Official Press Release

All-new stories for best-selling, award-winning author’s
young adult universe

In stores today

San Diego, CA (May 19, 2010) – IDW Publishing is thrilled to announce the launch of an all-new comics series, expanding on James Patterson’s record-breaking, #1 bestselling young adult novel, Witch & Wizard. Beginning with issue #1 in comic stores throughout North American today, Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland takes the beleaguered siblings, Whit and Wisty Allgood, on an all-new, exciting adventure in their struggle against the magic-hating New Order. Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland #1 is also available through the Apple App StoreSM for the iPhone®, iPad™ and iPod touch®, and on the PSP™ through Sony’s Digital Comics™ storefront.

“This series adds an entirely new layer to the Witch & Wizard universe,” said Patterson. “Starting today, we’re offering fans not only new content but also new ways to experience a story through the comics medium, in print or in digital form.”

Helming this first Witch & Wizard story arc, Battle for Shadowland, comics mainstay writer Dara Naraghi packs all the action Patterson fans love into this new story of magical powers and inter-dimensional evil, under careful direction of the famed author himself. Artist Victor Santos brings the incredible adventure to life and provides eye-catching covers. Fan-favorite artist J.K. Woodward also contributes a painted cover for the debut issue of this five-part comic series. Award-winning artist Fabio Moon will join Santos on covers for the rest of the arc.

In addition to comic stores throughout North America, Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland #1 is also available through the Apple App Store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, and the Sony Digital Comics store for the Sony PSP. From iTunes, fans can download either the free IDW Comics storefront application, or the issue’s stand alone app for the iPhone and iPod touch.

For the iPad, fans can purchase Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland #1 through the free IDW Comics storefront. Taking full advantage of the iPad’s full-screen, full-color capabilities, the IDW Comics app offers the next level of reading experience to fans. The free IDW iPad storefront app includes three free comics with the initial download, plus Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland #1 and more comics as in-app purchases.

Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland is the first series launched from IDW’s exclusive partnership with worldwide bestselling author James Patterson to publish original comic stories and graphic novel adaptations of his top-selling novels. Under this partnership, Patterson will develop completely new, page-turning comic book stories, exclusively with IDW. IDW will also create and publish gripping comics and adaptations based on Patterson’s chart-topping books.

The partnership continues in June with a comic adaptation of Patterson’s smash hit, non-fiction book, The Murder of King Tut, with fellow novelist and comic writer Alexander Irvine (Daredevil: Noir) and features two acclaimed comics artists dividing the interior art. Christopher Mitten (Wasteland) will transport readers back to ancient Egypt in the time of the Boy King, while Ron Randall will depict the 1920’s search for Tut’s tomb, conducted by archeologist Howard Carter. The award-winning artist Darwyn Cooke will provide covers.

Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland #1 (of 5, 32 pages, full color, $3.99) is now available in stores. Diamond order code MAR10 0986.

Click here to access the Apple App Store and download Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland #1 for the iPhone or iPod touch.

Click here to access the Apple App Store and download Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland #1 for the iPad through the free IDW Comics storefront app.

Click here to access Sony’s Digital Comics store and download Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland #1 for the Sony PSP.

Visit IDWPublishing.com to sign up for updates and 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 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! Studios; and is the print publisher for EA Comics and 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.

About James Patterson
Since his first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number, won the Edgar Award in 1977, James Patterson’s books have sold more than 170 million copies worldwide. His Alex Cross series, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, is the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years. In total, his Maximum Ride and Daniel X series for younger readers have spent more than 200 weeks on national bestseller lists and both are in Hollywood development. His lifelong passion for books and reading led James Patterson to launch a new website, ReadKiddoRead.com, to give adults an easy way to locate the very best books for kids. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.

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PSP is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. Digital Comics is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.