Official Press Release

Nominations include Best Continuing Series and Best Archival Collection

San Diego, CA (April 7, 2011)—With today’s announcement of the 2011 nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry awards, IDW Publishing and its team of stellar creators and editors have been honored with twelve separate nominations, the most in company history. Showcasing the company’s wide range of projects, six separate books and series received nominations.

“These many nominations covering the breadth of IDW’s diverse product line are so gratifying to see,” said Ted Adams, IDW co-founder and chief executive officer. “We strive hard every month to produce books that run the gamut of comic book fans’ interest, and it’s nice to see a spotlight shined on so many of these books.”

Recently the basis for a FOX Television pilot, IDW’s acclaimed series LOCKE & KEY tops the company’s nominations with four separate nods. Created by best-selling prose author Joe Hill, with art by Gabriel Rodriguez, LOCKE & KEY is up for Best Continuing Series, Best Single Issue (Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom #1), Best Writer (Joe Hill) and Best Penciller/Inker (Gabriel Rodriguez). Hill is also a member of the creative team for THE CAPE, nominated for Best Single Issue, along with Jason Ciaramella and Zack Howard.

“I’m really gratified by all the nominations and especially the nods for LOCKE & KEY and THE CAPE,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s chief creative officer and the editor of both nominated comics. “Anything that brings more focus to these two great series makes me happy. We really believe in LOCKE & KEY, which is why it’s the focus of our Free Comic Day issue this year, and we’re very high on its chances to get picked up as a TV series. And THE CAPE has gone from a little sold-out one-shot to an all-new series this June, so I love the idea of these nominations bringing more attention to the great work the creators are doing on both of these comics.”

THE OUTFIT, the second installment of Darywn Cooke’s graphic novel adaptation series, Richard Stark’s Parker, is nominated for Best Writer/Artist (Darywn Cooke) and Best Lettering (Darywn Cooke). The first book in the series, THE HUNTER, won the Eisner for Best Adaptation from Another Work in 2010.

“I’m very happy that Darwyn has once again been recognized by the Eisner voting committee,” said editor Scott Dunbier. “He’s a terrific writer and artist and never gives less than his all—congrats, my friend!”

After launching to huge praise at San Diego Comic Con in 2010, IDW’s inaugural Artist’s Edition book, DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER, is recognized with two Eisner nominations, for Best Archival Collection/Project – Strips and Best Publication Design. This amazing edition is edited by Scott Dunbier and designed by Randall Dalhk.

IDW’s archival imprint, the Library of American Comics, again dominates its category with three nominations. The inaugural volume of POLLY AND HER PALS COMPLETE SUNDAY COMICS received nods for both Best Archival Collection/Project-Strips and Best Publication Design. POLLY AND HER PALS COMPLETE SUNDAY COMICS, Volume 1 is edited by multiple award-winner Dean Mullaney and designed by Mullaney and Lorraine Turner.

Rounding out IDW’s twelve nominations is ARCHIE: THE COMPLETE DAILY NEWSPAPER STRIPS, 1946-1948. Recognized in the category of Best Archival Collection/Project – Strips, ARCHIE features the classic work of Bob Montana and the first editor credit for the company’s chief operating officer, Greg Goldstein.

“I’m glad our efforts at the Library of American Comics continue to be recognized,” said creative director Mullaney. “These are our ninth nominations in our first four years. I’m particularly proud that tribute this year is being paid to the incredible cartooning of Cliff Sterrett and Bob Montana.”

LOCKE & KEY comics and graphic novels are available in comic and book stores.

LOCKE & KEY: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) is available in comic stores.

THE CAPE ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) is available in comic stores.

THE OUTFIT ($24.99, hardcover, 160 pages) is available in comic and book stores.

DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARTIST’S EDITION ($100, hardcover, 136 pages, 12” x 17”, black and white) is available in comic stores.

POLLY AND HER PALS COMPLETE SUNDAY COMICS, Volume 1 ($75, hardcover, 176 pages, 16” x 12”, color) is available in comic and book stores.

ARCHIE: THE COMPLETE DAILY NEWSPAPER STRIPS, 1946-1948 ($39.99, hardcover, 328 pages) is available in comic and book stores.

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; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s Doctor Who; Toho’s Godzilla and comics and trade collections based on novels by worldwide bestselling author, James Patterson. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio; and is the print publisher for EA Comics.

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.