IDW Publishing Launches Spanish Language Graphic Novel Program in North America

During a keynote presentation at yesterday’s NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) opening ceremony, author, actor and activist George Takei announced that his New York Times bestselling graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy will be published in Spanish in North America as part of a new Spanish language initiative from IDW Publishing, a division of IDW Media Holdings Inc. (OTC: IDWM).

“It’s been my life’s mission to tell the story of the cruel and unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, and I’m so honored by the outpouring of support for my graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy,” said Takei. “Having made this powerful tool for reaching young readers, I am thrilled to make the story accessible to a community that right now—today—is facing attacks that are all too familiar. This edition is especially meaningful to me since I was raised in the Spanish-speaking community of East L.A., which welcomed my family after our years of imprisonment.”

They Called Us Enemy will join SEGA® 's popular Sonic The Hedgehog™ and Red Panda & Moon Bear by Cuban American cartoonist Jarod Roselló as the debut wave of translated graphic novel titles, slated for release in June 2020. The first comprehensive in-house Spanish language program from a major American graphic novel publisher, this initiative is especially fitting for IDW Publishing, a company headquartered in San Diego, CA, just miles from the U.S.-Mexico border—a crossroads of nations, languages and cultures.

“IDW is proud to announce our new publishing initiative that reflects the increasingly diverse makeup of American readers and expands the accessibility of graphic novel storytelling to Spanish-speaking communities throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s President, Publisher, and CCO. “Spanish is spoken by more than 40 million people in the United States, making it the second most spoken language in this country. We're not only publishing for the readership that we have today, but also preparing for the growing readership of the next decade and beyond."

Nos llamaron Enemigo, the Spanish language translation of They Called Us Enemy, is Takei’s stunning graphic memoir, co-written with Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott and illustrated by Harmony Becker. Revisiting Takei’s haunting childhood as one of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government during World War II, this gripping tale of courage, country, loyalty, and love is “a thought-provoking, critical look at the history of racism in American policies and culture" (Booklist). Nos llamaron Enemigo will be released on June 2, 2020.

“George Takei’s memoir, the story of his family being wrongly incarcerated by the American government during WWII, is an ideal title to spearhead this new Spanish language initiative,” said Justin Eisinger, co-author and IDW Editorial Director, Graphic Novels & Collections. “Beyond the scope of their imprisonment and personal struggles, They Called Us Enemy is a story of hope. In today’s climate, facing challenges and prejudice that are in some ways similar, we felt as many young readers as possible should have access to this story.”

Sonic the Hedgehog Volumen 1: ¡Consecuencias! is the Spanish language adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog Vol. 1: Fallout, the first volume in IDW’s wildly popular series based on SEGA’s global video game phenomenon. Sonic the Hedgehog has long been a favorite in Spanish-speaking communities worldwide, so the debut of the ¡Consecuencias! storyline, written by Ian Flynn and illustrated by Tracy Yardley, Adam Bryce Thomas, Jennifer Hernandez, and Evan Stanley, promises to satisfy an eager Spanish-speaking audience in North America, arriving in stores on June 9, 2020.

“Comics are for everyone and Sonic resonates with readers worldwide,” said Michael Cisneros, Manager of Licensing at SEGA of America. “We could not be prouder that the comic series is being brought to the Spanish language markets as this is something our fans have been clamoring for since the first issue was released. The Spanish-speaking Sonic community are some of our most passionate supporters in the world and we are honored to be part of this new program.”

Panda Roja y Oso Lunar, by Cuban American writer/artist and educational researcher Jarod Roselló, is the Spanish translation of Red Panda & Moon Bear, a whimsical and tender-hearted adventure of two brave siblings who battle supernatural threats to their vibrant Latinx neighborhood with the powers of science, magic, and some very special hoodies. Slated for release on June 16, 2020, Panda Roja y Oso Lunar will be an instant favorite for young readers, packed with Saturday-morning action and practically glowing with Caribbean sunshine.

“I’m really excited to have Red Panda & Moon Bear published in Spanish,” said Roselló. “As a Cuban American, I grew up surrounded by both English and Spanish, so it's important to me that my book be accessible to readers of both languages. Red Panda & Moon Bear themselves are characters of the border, living and playing across languages, histories, and cultures. I'm so glad that this book will be doing the same.”

IDW Publishing’s Spanish language editions will be released in June 2020.