Cameron Stewart and David Hahn Ink ‘Suicide Girls’ for IDW

In what is probably more than just an attempt to more credibly justify its booth at Comic-Con, Suicide Girls has teamed with IDW Publishing to create an official comic book based on the iconic and decidedly not-safe-for-work alt-porn website and its trademark aesthetic of variously naked and tattooed ladies of the ostensibly more empowered variety. The four-issue series begins in March and will be written by Brea Grant (Heroes, We Will Bury You) and Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre) with artwork by David Hahn and covers by Cameron Stewart.

More on Suicide Girls plus loads of Cameron Stewart artwork after the jump.

Featuring original characters not based on any existing models, Suicide Girls is hyped by IDW as "a wild adventure" featuring an "awesome gang of beautiful, tattooed, ladies against the deranged leader of a techno-religious cult, with lots of butt-kicking and witty banter." The project is overseen by SG co-founder Missy Suicide, who believes comics and the Suicide Girls are a natural fit.

"We are huge comic nerds and are thrilled to finally be bringing a book we can be proud of to the fans that have been asking us at conventions for years. We couldn't be more excited to be bringing the adventures of these beautiful modern pin-ups to the genre."

Obviously, there's a natural incredulity for projects of this nature -- which is to say, licensed comics based not on narratives but on more abstract popular concepts, like the cast of Glee -- and the inherent titillation and perhaps even controversy of the Suicide Girls brand is obviously ripe for mockery (especially when press releases contain laughably pretentious phrases like "respected contemporary lifestyle brand.") However, IDW's Suicide Girls distinguishes itself from other exploitive works by virtue of the top flight talent involved, namely Cameron Stewart and David Hahn, two of our favorite comic book artists. In addition to cover art and character designs, Stewart (Seaguy, The Apocalipstix) will also provide two-page backup stories froms scripts by Steve Niles, who is no slouch either. Interiors will be courtesy of Hahn (Bite Club, Murderland), who was basically born to draw this book.

As editor Mariah Huehner puts it, "I'm sure everyone will have a pre-conceived idea of what this series will be all about. And hey, it WILL have nudity and pretty girls and tattoo's. But it also defies conventions, has an irreverent sense of humor, and takes on the cultural idea of what 'normal' and 'sexy' really mean. Plus, explosions!"

Sexy girls and explosions, both staples of genre storytelling. Given the creators involved, there's reason to suspect there's more to IDW's Suicide Girls than meets the eye. But even if there isn't, what does merely meet the eye is going to be pretty great.