Although the details are scant, The New York Times briefly reports DC Comics will start a new thriller imprint next summer.
Called Vertigo Crime, the mystery and crime-story line will be a subimprint of Vertigo Books — something that may be newsworthy in itself. I don’t recall seeing a previous reference to “Vertigo Books.” But given the imprint’s recent focus on graphic novels, it certainly makes sense.
Expect more details to emerge from Comic-Con.
Update: PW Daily reports the line will launch with two titles, one from 100 Bullets writer Brian Azzarello and the other from Scottish crime novelist Ian Rankin. More details will be released tomorrow.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Holy NYT Spoilers Batman – between them and EW, we’ll have heard everything before SDCC has even started.
A specific crime line? Didn’t they learn their lesson with Helix?
How about, no imprint, and just make good comics as they come?
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 am
Great news, but what to call it . . .
Vertigo Violence?
Verti-Gun?
Verti-goats (oh, sorry, that’s the farming line)
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
Crime and mystery comics….sounds interesting.
Greg Rucka, are you listening? DC wants you back!
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
I liked this the first time, when it was called Paradox Press.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 am
Sounds interesting. It keeps the cache of the Vertigo brand, but informs readers that there won’t be any demons or fairies in stories under the imprint. I hope it works. The world needs more noir.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
This is incredible news. I really hope this means we’ll be seeing original self-contained graphic novels. I also hope this means Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker do some stuff for this imprint. Hell, I’d even like to see Bendis do one (like that would ever happen).
I especially want to see them expand the idea of crime stories to include everything from noir to private eyes to historical mysteries to cops and criminals and spies and espionage and everything in-between. Te possibilities are endless.
I’m going to keep a close eye on this one and hope they don’t screw it up.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Sweet! I *really* wish they could publish Batman stories for adults with this new subimprint. I’d love to read those kinds of stories someday.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
an imprint of an imprint? O.o
July 24th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Vertigo + Crime comics = My Money! Awesome news!