"Locke & Key" co-creator Gabriel Rodriguez will write and draw a new creator-owned fantasy series for IDW Publishing.
RELATED: Gabriel Rodriguez’ Locke & Key Artist’s Edition Covers Portfolio
Announced Friday, "Sword of Ages" is described as a five-issue space fantasy that reimagines the Excalibur story, with which "the everlasting legend of the Sacred Sword is born through young warrior Avalon’s brutal clashes with rising tyrants in a world of fantastic creatures, ancient civilizations, alien forces and true magic."
Rodriguez has a long history with IDW: After breaking into American comics as the artist on multiple "CSI" miniseries, he moved on to adaptations of films like "Land of the Dead" and "Beowulf," and Clive Barker's epic novel "The Great and Secret Show." However, it's his work with Joe Hill on the critically acclaimed "Lock & Key" for which Rodriguez is best known.
RELATED: Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez Join Forces for IDW’s “Tales from the Darkside” Miniseries
"Sword of Ages" marks Rodriguez's first series as both writer and artist; he'll be accompanied by colorist Lovern Kindzierski.
"I’ve been daydreaming about this world, these characters, and this tale for over two years," Rodriguez said in a statement. "It’s admittedly daunting to fully write and draw a story of my own for the first time. It’s both an incredible opportunity and a tremendous responsibility so you want to try your best to make it right. Therefore, I’m pouring everything I love about comics into it; mythology, adventures, and appealing human stories. From the myths of Hercules, Gilgamesh, and King Arthur to stories from Bradbury, Moorcock, Foster, and Jodorowsky/Moebius, I want to make this my love letter to fantasy/sci-fi adventures. To have the chance to finally do this story with my friends from IDW Publishing, teaming with my longtime friend and editor Chris Ryall, and collaborating with coloring artist legend Lovern Kindzierski is beyond my wildest dreams as I would never dare to dream an opportunity as amazing as this exists."
"Sword of Ages" debuts in October from IDW Publishing.