Double Take LLC, commonly referred to as Double Take Comics, was an American comic book publisher based in New York City. Founded by former Marvel Comics executive Bill Jemas as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive in October 2014, the company served as Take-Two Interactive's pilot project in comic book publishing. The company published five issues each from ten original comic book series, and was shut down in November 2016.
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Comic books |
| Founded | October 30, 2014 |
| Founder | Bill Jemas |
| Defunct | November 2016 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | , US |
Key people | Bill Jemas (general manager) |
| Parent | Take-Two Interactive |
History
editDouble Take Comics was founded by Bill Jemas, formerly President of Marvel Comics, as a subsidiary of video game company Take-Two Interactive.[1] Jemas announced on December 20, 2013, that he was to preparing to launch a new comic book imprint with Take-Two Interactive, although a final direction had not yet been chosen.[2] Take-Two Interactive had previously filed trademarks for possible names of the label, including Codex, Carante, and Double Take.[2] Jemas settled on Double Take, and its opening was formally announced on October 30, 2014.[3][4]
All comic book series published by Double Take were inspired by and set in an alternate reality of Night of the Living Dead.[5][6] Jemas originally also considered creating comics on XCOM, BioShock and Civilization, three video game franchises owned by Take-Two Interactive, but could not come to terms with the respective game studios.[7] He went Night of the Living Dead instead, seeing that the intellectual property was in the public domain, and because he felt like zombies were popular at the time.[8] Jemas planned on distributing the comics digitally, through ComiXology and Madefire, and produce print versions later on.[9]
The first issues of Double Take's first ten comic book series, namely Soul, Slab, Dedication, Rise, Medic, Honor, Spring, Home, Remote and Z-Men, were announced in March 2015.[10] All ten first issues were released on September 16, 2015,[11] with the release schedule being assisted by marketing coordinator Gabe Yocum.[12] A movie adaptation of Z-Men, in cooperation with Lionsgate, was announced in October 2015.[13][14] In February 2016, Double Take partnered with The Moth to bring more realism into their releases.[15]
In September 2016, the company gave away 10,000 printed copies of their releases to visitors of the New York Comic Con.[16] In October 2016, it was reported that Jemas was seeking US$1.2 million from private investors to purchase Double Take from Take-Two Interactive.[17] Jemas initially denied the claim, stating "not even close", however, it was announced in November 2016 that the company was to close at the end of that month.[18][19] Four spin-off series of their works, Z-Mart, Behold, 51 and Alphabet City, which were set to be released in December 2016, were never published.[20]
Books published
edit| Release | Title |
|---|---|
| September 16, 2015 | Dedication #1: Dead Stock |
| Home #1: Lighter than Air | |
| Medic #1: Flatline | |
| Rise #1: Sister's Keeper | |
| Slab #1: The Doctor Is in | |
| Soul #1: Friendly Fire | |
| Spring #1: Born Again | |
| Z-Men #1: Nervous in the Service | |
| Honor #1: Protect. Serve. Beat. Burn. | |
| Remote #1: Dead Air | |
| November 11, 2015 | Dedication #2: Midnight Snack |
| Home #2: Thicker than Water | |
| Honor #2: Dead Badge of Courage | |
| Medic #2: Undead on Arrival | |
| Remote #2: Radio Silence | |
| Rise #2: Last Generation | |
| Slab #2: Fresh Flesh | |
| Soul #2: Good Mourning | |
| Spring #2: Undertow | |
| Z-Men #2: All the President's Men | |
| February 24, 2016 | Dedication #3: Checked Out |
| Home #3: Dinner Is Served | |
| Honor #3: Blood Brigade | |
| Medic #3: Graveyard Shift | |
| Remote #3: Live at Five | |
| Rise #3: You Can't Go Home Again | |
| Slab #3: Bare Bones | |
| Soul #3: Free Fall | |
| Spring #3: Sink or Swim | |
| Z-Men #3: The Thing they Carried | |
| June 1, 2016 | Dedication #4: Clean Up on Aisle Z |
| Home #4: Flesh and Blood | |
| Honor #4: Insurrection | |
| Medic #4: Intensive Scare | |
| Remote #4: Technical Difficulties | |
| Rise #4: Born Against | |
| Slab #4: Doctor's Orders | |
| Soul #4: No Saint's Day | |
| Spring #4: Level Up | |
| Z-Men #4: Home of the Grave | |
| August 24, 2016 | Dedication #5: Z-Mart |
| Home #5: Reunion | |
| Honor #5: Justice | |
| Medic #5: In Stitches | |
| Remote #5: Play it Again | |
| Rise #5: Fall | |
| Slab #5: Rigor | |
| Soul #5: Rest in Peace | |
| Spring #5: Torrent | |
| Z-Men #5: Rabridge |
References
edit- ^ Suth, Jamie (March 30, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: General Manager For Double Take Comics Bill Jemas Talks NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, Marvel & More". Comic Book Movie. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Arrant, Chris (December 20, 2013). "HE's BAA-AACK: BILL JEMAS & TAKE TWO Partner To Take On Comics 'ULTIMATE-Style'". Newsarama. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Arrant, Chris (October 30, 2014). "BILL JEMAS' New DOUBLE TAKE Ready to Launch with Zombies". Newsarama. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Diaz, Eric (October 31, 2014). "Comics Relief: Halloween Humble Bundle, WALKING DEAD Rumors Debunked, Plus Spidey & Mary Jane Reunite?". Nerdist. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Hallam, Scott (November 18, 2014). "Bill Jemas Talks Take-Two Interactive's New Night of the Living Dead Inspired Comic Series". Dread Central. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Hoffman, Taylor (September 16, 2015). "Double Take Comics Takes on "The Ultimate Night Of The Living Dead"". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (November 3, 2016). "Comics publisher Double Take is shutting down at the end of the month". Comics Beat. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (November 3, 2016). "So What Happened To Double Take's X-COM/Civilisation/Bioshock Crossover Anyway?". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ McWhertor, Michael (November 19, 2014). "The publisher of GTA and Borderlands is getting into the comic book business". Polygon. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Burlingame, Russ (March 27, 2015). "Night of the Living Dead Comics Coming From Bill Jemas' Double Take Comics". Comic Book. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Newsarama Staff (May 6, 2015). "JEMAS' Double Take Launches Ten 'Ultimate' Titles in September". Newsarama. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Wickline, Dan (August 26, 2015). "Talking Double Take And Their 10 Title Launch With Gabe Yocum". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (October 13, 2015). "'Z-Men' Graphic Novel Getting Movie Treatment Via Lionsgate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ McNary, Dave (October 13, 2015). "'Z-Men' Zombie Comic Book Movie Adaptation in Works". Variety. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Towers, Andrea (February 23, 2016). "Bill Jemas explains new partnership with Moth Storytellers". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (September 23, 2016). "NYCC '16: Double Take promotional banners banned for being "suggestive" – NSFW". Comics Beat. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (October 10, 2016). "Will Someone Give Bill Jemas $1.2 Million To Buy Double Take From Take Two Interactive?". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Terror, Jude (November 2, 2016). "SCOOP: Bill Jemas's Double Take To Close Down At End Of Month". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Donnelly, Joe (November 3, 2016). "Take-Two's comic book arm to close – XCom, Civilization and Bioshock combined universe was almost a thing". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Moore, Debi (October 28, 2016). "Double Take Announces Four New Comic Series: Behold, 51, Z-Mart, and Alphabet City". Dread Central. Retrieved February 12, 2018.