IDW Publishing Acquires Top Shelf Productions

IDW Publishing has acquired Top Shelf Productions for an undisclosed amount of money (and MAYBE some back issues... but probably not). As a part of the deal, Top Shelf will continue as an imprint of its new parent company while operations continue unabated in Marietta, Georgia -- the company's current home base. 

Top Shelf's executive structure will remain in place with co-founder Chris Stratos running the show as the Editor-in-Chief of Top Shelf Productions. Brett Warnock, Stratos' long-time business partner, is stepping away from the comic industry. 

Here's a quote from a guy who just bought something: 

“The acquisition of Top Shelf is a milestone for IDW,” said Ted Adams, IDW CEO and publisher. “We looked a very long time for a company that would complement our own publishing line-up, and in Top Shelf we found the ideal match. The addition of Top Shelf’s library further positions IDW’s leadership role among the top powerhouses in comics.”

As of last October, IDW only held about 5% of the market share according to Diamond. Top Shelf is a boutique house, so this acquisition isn't necessarily going to swell those numbers by much. 

This feels like a prestige buy. Top Shelf puts out acclaimed comics like March and Essex County from esteemed creators and IDW's catalog is a bit more pop-centric with a gaggle of popular licenses. That's not a swipe -- there are some great talents that have worked and do work at IDW and the company took home seven Eisner Awards in 2014 -- but there is contrast between their product lines. And that's a good thing that seems like it will continue. 

This deal also promises to help get Top Shelf's library out in front of more eyeballs and, for IDW, it's never a bad thing to snap up more IP. 

For updates on this deal such as the announcement of a Motorcycle Samurai vs. The Transformers comic that I'm completely making up for my own delight, do constantly refresh our homepage.