There appears to be a consolidation occurring in the comics quadrant of the Whedonverse. In his column in the back of the Buffy the Vampire: Riley one-shot that was released this week Dark Horse Senior Managing Editor Scott Allie wrote: “What’s next for the Whedon Clan and Dark Horse?  How about a Dollhouse comic written by Jed and Maurissa, who wrote the key episode of the show (a reference to the comic that will be included with the Dollhouse Season 2 DVD, see “Dollhouse Comic at San Diego”), and the return of the Angel series to Dark Horse in late 2011, in tandem with our Buffy Season 9 re-launch.”

 

Late on Thursday IDW Publishing issued a statement indicating that in November it was launching the company’s final Angel story arc, a six-parter, “The Wolf, The Ram, & The Heart” by David Tischman and Mariah Huehner.  According to the IDW release: “This closing six-issue arc will serve as a bridge to Dark Horse Publishing, which will pick up the series in late 2011. Under the direction of Buffy and Angel creator Joss Whedon, all parties are working together for as seamless a transition as possible. The companies have been coordinating storylines in both Dark Horse’s Buffy and IDW’s Angel, creating a greater sense of cohesion and cooperation to ensure that this transition is true to both ongoing storylines and to the faithful fans of both series.”

 

Dark Horse Senior Editor Scott Allie also released a statement indicating that “Dark Horse really regrets that this news was released before a joint statement from both companies was issued.”

Dark Horse did publish a number of Angel comics from 2000-2002, but ended its comic series two years before the Angel TV series finished its run in 2004.  IDW Publishing picked up the rights to publish Angel comics in 2005, and spun off a series of Spike comics as well.  In 2007 it began publishing Angel: After the Fall that was plotted by Joss Whedon and is considered as a “canonical” Season Six for the property. 

 

Eisner Award-winner Bill Willingham (Fables) took over the writing duties on Angel: After the Fall for a six-issue arc “Immortality for Dummies” that began with issue #28 in December of 2009.  His run on the title will end in October with issue #38.