The story of the original gangster begins in the graphic novel, Scarface: Devil in Disguise

Fans of Director Brian DePalma's 1983 cinematic classic Scarface know the bullet-riddled end of Tony Montana's story. Now they will find out how his story began in Scarface: Devil in Disguise. In January, IDW Publishing will launch this definitive graphic novel prequel to the fan-favorite film.

Scarface: Devil in Disguise tells Tony Montana's story before he comes to sun-drenched Miami to pursue his version of the American dream-ascending from dishwasher to the head of a cocaine cartel. While cutting his teeth as a young military assassin and hustler in Havana, Cuba, he believes that he is destined for more and craves American shores. But first, he has to get out from Castro-imposed solitary confinement. To complicate matters, this Molotov cocktail mix also includes appearances by the CIA, gangsters and the scumbag who gave Montana his infamous scar.

This authoritative Scarface prequel, originally published as a five-part comic book miniseries, comes on the heels of IDW's successful Scarface: Scarred for Life, a sequel that picks up where the movie left off, as Tony Montana survives-yes, you read that right-but just barely.

"It was great to imagine a sequel to the movie," says Chris Ryall, IDW's publisher and editor-in-chief, referring to the 2006 comic book Scarface: Scarred for Life. "And now it's equally interesting to go back and look at the character's early years. Whereas the sequel was a bit lighter in tone-if black humor can be considered 'light'-Devil in Disguise takes a darker turn and really sets the mood for the character arc that Tony will experience in the movie."

The creative team on Devil in Disguise is writer Joshua Jabcuga, who also worked on IDW Publishing's black and white horror magazine Doomed, and artist Alberto Dose, who also did the art for IDW Publishing's Desperadoes: Buffalo Dreams.

This comic book will be in stores January 2008; call 1-888-comic-book (1-888-266-4226) to find a store near you.