IDW Announces New Horror Imprint, IDW Dark

It seems the right season to announce a new sub-label devoted to scary things. Publisher IDW is investing heavily in horror by launching IDW Dark, a label that will publish sequel stories to the comic maker’s own spooky hits as well as new ones.

“So, what sets IDW DARK apart? Horror is in our blood,” says Maggie Howell, IDW Group Editor. “This imprint is our way of doubling down on the work IDW has been doing throughout our 25-year history as a premier publisher of horror comics. We’re expanding on that tradition with titles like Steve Niles and Rodney Barnes’ DAYS OF NIGHT: FALLING SUN, and we’ll continue to trailblaze with new original series, including the next chapter of Patrick Horvath’s Eisner-nominated breakout hit BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES and more original stories we can’t wait to announce.”

It won’t all just be IDW-exclusive properties, however. The company also unveiled a deal with Paramount that will allow them to make stories set in the worlds of The Twilight Zone, A Quiet Place, Sleepy Hollow (the movie), Event Horizon and others. Smile was also mentioned, of which the sequel is only three days old. If you’ve seen it, though, then you know there are certainly ways the story could expand from there.

“One of the things I love about horror is that fear is universal, fight or flight is human, not cultural or parochial,” says Davidi Jonas, CEO of IDW Media Holdings. “Horror has a committed audience that courts feeling alive through dread, suspense, terror, pain, relief, ecstasy, joy. As a business, horror is budget friendly to expand beyond print, giving fans a higher likelihood of ongoing engagement with cherished titles and characters. Lastly, horror, like other iconic elements of popular culture, has its own season. Just as certain traditions stay in our memories, we look forward to returning each year to evoke those feelings of fear, anxiety, and adrenaline that make fans feel truly alive.”

It’s unknown at this time which of these titles will launch IDW Dark, but the line is set to become reality sometime in 2025.