IDW joins comic-to-TV trend

US comic book giant IDW Publishing is launching a television division to adapt some of its properties for the global television market.

David Ozer

Former Sonar Entertainment, Starz Media and DIC executive David Ozer has been named president of IDW Entertainment and three titles are already being developed for TV.

The new division’s packaging and creative development activities will be overseen by Rick Jacobs of management and production company Circle of Confusion (The Walking Dead), which will produce IDW’s projects.

Life Undead, from the comic book by Paul Zbyszewski (whose writer-producer credits include ABC series Lost and Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD), will be co-executive produced by Chris Pollack, with Zbyszewski attached as showrunner.

Brooklyn Animal Control will be based on the comic released earlier this year by JT Petty and artist Stephen Thompson.

And IDW is already in discussion with an as-yet unnamed network on V Wars, a comic edited by best-selling author Jonathan Maberry.

San Diego-based IDW, which is represented by CAA, said its goal is to secure straight-to-series commitments from networks for the projects.

IDW is one of the world’s largest publishers of comic books and graphic novels, with over 300 original properties. Its titles have been the basis for feature films including 30 Days of Night, Lore, World War Robot and Zombies vs Robots.

IDW’s entry into television follows the early success of new fall season drama series Agents of SHIELD, the first live-action series from comic book giant Marvel. Marvel is reportedly now assembling a package of TV series aimed at US VoD outlets.