IDW to Publish New STAR TREK Comic Book Series

Tied to Next Year’s Movie













(San Diego, CA; November 24, 2008) -- IDW Publishing has joined with Paramount Pictures, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, Kurtzman/Orci Productions and CBS Consumer Products to publish a four-issue limited comic book series tied to next summer’s new Star Trek movie, which will be released in theaters on May 8, 2009.



The first comic in the series, Star Trek: Countdown #1, will be released in January 2009 to the comic book direct market. The story is presented by Abrams and plotted by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. It is written by Mike Johnson (Superman/Batman) and Tim Jones, and features stunning art by David Messina (Star Trek: Mirror Images). Messina also provides covers for the series.



“There was a lot of back and forth about doing this project, how to do it, what it would be about, but what all parties agreed on was that we needed the right story and that it needed to matter. It had to count both on its own merits and when read in conjunction with the new movie,” said series editor Andy Schmidt. “I couldn’t be happier with the project and what it means to the overall Star Trek franchise!”



"Star Trek: Countdown lays the groundwork for what happens in the movie," said Roberto Orci. "It's our way of passing the baton from the Next Generation characters and their movies to the new film."



Star Trek: Countdown is sure to be in huge demand as eager fans look for a sneak peak into director J.J. Abrams’ new Star Trek vision!



Star Trek: Countdown #1 (Diamond item code NOV08 4113), a 32-page, $3.99 comic, premieres in January 2009.



About IDW:
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, Calif. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW's original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children's book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.



About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group, and Worldwide Television Distribution.



About Bad Robot Productions:

Bad Robot Productions is a film and television production company founded by writer/director/producer J.J. Abrams. Their TV shows include the award-winning spy serial Alias, and the groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed series Lost. In January, 2008, Bad Robot expanded into feature films with the box-office record-breaker Cloverfield. Their current projects include the hit FOX TV show Fringe, and the upcoming Star Trek film, which launches into theatres May, 2009.



About Kurtzman/Orci Productions

Kurtzman/Orci Productions is a film and television production company founded by longtime collaborators and creative visionaries Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Their partnership dates back to their days as aspiring storytellers in a Los Angeles-area high school. Kurtzman & Orci quickly made their mark on Hollywood as writer-producers with high-profile projects such as Transformers, the live-action adaptation of the hit animated series which grossed over $700 million worldwide; the third installment of Mission: Impossible, which grossed nearly $400 million worldwide; and J.J. Abrams¹ wildly popular television spy thriller Alias. Their most recent production, Eagle Eye, opened at #1 at the box office upon its release in September. The team serves as the writers and executive producers of the upcoming Star Trek adaptation, as well as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Together with Abrams, they are the creators and executive producers of the hit Fox TV show Fringe.



About CBS Consumer Products

CBS Consumer Products, a unit of CBS Entertainment, manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company's extensive library of titles. Additionally, the group oversees the CBS Retail Store and online sales of programming merchandise. For more information, visit www.CBS.com.