IDW Publishing has announced that one of the greatest television shows of all-time, The Twilight Zone, is returning as an all-new anthology comic book series. Launching this September from horror imprint IDW Dark, the series will feature stories by some of the comic book industry’s most innovative and praised storytellers.
Each issue is a new tale in the vein of the iconic series that’s captivated audiences for over 60 years. And, just like the beloved show, these comics will be episodic. Every issue can be read on its own for a complete story which transports readers into the comic creators’ unique visions of The Twilight Zone. Plus, every issue will be presented in terrifying black and white, just like the original television series.
The first mind-bending issue arrives this September from Dan Watters (Batman: Dark Patterns) and Morgan Beem (Swamp Thing: Twin Branches). “The Twilight Zone is a genre unto itself,” stated Watters. “It’s a cultural titan and a North Star in the strangest skies revealing what science fiction, fantasy and horror can do for us: revealing uncomfortable truths about what lies in our own hearts. This is precisely the vein we hope to tap with our story; the unsettled space between angry and unnerving that is forever the purview of The Twilight Zone.”
“I have long been a fan of all horror, but creepy stories that slowly build to unnerve you have always been first in my heart. Few series have captured that feeling like The Twilight Zone,” remarked Beem. “Like being trapped in a fever dream or moving through a liminal space, the stories play with the feeling of wrongness, of things out of place. This is the feeling Dan has masterfully captured in our story, and which I hope, through my deep love of all things creepy, will flow through the art. It might not shock you, but you may not be able to stop thinking about it in the middle of the night.”
Following issues will feature acclaimed creators Tom Scioli, James Stokoe, Nate Powell, and Francesco Francavilla. “Ever since I was a kid I wanted to write a Twilight Zone story and wondered if it was something I was even capable of doing,” commented Scioli. “How does one go about creating a classic? The Twilight Zone brought to television one of the established formats of comic books, the sci-fi/horror anthology with literary ambitions, twist endings, and a social conscience. It pushed the limits of what you could do in the medium of commercial television and now we’re going to push the comic book medium to the breaking point of its stapled paper and see what lies beyond. With those impossibly lofty standards in mind, I’ve created something that I humbly submit for your approval.”
“These comics are for anyone who ever wished for more episodes of the original series like me,” added series co-editor Ellen Boener. “We’re capturing the silver screen nostalgia alongside the heart-rending humanity. Every detail is a love letter to the TV show: from the full black and white design to the connected cover set to the narrative style. Each issue serves as a unique door into the dimension beyond with the most fascinating minds in comics as your guides. I can’t wait to share what these creators have discovered.”
The Twilight Zone #1 (of 5 issues) is on sale Wednesday, September 24 with a pre-order deadline of August 18. The series will also feature a jaw-dropping set of connecting covers by Francesco Francavilla. To pre-order, you don’t need to travel to another dimension… just your local comic shop! Find a comic book retailer near you with comicshoplocator.com.
