NEWS WATCH: IDW Reveals Comic Book Direct Market Publishing Schedule for Summer 2020

By Mike Eakins

 on May 26, 2020

IDW Publishing the award-winning publisher of comic books and graphic novels, is thrilled to announce its revised Direct Market release schedule for Summer 2020. With world-renowned brands like Sonic The Hedgehog and Transformers, groundbreaking original series like Usagi Yojimbo and Sleeping Beauties, acclaimed celebrations of the comics medium like Dave Cockrum’s X-Men Artifact Edition and Parker: The Martini Edition – Last Call, and everything in-between, IDW is perfectly poised to bring readers the summertime thrills they’ve been longing for — all available from your friendly neighborhood comic shops!

“It’s been a crazy time for everybody,” says John Barber, Editor in Chief at IDW. “I’m really excited about finally bringing people the thing that brings us together: comics and books. There’s a really wide range of comics and graphic novels coming from IDW this summer — some you’ve probably been waiting for, and some that are new surprises. For me, the real magic is that there are stories here for everyone, from every walk of life.”

Chris Ryall, IDW’s President, Publisher, and CCO, says, “We’ve all been waiting — fans, retailers, and our staff alike — fervently and sometimes with a bit of understandable restlessness. Our thanks go out to all of you for letting us continue to make, ship, and sell comics to you. None of us take that opportunity for granted – and we will all continue to strive to make any purchase you make worth your time and your money.”

MAY 27

Camp Spirit Graphic Novel
Revisit the summer of ‘94 with writer/artist Axelle Lenoir! With just two months left before college, Elodie is forced to take a job as a camp counselor. She doesn’t know the first thing about nature, or sports, or kids for that matter, and isn’t especially interested in learning… but now she’s responsible for a foul-mouthed horde of girls who just might win her over. Just as Elodie starts getting used to her new environment, a dark mystery lurking around the camp begins to haunt her dreams.

Sonic The Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper Vol. 1 Trade Paperback
Join two of the most popular new characters from Sonic’s world in this classic odd-couple team-up adventure! Tangle the Lemur’s got a problem: there’s not enough action in her life! Whisper the Wolf’s also got a problem: she’s hunting down an incredibly dangerous enemy named Sonic the Hedgehog! Can Tangle and Whisper help solve each other’s problems, or will they just make things worse? By Ian Flynn, Evan Stanley, and more!

Dungeons & Dragons: Days of Endless Adventure Trade Paperback
G.I. Joe #6
Godzilla: The Complete Rulers of Earth Vol. 1 Trade Paperback (New Edition)
Marvel Action: Captain Marvel #5
Star Trek: Discovery – Aftermath Trade Paperback
Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader’s Castle Trade Paperback
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends #23

JUNE 3

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Road to 100 Deluxe Edition Hardcover
The landmark 100th issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gets the celebration it deserves in this special hardcover edition! Nearly eight years of action-packed continuity by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and series co-writer Tom Waltz is brought to its dramatic finale… but that’s not all!  In addition to the landmark issue, join TMNT scholar Patrick Ehlers for an authoritative study of IDW’s TMNT continuity — the perfect companion for such a notable comic book milestone!

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #271
Marvel Action: Black Panther Vol. 2: Rise Together Trade Paperback
Ragnarök: The Breaking of Helheim #5 (of 6)
Star Trek: Year Five #11

JUNE 10

Parker: The Martini Edition Hardcover Slipcase Graphic Novel
The great Darwyn Cooke’s graphic novel adaptations of Richard Stark’s Parker stories “The Hunter”, “The Outfit”, “The Man with the Getaway Face”, and “The Seventh” are collected in this 9” x 13” hardcover, packaged in a gorgeous slipcase. Includes copious illustrations by Cooke and a long form discussion on Parker featuring Cooke, Ed Brubaker (acclaimed writer of Criminal), and noted comics journalist and historian Tom Spurgeon. A loving tribute to the legacy of Darwyn Cooke and Parker!

Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 1: Bunraku & Other Stories Trade Paperback
The warrior’s journey of Usagi Yojimbo continues in these all-new full-color adventures! In “Bunraku & Other Stories”, Usagi becomes embroiled in a puppet drama where the players are not quite what they seem, goes back to his bodyguard roots on a perilous journey alongside Lady Mura, and hunts a stolen sword with bounty hunters Gen and Stray Dog. Plus, the very first Usagi story, “The Goblin of Adachigahara”, is expanded from 8 to 24 pages, adding new insights into the characters!

Afraid of Everything Hardcover Graphic Novel
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues #4 (of 4)
Disney Comics and Stories #12
Dungeons & Dragons: A Darkened Wish Trade Paperback
The Kill Lock #5 (of 6)
Mountainhead #4 (of 5)
Pandemica Vol. 1 Trade Paperback
Rascal Hardcover Graphic Novel
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics Vol. 3 Trade Paperback
Wellington #4 (of 5)

JUNE 17

Dave Cockrum’s X-Men Artifact Edition Hardcover
After the runaway success of Giant Size X-Men #1, all-new stories exploded in the pages of X-Men #94… and the rest is the stuff comic book dreams are made of! This Artifact Edition contains more than 100 pages from Cockrum’s initial run on X-Men, as well as pages from the artist’s second run on the characters several years later. As an added bonus: a gallery section featuring covers, sketches, and a few surprises! This is an art book made for fans of Dave Cockrum’s X-Men art!

The Crow: Lethe #1 (of 3) – Second Printing
The Crow: Lethe #2 (of 3)
Dying is Easy #5 (of 5)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #272
Lab Vol. 1 Graphic Novel
Tiananmen 1989: Our Shattered Hopes Hardcover Graphic Novel
Transformers #20
Transformers: The IDW Collection – Phase 2 Vol. 11 Hardcover
Uncle Scrooge #56
Walter Simonson’s The Mighty Thor Artisan Edition Hardcover

JUNE 24

Sleeping Beauties #1 (of 10)
Based on the horror novel by Stephen and Owen King, and adapted by Rio Youers and Alison Sampson! A strange sleeping sickness, known as Aurora, has fallen over the world, and strangest of all, it only affects women. In the small town of Dooling, a mysterious woman has walked out of the woods; she calls herself Eve and leaves a trail of carnage behind her. More mysterious: she’s the only woman not falling asleep.

A Radical Shift of Gravity Graphic Novel
Locke & Key #1 Facsimile Edition
Marvel Action: Spider-Man Vol. 4: Venom Trade Paperback
My Little Pony: Feats of Friendship Vol. 1 Trade Paperback
Sonic The Hedgehog #28
Sonic The Hedgehog Vol. 6: Last Minute Trade Paperback
Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales #2 (of 5)
Star Wars Adventures Vol. 9: Fight the Empire Trade Paperback
They Called Us Enemy Spanish Edition: Nos Llamaron Enemigo Graphic Novel
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #105
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Jennika #3 (of 3)
Transformers vs. The Terminator #2 (of 4)

JULY 1

Ed Leffingwell’s Little Joe by Harold Gray Hardcover
Eve Stranger Vol. 1 Trade Paperback
Ghostbusters: Year One #4 (of 4)
I Can Sell You a Body #4 (of 4)
Johnny Dynamite – The Complete Adventures of Pete Morisi’s Wild Man of Chicago Hardcover
Marvel Action Classics: Avengers Starring Iron Man #1
Speed Bump: A 25th Anniversary Collection Hardcover Graphic Novel
Star Trek: Year Five #12
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends #24
Usagi Yojimbo Color Classics #4

JULY 15

Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1
Comics superstar Rob Liefeld (New Mutants, X-Force, Youngblood) takes on G.I. Joe in this high-octane, adrenaline-fueled miniseries! Snake Eyes has long been the most mysterious member of the G.I. Joe team, but within the pages of Deadgame, he’ll finally be forced to play his hand! How long can he keep his past classified… and what deadly secrets will come back to haunt him?

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long a Sacrifice #1
Death casts its shadow as Constable Odo searches for truth amid a web of treachery and lies. Everyone on the Promanade has a motive for this murder, be it vengeance, justice… or old-fashioned greed. Legendary Star Trek scribes Scott Tipton and David Tipton team with noir artist Greg Scott for the first Deep Space Nine comic book series in a decade!

Transformers ‘84: Secrets & Lies #1 (of 4)
Simon Furman returns! Accompanied by the equally accomplished Guido Guidi and John-Paul Bove, the beloved writer tells a new tale in the original Transformers comic universe, hot off the heels of the successful Transformers ’84 #0 one-shot! As the Cybertronian Civil War rages, Decepticon scientist Shockwave has encountered a new obstacle to the Decepticon’s victory and subjugation of the planet: an obstacle called Megatron!

The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy Vol. 28 Hardcover
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Complete Silence One-Shot
The Grot: The Story of the Swamp City Grifters Trade Paperback
H.G. Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau Hardcover
Marvel Action: Spider-Man #3
Napoleon Dynamite: Impeach Pedro Trade Paperback
Star Wars Adventures: Clone Wars – Battle Tales #3 (of 5)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #106
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Vol. 11 Hardcover
Usagi Yojimbo #10

JULY 22

My Little Pony / Transformers #1 (of 4)
When Queen Chrysalis casts a spell looking for more changelings, she accidentally interferes with a malfunctioning Spacebridge! What’s this mean for our favorite fillies? There are suddenly a bunch of Autobots and Decepticons in Equestria! And as the dust settles, Rarity and Arcee find themselves teaming up against a hostile Decepticon force…

Canto and the Clockwork Fairies One-Shot
Red Panda & Moon Bear Spanish Edition: Panda Roja y Osa Lunar Graphic Novel
Sonic The Hedgehog #29
Star Trek: Year Five Vol. 2: The Wine-Dark Deep Trade Paperback
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2020
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends #25
Transformers #21

The Crow: Lethe #3 (of 3)
The Kill Lock #6 (of 6)
Marvel Action: Captain Marvel #6
Pandemica #5 (of 5)
Ragnarök: The Breaking of Helheim #6 (of 6)
Sleeping Beauties #3 (of 10)
Usagi Yojimbo Color Classics #5 (of 7)

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #273
Judge Dredd: False Witness #2 (of 4)
Marvel Action: Avengers #2
Marvel Action: Captain Marvel Vol. 2: A.I.M. Small
Narcos #3 (of 4)
Read Only Memories #4 (of 4)
Sonic the Hedgehog #30
Star Trek: Year Five #13
Usagi Yojimbo #11

AUGUST 12

Be Gay, Do Comics Graphic Novel
The dream of a queer separatist town. The life of a gay Jewish Nazi-fighter. A gender reveal party that tears apart reality. These are the just some of the comics you’ll find in this massive anthology from The Nib. Be Gay, Do Comics is filled with dozens of comics about LGBTQIA experiences, ranging from personal stories to queer history to cutting satire about pronoun panic and brands desperate to co-opt pride. Brimming with resilience, inspiration, and humor, featuring more than 30 cartoonists!

Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides #5 (of 5)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Snake Eyes Origin One-Shot
The Mueller Report Graphic Novel
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #89
My Little Pony / Transformers #2 (of 4)
Sleeping Beauties #4 (of 10)
Sonic The Hedgehog Spanish Edition Vol. 1: ¡Consecuencias! Trade Paperback
Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales #4 (of 5)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #107
They Called Us Enemy Expanded Edition Graphic Novel
Transformers #22
Transformers: Galaxies #8
Usagi Yojimbo Color Classics #6 (of 7)

AUGUST 19

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #1 (of 5)
Springing from the minds of TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird comes an epic like you’ve never seen before! In a far different future NYC, a lone surviving Turtle goes on a seemingly hopeless mission to obtain justice for his fallen family and friends. Kinetic layouts from Eastman, moody inks from Andy Kuhn, and a thrilling script from longtime TMNT scribe Tom Waltz combine to make this one of the most memorable TMNT stories you will ever read. Oversized in both format and page count!

Voyage to the Stars #1 (of 5)
The hit sci-fi comedy podcast crashes into comics! Earth is gone. Only one intrepid crew of misfits managed to escape, now determined and ambiguously destined to stop a growing, ancient evil from consuming the universe (although stopping it may be tricky, as our heroes can’t help but destroy just about every planet and species they come across) By five-time Harvey Award-nominee James Asmus and Connie Daidone!

Fishtown Brotherly Love Edition Graphic Novel
G.I. Joe #7
Godzilla: Half-Century War Trade Paperback
Life in the Stupidverse Graphic Novel
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Vol. 19
Sonic the Hedgehog #31
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long a Sacrifice #2 (of 4)
Star Trek: Picard Trade Paperback
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends #26
Transformers ’84: Secrets and Lies #2 (of 4)
Transformers vs. The Terminator #3 (of 4)
Uncle Scrooge #57
Usagi Yojimbo Color Classics #7 (of 7)

AUGUST 26

Canto II: The Hollow Men #1 (of 5)
All-ages fan favorite Canto returns! Once, a little tin slave with a clock for a heart broke all the rules — he escaped his masters on an epic journey to save his love’s heart, and he led his people to freedom. But now that freedom is in jeopardy, as Canto discovers his people’s clockwork hearts will stop unless they return to captivity. He and his friends Falco, Rikta, and Veratta embark on a new adventure to save the lives of all their people. Can they lift the curse before their time runs out?

Locke & Key: …In Pale Battalions Go… #1 (of 2)
Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez’s acclaimed Locke & Key continues! The impossible, reality-bending keys of Keyhouse have always been weapons of war. In the spring of 1915, Chamberlin Locke’s oldest son, John, is desperate to be a part of the greatest war of all… and use the keys to turn the tide! Prepare to open a door onto one of the grimmest battlefields of the 20th century, whose darkness might even strike fear into an army of supernatural shadows.

Corto Maltese: Mu, The Lost Continent Graphic Novel
From Hell Master Edition Hardcover
Gears of War: Hivebusters Trade Paperback
Kodi Vol. 1 Graphic Novel
Haunted Mansion Graphic Novel
Snake Eyes: Deadgame #2 (of 6)
Star Trek: Hell’s Mirror One-Shot
Star Wars Adventures Annual 2020
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #108
Transformers: Galaxies #9
Transformers Vol. 2: Change in Their Nature Hardcover
Usagi Yojimbo #12