Saturday, July 3, 2010
More on Lucid
Here an another interview on Lucid from last October with more information on the series:
Friday, July 2, 2010
Lucid by Michael McMillian and Anna Wieszczyk
Here's another Arthurian-themed book from Archaia Comics. My information comes from a variety of sources as noted below. The hero of the series is Matthew Dee, a descendant of occultist John Dee, and the series has a number of Arthurian connections.
ARCHAIA AND BEFORE THE DOOR UNVEIL FINAL COVER TO ‘LUCID’ #1
Dark forces are conspiring to prevent humankind from reaching its true potential.
As the newly-appointed 'Protector of the Realm,' Agent Matthew Dee uses his skills as a covert spy and Combat Mage to ensure America's freedom from the grip of evil. Who is Waylan Gheely, and what forbidden power has he stolen? What ancient evil, banished two millennia ago by Merlin himself, threatens to consume our dimension? What presence lurks in the shadows behind it all? And just who is The Secretary of Secrets?
Produced in association with Star Trek's Zachary Quinto and written by True Blood actor Michael McMillian!
(W) Michael McMillian (A) Anna Wieszczyk. Things are heating up at the House at Dupont Circle! What is the Prophecy of the Pendragon? What Occult weapon threatens the fate the United States... for the second time? And what exactly is an Astral Amplifier?! Lucid #2 takes you one more giant leap into the strange world of Matthew Dee as the novice Combat Mage races against the clock to prevent President's Day from becoming a National Day of Mourning! Written by True Blood actor Michael McMillian and illustrated by newcomer Anna Wieszczyk, Lucid is Archaia's first title published in association with Zachary Quinto (Heroes, Star Trek) and his production company, Before the Door Pictures.
Welcome to the world of LUCID, the highly anticipated, action-packed, pop-fantasy, four-issue miniseries that draws inspiration from the spy genre, Arthurian legend and 21st-century folklore! Dark forces are conspiring to prevent humankind from reaching its true potential. Thankfully, as newly appointed “Protector of the Realm,” Agent Matthew Dee uses his skills as a covert spy and Combat Mage to ensure America’s freedom from the grip of evil.
From the Before the Door website at http://www.beforethedoor.com/:
ARCHAIA AND BEFORE THE DOOR UNVEIL FINAL COVER TO ‘LUCID’ #1
FIRST TITLE FROM PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ARCHAIA AND ZACHARY QUINTO’S COMPANY TO DEBUT IN AUGUST
Los Angeles, CA (July 2, 2010) – With fans eagerly anticipating the debut of Archaia Entertainment and Before the Door’s first joint comic project, the two companies proudly unveiled the final cover to the first issue of LUCID, which will debut in August in comic book shops, with advance copies available at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Calif., July 22-25, 2010.
Lucid is a four-issue miniseries written and illustrated by newcomers Michael McMillian and Anna Wieszczyk, who also drew the cover. McMillian is a longtime comics fan and no stranger to the entertainment industry, having recently appeared on the hit HBO series “True Blood” and as a recurring regular on the Amanda Bynes CW television series, “What I Like About You.” McMillian is the creator of Lucid and this is his first written comic work. Wieszczyk is based in Poland and her short story, “Acid Sunset,” was recently published in Popgun Anthology Vol. 4. She is also currently working on Halo8’s Godkiller motion comic.
“We’ve been lucky at Archaia to help usher new creative entities into the comics industry, and one of our most rewarding partnerships has been working with Before the Door to develop Lucid,” said Archaia Editor-in-Chief Stephen Christy. “In Lucid, Michael McMillian and Anna Wieszczyk dove not only into the world of modern magic, but this history of magic throughout western culture as well, all wrapped up in a day-glo, über-pop comic book that looks unlike anything else on the stands today. I’m very proud we’re finally able to share this fantastic comic with readers!”
Lucid follows the adventures of Matthew Dee, a Combat Mage and covert spy whose skills earn him the appointment of “Protector of the Realm” by the President of the United States. Dee’s mission is to protect America from the grip of dark forces that are conspiring to prevent humankind from reaching its true Magic potential.
“Lucid is my attempt to exorcise a lifelong love affair with comics, swashbuckler action adventures and an unhealthy fixation with fantasy,” shared McMillian, who developed the idea over the course of two years. “Matthew Dee is a pulp hero for the 21st century and I’m very excited Archaia and Before the Door have given me the opportunity to create a new world for him to explore.”
“Michael’s intense passion for comics dovetails perfectly with our mission to tell moving and engaging stories,” said Zachary Quinto (“Heroes,” “Star Trek”). With Before the Door producing partners Corey Moosa and Neal Dodson, Quinto recruited Michael to work with them on their first comic book project. “Lucid was born from Michael’s imagination and developed organically though his collaboration with Before the Door. Along with the enthusiasm and commitment of Archaia, we are proud to present Lucid to comic book fans worldwide.”
Lucid #1 (full color, 24 pages, $3.95, Diamond Order Code JUN10 0745) debuts in comic shops in August 2010.
Solicitations from ThingsFromAnotherWorld.com:
By: Michael McMillian, Anna Wieszcyk
Type: Comics
Genres: Fantasy
Publisher: Archaia Entertainment LLC
Pub. Date: August 25, 2010
Availability: Pre-Order
UPC: 81151401072600101
Page Count: 24
Details: Full color
Dark forces are conspiring to prevent humankind from reaching its true potential.
As the newly-appointed 'Protector of the Realm,' Agent Matthew Dee uses his skills as a covert spy and Combat Mage to ensure America's freedom from the grip of evil. Who is Waylan Gheely, and what forbidden power has he stolen? What ancient evil, banished two millennia ago by Merlin himself, threatens to consume our dimension? What presence lurks in the shadows behind it all? And just who is The Secretary of Secrets?
Produced in association with Star Trek's Zachary Quinto and written by True Blood actor Michael McMillian!
A preview of this issue on the publisher's website includes the following reference to the legend from page 1 (the other two pages appear to be part of a flashback):
By: Michael McMillian, Anna Wieszcyk
Type: Comics
Genres: Fantasy
Publisher: Archaia Entertainment LLC
Pub. Date: September 29, 2010
Availability: Pre-Order
UPC: 81151401072600211
(W) Michael McMillian (A) Anna Wieszczyk. Things are heating up at the House at Dupont Circle! What is the Prophecy of the Pendragon? What Occult weapon threatens the fate the United States... for the second time? And what exactly is an Astral Amplifier?! Lucid #2 takes you one more giant leap into the strange world of Matthew Dee as the novice Combat Mage races against the clock to prevent President's Day from becoming a National Day of Mourning! Written by True Blood actor Michael McMillian and illustrated by newcomer Anna Wieszczyk, Lucid is Archaia's first title published in association with Zachary Quinto (Heroes, Star Trek) and his production company, Before the Door Pictures.
More to Read:
Jean-Pierre Pécau's The Secret History
Originally published in French, Jean-Pierre Pécau's The Secret History features the Grail as one of four talismans that have impacted human history from the dawn of man to the twentieth century. The English editions are published by Archaia Comics in fourteen prestige-format books and two hardcover collected editions (volume one is out now and volume two follows in November).
Here are the details from Amazon on the collected editions:
The Secret History Volume 1 (The Secret History Omnibus) [Hardcover]
Jean-Pierre Pecau (Author), Igor Kordey (Illustrator), Leo Pilipovic (Illustrator), Goran Sudzuka (Illustrator), Geto (Illustrator), Carole Beau (Illustrator), Manchu (Illustrator), Olivier Vatine (Illustrator)
$34.95 (978-1932386783).
Four immortal brothers and sisters are entrusted with ivory cards in the dawn of prehistory by a dying shaman, and told never to use the cards together. Four immortal brothers and sisters, four archons, leaping through time, consumed in an epic struggle to influence and shape the history of Western civilization. From Moses' challenge to the Pharaoh to the origin of the Grail myth; from the Pope's extermination of the Cathars to Nostradamus' travels in Italy; from the Spanish Armada and the Great Fire of London to Napoleon's conquest of Egypt; and finally to the Angel of Mons appearing over the trenches of World War I. A secret occult history of the world told in seven chapters. Collects the first SECRET HISTORY series in preparation for the second, coming in 2010.
The Secret History Omnibus Volume 2 [Hardcover]
Jean-Pierre Pecau (Author), Igor Kordey (Author)
$34.95 (978-1932386912).
Four immortal brothers and sisters are entrusted with ivory cards in the dawn of prehistory by a dying shaman, and told never to use the cards together. Four immortal brothers and sisters, four archons, leaping through time, consumed in an epic struggle to influence and shape the history of Western civilization. But now, a fifth Archon is attempting to bring about Armageddon! This volume collects Books Seven through Fourteen and covers the period from World War I to the end of World War II.
The Grail features predominantly in books two and three of the series, where the writer Chrétien de Troyes plays an important role. Archaia does not have any information on the individual books, but I found the following at the website of Lone Star Comics:
BOOK TWO: The Castle of the Djinns, 1176 AD. Two millennia have passed since the four Archons abandoned Egypt and each other and scattered into the world. But now events in the Holy Land draw them together once again. From Antioch to sacred Petra, a knight and a mysterious young woman joined by a writer named Chrétien de Troyes embark on a dangerous quest for the runestone used by Moses, and the origins of the Holy Grail.
BOOK THREE: 'The Grail of Montségur': At the end of the 12th Century,
the Archon Reka uses her influence over the Pope to extend her power over the whole of Christianity. She subverts the Holy Inquisition with a secret aim of seizing the Grail and using the lost runestone of Dyo to gain dominion over her brother. But Erlin and Aker join forces with the Holy Roman Empire of Frederic II, determined to counter her plans!
Robin Hood and King Arthur from Tony Lee and Sam Hart
Last year, Walker Books and their US distributor Candlewick Press initiated the "Heroes and Heroines" imprint and published a graphic novel inspired by the story of Robin Hood, Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood (look inside at Amazon), written by Tony Lee and illustrated by Sam Hart and Artur Fujita and marketed for middle-school-aged readers. An Arthurian book, Excalibur: The Legend of King Arthur, from two of the same creators will be released in March 2011 and it also sounds to be a completely original story. Both books can be found at Amazon.com, though only the Robin Hood book can be found at Walker's and Candlewick's sites. Details on both books from Amazon follow.
Tony Lee (Author), Sam Hart (Illustrator), Artur Fujita (Illustrator)
Hardcover $21.99 (978-0763643997).
Paperback $11.99 (978-0763644000).
How did Robin of Loxley become Robin Hood? Why did he choose to fight injustice instead of robbing for his own gain? Expressive and gritty, this graphic novel whisks readers back to Crusades-era England, where the Sheriff of Nottingham rules with an iron fist, and in the haunted heart of Sherwood Forest, a defiant rogue--with the help of his men and the lovely Maid Marian--disguises himself to become an outlaw. Lively language and illustrations follow the legendary hero as he champions the poor and provokes a high-stakes vendetta in a gripping adventure sure to draw a new generation of readers.
Tony Lee (Author), Sam Hart (Illustrator)
Hardcover $21.99 (978-0763646448).
Paperback $11.99 (978-0763646431).
In a dramatic and moving tale of trickery and betrayal, forgiveness and hope, the legend of King Arthur, his loves and losses, the fall of Camelot, his Knights of the Round Table, the secrets of his past and mysteries of his future, all come to bear in this visually stunning portrait of a man. Before Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon, was murdered by Ulric, as a final act, Uther thrust his sword, Caliburn, into a rock. Only a man true of heart would be able to draw and wield the weapon once more. Until that time, Ulric would become King of the Britons, raining terror over all the land. And the people of Albion would wait for a beacon of hope. The wizard Merlin knows just who that person is destined to be. If Ulric is to be overthrown, then it is Arthur, son of Uther, who must pull out the sword and become the rightful leader of the Britons. So, until Arthur comes of age, Merlin hides the future King - in so doing he strikes a dangerous bargain with the dark Unseelie Fae. As the day approaches when Arthur will come of age, there are strong powers at play. Not everyone wishes for Arthur to succeed - for it was Morgana, Arthur's half-sister, who Merlin traded to the Unseelie, in place of her brother, all those years ago. And now the witch has a vengeful score to settle.
Tony Lee has been a writer for over twenty years. He has worked for a variety of publishers including Marvel Comics, IDW Publishing, Markosia, Rebellion, Panini and Titan. He has contributed to many popular and high-profile properties such as X-Men, Doctor Who, Spider Man, Starship Troopers, Wallace & Gromit and Shrek. In 2008 Tony was nominated in the category for "Best Newcomer Writer" at the prestigious Eagle Awards. He lives in London. Sam Hart is a comic book artist and magazine illustrator, having worked on Starship Troopers and Judge Dredd and for publishers Markosia and DC Comics, amongst others. Born in England, he now lives and teaches comic art in Brazil. Artur Fujita is an illustrator and colorist who has colored sequential art for Markosia and Marvel Comics. He lives in Brazil.
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