DC Launches Vertigo Crime

By Rachel Deahl -- Publishers Weekly, 7/23/2008 8:33:00 AM

As thousands of fans and industry professionals prepare to descend on San Diego for the annual Comic-Con, DC has unveiled a new offshoot of its edgy, celebrated Vertigo imprint, Vertigo Crime. The new line, dedicated to crime titles, will launch in 2009 with two lead titles, one by Ian Rankin and another by Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets). For Scottish crime writer Rankin, the forthcoming DC title will mark his first foray into comics. A rep from DC, who said the house would have more details to share tomorrow, confirmed that, despite the launch of Vertigo Crime, Vertigo itself will continue to publish crime titles. 

The news, which will likely circulate quickly at the Con, will be available to record numbers this year; the show reports that, for the first time, it has sold out its four-day and single-day passes. Last year some 125,000 attended the event.