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IDW Publishing

From Alfawiki
IDW Publishing
Company typePrivate
IndustryComic books, graphic novels, art books
Founded1999
FounderTed Adams, Robbie Robbins, Alex Garner, Kris Oprisko
Headquarters
United States
ProductsComic books, graphic novels, art books, collections of comic strips
Websiteidwpublishing.com

IDW Publishing is a United States-based publisher specializing in comic books, graphic novels, art books, and collections of comic strips. Established in 1999 as the publishing arm of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW), it holds the position of the fifth-largest comic book publisher in America, following Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image. It surpasses other publishers such as Archie, Boom!, and Dynamite. The company focuses heavily on producing licensed comic adaptations derived from movies, television series, video games, and animated shows, using its robust market presence to broaden its range of offerings and international reach.

1990s

Idea and Design Works (IDW) was established in 1999 by a group of comic industry professionals—Ted Adams, Robbie Robbins, Alex Garner, and Kris Oprisko—who initially connected while working at Wildstorm Productions. Each founder owned an equal 25% share. When Jim Lee sold Wildstorm to DC Comics in 1999, he transferred the creative services division, which Adams had previously led, to IDW. This move allowed the company to achieve profitability within its first year, with earnings reinvested annually into new projects.

2000s

In 2000, IDW ventured into television by developing a pilot episode. The following year, Ashley Wood, under Adams’s guidance, proposed releasing an art book that became IDW Publishing’s inaugural title with Una Fanta debuting in March 2002. Later that year in August, Steve Niles’s screenplay for 30 Days of Night, initially rejected for film adaptation, was transformed into a three-issue comic series illustrated by Ben Templesmith. Despite modest initial orders, Adams’s vigorous marketing efforts led to strong sales momentum and paved the way for Wood’s Popbot.

In 2007, majority ownership shifted when IDT Corporation purchased a 53% controlling interest from the original founders, resulting in Garner and Oprisko exiting and Adams and Robbins becoming minority shareholders holding 47%. By 2009, IDT further increased its stake to 76%, reducing Adams and Robbins’s combined ownership to 24%. Subsequently, IDT created CTM Media Holdings to consolidate its controlling shares in both IDW and CTM Media Group. In 2015, CTM Media Holdings was renamed IDW Media Holdings.

The success of 30 Days of Night, IDW’s breakout series, ignited a competitive bidding contest among DreamWorks, MGM, and Senator International; Senator secured the rights with Sam Raimi attached as producer. Meanwhile, Popbot garnered two Gold Spectrum Award honors.

IDW broadened its portfolio by producing licensed comics drawn from television properties such as Star Trek, CSI, 24, Angel, as well as film titles including Land of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead. Other licensed franchises encompass Topps' Mars Attacks, Sony’s Underworld, FX’s The Shield, Konami’s video game adaptations like Silent Hill, Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, along with Speed Racer. Additionally, IDW secured major licenses from Hasbro for iconic brands such as The Transformers (in partnership with Takara), G.I. Joe, My Little Pony, and Jem. Notably, the Transformers franchise featured up to five simultaneous series.

Beginning in 2008, IDW acquired the license for the BBC’s Doctor Who television series. This led to launches like Doctor Who Classics, which reprinted colorized versions of earlier Doctor strips, alongside original limited series such as Doctor Who: Agent Provocateur and Doctor Who: The Forgotten. In 2009, an ongoing comic featuring the Tenth Doctor commenced under writer Tony Lee.

In May 2008, IDW took over the license for G.I. Joe comics from Devil's Due Publishing. The company released numerous series overseen by editor Andy Schmidt with contributions from writers including Chuck Dixon and Larry Hama, aligning these publications with the release of the 2009 motion picture.

March 2009 saw a collaboration between IDW and Mike Gold's Comicmix.com, resulting in print editions of web-based comics such as the Grimjack story arc The Manx Cat, the Jon Sable installment Ashes of Eden, and graphic novels like Demons of Sherwood. These works carried dual branding from both IDW and Comicmix.

Between 2004 and 2006, IDW Publishing earned recognition as Publisher of the Year by Diamond Comic Distributors, underscoring its significant market influence and business expansion during that period.

2010s

In 2010, IDW Publishing followed up Michael San Giacomo's Phantom Jack series with the release of Phantom Jack: The Nowhere Man Agenda, distinguished by the protagonist's demise.

Towards the end of 2009, EA Comics debuted as a new imprint under EA Games, concentrating on comic adaptations of video games such as Army of Two and Dragon Age.

In January 2011, IDW obtained licensing rights from Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast to publish an ongoing Dungeons & Dragons (Fell's Five) comic series set in the 4th Edition core universe, which ran for 16 issues. Beginning in 2014, five miniseries were released within the 5th Edition setting, with a sixth installment titled Infernal Tide planned for November 2019.

April 2011 marked IDW’s acquisition of the license to produce new and collected editions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. This led to the launch of a fresh ongoing series that reached issue #73 by August 2017, becoming the longest-running series in the franchise’s history.

On September 6, 2011, to honor the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, IDW collaborated with Charlie Foxtrot Entertainment to publish Code Word: Geronimo, which achieved a #22 ranking on Diamond Comics’ top 100 list. That same year, IDW introduced its inaugural crossover event with the series Infestation.

By March 2012, IDW announced plans for new comic adaptations based on Judge Dredd and The Crow. Additionally, Hasbro granted a license for an IDW comic series centered on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, alongside the publication of Infestation 2.

In February 2013, IDW partnered with Cartoon Network to produce comics inspired by its television shows as well as reprints.

On January 6, 2015, IDW expanded its catalog by acquiring Top Shelf Productions.

The following month, February 2015, IDW secured a publishing agreement with Disney to continue producing titles including Uncle Scrooge, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse comics.

In 2016, IDW initiated the Hasbro Reconstruction project aimed at creating a unified universe encompassing Hasbro properties—later known as the Hasbro Comic Book Universe—with major storylines such as Revolution, First Strike (2017), culminating in Transformers: Unicron (2018).

April 2017 saw IDW gain licensing rights from Lucasfilm to publish all-ages Star Wars comics.

In July 2017, Sega entered into a partnership with IDW to launch new Sonic the Hedgehog comics beginning in 2018 after Archie Comics’ run ended. That same year also witnessed the debut of IDW’s Black Crown imprint dedicated to creator-owned projects.

April 2018 brought an announcement from IDW and Oni Press about a crossover miniseries merging Rick and Morty with Dungeons & Dragons, co-written by Jim Zub and Patrick Rothfuss; a sequel followed in May 2019.

Confronted with financial difficulties in 2019, IDW engaged JPMorgan Chase to explore strategies for improving profitability.

In May 2019, IDW invested in Clover Press, an independent publisher founded by former CEO Ted Adams and executive Robbie Robbins.

By July 2019, IDW further broadened its holdings through acquiring Sunday Press Books, renowned for classic Sunday newspaper strips.

2020s

Between April and May of 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, IDW implemented furloughs and layoffs affecting several staff members including Managing Editor Denton Tipton and Brand & Marketing Manager Spencer Reeve. In July that year, Chris Ryall resigned from his roles as President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer to establish Syzygy Publishing but continued as editor for forthcoming Locke & Key projects. Jerry Bennington was elevated to President; Nachie Marsham became Publisher; Rebekah Cahalin was promoted to General Manager and EVP of Operations; and Veronica Brooks assumed the role of Vice President of Creative Affairs.

Around 2021, IDW lost licenses for Disney properties to Marvel Comics and for Lucasfilm's Star Wars to Dark Horse Comics. In September 2021, IDW transitioned its distribution from Diamond Comic Distributors to Penguin Random House. Later that December, The Library of American Comics moved under Clover Press management while John Barber stepped down as Editor-in-Chief.

January 2022 brought news that IDW would relinquish licenses for Hasbro’s Transformers and G.I. Joe by year-end but would maintain other Hasbro properties such as My Little Pony along with Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons & Dragons.

On April 27, 2023, IDW reduced its workforce by nearly 39%, delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, reorganized its executive leadership team, and experienced an almost 50% decline in share price.

On October 16, 2024, IDW revealed a refreshed brand identity featuring a new logo.

In March 2025, IDW announced a new distribution partnership with Alien Books.

Imprints

IDW employs a multi-imprint approach within its corporate strategy, utilizing both developed and acquired labels to broaden its range of offerings:

Active

  • Blue Dream Studios
  • EA Comics
  • IDW Dark – an imprint specializing in horror, showcasing properties from Paramount alongside original narratives
  • Sunday Press Books
  • Top Shelf Productions
  • Worthwhile Books – a division dedicated to children's literature aimed at expanding audience demographics
  • Yoe Books

Inactive

Yoe Books


Media Adaptations

Expanding its market presence, IDW has successfully transitioned several properties into other entertainment formats, generating additional revenue channels:

Upcoming Projects

  • Aleister Arcane
  • Brooklyn Animal Control
  • Darkness Visible
  • The Suicide Forest

External links

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