Locke & Key coming to Netflix.

Locke & Key officially picked up by Netflix.

10 Episodes ordered for the hit Graphic Novel.

Locke & Key coming to Netflix.

After an 8-year long bid to bring Locke & Key into production, Netflix has ordered a 10 episode first season with each episode coming in at an hour long.

Locke & Key is the critically acclaimed and Eisner Award winning graphic novel from writer Joe Hill and Artist Gabriel Rodriguez with colors from Jay Fotos. The story centers around the Locke family who move back to their ancestral home in Massachucetts after the gruesome murer of the Locke family Patriarch. But the return to Keyhouse is not the escape that the family hoped for and with the discovery of a ghost key by the youngest of the Locke children an entire new wave of misfortune befalls the Locke family.

Locke & Key  had originally been ordered as a pilot for Fox 8 years ago, but that project never came to fuition. The Rights to Locke & Key were then bought by Universal for a feature film adaptation that never came to be.

More recently Hulu was shopping the Locke & Key property with hopes of adding it to their streaming service, but that effort fell apart 2 months ago, where Netflix stepped in and got a hold of the property. Netflix is redeveloping the show with new scripts and a new cast.

Hill serves as writer and executive producer on the show, which was developed by Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, and Aron Eli Coleite with Averill and Coleite joining the series since it came to Netflix. Cuse and Averill will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. Cuse will executive produce via his Genre Arts banner. Hill and Coleite also wrote the first episode.

IDW’s David Ozer and Ted Adams will also executive produce along with Genre Arts’ Lindsey Springer, Coleite, Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and David Alpert and Rick Jacobs of Circle of Confusion. Andy Muschietti directed the original Hulu pilot but is unable to return to direct the Netflix series due to his commitment to “IT 2.”

IDW and Marvel team up for middle-grade comics.

IDW and Marvel team up for new Spider-Man Project

IDW Publishing

Marvel Entertainment

Press Release-

SAN DIEGO, CA AND NEW YORK, NY (July 17, 2018) – Marvel Entertainment and IDW Publishing announced today that the two companies will develop middle-grade comic books designed for younger readers. Featuring some of Marvel’s most popular characters, the monthly issues and trade paperback collections, published by IDW, will be available for sale at local comic book shops and book retailers across the country, expanding opportunities for the next generation of Super Heroes to experience the Marvel Universe.

Credit IDW Publishing . Cover for new Spider-Man middle grade comic.

“From Iron Man to Captain Marvel, from the Hulk to Shuri — the Marvel pantheon has something for everyone,” says John Barber, editor-in-chief of IDW. “With this team-up, Marvel and IDW aim to bring exciting, all-new comics to a generation growing up in a Marvel world.”

Launching in November 2018, the Marvel and IDW collaboration will kick off with a Spider-Man series featuring both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, followed by an Avengers series beginning in December and a Black Panther series in January 2019. Each of these titles will serve as an easily-accessible jumping-on point for younger readers to follow the adventures of their favorite characters.

“Marvel is excited to work with IDW to share these brand-new stories with our younger fans,” said C.B. Cebulski, editor-in-chief of Marvel. “Characters like Spider-Man, Black Panther, and the Avengers inspire us through their strength and determination, but they resonate with readers because of the struggles they face and the challenges they overcome. We want to share their journeys with our younger fans first-hand.”

“Marvel is committed to delivering unique and accessible content for our younger audiences and fans,” said Sven Larsen, director, licensed publishing of Marvel. “As one of our most valued partners, IDW is the right fit to help us feature some of our most popular characters and publish stories created especially for the next generation of Super Heroes.”

“This partnership reflects the true spirit of collaboration at work,” said Greg Goldstein, president and publisher of IDW. “As comic book publishers, IDW and Marvel are able to produce high-quality visual storytelling experiences for fans both young and old. By combining our efforts, along with Marvel’s ever-increasing presence in popular culture, the results will be spectacular.”

Story details and creative teams for the new line of middle-grade comic books will be announced at a later date.

Diamond starts " pop up a spinner rack " program

Diamond's" Pop up a Spinner Rack" Program

Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. 

          June 19, 2018-  With its March debut, Diamonds 44 pocket comic spinner rack (JAN188004) has seen a strong reaction from Retailers. The $299 spinner rack (which has free shipping in the continental United States) has sold hundreds of units and had positive feedback on the units in store footprint and the quality of the construction. 

     Now, Diamond and Premier publishers, along with Diamond Select Toys are encouraging comic retailers to "pop up a spinner rack" in other "complementary businesses" in their area by offering incentives to retailers who purchase a spinner rack for placement in other businesses.

Diamond 44 pocket spinner rack.

     "We're thinking about stores with the kind of clientele that would be interested in comics," said Diamond Executive Director of Sales Mike Schimmel, regarding what qualifies as a complementary business. " The book, record, toy, or game store around the corner, the hospital gift shop down the street, drug stores, convience stores, movie theaters, you name it. Since there really are comic books for everyone, there are lots of possibilities, and each retailer will know best what might work in their communities."

     For every rack purchased and every rack agreement sent over to Diamond, publishers will be provided the following limited edition variants and free goods to offset costs:

• Marvel: A 1 in 1000 Variant Comic TBD at time of redemption
• DC: MAY178593 DARK NIGHTS METAL #1 B&W MIDNIGHT RELEASE VAR B plus a second limited edition comic TBD at time of redemption
• Image: Retailer's choice of 50 in-stock Image Firsts, plus a 2017 Retailer Appreiation Variant (while supplies last)
• Dark Horse: JUL168360 V LEGENDS OF ZELDA ART & ARTIFACTS HC & JAN080090 V HELLBOY TP VOL 08 DARKNESS CALLS
• IDW:  SEP170487 TMNT  GHOSTBUSTERS II #1 INCV
• Dynamite: A high perceived retail value item TBD at time of redemption
• Boom: CGC books & assorted Limited Edition Incentives TBD at time of redemption
• Diamond Select Toys: Retailer's choice of one In-stock Gallery PVC Figur

     Retailers qualify by reaching a signed agreement with another business to allow them to place and maintain a spinner rack of comics in their stores for a minimum of six months. Agreements can be reached on a buy-sell or consignment basis with quantities, margin splits, payment terms, and other details being at the discretion of the parties. " There are lots of ways to structure and agreement," said Schimmel. "We've provided a couple of templates that retailers can adapt as they see fit. The program is also flexible in that there are no requirements in terms of the titles or quantities retailers put on the racks."