Death Jr. comic book dated

Backbone Entertainment has released some additional details on its Death, Jr. franchise, which includes an upcoming title for the PSP and an upcoming bimonthly comic from Image Comics. Today, the developer/publisher said the comic book will be released in April.

The series, written by Gary Witta (Duke Nukem Forever, Grim Reaper) and Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things comic creator Ted Naifeh, will focus on the life of a middle-school boy whose father just happens to be the grim reaper. "We created a pretty huge world for Death Jr., only a small part of which you get to see in the game," said Backbone CEO Jon Goldman. "Gary and Ted have done a fantastic job creating an awesome comic."

Death Jr. (DJ for short) runs with a peculiar group of friends, including gothy Pandora, conjoined twins Smith and Weston, Stigmartha (so named because when she's nervous, she bleeds), and The Seep--a limbless exchange student in a jar. When DJ and the gang accidentally call up an ancient evil, they have to clean up the mess before dad gets home.

Death, Jr. was first announced at the Game Developers Conference last April. For more information, see our previous coverage. A film based on the title is also in preproduction with Media 8 Entertainment.