Looking to build on the success of its DC Super Hero Girls line of graphic novels and merchandise, DC Entertainment plans to launch two graphic novel imprints: DC Ink for young adult readers and DC Zoom for middle grade readers.
DC has recruited a lineup of notable YA and middle grade authors to write the books, among them: Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak), Melissa de la Cruz (Au Pairs), Gene Luen Yang (Boxers and Saints), Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer), Minh Lê (Let Me Finish), Ridley Pearson (The Kingdom Keepers), and Shea Fontana and Yancey Labat, the creative duo that produced the DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels.
Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment and president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, said that DC Ink and DC Zoom present “an exciting new opportunity to grow our publishing business.” She said: “Superheroes are more popular than ever so it only makes sense to bring these DC characters to an entirely new generation of young readers.”
Much like the DC Super Hero Girls line, the two new imprints will specialize in creating original stories around DC’s iconic lineup of super heroes, among them Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman, as well as Harley Quinn, the Teen Titans, and Catwoman.
The first titles from both imprints will be released in fall 2018. The YA titles coming from DC Ink include Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass by Mariko Tamaki with art by Steve Pugh; and Mera by Danielle Paige. The middle grade works coming from DC Zoom will include DC Super Hero Girls: Search for Atlantis by Shea Fontana and artist Yancey Labat.
Titles due in 2019 from DC Ink include Batman: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz, Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson, and Under the Moon: A Catwoman’s Tale by Lauren Myracle. Among the titles coming from DC Zoom in 2019 are Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang, Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot, and Super Sons by Ridley Pearson. Artists for the 2019 works will be announced at a later date.
DC Entertainment copublishers Dan Didio and Jim Lee (who is also one of DC’s most popular artists) said, “We’ve already experienced tremendous success with our DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels. The new DC Ink and DC Zoom slate, paired with a stellar author line-up, presents a major business growth opportunity.”
