The Middleman lives on... in comic book form

If you were reading this blog last summer, you know how badly I fell in love with ABC Family's "The Middleman," even as the low ratings made it clear this would be a short-term affair. Late in the season, I interviewed "Middleman" creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach, and he said that if/when the show was canceled, he could always continue the story the way it started: as a comic book.

Today, Disney made that plan official, as it announced plans for both a DVD set of the first and only season of the show, and for a graphic novel to properly wrap up the story of The Middleman and Wendy Watson. After the jump, the press release...

GREAT HEARTS OF PALM! ABC FAMILY�S �THE MIDDLEMAN� SERIES FINALE TO BE RELEASED AS SPECIAL COLLECTOR COMIC BOOK EDITION;

SERIES TO BE RELEASED ON DVD THIS SUMMER

Deals with Viper Comics and Shout Factory! Breathe New Life into Cult Hit

Burbank, CA (February 19, 2009) � Fans of the ABC Family cult hit series can revisit the weird world of �The Middleman� and his trusty side-kick Wendy Watson when the series finale episode appears in graphic novel form this summer. The series will also be released on DVD in summer 2009.

In a deal with Viper Comics, �The Middleman � The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse� graphic novel is to be written by creator/executive producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Hans Beimler, with illustrations done by Armando M. Zanker and layouts by Les McClaine. �The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse� special collector�s comic book edition will be released in July 2009 to coincide with the annual Comic Con Convention in San Diego.

"The Middleman� season one DVD will include all 12 one-hour episodes that aired on ABC Family in summer 2008. The DVD will also contain extensive bonus material that will allow fans of the series to get an insider look at the mad capped world of their favorite heroes. ABC Family has partnered up with Shout Factory! to produce and distribute the DVD. The DVD will be available in July 2009.

"The Middleman� follows the surreal life of twenty-something year-old Wendy Watson as she gets recruited by a top secret agency to fight comic book-esque criminals under the guidance of her straight-laced boss, The Middleman. The television series, starring Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales, was created and executive produced by Javier Grillo-Marxuach, based on his Viper Comics Graphic Novels (illustrated by Les McClaine).

Well, I know one thing I'll be reading this summer. Not as much fun as new episodes with Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales, but at least it's something.