Longtime Vertigo Editor Shelly Bond Heads to IDW Publishing

This weekend at Emerald City Comic Con, IDW Publishing announced the addition of legendary comics editor Shelly Bond to its ranks, giving her her own imprint under the name Black Crown.

Bond previously served as VP-Executive Editor of DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. With over two decades of comic-industry experience to draw from, Bond's considerable skills and keen eye for talent will pave the way for exciting new projects and original voices.

Fables, The Invisibles, Sandman: Overture, Lucifer, iZombie, and DC's Young Animal line are just a handful of acclaimed projects which formed under her supervision at Vertigo.

"I've long admired from afar Shelly's track record and have been a huge fan of the direction, vision, and creative teams she's assembled on her books over the years," said Chris Ryall, IDW's Chief Creative Officer. "I'm ecstatic about the idea of getting to work directly with her in building Black Crown into 'the Ruling Class' of creator-owned comics."

The title "Black Crown" represents not only the name of the creator-owned imprint, but also a pub that anchors a mysterious street that connects each creator-owned title. Top creators will tell stories of a singular vision and point of view but will also have the opportunity to intersect with the tapestry of this unprecedented shared environment by way of owning storefront real estate that correlates to their particular creations.

"If you know anything about my reputation, you know that I'm selective about story, art, and design," said Bond. "The same applies to a publisher. I can't think of a better fit for BLACK CROWN than with IDW. They appreciate, share, and champion my vision for creating concepts that are first and foremost incredible, unconventional, and riveting comic books. I can't wait to announce the impressive coterie of creators, both familiar and next wave, who are working as we speak to bring back the bravado to creator-owned comics."

IDW told reporters that stories from the Black Crown Pub will be extensively previewed at July's Comic-Con International and launch in October 2017.