Published Feb 24, 2026, 9:40 AM EST
CBR senior staff writer Brian Cronin has been writing professionally about comic books for over fifteen years now at CBR (primarily with his “Comics Should Be Good” series of columns, including Comic Book Legends Revealed). He has written two books about comics for Penguin-Random House – Was Superman a Spy? And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed and Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent? And Other Amazing Comic Book Trivia! and one book, 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, from Triumph Books. His writing has been featured at ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, About.com, the Huffington Post, Vulture and Gizmodo. He features legends about entertainment and sports at his website, Legends Revealed and other pop culture features at Pop Culture References. Follow him on Twitter at @Brian_Cronin and feel free to e-mail him suggestions for stories about comic books that you'd like to see featured at brianc@cbr.com!
One of the most popular global icons nowadays is Hello Kitty, Sanrio's celebration of Japanese kawaii culture. Hello Kitty is EVERYwhere, including a long-running hit animated series, and now Hello Kitty is coming to the world of American comic books, and she's bringing a two-time Eisner Award winning writer with her!
Launching in July, the same week as Comic-Con International at San Diego, Hello Kitty: Hello World! is the first American Hello Kitty comic book series (Hello Kitty has had a long-running webcomic, and has appeared in a few Japanese comic book series), and it will be released by IDW Publishing.
What is Hello Kitty: Hello World! about and who is the creative team?
Image via IDWHello Kitty: Hello World! will be written by Mariko Tamaki, who is a two-time Eisner Award winner for Best Writer in 2020 (for Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass from DC, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me from First Second/Macmillan), and Archie from Archie Comics) and in 2024 (for Roaming from Drawn & Quarterly), and it will be drawn by Cody Lemieux (Despite, Despite, Despite, Gnome Granny).
IDW describes the series as, "a classic and lovable depiction of Sanrio’s characters as Hello Kitty and Friends go on a world tour to solve a riddle. As they discover new riddles around the globe, they will also meet new characters in every single issue!" The covers revealed so far are by Min Ho Kim and Justine King.
While this first series launches in July, IDW has already revealed that it has plans for more comic books in 2027, and apparently there will be some crossovers, as well, which is notable considering the amount of other licensed characters that IDW Publishing currently has on its roster. Hello Kitty Meets Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Hello Kitty Meets Sonic the Hedgehog? Heck, Hello Kitty Meets GODZILLA?! The sky is the limit!
What does IDW Publishing have to say about the new Hello Kitty series?
Image via IDWBixie Mathieu, the Associate Editor on the project, noted in an IDW press release, "It’s time! Hello Kitty and her friends are coming to the comic world with IDW. These beloved characters have been delighting fans for generations, and it’s easy to see why– their joy, whimsy, and friendship make for uplifting storytelling! With so many talented people pouring their hearts into these series, we promise longtime and new fans alike that these stories will be a delight, from the core of their storytelling to the exuberant art on the page! If you’re interested in a heartfelt reading experience unlike anything else, hello!”
Davidi Jonas, CEO of IDW Publishing, added, “It’s truly an honor to team up with Sanrio to create HELLO KITTY comics. We’re thrilled to craft comics that celebrate the cute and fun spirit of the franchise while uplifting readers of every age. We can’t wait for these comics to bring inspiring and joyful stories to comic shops everywhere.”
Hello Kitty: Hello World! #1 is set to be released on July 22.
Source: IDW Publishing
English (US) · 