Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Alan Moore, Comics, entertainment, idw, knockabout, league of extraordinary gentlemen, top shelf

A League Of Extraordinary Publishers – IDW, Top Shelf And Knockabout

Published Tue, 06 Jan 2015 14:00:02 -0600

by Rich Johnston

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The IDW/Top Shelf acquisition could have all sorts of contractual side-effects. So I asked a few people who might be affected.

Tony Bennett is the publisher of Knockabout in the UK, who co-publishes a number of titles with Top Shelf in the US, including From Hell and League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I asked Tony what the effect might be and he told me,

"No difference to any of our co-publishing deals and we have plans for future co-productions. The only change will be that some of our books will appear nearer the front of Previews so we ought to sell more copies."

IDW are a "premier publisher" at Diamond Comic Distrubutors, which means their catalogues of comics and graphic novels go ahead of everyone else's. Including where Top Shelf used to be,

As to Alan Moore's contract with Top Shelf and Knockabout, Moore previously told me that all his new publishing contracts have a clause making that would make them null and void if the publisher is bought by another. Staros tells me,

I had extensive talks with Alan — as well as our other creators — about the deal, and knowing that I would be his single point of contact for all current and future works to be published under the Top Shelf imprint, he's okay with everything moving forward as is. For me, being that Alan was the reason I got into comics in the first place — as it was V for Vendetta that gave me the epiphany, and showed me the potential of the medium of comics — to go from one of his greatest fans, to his publisher on From Hell, League, etc., has been the greatest honor of my life. So to continue this relationship, as well as our co-publishing partnership with our great friends at Knockabout in the UK, is something I cherish, and am extremely proud of.

Intriguingly, IDW executive editor Scott Dunbier, who was fired from DC Comics by Paul Levitz over the fuss regarding The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier now finds himself at a publisher now publishing that very title.

No news yet on a Surrogates ongoing series… it can only be a matter of time.

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