Gene Simmons' Dominatrix TPB from IDW

This is an official IDW press release, but before I bring you this, I would just like to commend IDW, Gene Simmons, and all involved for using the correct plural form of "dominatrix." I will get into this more in just a second on Weird Ink, but thank you, thank you, thank you. And now, on to our regularly-scheduled press release:

San Diego, CA (April 9, 2008) - Rock legend Gene Simmons' Dominatrix, his leather-clad heroine with an attitude, promises not only compelling action but also to raise thermometers a degree or two when she hits store shelves this April as a trade paperback from IDW Publishing and Simmons Comics Group. This is definitely not your father's comic book. The groundbreaking first arc tells the story of a professional dominatrix, Dominique Stern, who becomes ensnared in a world of government cover-ups and international conspiracies. Simmons describes the story as "T&A meets CIA."

The TPB, which includes six stories that were originally run as individual comics issues, is written by Sean Taylor, who also authored Fishnet Angel, and is illustrated by artists Flavio Hoffe and Esteve Polls (who also illustrated a tale in the debut Simmons Comics Group release, Gene Simmons House of Horrors). Adding to the package is a new introduction from Gene Simmons; a photo collage from a Dominatrix party featuring Gene and some real-life dominatrices; an art gallery with all of the original cover art; and an outro and new Dominatrix prose story by Taylor.

Dominatrix is the story of Dominique Stern. After a client loses his composure during an intense session and blurts out top-secret information, Dominique finds herself a reluctant superhero who must save herself, her friends, the jerk who got her into the mess, and quite possibly her country.

"Dominatrix came to me in a flash," says Simmons. "Comic books and pop-culture in general have always toyed around with the leather/rubber-bound heroine. It's sexy and kick-ass. [But] they always skirted the sexuality issue. I decided to meet it head-on, so to speak."

Simmons based the character on a semi-real dominatrix he knows socially. "After talking with her about the lifestyle," he says, "[I] combined it with clandestine Manchurian Candidate and Nick Fury's Hydra stuff [a super-spy from Marvel Comics], oh, yes, and pills. Special pills."

To complete the spicy story and package, the comic TPB is graced with a sexy, painted cover by CVO creator Alex Garner.

The Gene Simmons Dominatrix TPB will be in stores April 9^th, 2008.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008