below for larger images. We’ll update the post throughout the month so check back to see this growing gallery of covers and pages from upcoming releases from top publishers. To see more art from recent releases, check out our comic book news section and archive of comics-art galleries. Follow us on Twitter: @LATHeroComplex RECENT AND RELATED Marquez: X-Men, Spider-Man 3-D graphic novel Orson Scott Card: Stoking Superman fan rage ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’: Watch exclusive clip ‘Spider-Man’: Dan Slott talks Peter Parker’s fate Peter Dinklage joins ‘X-Men’ film cast: As Puck? ‘X-Men Legacy’: Simon Spurrier’s task is Legion Avengers vs. X-Men: The fate of Professor X Robin killed? Grant Morrison speaks out Jeff Lemire on superhero inspiration ‘X-Men’ superhero proposes to his boyfriend

The truth is still out there, and IDW is ready to search for it once more. San Diego-based IDW Publishing is adding “The X-Files” to its already extensive lineup of comics based on beloved movie and television properties — a list that includes such major titles as “Star Trek,” “Transformers,” “Doctor Who” and “True Blood.” The comic will pick up after the landmark sci-fi TV series and the two feature films chronicling the adventures of intrepid agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). IDW will also reprint the “X-Files” comics published between 1995 and 2009. The title is one of many that IDW editor in chief Chris Ryall was excited to discuss looking at what’s ahead for his operation in 2013. Ryall, of course, is the author whose own Eisner Award-nominated series “Zombies vs. Robots” was optioned […]

Selina Kyle’s lacy red bra and its ample, curvy contents fill the first panel of “Catwoman” No. 1, published last year when DC Comics relaunched 52 of its most popular titles. By the last page, she’s straddling Batman and spilling out of her leather suit once more. Catwoman wasn’t DC’s only female superhero to make her “New 52” debut in lingerie. In “Red Hood and the Outlaws” No. 1, extraterrestrial princess Starfire strikes a Playboy-like pose, bursting out of her purple bikini as she propositions Red Hood. And Voodoo, a shape-shifting half-alien hybrid, spends half of her first issue stripping. Comics blogs buzzed with debate, and critics cried sexism, pointing to the company’s predominantly male creative staff. DC’s rival Marvel Comics often faces similar criticism — the superhero comics genre historically has been a boys’ club. But a broader look […]

Where to begin? This is the story of three men born in three different centuries and connected by little other than professions that made them acutely aware of the power of legend. It’s the story of a 13th century prince of Novgorod who used a frozen lake to kill his foes and save his city, a tale so powerful that just four years ago a national poll of Russians ranked that prince, Alexander Nevsky, as the greatest Russian who ever lived. This is also the story of the desperate Soviet filmmaker who knew the gulag awaited if his latest epic didn’t satisfy Josef Stalin. The director, Sergei Eisenstein, had delivered the crown jewel of Russian cinema in “Battleship Potemkin” in 1925, but in the 13 intervening years the Kremlin saw only his talent for trouble. And finally, it’s also a […]

The great John Romita celebrated his 82nd birthday last Tuesday but he was the one handing out the gifts — well, no, not really, that’s just how it felt Tuesday morning when I found a copy of “John Romita’s The Amazing Spider-Man: Artist’s Edition” waiting in my mailbox. The title may be a bit ungainly but everything else about this book from IDW Publishing is graceful and sparkling. Or, in a word, amazing. This is the third installment in the Artist’s Edition series — following Dave Stevens’ “The Rocketeer” and Walt Simonson’s “The Mighty Thor” — and the brand already stands as one of the most satisfying archival explorations in the history of comics. The hardcover books aren’t cheap (the Romita edition, which hits stores this week, will set you back $100) but they are true works of art. The approach of the […]

If you’re one of the lucky 120,000 mortals who will cross the rainbow bridge to enter the doors of Comic-Con International this year you’re going to want to bring home some treasures to prove you were there. Here’s one that you should pick up if you are worthy (and if you can spare $100 in Midgard money): “Walter Simonson’s The Mighty Thor Artist’s Edition” from IDW Publishing and Marvel. This is a pretty fantastic book that collects up seven issues from Simonson’s landmark 1980s run on Marvel’s thunder god — but instead of reprinting the familiar panels from the published issues this 12-inch-by-17-inch hardcover edition presents the stories as scans of the original black-and-white art. There are two versions of the 176-page edition, one with Beta-Ray Bill on the cover, which can be ordered for home delivery or pickup at Comic-Con, and a second variant version […]

“The Rocketeer” holds a special place in the memory of comic book fans who found the stylish and retro-spirited adventure series in the 1980s, and the creation of the late Dave Stevens continues to echo in unexpected ways. Regular readers of Hero Complex know of my love for those vintage books so it’s no surprise that the comic book release that has me most excited this week is “Rocketeer Adventures” No. 1, which features an all-star list of contributors in Mike Allred, Kurt Busiek, John Cassaday, Michael Kaluta, Mike Mignola,  Alex Ross and Jim Silke. The anthology  from IDW Publishing is the first of a four-issue series and check out this artwork above. – Geoff Boucher RECENT AND RELATED “Rocketeer” flies again in archival edition “Rocketeer” returns to El Capitan “The Rocketeer,” a retro film ahead of its time Johnston says Capt. America “not […]

IDW Publishing down in San Diego is thinking big these days — especially when it comes to “Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters” and its 75 variant covers. That’s right, 75 variant covers. You can find every one of them above and you’ll see pretty quickly that there’s a retail method to IDW’s monster madness. – Geoff Boucher RECENT AND RELATED Godzilla’s legacy emerges from the depths Gamera never goes out of style Superheroes of Japan who predate Superman? Steve Niles scares up laughs with “Doc Macabre” Mignola on Kirby, Hollywood & strange night in Prague Grant Morrison: Evil is the new black Frank Miller: “I’ve taken Batman as far as he can go” Darwyn Cooke’s gamble: Rewriting “The Outfit”