FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



IDW Publishing and Hasbro Continue to Push Creative Boundaries

with G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 Comic Book


Special Editon Complete Mirror Image of Self

Available In Stores September 30, 2009



San Diego, CA., September 30, 2009 – IDW Publishing and Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) today announced the release of G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1, a groundbreaking special edition comic in the popular G.I. JOE: COBRA comic book series. Available in stores today, G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 tells the gripping tale of twin brothers drifting apart, framing the story in panels and pages that mirror each other. G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 is written by renowned G.I. JOE scribe Mike Costa, with art by fan-favorite Antonio Fuso.



“When Mike and Antonio first told us what they were planning for this Special, a story about twins that is perfectly symmetrical, it seemed almost impossible to execute,” said Michael Kelly, Hasbro’s Senior Global Publishing Manager, Entertainment & Licensing. “My first thought was, ‘If you’re going to cite Watchmen issue #5 as your inspiration, you’d better deliver on a level never seen before.’ G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 is an amazing accomplishment. The IDW team has given readers something to talk about for a long time.”



Spinning out of the red-hot mini series, G.I. JOE: COBRA, G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 follows up on the surprise reveal from COBRA #4 and focuses on masterminds behind this evil organization. The engaging storyline explores the deep conflict between twin brothers and how the feeling of isolation can trigger some dark consequences, all of which is enhanced by the art and design of the comic itself. As each brother tells his story, it is mirrored by the other. The level of detailed design throughout the comic, creating an exact panel to panel mirror, also serves to highlight the very different views of life that each brother has.



“Mike and Antonio have created something unique in the comic book genre,” said Andy Schmidt, G.I. JOE editor for IDW Publishing. “The imagery and complexity of the story are breathtaking. Watching this story come together with such a perfect integration of script, art, color, and lettering has been like watching a baseball pitcher work through a perfect game. I could feel the tension in my chest as we closed in on the final adjustments before we sent it to the printer. I’m looking forward to seeing what G.I. JOE fans and comic fans alike think about the issue.”



G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 ($3.99) will be available in stores on September 30, 2009.





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. © 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.




About IDW PUBLISHING
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: Hasbro's The TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; the BBC's Doctor Who; and television's #1 prime time series CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix.



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. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.



The Watchmen is a trademark of D.C. Comics and is used without permission. D.C. Comics has neither licensed nor endorsed the G.I. JOE: COBRA Special #1 comic book series or the products of Hasbro or IDW Publishing.





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