IDW Extends Two G.I. JOE Series!



Origins upgraded to ongoing series, starting in August

COBRA capped with special September issue





San Diego, CA (April 20, 2009) – It’s the year of G. I. JOE! Building on the tremendous fan support of G.I. JOE: Origins and G.I. JOE: COBRA, published under license from Hasbro, Inc., IDW is pleased to announce extensions for both mini-series! Offering a look at the people who make up the team, G.I. JOE: Origins will become an ongoing series, starting in August. G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 will be released in September, offering insights inspired by revelations in issue #4 of that series, on-sale in June. For more information about IDW’s G.I. JOE comics, visit IDWPublishing.com/GIJOE.



"Reaction to all three of our G.I. JOE series has been beyond expectations, with both fans and critics raving about Origins and COBRA in particular," said Andy Schmidt, IDW 's G.I. JOE editor. "After seeing the fan response of both series, we came up with enough great content to extend them both. Even though neither series is over yet, fans are already asking for more. We're grateful for their support on these books, and so we’re happy to give them what they want!"



“We are thrilled with the direction IDW has taken with G.I. JOE. Their success in creating amazing and engaging storylines based on our classic characters is evidenced by the enthusiastic response from fans. The decision to expand both G.I. JOE: Origins and G.I. JOE: Cobra from their original scope shows the dedication and passion both Hasbro and IDW have for delivering fans exciting new experiences,” said Michael Kelly, Hasbro’s Senior Global Publishing Manager.



G.I. JOE: Origins #6 and #7 put the spotlight on Scarlett and Mainframe, respectively. Writer Chuck Dixon focuses on these two important characters, adding another layer to the main G.I. JOE ongoing series. Starting with issue #8, Larry Hama returns to G.I. JOE: Origins for three issues of action-packed missions! “There are literally hundreds of great stories to tell in Origins that take place before G.I. JOE and COBRA ever met, and that's exactly what you'll get in the book,” said Schmidt.



Coming in September, G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 picks up on several major revelations in issue #4. The final COBRA issue will feature the same creative team as the rest of the series and is sure to be at the top of any G.I. JOE fan’s list. After beating up on G.I. JOE for four issues, writers Christos Gage and Mike Costa are not done yet, and artist Antonio Fuso brings every agonizing emotion to life. Added Schmidt: “The COBRA Special will reveal a lot more about our sinister organization and will have repercussions throughout the G.I. JOE line.”





G.I. JOE: Origins Issue #6 launches in August 2009.

G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 launches in September 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 Hasbro:

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. (C) 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.