Expanded IDW x Webtoon partnership launches later today

As we first reported at K-ComicsBeat, IDW and Webtoon.com are teaming up to publish some of IDW’s biggest hits in vertical scrolling (webtoon) format. We’ve been hearing a bit of chatter about this in our back channels as a potentially big move: we’ve seen all kinds of partnerships between US comics publishers and various VSC platforms – including Wayne Family Adventures, original content for the format – but adapting existing material is yet another way for already popular material to reach new audiences. 

Several new comics will launch today at 8pm ET/5 PM PT, joining already announced WEBTOON adaptations of of Godzilla: Unnatural Disasters,  the beloved Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, and George Takei’s Eisner-winning memoir They Called Us Enemy.

Also debuting this afternoon: newly reformatted webcomic versions of beloved series Sonic the Hedgehog and the Eisner-winning fave Locke & Key. Notably, the line-up includes two licensed titles, suggesting even more collaborations are possible. 

When the partnership was initially announced, executives at both companies were enthusiastic. 

“WEBTOON has become the destination for comics of all kinds, including some of the biggest franchises in entertainment,” said Yongsoo Kim, Head of Global WEBTOON at WEBTOON Entertainment. “This partnership with IDW Publishing is an exciting step in expanding our diverse library and connecting more fans with the stories they love in a whole new way.”

​”Partnering with WEBTOON to bring a selection of our beloved IDW books to their platform is an exciting step forward in expanding our reach and engaging with a broader audience,” said Davidi Jonas, CEO & Publisher of IDW Publishing. “We’re thrilled to work alongside such an innovative platform, and we can’t wait to see how our stories resonate with WEBTOON’s global community. This collaboration is an important part of our mission to bring comics to fans in creative and accessible ways.”

Can print comics be adapted into webtoons and find a new audience? Will you be checking out IDW’s comics in this new format? More info and artwork below:

Godzilla: Unnatural Disasters 

The King of the Monsters is back in this compendium collecting three series: Legends, In Hell, and Rage Across Time! In a world where monsters roam freely, some stories have been lost to time… until NOW! In Legends, the kaiju of Godzilla’s fearsome rogues gallery get the spotlight. Featuring Anguirus, Rodan, Titanosaurus, Hedorah, and Kumonga! Then, meet Godzilla’s greatest adversary of all time‚ the impossible tortures of Hell! It’s a monster battle that takes you through the depths of the underworld. Move over dinosaurs… monsters used to rule the planet! In Rage Across Time, travel to different time periods to examine the origin of myths that fueled nightmares: Feudal Japan, ancient Greece, medieval England, and classic Rome!

Sonic the Hedgehog 

The evil genius Dr. Eggman has been foiled — but the work of Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t over yet! In the aftermath of the latest epic battle, rogue robots continue to attack small villages around the world. In order to defeat them, Sonic will need the help of his friends Tails, Knuckles, and Amy, along with some new and surprising allies. This new collection features the Blue Blur like you’ve never seen him before. Gotta go fast!

Beneath the Trees 

Don’t. Murder. The locals. This is small-town serial killer, upstanding citizen, and adorable brown bear Samantha Strong’s cardinal rule. After all, there’s a sea of perfectly ripe potential victims in the big city just beyond the forest, and when you’ve worked as hard as Sam to build a cozy life and a thriving business in a community surrounded by friendly fellow animal folk, warm decor, and the aroma of cedar trees and freshly baked apple pie…the last thing you want is to disturb the peace. So you can imagine her indignation when one of Woodbrook’s own meets a grisly, mysterious demise—and you wouldn’t blame her for doing anything it takes to hunt down her rival before the town self-destructs and Sheriff Patterson starts (literally) barking up the wrong tree. Cute critters aren’t immune to crime in this original graphic novel debut by writer-artist Patrick Horvath.

Locke & Key

Locke & Key tells a sprawling tale of magic and family, legacy and grief, good and evil. Acclaimed suspense novelist and New York Times best-selling author Joe Hill (The Fireman, Heart-Shaped Box) has created a gripping story of dark fantasy and wonder—with astounding artwork from Gabriel Rodriguez—that, like the doors of Keyhouse, will transform all who open it.

They Called Us Enemy 

George Takei has captured hearts and minds worldwide with his captivating stage presence and outspoken commitment to equal rights. But long before he braved new frontiers in Star Trek, he woke up as a four-year-old boy to find his own birth country at war with his father’s—and their entire family forced from their home into an uncertain future. In a stunning graphic memoir, Takei revisits his haunting childhood in American concentration camps, as one of over 100,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government during World War II. Experience the forces that shaped an American icon—and America itself—in this gripping tale of courage, country, loyalty, and love.