Bobby Curnow returns to IDW as EIC

Via ICv2, IDW Publishing have officially announced that Bobby Curnow will be returning to the company as its new editor-in-chief. Curnow previously worked at IDW from 2010 to 2022, before joining Magma Comix to become its editor-in-chief when it spun off from Heavy Metal two years ago. Not only that, but former DC editor Andy Khouri is joining the publisher as Senior Editor of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics.

Curnow comments, “Ancient wisdom informs us that ‘you can’t go home again’ but I have recently uncovered newer, better, ancient wisdom that says ‘actually, wait… yes, you can.’ IDW is where I learned the art of making comics and the joy of helping creators realize their visions. Today the company is full of some of the most dynamic and creative people in the industry, placing us in a position to put out top-notch licensed and creator-owned comics.”

Khouri, meanwhile, says, “I’m from the original generation of Turtles fans. Forty years ago, I was among those first kids to read the comics, those first kids to watch the cartoon, those first kids to play with the toys, and those first kids to see the Turtles in live action.” Both Curnow and IDW CEO & publisher Davidi Jonas were full of praise for Khouri, with Curnow saying, “I’ve always known him to be extremely intelligent, creative and a clear communicator, all vital qualities for a good editor. When I found out that he was also a huge TMNT fan that had been following the IDW series for years, suddenly all became very clear: we had found the person to lead our Turtles on their perilous path forward.”

Speaking of perilous times, Curnow and Khouri’s hiring comes after what has been a turbulent few years for IDW. Curnow and Jonas’s respective predecessors, Jamie S. Rich, and Mark Doyle, both left the company earlier this year only after 2-3 years there: the former left for Filip Sablik‘s unnamed new publisher, while Doyle was laid off with a few other employees to keep down costs. The publisher remains dependent on several licensed titles like the TMNT comics to stay afloat, as well as the occasional creator-owned hit like Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, even though the number of its licenses have been dwindling, between the Hasbro Universe’s move to Skybound, and Dark Horse’s acquisition of the Dungeons & Dragons rights.

Regardless, hopefully Curnow and Khouri can keep their bosses – and their shareholders – happy.