Broken Frontier

New division of Image Comics will focus on cultivating young talents in emerging comic book genres

Robert Kirkman announced today that he is launching and will helm Skybound, a new division of Image Comics. The company will give a new generation of comic book artists and creators the opportunity to publish their works as Skybound Originals.

With Skybound, Kirkman will handpick up-and-coming creators and maintain an active role in promoting and expanding the projects of the growing talent pool. Artist and company alike will be fully vested in the development of their properties into new mediums (e.g. television, film) globally.

Image Comics, the publishing company that has published Kirkman’s original works (including the New York Times bestselling series The Walking Dead and Invincible), will provide publishing and distribution support to Skybound. Kirkman will continue his duties as Partner at Image Comics, and use the Skybound imprint to release his own titles as well as every Skybound Original to follow.

Robert Kirkman plans to preview the first Skybound Original, Witch Doctor, during his spotlight panel at San Diego Comic-Con this Thursday. ”Witch Doctor is a perfect example of the material we’re looking to cultivate with Skybound,” says Kirkman, citing the comic’s unique vision of a “sick world” where mythical creatures interfere with the natural order.

Kirkman himself found the creators of Witch Doctor online, and will continue to play a personal role in the ongoing search for a constant stream of new talent to sign under the Skybound umbrella. Skybound will focus on cutting-edge, creator-owned stories that are outside of the normal spectrum of mass-market genres.

Looking forward, Kirkman has recently secured the second exclusive Skybound  Original, Thief of Thieves, a collaboration between Kirkman and Forgetless writer Nick Spencer. Thief of Thieves tells the story of Conrad Paulson, the world's greatest thief, who has set his sights on his own kind.  He vows to steal only what's already been stolen, in an effort to right the great wrongs of his life.  But he may be too late for redemption.

Witch Doctor will hit shelves at the beginning of 2011 and Thief of Thieves will follow shortly thereafter. Kirkman has several other Skybound Originals in the works but plans to focus on quality and the company will take its time to find unique projects that reflect Skybound’s core ideals. For more on Skybound please visit www.SkyboundEnt.com.