DC Launches 2 New Imprints Focused on Young readers
This fall, DC Comics will launch a pair of new imprints aimed at younger readers: DC Zoom geared towards middle school readers, and DC Ink meant for young adult readers.
“We wanted to go back to what we used to have in comic books: story arcs for younger readers,” DC Vice President Bobbie Chase told the New York Times. Chase will serve as Executive Editor for both lines.DC Ink will launch with two graphic novels - a Harley Quinn story by She-Hulkwriter Mariko Tamaki with art from Animal Man's Steve Pugh, and one focused onMera by author Danielle Paige with no artist yet attached.
Both imprints will focus on bringing in established Young Adult authors such as Speak's Laurie Halse Anderson, Melissa de la Cruz of the Descendantsseries, TombQuest author Michael Northrop, and Ridley Pearson of the Kingdom Keepers series.
Pearson will author a Super Sons graphic novel. Additionally, New Super Man and the Justice League of China writer Gene Luen Yang will author a graphic novel entitled Superman Smashes the Klan, presumably related to the real story of the Superman radio show raising awareness and opposition to the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s.
Here's the list of titles and creators for DC Ink, the young adult line:
BATMAN: GOTHAM HIGH – Melissa de la Cruz (ALEX & ELIZA, BLUE BLOODS series, WITCHES OF EAST END series)
BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER – THE GRAPHIC NOVEL – Marie Lu (LEGEND series)
TEEN TITANS – Kami Garcia (BEAUTIFUL CREATURES series)
UNDER THE MOON: A CATWOMAN TALE – Lauren Myracle (INTERNET GIRLS series, KISSING KATE)
WONDER WOMAN: TEMPEST TOSSED – Laurie Halse Anderson (SPEAK and CHAINS)
And a list of creators and titles for the middle school-focused DC Zoom line:
BATMAN TALES: ONCE UPON A CRIME – writer and artist: Derek Fridolfs, Dustin Nguyen (BATMAN: LI’L GOTHAM)
BATMAN: OVERDRIVE – Shea Fontana (DC SUPER HERO GIRLS series)
BLACK CANARY: IGNITE – Meg Cabot (THE PRINCESS DIARIES series)
DEAR JUSTICE LEAGUE – Michael Northrop (TOMBQUEST series)
GREEN LANTERN: LEGACY – Minh Lê (DRAWN TOGETHER)
SUPER SONS – Ridley Pearson (KINGDOM KEEPERSseries)
SUPERMAN OF SMALLVILLE – writer and artist: Art Baltazar & Franco (TINY TITANS)
SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN – Gene Yang (AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER series, NEW SUPER-MAN), will be released as periodicals first, then collected
“Superheroes are more popular than ever so it only makes sense to bring these DC characters to an entirely new generation of young readers,” said Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment and president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products in a statement. “The first comic books created decades ago were for kids, and as the business evolved and matured, it became more focused on adult readers. DC Ink and DC Zoom present an exciting new opportunity to grow our publishing business and ensure beloved stories built around iconic characters like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are endeared as part of the fabric of childhood for years to come.”
“Two of the recent areas of growth in publishing include graphic novels and books for young readers – we’re bringing those formats together with DC Ink and DC Zoom,” added DC Entertainment Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “We’ve already experienced tremendous success with our DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels. The new DC Ink and DC Zoom slate, paired with a stellar author line-up, presents a major business growth opportunity and we couldn’t be more excited – we’re going big.”
DC Zoom and DC Ink will release their first titles this fall.
