Kill Shakespeare
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
This April, It’s Time to Kill Shakespeare
New comic series re-imagines the Bard and his most famous characters
Launching at WonderCon, April 2-4, 2010
San Diego, CA (February 19, 2010) – To celebrate the birth (and death) of the world’s most famous playwright, IDW Publishing is proud to launch a brand new comic series at WonderCon, Kill Shakespeare. Conceived and written by Canadian-based creators Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col, this twelve-issue series is a dark take on the Bard and his work, pitting his greatest heroes against his most menacing villains. The series will launch with a 32-page, ad-free first issue, and McCreery and Del Col will host an exclusive signing and panel at WonderCon, one of the country’s leading comics and pop culture conventions, including a discussion of literary mash-ups with leading authors and Shakespearean scholars. WonderCon will be held April 2 through the 4th at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.
Called “easily one of the more exciting new projects” at San Diego Comic Con by Publisher’s Weekly, Kill Shakespeare is true to the Bard’s canon, yet also accessible to a wide range of readers. The series offers an edgy interpretation of Shakespeare’s most famous characters, bringing Hamlet, Juliet, Othello, Richard III, Lady Macbeth, Puck and others together for an epic adventure. Beginning in April with issue #1, readers encounter a banished Hamlet, who embarks on a quest to resurrect his dead father. But to do so, he must kill a reclusive wizard named… William Shakespeare!
“It’s poetic justice that Kill Shakespeare is released in the month of April. Shakespeare was born and died on the exact same date, April 23rd (how dramatic is that?…), and we think that our series will serve as a great tribute to the Bard while reinventing his stories and characters in a completely unique and exciting light,” said the creators.
Del Col and McCreery bring their love of Shakespeare, independent film, and a combination of marketing and writing experience to their first comic book project. Artist Andy Belanger rises to the challenge of interpreting some of the most famous characters in the world, and he and Kagan McLeod provide attention-getting covers for issue #1.
“Kill Shakespeare has been a fascinating comic for me to edit,” said series editor Tom Waltz. “On the one hand, this unique tale is undeniably grounded in its Shakespearean roots, but the creators have also produced a top-notch action thriller that rivals anything coming out of Hollywood these days.”
Kill Shakespeare #1 (of 12, $3.99, 32 pages, full color) will be available in stores in April. Diamond order code: FEB10 0959.
Visit killshakespeare.com to take a “behind the curtain” preview of the series, including art work, story, and characters.
Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; Fox’s Angel; the BBC’s Doctor Who; and television’s #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix.
IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.