Gene Simmons—founder of Kiss, marketing genius, and television star—is embarking on a new venture. In association with IDW Publishing, Gene is launching the Simmons Comic Group, which will operate as an imprint of IDW. “I am a child of comic books. My entire life has been shaped and influenced by the panel graphic artform—and an art form, it is,” Gene said, announcing the deal. “I lived, breathed, and dreamed comics. Our Marvel Kiss Comics in the ’70s were the biggest sellers of the day. I was proud to actually be a superhero in those books. Simmons Comics Group is the realization of a dream. And to partner with IDW—a publishing entity that produces quality comic books and graphic novels of the highest order—is a privilege. We intend on producing grade A material by the best writers and artists. And, we will keep the door open for new talent. Onward!”
Gene will be writing some of the comics, and has fully created and fleshed out a number of new titles that will be appearing starting later this year. This first titles to launch under the SCG imprint include:
Gene Simmons House of Horrors—a quarterly horror anthology debuting in July with a special cover by Todd McFarlane (the creator of Spawn). The comic will feature intros and outros written by Gene, as well as Gene’s editorial page, “Speaking in Tongues.” Issue 1 will feature stories written by Chris Ryall, Tom Waltz, Dwight MacPherson, Sean Taylor, and two talented progeny: Alan Moore’s daughter Leah Moore (with John Reppion), and Gene’s son Nick Simmons.
Zipper—a stranger in a strange land tale like no other, created by Gene and scripted by Tom Waltz.
Dominatrix—T & A meets CIA in a conspiracy and cleavage-laden series created by Gene and written by Sean Taylor.
Indy—Race of the Galaxies—a contest of racing champions that takes place in deep space and on alien worlds, and features a cast of millions in a tale that appeals to young and old alike, also created by Gene and written by Tom Waltz.
In addition to writing and drawing a title of his own under the IDW banner, Nick Simmons’ Skullduggery, Nick Simmons, Gene’s 17-year-old son, will debut his short prose story, “The Child,” in the back of IDW’s comic books, and other stories of his will also be featured in the Gene Simmons House of Horrors quarterly anthology.
IDW’s Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall said, “There’s an easy tendency to compare this venture to Gene’s past and present Kiss Comics ventures, but this is a completely different beast (or Demon). Both imprints spring from Gene’s fertile, always-spinning mind, but to be in business with Gene in the creation of some all-new comics properties is [something] that really excites me. Gene’s made no secret of his decades-long love of comics, and he’s tapped into that love to create some really solid properties. He came to us with fully fleshed-out worlds, and we’re going to take what he’s done and work together to produce some damned good comics that should outlive either one of us… which is saying something, since I’m pretty sure Gene’s immortal.”
More information on the venture, updated schedules, and future information, can be found on IDW’s web site and Gene Simmons’s web site.