IDW Original Five-Issue Miniseries Follows a Tortured Rock Star’s Journey Through Harrowing, Drug-Fueled Body Horror
SAN DIEGO, CA (October 5, 2022) – Following two heavily lauded previous collaborations, Road of Bones and Sea of Sorrows, the Bram Stoker Award–nominated creative team Rich Douek and Alex Cormack will reunite for a third dark entry in their shared oeuvre with Breath of Shadows, debuting in February 2023 from IDW. The five-issue comic book miniseries follows an internationally famous rock singer whose desperate attempt to cure his heroin addiction leads him deep into the jungles of South America, where he discovers primal horrors that put his own inner demons to shame. Breath of Shadows is the latest announcement in an ambitious slate of original titles from IDW launching in 2022 and beyond. It will also feature work from Douek and Cormack’s returning letterer, Justin Birch, who worked with the team previously on both Bones and Sorrows.
It’s 1968. On the fast track to becoming one of his era’s most iconic rock stars, Jimmy Meadows should be basking in the glow of newly acquired wealth and fame. Instead, crushed by the weight of a debilitating heroin addiction, Jimmy is on the verge of losing everything—until an old friend tips him off to an unorthodox treatment method hidden in the depths of the South American jungle. With fair-weather friends, local opportunists, and industry sycophants in tow, Jimmy sets off in search of what he’s sure will be a miracle cure. But as the excursion veers off course and the realities of their environment begin to bleed together with Jimmy’s paranoia and drug-induced hallucinations, the team quickly descends into a nightmare of bloody chaos populated by unspeakable horrors that surpass even the most brutal drug trip.
“With Breath of Shadows, Alex and I wanted to continue exploring the dark themes we began with in Road of Bones and Sea of Sorrows,” says Douek. “I absolutely love working with Alex—Breath of Shadows is the latest example of how our creative partnership has evolved over the years into something awesome, and I hope to be working with him for a long, long time.”
“I’ve always been fascinated by the jungle,” says Cormack. “When Rich and I first started working together on Road of Bones, I told him that, along with a snow-covered landscape, I’ve always wanted to draw something on the ocean—which eventually became the foundation of Sea of Sorrows—and something in the jungle, which is now Breath of Shadows. I’m immensely proud of this book, and I hope it gives all of you the creeps!”
“Rich and Alex’s third book for IDW may just be my favorite one yet. It’s a psychedelic smear of body horror and creepy crawlies that’s infiltrated my nightmares and, in a couple instances, almost made me lose my lunch. Strap in, because we’re going on an expedition through the jungle and into a nightmare—and we’re going to have a great time doing it!” says editor and snappy dresser Chase Marotz.
“I'm very happy to be publishing another book by Rich and Alex,” says supervising editor Mark Doyle. “We've been bringing in a lot of great new talent to IDW, but it was important to us to also continue working with the talent who have been here telling great stories over the years—and Rich and Alex fit that bill.”
Breath of Shadows #1 will be available with three variant covers for fans and retailers to enjoy, including Cover A by series artist Alex Cormack, Cover B by Björn Barends, and a retailer incentive cover by multi–Eisner Award winner Francesco Francavilla.
For information on how to acquire copies of the Breath of Shadows comic books, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.
About the Creators
Rich Douek is a Bram Stoker Award finalist and the writer of original series such as Sea of Sorrows, Road of Bones, and Wailing Blade. He has contributed to Marvel’s Wastelanders, and DC’s Superman: Red and Blue and Strange Love Adventures, among many other projects. Born in Queens, NY, he is a lifelong resident of the NYC metro area and works as a creative director in advertising when he’s not busy writing comics.
Alex Cormack is a Bram Stoker Award nominated Illustrator whose work includes Sea of Sorrows and Road of Bones from IDW, The Crimson Cage from AWA Studios, Sink from ComixTribe, Duel and Weed Magic from Bliss on Tap, and who has worked with IDW, Image Comics, Oni Press, Adult Swim, KRS Comics, and a bunch more. He lives in Vermont with his wife, his son, and his cat Destruction.
About IDW Publishing
IDW (NYSE AMERICAN: IDW) is a leading media company providing uniquely compelling stories and characters in various genres for global audiences across all entertainment platforms. The award-winning IDW Publishing and IDW Entertainment divisions holistically evaluate and acquire IP for franchise development across comics and graphic novels, television, theatrical, merchandise, and other entertainment platforms, in addition to bringing world-renowned storytelling to life with our creative partners.