IDW To Launch 'True Blood' Ongoing Series

IDW has been doing a killer job with the True Blood license. Their first mini-series, True Blood: All Together Now, was a New York Times best-serller, and their second mini, True Blood: Tainted Love, was a critical and commercial hit.

IDW is currently publishing their third True Blood miniseries, True Blood: The French Quarter, and next up is a full-fledged ongoing series, launching in spring 2012.

From IDW's press release:

The comics are a great way to continue telling True Blood stories off screen,” said show creator, Alan Ball. “With this new ongoing series, Truebies will be able to find a new comic in stores every month. We’ll also have even more room to create in-depth drama and further explore the world of Bon Temps. Added IDW chief operations officer, Greg Goldstein, “IDW could not be happier than to move to this next step with our HBO partners. Since we originally launched TRUE BLOOD comics in 2010, fans have been asking for an ongoing series, and we’re happy to be able to work with HBO and offer it.

December is Photo Cover Month at IDW

IDW Publishing has announced that December 2011 is Photo Cover Month, and as you can see they're taking it a few steps beyond photo covers as we know them. It's not uncommon for licensed books like Star Trek to feature variant photo covers featuring cast members of films and TV shows, but when's the last time you saw a vintage Cobra action figure, posed for action, on the cover of a comic?

Speaking as a G.I. Joe comics collector since Real American Hero #1 (my god I'm old), I'm going to go out on a limb and say never.

G.I. Joe and Transformers action figure dioramas will share the stands with snazzy cast photo covers, and participating books will also feature illustrated covers.

IDW's Photo Cover Month comics are as follows:

Cobra #8
Doctor Who #12
Eternal Descent Vol. II, #2
G.I. Joe #8
G.I. Joe: Real American Hero #173
Transformers #31
Transformers: The Death of Optimus Promie
True Blood: The French Quarter #5
Snake Eyes #8
Star Trek #4

Preview - True Blood: Tainted Love #5

The fifth issue of Marc Andreyko and Michael McMillan's True Blood: Tainted Love hits stores tomorrow (June 29) from IDW Publishing.

Bill desperately tries to control the chaos Jessica has created-and this time he may not be able to fix things! Meanwhile, Sookie and Eric confront the individual responsible for the contaminated Tru Blood, but what is the dark secret behind the Vampire Liberation Front? Find out in the penultimate chapter of 'Tainted Love!'

Check out this sneak preview (click on images to view full-size):

'Who's the Boss?' Actress Joins 'True Blood' Cast

Actress Katherine Helmond, who played man-crazy Mona on Who's the Boss? will be appearing in two episodes of the upcoming fourth season of True Blood. Helmond will play Caroline Bellefleur, grandmother of Andy and Portia, and - according to the books - granddaughter of Bill.

True Blood's fourth season premieres Sunday, June 26 at 9:00 pm on HBO.

Sink Your Teeth Into Free True Blood and Angel Comics [Contest]

In case you missed the announcement, IDW Publishing has provided me with a whole bunch of comics featuring the greatest vampires in TV history (sorry, Dark Shadows). I am referring, of course, to True Blood and Angel.

Click here for details and to enter to win. And yes, a few of you have already won, and willl be notified shortly.

Fang-tastic IDW True Blood/Angel Giveaway [Contest]

Things are blowing up in Bon Temps; IDW Publishing's True Blood: Tainted Love concludes in July, setting the stage for the upcoming French Quarter storyline and - oh yeah - season four premieres on HBO June 26.

And while Bon Temps is a hotbed of activity, its been a sad goodbye to Los Angeles as Angel's run at IDW came to a close, but not before an apocalyptic battle to save the future from a whole new level of bad.

We've got vampires on the brain big time, and what better way to celebrate than with a HUGE giveaway? IDW Publishing has given me the motherlode of True Blood and Angel books for an awesome contest.

We've got a dozen True Blood comics (including some super-sweet Comic Con exclusive covers), and four copies of the All Together Now hardcover. We've got a ginormous stack of Angel comics and trade paperbacks.

To enter for your chance to win, leave me comments.

If you want True Blood books, tell me what you're most looking forward to about the show's upcoming fourth season. For bonus points, tell me your favorite couple (or should-be couple), and why.

If you want Angel goodies, tell me your all-time favorite episode. Bonus points for naming your all-time favorite member of Team Angel. Employees of Angel Investigations, Wolfram & Hart staffers, Old Ones and - of course - characters created for the IDW run, all qualify.

Good luck!

Waiting Sucks: The Cast of 'True Blood' Has a Very Special Message

June 26 seems so very far away, doesn't it? True Blood's season four premiere is almost upon us but waiting, well - waiting just sucks. TBWithdrawal.com can help. Here's the cast of True Blood with more on this refuge for suffering TB addicts.

Speaking of True Blood, stand by for a very cool giveaway announcement from the awesome people at IDW Publishing. I just might be able tide some fans over during this difficult time. More on that very soon...

'True Blood' Season 4 Promo - Show Your True Colors!

"Show your true colors" is the tagline and theme HBO is using for True Blood's upcoming fourth season. With the premiere episode set to air on June 26, the trailers are coming fast and furious. Check out this latest look at what's new in the undead underbelly of Bon Temps.

Sookie in Fairyland - 'True Blood' Season Premiere Clip

True Blood season three finale spoilers ahead! Make sure you're all caught up with the show, or proceed with caution!

So, uh, remember how Sookie learned that she was one of the fairy folk, and was transported to the land of the fairies? Seriously, that's where we're at right now with True Blood, so it's only fitting that we open on season four with Sookie getting the lay of the land. Fairyland, that is.

Check it out in this clip, featuring the first three minutes of the season premiere.

True Blood premieres on HBO June 26.