Del Rey, a division of Random House, has already launched a highly successful manga line, and now it has announced its first original graphic novel project, Dark Wraith of Shannara, a brand-new adventure set in the bestselling Shannara universe created by novelist Terry Brooks. Brooks is providing the story for the new graphic novel, which will be illustrated by Edwin David (Battle of the Planets: Mark) and adapted by Robert Place Napton (Battlestar Galactica).
Founded by science fiction impresario Lester Del Rey, Del Rey Books has thirty-one years of experience in fantasy and science fiction publishing to draw upon for its line of original graphic novels, as well as a stellar roster of writers like Terry Brooks, who has more than 21 million copies of his Del Rey books in print. Brooks appears eager to explore the graphic novel medium, stating: 'Some stories set in the Shannara world are ones that I could never find the time to write in book form, so I have been looking for an alternate venue in which to present them. Graphic novels seem the right choice...'
Del Rey's first foray into the publication of original graphic novels is just a further indication of the increasing interest among the big publishing houses in publishing graphic novels. HarperCollins' recent signing of Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother, Death: The High Cost of Loving) to a multi-book deal and recent announcements from Hill and Wang (see 'Three Non-Fiction Graphic Novels') and art book publisher Phaidon Press (see 'Phaidon's Phalanx of Sempe Samplers') all demonstrate the momentum behind this growing trend.