MasterClass Announces Salman Rushdie to Teach Storytelling and Writing

 

Award–winning author shares the importance of drawing from experience to build and tell stories

 

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SAN FRANCISCO, DEC. 15, 2020 — MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best across a wide range of subjects, today announced that Booker Prizewinning author Salman Rushdie will teach a class on storytelling and writing. Drawing from his celebrated career as a novelist and essayist, Rushdie will help members explore their innate storytelling ability to write and tell the stories they are meant to tell. Rushdie’s class is now available exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers get unlimited access to all 100+ instructors with an annual membership.

“Salman’s prose is magical; his storytelling, worldly,” said David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass. “In his MasterClass, Salman discusses the seminal works that have influenced him, providing all writers—even those just starting to put pen to paper—lessons in how to harness the power of words.”

In his MasterClass, Rushdie will share his storytelling framework, which is equal parts discipline and freedom, from how to build rich and complex story structures to crafting characters, researching and editing, providing a wealth of examples and insights from the global literature that has influenced his work. In addition to offering big-picture advice and his seven useful tips to becoming a better reader and writer, Rushdie will offer valuable insights on the psychological aspects of writing, including navigating writer’s block, negotiating feedback with editors and more. Through intimate stories of the struggle and learnings from Rushdie’s early career, members will get an insider’s look into his journey, leaving the class inspired by his wisdom and eager to write their own unique stories.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the universality of storytelling and how shared human experiences unite us all, no matter where we are in the world,” Rushdie said. “In my MasterClass, I hope I can help members transition to the other side of the page and reach new heights creatively with their writing.”

Rushdie is an award-winning novelist, essayist, fiction and nonfiction writer known for his humorous and often-surrealist style. Rushdie’s work examines themes of movement across cultures, modernity and the influence of world events on individuals’ lives. His second novel, Midnight’s Children, was a commercial and critical success, earning the esteemed Booker Prize in 1981, as well as the “Best of the Booker” prize twice in the years following. In 1983, his third novel, Shame, won the French literary prize Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, cementing Rushdie’s place among the literary elite.

Over the course of his career, Rushdie has published 14 novels that have been translated into more than 40 languages. He has been internationally recognized with many of literature’s highest honors, and in 2007, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to the literary world. Some of his top accolades include the European Union’s Aristeion Prize for Literature, the Premio Grinzane Cavour (Italy), the Writer of the Year Award in Germany, PEN Pinter Prize (U.K.), Golden PEN Award, Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award, and Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Humanism.

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Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling and Writing | Official Trailer |

ABOUT MASTERCLASS:

Launched in 2015, MasterClass is the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best. With an annual membership, subscribers get unlimited access to 100+ instructors and classes across a wide range of subjects, including Arts & Entertainment, Business, Design & Style, Sports & Gaming, Writing and more. Step into Anna Wintour’s office, Ron Finley’s garden and Neil Gaiman’s writing retreat. Get inspired by RuPaul, perfect your pitch with Shonda Rhimes and discover your inner negotiator with Chris Voss. Each class features about 20 video lessons, at an average of 10 minutes per lesson. You can learn on your own terms—in bite-size pieces or in a single binge. Cinematic visuals and close-up, hands-on demonstrations make you feel like you’re one-on-one with the instructors, while the downloadable instructor guides help reinforce your learning. Stream thousands of lessons anywhere, anytime, on mobile, tablet, desktop, Apple TV®, Android™ TV, Amazon Fire TV® and Roku® players and devices.

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Follow Salman Rushdie:

Twitter: @salmanrushdie

Facebook: @salmanrushdieauthor

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LUCIFER SHOWRUNNER JOE HENDERSON RETEAMS WITH CAPTAIN MARVEL ARTIST LEE GARBETT FOR UPCOMING TEEN HORROR SHADECRAFT

PORTLAND, Ore. 12/10/2020 — Bestselling writer and Lucifer showrunner Joe Henderson reteams with popular Captain Marvel artist Lee Garbett for the upcoming teen horror series, Shadecraft. Their sophomore collaboration at Image Comics—after the Eisner nominated and universally beloved Skyward concluded in 2019—this new series will send fans on a hair-raising journey beginning in March.

“To me, shadows are the perfect mixture of horror and fun. One minute, they seem to come to dangerous life out of the corner of my eye. The next, I’m making silly shadow puppets with my son,” Henderson told Comic Book Resources in an exclusive scoop of the announcement. “I love that cocktail of genuine scares and playful adventure, and we’ve infused it into this book. I’ve been wanting to tell a story with shadows coming to life for years, but it took finding the right emotional heart—finding Zadie’s story—for it to finally come together. Welcome to Shadecraft—let’s hope Zadie Lu survives the experience…”

In Shadecraft, readers meet Zadie Lu. She’s afraid of her own shadow. She’s also a teenager, so she really should have grown out of it by now… But something weird is happening in her small town—it’s as if the shadows are actually coming to life. Watching her. Maybe even trying to kill her. But how do you fight something you can’t even touch? And why is she the target they’re after?

Garbett told Comic Book Resources: “With Shadecraft we get to play with a darker, more ominous tone than Skyward without losing that vital heart and warmth that’s so important to us. This book presented a whole new set of artistic challenges in bringing the shadows to life. I tried to keep things as organic as possible, letting the ink move and grow on the paper to find its own form. I can’t wait for everyone to check it out.”

Join Zadie Lu as she ventures into the shadows to face her fears and discovers a legacy she never knew she had in a new series perfect for fans of the Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer, James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ Something Is Killing The Children and Veronica Fish and Kelly Thompson’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Shadecraft #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, March 31.

Shadecraft #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.

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Grant Morrison, Alex Child & Naomi Franquiz Debut PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD at BOOM! Studios

Discover The Brand New Original Horror Series in March 2021

UCP, a Division of Universal Studio Group, To Adapt Graphic Novel Series for Television

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 14, 2020) – BOOM! Studios today announced PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD #1, kicking off a star-studded new horror limited series from visionary writer Grant Morrison (Klaus), Alex Child (BBC’s Holby City), Naomi Franquiz (Tales from Harrow County) and Tamra Bonvillain (Once & Future) about the mysterious monsters that haunt Proctor Valley Road – and the four misfit teenagers who must stop them. PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD, developed in partnership with NBCUniversal, debuts in comic shops on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. NBCUniversal’s UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, will also adapt the series for television and will shop the adaptation to networks and streaming platforms.

August, Rylee, Cora & Jennie have organized a “Spook Tour” with their classmates on the most haunted, demon-infested stretch of road in America to fund attending the concert of their dreams. But when their visit turns deadly, these four friends race to rescue the missing students…before the town tears them limb from limb. Now they must slay the evils roaming Proctor Valley Road…along with the monsters lurking in the hearts of 1970s America.

Grant Morrison has written best-selling stories for Marvel and DC Comics, creating definitive runs for iconic characters including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Justice League of America, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. Seminal titles in comics include Batman: Arkham Asylum, All-Star Superman, Animal Man, The Invisibles, WE3, Joe the Barbarian, and Doom Patrol.

In television, Morrison developed and co-wrote a number of shows under a development deal for UCP at NBCUniversal. These include the hit show Happy! for SYFY in 2017, based on the comic book, and an adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World for Peacock in 2020. A long-anticipated adaptation of the epic ‘90s series The Invisibles is currently in development. In film, Morrison recently co-wrote The Flash for Warner Bros. with Ezra Miller.

“I fell in love with these characters when I read Alex’s original series proposal and I’ve had an amazing time working with him and with Naomi to bring them to life for a spooky rollercoaster ride that feels like Nancy Drew on ‘shrooms!” said Grant Morrison. “Get your kicks…on Proctor Valley Road!”

Alex Child is a British screenwriter from Oxfordshire known for his work on BBC’s Holby City and Sky One’s Temple.  Child’s upcoming debut short film Small World, which he wrote and directed, stars Dr. Who‘s David Troughton and Peter Wight of Hot Fuzz fame.

“I’m thrilled to be teaming up with the mighty Grant Morrison and the insanely talented Naomi Franquiz on my debut comic book, PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD!” said Alex Child. “With the hangover of the 1960s in the rearview, the Vietnam War dragging on, and the Space Race hotting up, we’re in small town supernatural America to tell the story of four best friends, three missing jocks, and a real life stretch of road steeped in legends that will ice your spine and leave the blood thumping in your ears. The girls’ reputations, friendship, and lives are all on the line in this white-knuckle adventure series as they try to unravel the mysteries and survive the nightmarish terrors of Proctor Valley Road, a place that makes Hell look like Honolulu!”

Naomi Franquiz is a Latina freelance illustrator and comic book artist currently based in delightfully dank Florida. She focuses on diverse and inclusive character-driven narratives that explore concepts such as found family, identity, and independence. Previous works include Tales From Harrow County: Death’s Choir (Dark Horse), Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (Marvel), and Bountiful, a short story in the ELEMENTS: Earth comics anthology. She is perhaps best known for her expressive character work, and perhaps less known for her inability to ride a standard bicycle.

PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD is a big slice of Americana laced with uneasy cryptid horror, a side of rebel youth, and a killer soundtrack,” said Naomi Franquiz.

Print copies of PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD #1, for mature readers, will be available on March 3, 2021 exclusively at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the one nearest you) or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers like comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Madefire. The issue also features main cover art by Franquiz, along with variant covers from superstars Chris Wildgoose (Alienated), Christian Ward (Invisible Kingdom), and Peach Momoko (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

“Grant, Alex, and Naomi have created a kind of horror in PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD that is both beyond imagination and terrifyingly real,” said Eric Harburn, Senior Editor, BOOM! Studios. “Coming of age during the death of ‘peace & love,’ our heroines must not only conquer the evils spawned from this cursed desert highway, but the demons we all see when we look in the mirror and stare up at the ceiling at night.”

For continuing news on the PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter. 


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THE EMPTY MAN WILL FIND YOU

Film Available for Digital Ownership on January 12

Cullen Bunn & Vanesa R. Del Rey’s The Empty Man Comics Return with All-New Movie Edition Softcover Collection from BOOM! Studios

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 3, 2020) – 20th Century Studios and BOOM! Studios announced today that The Empty Man, based off the acclaimed graphic novels, will be available to own digitally and on Movies Anywhere beginning January 12, 2021 along with an all-new softcover collection set to arrive in comic stores, bookstores, and online in January, 2021.

The Empty Man Movie Edition softcover collection comes from the superstar team of writer Cullen Bunn (Magneto, Bone Parish), artist Vanesa R. Del Rey (Redlands, Hit), colorist Michael Garland, and letterer Ed Dukeshire. As the inspiration for the motion picture, The Empty Man Movie Edition will feature the haunting film poster as its new cover.  To celebrate the film’s digital release, BOOM! Studios has made the entire debut issue of The Empty Man Movie Edition available to read for free on its website. Please visit https://www.boom-studios.com/wordpress/archives/empty-man-will-find-you/.

“20th Century Studios’ adaptation of The Empty Man has allowed new audiences to discover this horrifying story and we are thrilled that it’ll be available for consumers to watch at home come January,” said Filip Sablik, President of Publishing & Marketing, BOOM! Studios. “By releasing The Empty Man Movie Edition softcover collection, we hope new fans will discover comics and enjoy all three volumes of the hit series.”

Directed by David Prior, this supernatural horror film centers on shocking events originating in a small Midwestern town. After the mysterious disappearance of a group of teenagers, James Lasombra (James Badge Dale), a troubled retired cop, is thrust into action to investigate. Following leads that may tie a secretive occult-minded group to a terrifying local legend, he soon realizes that his life — and the lives of those close to him — are in terrible danger. The screen story and screenplay is by David Prior.

In the world of The Empty Man comics, it’s been one year since the first reported case of the titular disease, and no drug has been able to slow its progress. The cause is unknown, and the symptoms include fits of rage, hideous hallucinations, and suicidal dementia, followed by death or a near lifeless, “empty” state of catatonia. As cults rise nationwide, the FBI and CDC enter a joint investigation of the Empty Man, racing against the clock to piece together clues to stop the cult and uncover a cure.

Add The Empty Man to your digital collection January 12 and grab a print copy of The Empty Man Movie Edition later that month at your local comic book shop (visit comicshoplocator.com to find the one nearest you), local bookstore or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies of The Empty Man Movie Edition will be available from content providers such as comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Madefire.

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Under The Ocean Is Where You’ll Find Me

In 2020 the opportunity to swim under the ocean and scuba was something one couldn’t even conceive doing. Most can’t even conceive of doing super diving though, seeing sharks, whales and fish you’d assume were alien creatures up close and personal. In Beyond Blue by  E-Line Media you can do just that though especially after unlocking free swim when you completed the story mode.

That story mode is a wonderful experience though, craftily written and expertly voice acted it lands a narrative that allows for exploration while becoming connected the folks whose job it is to conserve, explore, educate and document the world under the ocean. A world as interesting as the ones in space and one could say we could learn a lot more from than anywhere else.

As wonderful as the story is, the graphics as well as the handling of the gameplay are also fantastic. While it could definitely be considered a walking simulator or in this case a swimming simulator, there’s the feels of trying to capturing all the scans of the fish, making actual story directions, unlocking secrets, so that it stays a game and not just a very powerful visual novel/interactive educational software.

On top of those visuals, story and relaxing, easy but enjoyable play is a spectacular soundtrack. Songs from The Marias, The Edisons , Vanderock, TokiMonsta and even The Flaming Lips, can be listened to at your leisure in the submarine ship while an ambient score accompanies you in the waters. The music seems to also have a narrative nature to them as one track is presented as a demo track of a character’s relative. It actually adds a lot to the attachment and making you care about the story and the people as much as you do the fish.

I really do recommend Beyond Blue as a zen like experience. In these times and even in the cold winters of normal life, the chance to jump into the dark ocean and see the beauty from the safety of your PC or console is something we all need.

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LONGTIME SAVAGE DRAGON FANS REJOICE! CLASSIC CARTOON ADAPTATION OF ERIK LARSEN’S ICONIC SERIES AVAILABLE ON PEACOCK TV

PORTLAND, Ore. 11/24/2020 — Image Comics fans can now finally rewatch the cartoon adaptation of Image’s partner and CFO, Erik Larsen’s, longrunning, iconic Savage Dragon series—now on Peacock TV. The new, free streaming service will bring USA Network’s interpretation of Malcolm to their screens once more and the show is available in its entirety now for fans to binge watch at their leisure.

“There are people who grew up with the cartoon and loved it—it was the USA network’s only success story—the only show from their cartoon block which was renewed for a second season,” said Larsen. “This hugely popular cartoon from the ‘90s introduced a generation of fans to the Savage Dragon comic and I’m pleased to see the show back on the air to introduce the next generation of fans to the Savage Dragon.”

The Savage Dragon TV show debuted in 1995 and ran for 26 episodes over two seasons. The series’ appearance on Peacock this Summer marked its first official release for home entertainment from NBC Universal—25 years after its pilot’s initial airdate.

The best way to experience Savage Dragon remains to read the original comic book series, which is one of the longest running and bestselling independent comic book series to date. It is available in single issue and trade paperback edition print formats and in digital editions.

The next issue of Savage Dragon will be available at local comic shops on Wednesday, November 25:

  • Savage Dragon #254 Cover A Larsen – SEP200222

  • Savage Dragon #254 Cover B (Retro 70s) – SEP208500

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THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 2, VOLUME 1 (CHAPTERS 9-12)  DIGITAL SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE TODAY

MUSIC FROM THE EMMY®-WINNING DISNEY+ ORIGINAL SERIES
FEATURES SCORE AND MUSIC BY OSCAR®, GRAMMY® AND EMMY® AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER LUDWIG GÖRANSSON
 
THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 2, VOLUME 2 (CHAPTERS 13-16)
AVAILABLE ON DECEMBER 18
 
Burbank, CA – November 20, 2020 — Walt Disney Records releases the digital soundtrack from Season 2 of “The Mandalorian,” Lucasfilm’s multiple Emmy®-winning live-action series, streaming exclusively on Disney+. The Mandalorian Season 2, Volume 1 (Chapters 9-12) digital album features score by Oscar®, Grammy® and Emmy® winning composer Ludwig

Göransson (TenetBlack Panther) and is available HERE. The release will be followed by The Mandalorian Season 2, Volume 2 (Chapters 13-16) digital album available on December 18.

Earlier this year, Göransson won his first Emmy for “The Mandalorian” “Chapter 8: Redemption” in the Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score) category.   For the first season of “The Mandalorian,” Göransson released eight full-length albums, one album per episode, with recurring themes throughout the season.  This season, he will release the soundtrack in two volumes containing new musical themes, sounds and ideas.
The score and character themes feature instruments played by Göransson including the bass recorder, woodwinds, drums, guitars, piano and percussion.  The organic elements from those instruments are then infused with tech sounds and a cinematic orchestra.
 
About Ludwig Göransson
In a career spanning only 12 years, Ludwig Göransson has amassed an impressive resume in both the recording and motion picture industries, earning an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, multiple Grammy Awards and countless other nominations. After working as an assistant to composer Theodore Shapiro, Göransson got his first big break writing music for the NBC television series, Community. This led to a friendship and collaboration with Donald Glover, who performs under the stage name Childish Gambino, on several studio albums including Because the Internet and Awaken, My Love. Göransson has been nominated for six Grammys with Childish Gambino, and won two in 2019 for the Billboard Hot 100 Number One hit song “This Is America,” which became a cultural phenomenon and garnered world-wide acclaim.
While pursuing his master’s degree in film scoring at USC, Göransson met his other longtime collaborator, director Ryan Coogler, when he scored his short film, Locks. Over the next nine years, Göransson would score all three of Coogler’s feature films. Much like iconic filmmaking duos Hitchcock and Herrmann or Spielberg and Williams, Coogler’s diverse filmography has allowed Göransson to show his range as a composer, writing understated melodies for Fruitvale Station, hyping up audiences for Creed, and infusing African percussion into his themes for Black Panther.
Göransson has accumulated success in a variety of other films including the box office smash Venom and Pixar’s Inner Workings. In 2019, Göransson earned multiple awards and nominations for his score for Black Panther including a Golden Globe nomination, a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack, and an Academy Award for Best Original Score. He won two Grammy Awards for his song “This is America”, which he co-wrote and co-produced with frequent collaborator Childish Gambino.
Most recently, Göransson completed the score for Season 2 of The Mandalorian, LucasFilm’s first Star Wars live-action series helmed by director Jon Favreau, streaming exclusively on Disney+.  In September 2020, he won his first Emmy Award for his work on the series.  Göransson also composed the music for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, which premiered late summer 2020.  In addition, he co-wrote and co-produced the songs for DreamWorks’ Trolls World Tour with Justin Timberlake, which exceeded expectations with its history-making digital release in April 2020, racking up nearly $100 million in sales in just three weeks.
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Your First Look at the Series Finale of ANGEL & SPIKE from BOOM! Studios

Discover a Shocking New Mysterious Connection to Another Universe in November 2020

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 13, 2020) – BOOM! Studios, in partnership with 20th Television, revealed a first look ANGEL & SPIKE #16, from acclaimed writer Zac Thompson (Spider-Geddon: Edge of Spider-Geddon), artist Hayden Sherman (Thumbs, The Few), colorist Roman Titov (Angel), and letterer Ed Dukeshire (Angel) along with visionary writer and director Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Marvel’s The Avengers), available in November 2020.

In the series finale, Team Angel – or Team Spike, no one can agree – must work with the werewolf Oz if they’re going to save the day. Meanwhile, Fred discovers her true power and a mysterious new connection to another universe (or universes!) where she and her friends have a scarily close relationship with Wolfram & Hart…

ANGEL & SPIKE #16 features a main cover by Christopher J. Mitten (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.), as well as variant covers by artist Gleb Melnikov (Angel, Seven Secrets), and illustrator Zarin Baksh.

Created by visionary writer and director Joss Whedon (Marvel’s The Avengers film franchise), Angel premiered on the WB Network on October 5th, 1999 and was a spin-off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series ran for five seasons from 1999–2004, starring David Boreanaz as Angel, the tortured vampire destined to walk the earth with a soul who moved to LA to set up shop as a supernatural private investigator. Despite Angel’s best efforts to deal with the sins of his past all by himself, Angel Investigations soon became home to other lost souls searching for redemption and willing to fight by his side.

ANGEL & SPIKE is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; We Only Find Them When They’re Dead by Al Ewing and Simone Di Meo; Seven Secrets by Tom Taylor and Daniele Di Nicuolo; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Once & Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora; and Faithless by Brian Azzarello and Maria Llovet. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties including Dune: House Atreides by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Dev Pramanik;  Buffy the Vampire Slayer from Jordie Bellaire and David López, Firefly from Greg Pak, Lalit Kumar Sharma & Daniel Bayliss, and the upcoming Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers series from Ryan Parrott, Marco Renna, and Francesco Mortarino.

Print copies of ANGEL & SPIKE #16 will be available for sale on November 25, 2020 exclusively at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one). Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Madefire.

For continuing news on ANGEL & SPIKE comic books, graphic novels and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.

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Your First Look at the Era of UNLIMITED POWER in MIGHTY MORPHIN #1 

That Dan Mora cover excites me greatly.

Two New Series. Two New Teams. A New Beginning for All Power Rangers is Here in November 2020

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 19, 2020) – BOOM! Studios, under license by Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), today revealed a first look at the exciting new series premiere, MIGHTY MORPHIN #1, from superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), rising star artist Marco Renna, colorist Walter Baiamonte with assistance by Katia Ranalli, and letterer Ed Dukeshire, as they launch the first of two all-new series with two all-new teams on November 4, 2020.

A new Mighty Morphin team has assembled to take on the deadliest threats to Earth – but who is the All New Green Ranger by their side?

The new Mighty Morphin team is on a collision course with an even deadlier Lord Zedd, who has a new mission and a new motivation – one that will change everything you thought you knew about our heroes! But even if the Mighty Morphin team can find a way to survive Zedd and their mysterious new enemies, they may discover the greatest threat to their future is the shocking secret of Zordon’s past! A new Mighty Morphin epic begins here, perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike.

MIGHTY MORPHIN #1 features main cover art by acclaimed illustrator InHyuk Lee (Seven Secrets), and variant cover art by Eleonora Carlini (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Jung-Geun Yoon (Seven Secrets), Goñi Montes (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), and an “Every Ranger” cover illustration by Dan Mora (Once & Future) that connects with POWER RANGERS #1, MIGHTY MORPHIN #2, and POWER RANGERS #2.

Currently, Power Rangers is celebrating 27 continuous years on the air, making it one of the longest running kids’ live-action series in television history with nearly 900 episodes aired to date. Created by Haim Saban and launched in 1993 with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the franchise celebrates its 27th season, “Power Rangers Beast Morphers” currently airing on Saturdays at 8 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon in the U.S.

MIGHTY MORPHIN is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; We Only Find Them When They’re Dead by Al Ewing and Simone Di Meo; Seven Secrets by Tom Taylor and Daniele Di Nicuolo; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Once & Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora; Faithless by Brian Azzarello and Maria Llovet; and Alienated by Simon Spurrier and Chris Wildgoose. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties including Dune: House Atreides by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Dev Pramanik;  Buffy the Vampire Slayer from Jordie Bellaire and David López, and Firefly from Greg Pak, Lalit Kumar Sharma & Daniel Bayliss.

Print copies of MIGHTY MORPHIN #1 will be available on November 4, 2020 exclusively at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the one nearest you), or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers like comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Madefire. 

Softcover collections of MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS,  and other Power Rangers releases from BOOM! Studios are available now, everywhere books are sold.

For continuing news on the MIGHTY MORPHIN series and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.

For more on Power Rangers, please visit www.powerrangers.com and follow Power Rangers on YouTubeFacebookTwitter and Instagram.

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Grammy-Nominated Illustrator Benjamin Marra Joins Ho Che Anderson for RIZZO  

A Neo-Noir Revenge Novella From NeoText Books Expands the World of STONE

(Oct 19) Writer Ho Che Anderson, the acclaimed cartoonist of KING, SAND & FURY, and GODHEAD, is following up his first work of prose fiction in more than 20 years with a new noir-soaked novella titled RIZZO. Joining Anderson on RIZZO is Grammy-nominated illustrator Benjamin Marra, who provides 15 spot illustrations, including 5 full color paintings—the artists’ first ever foray into painted art.

STONE, the first novella in the series, follows Graciela “Stone” O’Leary in an electrifying revenge fantasy set in a near-future dystopia where the brutal Merit Party has cancelled the elections. io9 praised the novella as “a very timely tale… featuring gorgeous illustrations by the author.” RIZZO, the follow-up, introduces us to Stone’s friend Rizzo as he gets his own revenge on the society that’s determined to keep him and his people down.

“Ben and I share the same comics publisher, got seated next to each other randomly at a convention signing a couple years ago, and became friends on the spot,” said Anderson. “I read his book Night Business and immediately started dreaming of collaborating with him. I totally clicked with his graphic novel’s 80s neon-smeared brand of exploitation, a set of sensibilities I hold very dear to my heart. I think Ben’s art reached a new level with his work on Rizzo, and I’m thrilled we got to work on it together, and for people to see what Ben’s got up his sleeve.”

Once Rizzo was a legend in the making, a kid from the flats on the way to achieving the dream of becoming a pro basketball player—until he crossed the Martin family, regional directors of the Merit Party, and wound up on the Chain Gang, facing a slow, cruel death sentence of years of hard labor in service to the very people who stole his life. But in a world where US elections have been suspended, and the poor are taxed at a rate far, far greater than the rich, Rizzo watches the guards drag two men to their execution for a trivial offence and decides now is finally the time to embrace his plan.

Rizzo must return to his hometown, form a crew of the best people he knows—Dennis, the smartest person ever to attend the flats high school and an expert on electronics, security systems, locks, and surveillance equipment; Mo, the sneakiest person alive and a self-appointed spy, always one jump ahead of the authorities; and Rhino, whose impulsive explosiveness with his unparalleled fists is both his weakness and his strength—and lead a revolution to overthrow the Merit Party. He’s already worked out where to start: by hitting them at their most sensitive point—their money—in an outrageous heist that shouldn’t be possible. But first, there’s the matter of escaping the confines of his prison. And Rizzo has a plan for that too…

“Ho Che Anderson is a legend whose comics work I’ve been following for decades,” said Marra, the acclaimed artist of American Blood and JesusFreak. “I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for his talents as a writer and artist. It’s been a special honor to get to know him as a friend and an incredible experience to collaborate with him on this project. I hope it’s the first time of many. The story Ho Che wrote is pure pulp crime genre goodness. It’s exactly the kind of thing I love and which inspires me to make art. It was easy to be inspired by his prose to create the illustrations accompanying the narrative, and I hope my images do his words justice.”

 

“I’m really excited about Stone as a character and as a world,” added Anderson. “Not only is it a fun universe of thrills and chills to play in, but it also has the somewhat unwanted function of being a cautionary tale. When we started this project the idea of an American dictatorship was, we were hoping, a paranoid fantasy. Flash forward two years and suddenly we find ourselves living in a world in which the so-called leader of the free world, of the grandest democracy in history to hear it told, wants to smash that democracy and, what, declare himself dictator for life? The story we’re telling would be relevant in any era—the craven desire for power and its ease of abuse is eternal—but as it’s turned out, the world of Stone has become a sad reflection of where we’re at in 2020 in the real world and where we could be heading. No matter where we as a society go from here, I have a lot of stories I’d like to tell with these characters and I can’t wait to get started on them.”

A politically timely and cathartic thrill-ride, RIZZO will be available digitally on October 20th for $1.99.

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Born in London, England, Ho Che Anderson was named after the Vietnamese and Cuban revolutionaries Ho Chi Minh and Che Guevara. Anderson began his career as the author of numerous graphic novels, including KING, a biography of Martin Luther King, the horror thriller, SAND & FURY, and the science-fiction action-adventure, GODHEAD. During this time he also wrote the children’s novel, THE NO-BOYS CLUB. After a two-year stint as a Toronto Star reporter, Anderson embraced a lifelong fascination with filmmaking. He studied film production at the Toronto Film School and Sheridan College, during which he was involved in the production of more than 40 shorts as either DP, camera operator, editor, writer, or director. One of those films, LOTUS EATERS, won best picture at the 2014 TFS Festival of Films and was an official selection at the 2014 ReelWorld Film Festival. Following film school he joined IATSE Local 667 where he worked for several years as a camera assistant on numerous shows including Reign, Taken, and Designated Survivor to further hone his skills. Anderson wrote and directed his first feature in 2018, the supernatural heist thriller, LE CORBEAU, for Canada’s Telefilm, and is currently in development on a second feature with Antigravity Entertainment. He is also hard at work scripting several graphic novels, among them another tale of the supernatural called, THE RESURRECTIONISTS, for Abrams Books.

Benjamin Marra is a Grammy-nominated American illustrator and comic-book artist, as well as the creator of the books Night Business, American Blood, and Terror Assaulter: O.M.W.O.T. (One Man War On Terror). Marra’s illustrations have appeared in Playboy, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times, to name a few, and have been recognized by The Society of Illustrators, The Society of Publication Designers, and American Illustration. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, where he draws comics and is a designer for MLB Advanced Media.

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