Garters and Ghouls launches on iPhone

Garters & Ghouls is the newest digital comic from IDW. It's really an adaptation of a Namco game, and IDW Director of ePublishing Jeff Webber is happy that the partnership has yielded the comic.

"We're very excited to release the first digital comic in our partnership with Namco and Garters & Ghouls is a perfect concept to bring from games to comics," stated Webber. "The Namco team put so much into the game's back-story that we have all sorts of interesting ideas to explore. And focusing specifically on an original digital comic allows us to design a storytelling format that works best on the small screen."

Written by Harold Sipe and featuring art by Kevin Mellon, Garters & Ghouls chronicles The Thrum, a dark force growing bigger under the streets of Washington, DC, which makes up the "ghouls" part of the comic. The "garters" part comes in the form of The Society, a group of outlandish geniuses with an all-female squad of undead warriors called The Dead-Butantes. Frederic Farley Farnhan is more focused on his daughter's society debut than the imposing doom of The Thrum, meaning things will get bad for all involved.

The first issue is available now at the iTunes store for $0.99. It's of course also available for iPod Touch, and it's slated to be an ongoing series so if you like what you're reading check back often to get the next issue.

Full press release below.

IDW and Namco Networks Launch Garters & Ghouls Digital-Only iPhone Comics

First series based on hit iPhone game offers all-new stories

San Diego, CA (March 25, 2010) - IDW Publishing continues to forge ahead in the world of digital comics and today expand the company's offerings with a brand new, digital-only comic. Garters & Ghouls is based on the hot action game by Namco Networks, named one of the thirty must-haves for the iPhone and iPod touch, in which players command the not-too-dead Marie Dupois as she does battle against the evil Thrum and its legion of monstrous creatures.

"We're very excited to release the first digital comic in our partnership with Namco and Garters & Ghouls is a perfect concept to bring from games to comics," stated Jeff Webber, Director of ePublishing at IDW. "The Namco team put so much into the game's back-story that we have all sorts of interesting ideas to explore. And focusing specifically on an original digital comic allows us to design a storytelling format that works best on the small screen."

IDW's Garters & Ghouls comic chronicles The Thrum, a dark force churning under the twisted streets and elaborate architecture of Washington DC. The only thing that stands in its way is a group of outlandish geniuses known as The Society and their all-female squad of undead warriors, The Dead-Butantes. As the forces of darkness threaten to engulf the nation's capital, one of The Society's most prominent members, Frederic Farley Farnhan, is far more focused on his daughter's society debut than the growing danger all around him. Will the whole affair become a coming out party from hell? Unearth the strange and macabre world of Garters & Ghouls with the talented creative team of writer Harold Sipe (Screamland) and artist Kevin Mellon (Hack/Slash, Thirteen Steps).

"We're thrilled to be partnering with IDW Publishing on our original video game property, Garters & Ghouls. IDW's history of marrying the most talented artists and writers in the business to outstanding IP provides a great opportunity for fans to explore the fun, frightening world of Garters & Ghouls in all its spooky glory," said Chris Lucero, Manager of Business Development and Licensing for Namco Networks.

In the Garters & Ghouls action shooter game, players control Marie as she is summoned to battle the Thrum's minions and horrors beyond description! Garters & Ghouls features a twisted, gothic world with 25 action-packed levels, providing hours of unique game play. Players help Marie on her quest by unearthing devastating weapons and massive power-ups! With downloadable content the fun never dies!

Garters & Ghouls ($0.99) is now available through the Apple App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Visit IDWPublishing.com to sign up for updates and learn more about the company and its top-selling books.


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.


About Namco
Namco Networks America, Inc., a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) Inc., is a worldwide leader in cutting-edge, digitally distributed casual entertainment including mobile, iPhone and casual PC games.
More information about Namco Networks products can be found on namcogames.com, Facebook or Twitter.