By M&C News Oct 3, 2007, 21:25 GMT
Troy Little's critically acclaimed Chiaroscuro this month will spearhead IDW Publishing's expansion into more alternative, independent storytelling, with a deluxe hardcover collection of the breakout, self-published seven-issue miniseries.
"This is not the usual type of project people expect from us," says Chris Ryall, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief at IDW, which has made its mark with popular horror comics like 30 Days of Night and licensed titles like Transformers, Star Trek and 24 to become one of the five largest comics publishers in the United States. "But it came to us at the right time, when we were ready to try something a little different-and the truth is that we're thrilled to be working with such an exciting new talent to kick off this new line of books."
Written and illustrated by Little, Chiaruscuro tells the story of Steven Patch, an unemployed artist with a single blank canvas. He lives the introspective, angst-ridden life of an average twenty-something, drinking too much and complaining about his situation while doing little to improve it. But a case of mistaken identity pushes him into places he'd never imagined, forcing him to choose between art-and mere existence.
The series caught the attention of comics creators across the industry, garnering praise from the likes of indie legend Dave Sim, creator of the 300-issue self-published series Cerebus, to Steven Grant, whose writing helped ignite the Punisher craze for Marvel Comics in the 1980s.
In 2000, it captured a Xeric Grant, which offers financial assistance to self-publishing comics creators, as well as a 2005 grant from the Prince Edward Island Council of the Arts, which helps support local artists like Little, a native of the Canadian province.Little, a TV animator since 1995, developed Chiaroscuro as a creative outlet from the restrictions of his day job.
"Back in 1999, I got really tired of working within the restrictions of TV animation and decided to pursue my ideas in the medium of comics instead," he says. "It was something I've always wanted to do, and found it very liberating. I had just discovered the alternative comics scene, and was just floored! These maverick writers and artists appealed to me on all levels. That's what I wanted to be a part of. It took six years of my spare time to complete the first book, and I'm very pleased by the reaction it gets from everyone who's read it. It really shows me that I've found my home in comics."
IDW Publishing will continue to showcase experimental voices in comics with this month's Lifelike, a deluxe hardcover reprinting the acclaimed webcomic from writerDara Naraghi.
Chiaruscuro, 243 B&W pages in deluxe hardcover, hits stores in October, retailing for $24.99. Diamond order code AUG07 3757.
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