This fall, DC Comics will launch a pair of new imprints aimed at younger readers: DC Zoom geared towards middle school readers, and DC Ink meant for young adult readers.
“We wanted to go back to what we used to have in comic books: story arcs for younger readers,” DC Vice President Bobbie Chase told the New York Times. Chase will serve as Executive Editor for both lines.
DC Ink will launch with two graphic novels – a Harley Quinn story by She-Hulk writer Mariko Tamaki with art from Animal Man’s Steve Pugh, and one focused on Mera by author Danielle Paige with no artist yet attached.
Both imprints will focus on bringing in established Young Adult authors such as Speak’s Laurie Halse Anderson, Melissa de la Cruz of the Descendants series, TombQuest author Michael Northrop, and Ridley Pearson of the Kingdom Keepers series.
Pearson will author a Super Sons graphic novel. Additionally, New Super Man and the Justice League of China writer Gene Luen Yang will author a graphic novel entitled Superman Smashes the Klan, presumably related to the real story of the Superman radio show raising awareness and opposition to the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s. No projects for the other named authors have been announced.
DC Zoom’s OGNs will feature soft covers, and cost $9.99 for 128 pages. “They are character studies, not necessarily superhero stories,” explained Chase. DC Ink’s offerings will weigh in at 192 pages for $16.99. The stories will not be tied to mainstream continuity.
