IDW Announces Chris Ryall + Gabriel Rodriguez’s SF Saga Onyx

IDW announced today that Chris Ryall and Gabriel Rodriguez, the creative team behind Locke & Key and Zombies vs. Robots, are releasing a new science fiction saga, Onyx, this summer.

In Onyx, an armored warrior woman descends to Earth to judge whether it should be saved or destroyed, and a squad of super-soldiers must discern her intent before the planet is overwhelmed by a greater threat.

“Gabriel and I are excited to release Onyx into the wild, and even more excited to give readers and retailers alike this advance look at the character in Onyx #0,” said Chris Ryall, also IDW’s Chief Creative Officer. “That allows for a nice, risk-free way for people to take a look at her during the ordering period for Onyx #1. And it puts even more phenomenal Gabriel Rodriguez artwork out into the world, which is always a good thing…Working with Gabriel again is such a reminder—every page from him on every project is a similar reminder—that there’s nothing in the world (or the universe, as we’ll see) that he can’t bring to vivid life on the comics page. This project is a true collaboration, with us each building the story and the pages from the ground up, and it’s been a blast to see Gabe take more of a hand in the storytelling, too. I see big things in this kid’s future… if only Onyx can help secure that future for us all, that is.”

“To jump into an action packed sci-fi adventure is something I’ve been hoping for a chance to do for years,” said Gabriel Rodriguez, “and to have the opportunity to share this wild trip with longtime friend and collaborator Chris Ryall, with a creation of our own, is the perfect way to do it. And not only as we’re trying a creative work approach that’s both new and challenging for both of us, but also because I think we’ve found a powerful character to give proper voice to lots of exciting ideas we want to explore. And I’m additionally enthusiastic about the visual feast this story is daring me to provide.”

Onyx #0, a five page standalone story that introduces the character, arrives in many of IDW’s May titles, including The Transformers, Dirk Gently, and Star Trek.  Onyx #1 arrives in July with five collectible covers, including the cover below by Rodriguez, another by Ashley Wood, a “plush” version of Onyx by Charles Paul Wilson III, and EC Comics homage by Alan Robinson, and an incentive cover by Sal Buscema.